The Seen and the Seeing Disappear

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

In nisarga (nature) everything is time-bound (seasons, sowing, reaping, etc.), but nature itself is not time-bound. Nature is neither male nor female. Many Avatars come and go, but nature is not affected. The story of nature is emanating from all the impressions taken in your mind since birth. So long as you are holding on to these memories there will be knowledges of Self. If you just study whatever has happened in nature, like history, great lives, etc., you cannot realize your Self. You have to go within. Whatever great things have happened in nature, however powerful, still they disappear right here. These situations appear and disappear. This is actually abstract, what is solid here is the knowledge I AM. The seen and the seeing disappear. I tell this only to those who are prepared to listen. Whatever appears is bound to disappear. The greatest appearance is the knowledge AM. It is invisible before birth and after the death of the body, and while it is visible it is a solid thing. Many great sages have appeared and disappeared because of the powerful seed I AM. When the prana leaves the body, knowledge has no support and it disappears, i.e., it is unseen.

What I am expounding is very deep. You may experience Brahma even, but that experience will not remain. All experiences are due to the cell I AM. Both the cell and the experience will disappear. Even the best of your memories will vanish one day. The knowledge I AM is time-bound, all your knowledge sprouts from the concept that you are.

Millions of sages have come and gone. Do they presently experience the state of  I AM? They had no authority to perpetuate their beingness: their I AMness became unseen. The sages cannot make an iota of change in the world. Whatever happens, happens.

Q: But Maharaj has said that because of the existence of a jnani the world is benefited.

M: It is said to an ignorant one, one who clings to the body-mind. When there is no I AMness what is it that you need?