Glass or Water? That was the question.
In the analogy, a glass represented the human biological machine and the water corresponds to the being or inner nature which transcends a single incarnation.
So which are you — the glass or the water?
Before you answer, let me apologize — that was a trick question. By the nature of the question it is implied that you can be only one or the other.
As water it is possible to be in many different glasses — one at a time.
Since my water nature exists apart from this particular glass in which I currently find myself, and since this water will exist long after the glass is turned to dust, then surely I am the water.
Okay, I am water. But, wait…..
Does that mean I cannot also be the glass? The question is what are you identified with.
When you identify with the hbm (human biological machine) then you are to that degree the machine — or glass in this analogy.
When someone yells: “Hey, you over there!” (pointing to your body) do you not respond as if they were addressing you? Course you do. While it is possible to live in a state of high-indifference. Live with almost no identification with the body. Even so, there will always be that little teeny bit of identification — hence the “live with almost no identification with the machine.”
You cannot be in a game for which you do not have an avatar. Try it. See if you can play Zelda without using the Link avatar. Or try to play Diablo 2 without using a sorc, pally, necro, druid, assassin, or barbarian avatar. Can’t do it. In order to play the game, you need an avatar in the game.
The glass (the human biological machine) is your ticket into the game — the game you call “your life.” For the water to be in that glass there must be some minimal identification with the glass.
So,…..
So, which are you — the glass or the water? Answer: In the long run I’m the water, but for the duration of this game I am to some degree this glass.