Robyn E Lebron Identity Our physical and mental identity is how we “see” ourselves in relation to others around us We believe that identity is who we are We develop and nurture that identity through associations with people and things We become attached to that identity and it can even put limitations on our personal growth Attachment to a form limits our acceptance of other forms Attachment to an identity limits our acceptance of other identities To be totally open and respectful beyond boundaries, our identity must be rooted in our inner being; that which is unseen or without form Form usually defines our concept of existence If something has a form or a concept, it exists If existence of a form is necessary for something to exist, how can formlessness exist? We emphasize again that all cultures trace our existence to formlessness The universe and all of its diverse beings exist because of the formless entity referred to as God, the Absolute, the One, and many other names This conclusion of all ancient cultures is supported by the findings of modern science, according to which all forms of matter in the universe result from energy, which in itself is formless Thus all forms have their source in something that is formless This is a matter of rigorous critical reasoning and not of faith Sometimes one’s personal identity in the modern world is closely related to one’s religious faith The institution of religion is a two-faced reality: One face includes and unites and the other potentially excludes and divides Religion unifies people into communities and simultaneously divides by building tight boundaries around those communities But Spirituality is the unity that connects us all, as energy connects every atom to every form, inanimate or animate 22