Seer, A Mirage

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

March 1, 1981

Q: Is this I AMness which everybody has the same thing as consciousness?

M: Other than this consciousness and I AMness, what is there that can claim I AM?

Understand that this "I" is not different at different levels. As the Absolute it is the "I" which in manifesting needs a form. The same Absolute "I" becomes the manifested "I" and in the manifested "I" it is the consciousness which is the source of everything. In the manifested state it is the Absolute with consciousness. You may think that you consider yourself to be the consciousness, but you generally keep on wanting something as an entity, even if it is spiritual knowledge. The body is only an instrument by which consciousness manifests itself; it has no separate, autonomous identity.

This body, which you love so much, is time-bound and this consciousness, which depends on the material body, is also time-bound.

The vital breath is the active element which keeps the body in action. Consciousness is the passive element. The vital breath will leave the body after a certain span of time and leave dead material; the consciousness will also leave the body and merge with the universal consciousness. This is the normal process - within this what is it you consider yourself to be? This is merely a functioning, there is no separate entity. Actually our true identity is known to everyone, there is no doubt about it. But because of identification with the body as an entity what is definitely known to us is being forgotten.

Listening to what I say may give you a temporary sense of peace and pleasure, but so long as you consider yourself a separate entity wanting spiritual salvation, all this is useless.

There is no entity that can benefit from the listening that takes place. What is birth after all? Birth is only the waking state, deep sleep and sex; suppose the sex is removed, then there will be no interest. The sex cannot fill your stomach, cannot provide you with food, but that is necessary. It is easier to understand that the entire manifestation is of the nature of a dream, or a mirage, but you interpret the rest of the manifestation as being a mirage and won't let go of the seer of the phenomenon. The seer is also part of the mirage.