Numerous ways exist in how we can view the self. We may think of ourselves as the mind, emotions, physical body, earth, cosmos, or a spiritual essence that penetrates it all. In No Boundary (1979) Ken Wilber suggests that the self is a construct of the boundaries of our consciousness. A boundary is an imaginary line between what we are and what we are not. Wilber states, "Your self-identity, in other words, depends entirely upon where you draw that boundary line." (4) Joanna Macy adds to this in Dharma Gaia (1990), "The self is a metaphor. We decide to limit it to our skin, our person, our family, our organization, or species." (59) While there is a progression that often occurs during peoples' lifetimes of how we view ourselves, boundaries are also highly influenced by the culture in which we live. We do not have to stay in one framework of how to view the self. We can expand our sense of self and experience new ways to live our lives. Wilber states, "There are not just one but many levels of identity available to an individual. These levels of identity are not theoretical postulates but observable realities—you can verify them in and for yourself." (8)

While some systems of beliefs are hierarchical in nature, Wilber suggests looking at the ways we view the self as ever-deepening layers. There are many ways to intellectually categorize the vast array of self-identities that are experienced. For the purpose of this course, we will explore the following four layers of beliefs of self:

1. The self as mind, body, and emotions


2. The self in community


3. The ecological self


4. The oneness self

We will delve into the meaning of life purpose from each of these views of self. This will be done by drawing on various systems of beliefs from authors, teachers, life coaches, spiritual leaders, and indigenous peoples. These layers of the self do not need to be viewed as being stages that we pass through. We can be in one stage or all stages at the same time. Our ability to flow between ways of being is truly a wonderful gift that each of us can use.

"Deep in our hearts, we all want to find and fulfill a purpose bigger than ourselves.
Only such a larger purpose can inspire us to heights we know we could never reach on our own.
For each of us the real purpose is personal and passionate: to know what we are here to do, and why."

—Os Guinness (http://www.liveyourcalling.com/freeresources/ch01.pdf)