The Flame: I AM

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

December 23, 1980

Q: When you observe a problem, any problem in the human mind, if you observe it very strong and pure, the problem dissolves and there is only observation. What is that observation, who is that observation, what is the essence of that observation? How to go further?

This is a traditional way of understanding. It is a traditional mood of the world observation, nothing beyond that. Just a mood, that's all. When did this process of observing start? It started with the arrival of the waking state, deep sleep state, and the knowledge "I Am", all rolled into one "I AM". This is known as birth. With the so-called birth this triad has come, and with its arrival observation has started. Every day it is going on. The moment "I Amness" comes it is being used for experiencing, observing etc.

Prior to the happening of this birth, where was that "I Amness"? It was not there.

Q: Going on further, one is in observation, one is just observing, is there any further question then? What should be the question?

When does the observation occur and of what? You have collected a lot of vocabulary, but the Self Knowledge has not dawned.

Q: You see, that is what I was observing. How to enquire into that?

You know you are. Because you know you are, everything is happening. Get to know that knowledge "I Am". When you understand what that "I Amness" is, then the shell of mystery is broken.

Q: What is the procedure to get at that?

You go to the source out of which this question arose. That source will solve this question.

Q: Is there any enquiry in that?

Oh yes. If anybody, any principle, wants to pose the question he should not embrace the body as himself. Pose the question from the standpoint that you are only the knowledge "I Am".

Q: You put the question because you don't know.

Yes, but the primary ignorance is about our "I Amness". We have taken it as the Ultimate, that is ignorance. We presume that this consciousness is the eternal, the Ultimate, that is the mistake. This "I Am" principle is there provided the waking state and deep sleep are there. I am not the waking state, I am not the deep sleep - therefore I, the Absolute, am not that "I Am". Leave aside this triad; what are you?

Q: It comes again to the question "Who am I?"

Understand clearly. When you keep aside the very instrument of questioning, where is the question?

Q: If you don't question...

Which "You"? You have removed that "you".

Q: I don't know. How can you answer?

What questions can you have without this triad? Let us presume you are fifty years old. You have had the association of that triad for fifty years; go behind now, five years earlier what was your experience? What were you like?

Q: I don't know.

That is correct. It was a no-knowing state. In that no-knowing state, suddenly knowingness has appeared. It has created all this mischief. Since when are you and how long will you continue to be?

Q: Well, I would say, since I have been experiencing and for as long as I am experiencing.

Right. Now, without the experience of "I Amness", talk something about that.

Q: I can't.

The association with this triad state, this bundle of mischief, due to what? For example, a building is on fire, it is said because of a short circuit in the electricity. The arrival of this triad, due to what short circuiting? There was some friction. When you press here on the cigarette lighter the flame is there; because of the friction or short circuiting, all the three states are aflame.

Q: And the flame is?

"I am"

Q: I have been born into this.

Because of that triad you are experiencing life and doing spirituality also.

Q: At the end there is no question at all, no who am I or what am I if I put aside this triad there can only be silence.

Silence or peace is related to chaos or turbulence.

Q: It has nothing to do with peace and turbulence. I mean, if you just sit quiet in your Self, leaving aside these three states, knowing that I don't know myself, you can only be silent.

What you say is impossible. The knowingness will be there provided waking and deep sleep states are there. If they were not available you would not have been in this form. If you had the capacity to know before birth that you were being born, you would not have cared to jump into this pit of birth.