Who Knows I AM?

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

What I am telling you, you are not in a position to understand, and what you are telling me, I don't understand. So what is the use of more talk?

Visitor (V): Well, it wasn't my intention to imply that I knew anything; I felt I knew a few things relativity-wise, but now I realize that I know nothing and that is due to Maharaj's grace.

M: Since you are talking from the standpoint that you understand nothing, still you are asking questions. So how am I to understand them?

The type and the quality of questions which emerges from you indicates that you are not understanding what I am driving at. The whole object of the dialogue is for you to understand what I am saying and that I understand what you are asking. If this is not the case, then what is the purpose of a dialogue at all?

I am not well. I shall be talking only crisply and to the point. No digression. Many people have listened to my talks, have understood and have gone into quietude. If people cannot understand me, what can I do about that? If my talks cannot be understood, it is no use attending them.

This morning I asked a question: "Who knows I am?" And you asked me a counter question: What should I understand by that?" May you keep quiet; don't ask any further questions today.

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M: In the morning, when you asked that question, I thought you were trying to be argumentative.

V: I apologize for your feeling that way; my question in return to yours was perhaps facile; it was, however, not meant to be argumentative. I felt there was an answer to that question that I perhaps did not know. But in truth I did know the answer and I do understand what you have been saying. Yet at times, with the knowledge that is being absorbed one feels that one does not really understand after all, yet the knowledge is absorbed. Who is there to know? And that is all I wanted to convey.

M: I felt as if you are trying to attack or challenge me by your questioning. You should be quiet; when there is no answer coming out of you, you should not ask me to reply, for that question was meant for you, for your opening up. Don't ask questions for sometime. Don't ask any questions to challenge me.