Have Conviction

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Jan 10, 1981

Nothing I say will benefit you in this world, I only tell you what you are. If you are seeking that kind of peace which is priceless, it can only be in establishing yourself in the consciousness with steadfast conviction. By conviction I mean never doubted, firm, unshakeable, never wavering - have that kind of conviction in your beingness. Think of nothing else, pray to nothing else. 

Atman prem, because of it everything is.

At the moment of what is called death, what happens? All it means is that a speck of consciousness is given up. This speck is given up to a concept you have accepted as time, you reluctantly hand it over to time. The jnani gives it up to his own nature. This atma-prem, this existence which we have protected for so many years, to whom shall we give it up? If ignorant, to our concept. If ignorant bhakt (devotee), to a concept of God. If jnani, to his own true nature.

Whatever you think you have got as an identity, have you acquired it by effort or intention? Is there anything you have really got? No. This body, this consciousness, has come spontaneously, so sleep when it likes, even waking and sleep are not in your control. What is yours? Who has this knowledge of the Self by his own effort? This psuedo entity thinks that it is he who is active and doing. I am talking to you now as consciousness. Can anyone of you give me an indication of that knowledge of the Self by his own effort?