How do you know that you are? It is consciousness that makes it possible for you to say “I am.” How reliable consciousness is? Totally. It records everything that was, and keeps the tab on everything that is. Nothing is hidden from it, yet to see it as the perfect state is one more error that your mind makes. No, we are not talking here about the pure consciousness that was and is the essence of existence every realized being. We are talking about the ordinary consciousness that permeates the Universe and contributes to our illusory existence.

As you earnestly move towards Realization, the time will come to investigate the supposedly obvious and indisputable statement: “I am!”
The very word “am” introduces the time factor here; and if as a part of your spiritual living, you’ve been diligently studying teachings of the Realized Masters, the error would come to you straight away: whatever is time-dependant is not real. Period. This should be powerful enough to eliminate your very own sense of existence. If you still hang on, supported by your belief that the world’s existence and your place in it proves that you are, you need to read what Sri Ramana Maharshi said: “The world is only in your mind. The world doesn’t speak: ‘Here I am, the world.’ If it did so, it would be ever there, making its presence felt by you even in your sleep. Since, however, it is not there in sleep, it is impermanent. Thus it lacks substance and must be regarded as an illusion.”

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj saw consciousness as an obstacle to realization. Not because of its omnipresence, but because of how persons misinterpret it and get caught in a net of the false identification. His words: “You are so accustomed to think of yourselves as bodies having consciousness that you just cannot imagine consciousness as having bodies. Once you realize that bodily existence is but a state of mind, a movement in consciousness, that the ocean of consciousness is infinite and eternal, and that, when in touch with consciousness, you are the witness only, you will be able to withdraw beyond consciousness altogether.” And this should be the final goal of every serious spiritual seeker. When you are beyond, you realize the Absolute – THAT what you already are.

So stop entertaining the thoughts so dear to every human: I was born, I shall die, etc. Said Maharaj: “In reality you were never born and never shall die.” Your idea “I am” was not born with you, but came later due to your self-identification with the body. The sooner you abandon it; to sooner you’ll become totally free of all self-imposed limitations. You’ll see the world as belonging to you, and not you being a small part in it. With this realization you’ll stop fearing the world, and begin to love one and all that form it. Why? Because it is you! The connecting link is the Self, the same Self that is you, God, and the world. As soon as you abandon the “I am” idea, you’ll become free; non-local, timeless, spaceless. Yet paradoxically, only then you’ll be omnipresent, eternal and all-pervading. You’ll be All and All will be you. As Maharaj said: “We all are rays of the Absolute.” Make it the guiding light of your spiritual endeavors and you’ll never be born again.