The sense of I am = Consciousness

[Guest guest]

Maharaj: For meditation you should sit with identification with the

knowledge " I am " only and have confirmed to yourself that you are not

the body. You must dwell only in that knowledge " I am " --not merely

the words " I am. " The design of your body does not signify your

identification. And also, the name which is given to you or to the

body is not your correct identity. The name which is imposed on you,

or the name which you have heard about you--you have accepted that

name as yourself. Similarly, since you have seen your body, you

think you are the body. So you have to give up both these

identities. And the indwelling knowledge that you are, without

words, that itself you are. In that identity, you must stabilize

yourself. And then, whatever doubts you have, will be cleared by

that very knowledge, and everything will be opened up in you...

 

Visitor: My question is, is there a useful way for arriving at moksha

and are there particular signs for distinguishing which paths are the

best for us?

 

M: You just listen to all this, whatever is being said here; follow

that, abide in that and be that. Don't ask me about other paths.

The path I am expounding, you listen to that, and abide in it...

 

V: I am interested especially in practice, how to start it.

 

M: Forget all about physical disciplines in this connection. I am

telling you that the indwelling principle. " I am, " the knowledge

that you are, you have to *be* that. Just be that. With that

knowledge " I am, " hold on to the knowledge " I am. "

 

V: It is difficult to abandon attachment to action; even in this way

it is not easy always to remember " I am, " the truth of the atman.

 

M: You know that you are sitting here; you know you are, do you

require any special effort to hold on to that " you are " ? You know

you are; abide in that. The " I am " principle without words, that

itself is the God of all Ishwaras.

 

V: Is devotion not useful as an initial step?

 

M: First step or second step, I have the first and final step at the

same time! The knowledge " I am, " without words, itself is the

Ishwara. He, Ishwara, does not want another (Maya) agent or

intermediary. Direct.

 

 

Nisargadatta Maharaj

" The Ultimate Medicine "

Edited by Robert Powell

Blue Dove Press