Titles Go. . .
We move through life gathering titles—student, parent, leader, artist, friend. These labels can help us navigate the world, but Buddhism reminds us they are not who we truly are.
Titles are useful in communication. They allow others to understand our roles and responsibilities. Yet they can also trap us. When we cling too tightly to a title, we forget the deeper truth of our being: we are more than the roles we perform.
The Buddha often encouraged reflection on anatta, or “not-self.” This teaching does not deny our existence but asks us to see that our identity is not fixed. Just as a river is constantly changing, so too are we. The titles we wear shift with time and circumstance. They are temporary garments, not our essence.
Letting go of titles does not mean abandoning responsibilities. Rather, it frees us from confusing who we are with what we do. We can be a parent without reducing ourselves only to that role. We can be a worker without identifying solely as a job.
When we release our grip on titles, we open space to live authentically. We discover that beneath the layers of identity is a simple awareness, present in each breath. That awareness is steady, timeless, and free.
Today, take a moment to consider: if all titles were stripped away, who remains? That silent awareness is your truest self.
Peace and Love, Jim
#titles #thedailybuddha #tdb
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