Constant remembrance of I am takes me beyond what I think I am || Acharya Prashant (2015)

Questioner: Nisargadatta Maharaj says to be constantly in the “I am” realization. What does that mean? What is this “I am” realization? This he said was the mantra that his Guru gave him and this was also the advice that he would give to all his listeners. He used to say never forget “I am”. What does that mean?

Acharya Prashant: It means two things, of which one is ‘nothing’. We will first discuss the thing.

There is this entire world and its happenings, and seemingly you at the centre of this world and there are events that are happening all the time: thoughts, discussions, accidents, destiny, love, hate, anger, profit, loss, news, knowledge. All that is happening all the time and the mind is kept active, busy with all that.

To remember “I am” means to remember that none of that which is happening really has an objective existence. So whatever is happening is ‘you’. If you find it difficult to digest initially that if there is a war happening in the Middle East, how could this war be me? Then start off by at least remembering that whatever is happening is being given a color by you. At least this much can be remembered.

So, you can remember I am the one who is giving it a meaning. I am the one who is giving it an interpretation, a color. Slowly from there when you realize the depth of your interpretation, when you realize that the painting is nothing except the colors and all colors are been given by you. Then you come down to saying that, “I am that event”.