Nisargadatta on I Am...

[Guest guest]

Following are some Nisargadatta quotes from *I Am That*.

 

I chose these phrases to illustrate that when

Nisargadatta speaks of " I am " he is in no way

speaking of an idea:

 

The sense, or taste of `I am-ness'...

 

The sense of being, of 'I am'...

 

And I chose the following more complete quotes because...

well, just because!

 

You need not know what you are. For as long as knowledge means

description in terms of what is already known, perceptual, or

conceptual, there can be no such thing as self-knowledge, for what

you are cannot be described, except as except as total negation.

All

you can say is: `I am not this, I am not that'. You cannot

meaningfully say `this is what I am'. It just makes no sense.

 

 

The way back to your self is through refusal and rejection. One

thing is certain: the real is not imaginary, it is not a product

of the mind. Even the sense `I am' is not continuous, though it is

a useful pointer; it shows where to seek, but not what to seek.

Just have a good look at it. Once you are convinced that you

cannot say truthfully about your self anything except `I am', and

that nothing that can be pointed at, can be your self, the need

for the `I am' is over -- you are no longer intent on verbalising

what you are.

 

Don't you see that it is your very search for happiness that makes

you

feel miserable? Try the other way: indifferent to pain and

pleasure,

neither asking, nor refusing, give all your attention to the level

on

which 'I am' is timelessly present. Soon you will realise that

peace

and happiness are in your very nature and it is only seeking them

through some particular channels, that disturbs. Avoid the

disturbance, that is all. To seek there is no need; you would not

seek

what you already have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill