I Am That By Which I Know ‘I Am’

The quote is by Nisargadatta Maharaj, a prominent figure in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. It invites us to look beyond the surface level of our identity and delve into the very source of our awareness. Let's break it down:

"I Am..."

• The Fundamental Awareness: This refers to the most basic and undeniable aspect of our being – the simple awareness of existence. Before any thoughts, feelings, or experiences arise, there is the fundamental knowing "I am." This is the ground of all experience.
• The Primordial Feeling: It's not an intellectual concept but a direct, immediate feeling of being. It's the sense of presence that underlies everything we perceive and think.

"...That By Which I Know ‘I Am’"

• The Witness Consciousness: This points to something deeper than the "I am" itself – the faculty or principle that allows us to be aware of this very feeling of existence. It's the observer of our own being.
• The Source of Awareness: It suggests that the "I am" feeling is not self-illuminating but is known by something else, something more fundamental. This "that by which I know" is the ultimate subject, the pure consciousness that witnesses all phenomena, including the feeling of "I am."
• Beyond Identification: This statement subtly guides us away from identifying solely with the "I am" feeling (which can still be associated with a sense of individual existence) and towards the underlying awareness that makes this feeling known.

In the context of Advaita Vedanta and Nisargadatta Maharaj's teachings, this statement implies:

• The True Self: The "that by which I know 'I am'" is often identified as the true Self (Atman), which is pure consciousness, unconditioned and beyond the limitations of the individual ego.
• Self-Inquiry: This statement is a powerful tool for self-inquiry. By focusing on the source of the "I am" feeling, we can gradually turn our attention away from the contents of our experience (thoughts, emotions, sensations) and towards the unchanging awareness that underlies them.
• The Nature of Reality: It hints at the non-dual nature of reality, where the individual self is ultimately not separate from the ultimate reality (Brahman). The pure awareness that knows "I am" is the same consciousness that pervades everything.
• Liberation: Realizing our true nature as this underlying awareness, the "that by which I know 'I am'," leads to liberation from the illusion of separateness and the suffering that arises from it.

Essentially, this statement is a pointer, a direct instruction to investigate the very root of our being. It encourages us to look at who or what is aware of the feeling of "I am." By persistently focusing on this, we can transcend the limited identification with our body, mind, and ego and recognize our true nature as pure, witnessing consciousness.