It is a common question to ask when meeting someone new, “What’s Your Name?” 

Depending on the setting and context, someone may respond with only their first given name, or their first given name and their family name, or perhaps a musician would respond with a stage name.  Kids are often given nicknames for various reasons that stick with them into their adult years.  If an actor is playing a part in a theatre production, they would answer with the name given for the part they are acting out.  Similarly, if an undercover agent is having a dinner meeting and is asked the question, they would respond with their alias name.  There are many different ways to respond to this question.

Thought Exercise

If you take a moment right now for a thought exercise, and you imagine you were given a different name at birth, would you still be YOU? 

What if you decided to change your name into adult life, would you still be YOU?

If you are a woman who is entering into marriage and you are considering changing your last name, would you still be YOU?  If you kept your family name, would you be more YOU?

As mentioned in the piece, “Who Am I?”, “My given name is Daniel Kirk Kiyoshi Skinner and that is not who I AM.”

Yes, our names are a good frame of reference when conversing and telling a story.  Kiyoshi did this or that.  However, our names simply do not encompass the entire infinite Essence of our True Self.

Theatre and Life

To continue with the theatre example, let us use the analogy of a Screenwriter creating a fictional name, and a Casting Agent assigning a living man or woman to play out the part in the fictional theatrical production.  The most powerful theatrical performances occur as the man or woman immerses themselves in the production and identifies with the various emotional and behavioural characteristics defined and set out by the Director.  These powerful performances make an audience feel as though they are witnessing real life such that it becomes difficult to tell the difference.  It is only when one snaps out of the trance that one can Remember to distinguish the fictional name from the living man or woman.

A living man or woman is so much more expansive than any name.

Sending much LOVE to all.

Kiyoshi