The Mystery of “I Am”
Experience, by definition, necessitates a witness. This witnessing presence is the fundamental “I am.”
Being (the verb) precedes experience like the canvas precedes a painting or the screen precedes a film. Without the substrate or ground of being, experience cannot unfold.
“I am” points to a reality that exists prior to the differentiation of the world into subjects and objects, into “this” and “that.”
This world of objects, with its alluring and immersive nature, draws our attention outward, towards ever-changing forms. These forms are secondary. They borrow their existence from the primary reality of the witness, without which subjects and objects could not be known.
The supreme witness, the only one there is, is consciousness itself, the aware presence that illuminates all experience. This “that” is not a distant, abstract concept. It is the very essence of our own being. It is the “I am,” the silently witness that is with us, as us, in this and every moment.
Recognizing the fundamental nature of “I am” does not imply that we should begin de-identifying with the fleeting content of experience, and try to rest only in the ground of being. Rather, we are to experience the world as the ground of being. Experience is here to be enjoyed, to be celebrated. It is not necessary to turn our backs on it.
Recognizing our true nature only entails a simple shift in understanding: I share my being with the world.
That is all you need to know. ⬚
“Love God and do whatever you please. For the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the One who is Beloved.”
The Will of God
According to the nondual understanding, the concept of a universal will, as it is expressed at the relative level of space and time, is not a predetermined cosmic plan orchestrated by an external agent. Rather, it is an activity of the inherent dynamism, the spontaneous unfolding, and the very freedom of infinite consciousness manifesting as a multiplicity of forms in the world of perception.
This universal will is not a rigid decree but the very impulse of life, the creative urge that gives rise to all phenomena. In other words, consciousness is exploring its own infinite potential and experiencing itself in the world of appearances.
This boundless freedom expresses itself, however, through the necessary limitations of each of our localized, finite minds. The mind is the perceptual apparatus or lens through which subject-object relationships can be known. In other words it is through the activity of thinking and perceiving that consciousness knows the world.
Instinctively, though mistakenly, thinking and feeling create a “me” distinct from an “other,” separating itself from the seamless flow of the consciousness. It is through these very limitations that the universal will seeks to rediscover itself.
Each of our lives, with its unique challenges, desires, and experiences, could be seen as an experiment in self-recognition for consciousness. The yearning for connection, the search for meaning, the striving for growth—these are not the drives of a separate ego, but the inherent impulse of the universal will seeking to transcend the limitations of its localized expressions and to recognize its own inherent wholeness through the kaleidoscope of human experience
The creativity and spontaneity we experience—the unexpected insights, the intuitive nudges—can be understood as glimpses of this underlying freedom slipping through the cracks of the habitual thought patterns of the mind.
Just as a wave, while part of the ocean, still has its own unique movement and impact (and seems to have its own freedom), our individual lives have their own unfolding trajectory. However, recognizing the underlying unity of will shifts our understanding of agency from the personal to the universal. Our choices are not the product of a separate “I” making independent decisions, for there is no independent entity with its own separate agency, apart from consciousness. (This article explores why there can be only one consciousness.) All expressions, then, belong to consciousness.
Understanding the unity of will leads to the gradual dissolution of previous conditionings grounded in the illusion of being a separate agency. When this happens, the inherent spontaneity and freedom of the universal will expresses itself more fully and authentically.
By embodying this fundamental unity in our lives, we learn to trust. We learn the value of surrender. We walk steadfast, finally, in abiding peace and happiness. ⬚
The Ultimate Reality According to Sacred Texts of the World
Though articulated in numerous ways through different cultural frameworks and metaphors, sacred texts around the world share a consistent theme: the ultimate reality, the ground of all being, is not inert matter or a blind force, but a conscious, aware presence.
From the Upanishads of Hinduism, Brahman is described as the ultimate reality, the all-pervading consciousness that is the source and sustainer of the universe. Passages speak of Brahman as the “knower of all,” the “inner controller,” the very awareness that witnesses all phenomena. The individual self, Atman, is ultimately understood to be identical to this all-pervading, conscious Brahman.
Similarly, Buddhist scriptures often emphasize emptiness (Shunyata in Sanskrit), which is not equated with mere nothingness. Rather, emptiness is understood as the absence of independent existence, the spacious ground from which all phenomena arise and to which they return. This emptiness is often described as luminous, as the very nature of mind, the source of all experience. The awakened state of Buddhahood is characterized by a direct realization of this aware emptiness.
In the Abrahamic traditions, while the concept of a personal God as creator and sustainer is central, the underlying attribute of awareness is consistently present. God is described as all-knowing, all-seeing, possessing infinite wisdom and understanding. (Interestingly, Ephesians 4:6 states: One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all—which is the very heart of the nondual understanding.) This inherent awareness is not separate from God's being but is fundamental to it. God, the supreme being, is not a passive architect but an active, conscious presence involved in the unfolding of creation.
Mystic traditions, especially, within these faiths echo Ephesians 4:6 by emphasizing a direct, experiential union with this self-aware ground of being. Examples of mystic traditions include Advaita (Sanskrit for “not-two”), Sufism within Islam, and contemplative Christianity.
Indigenous spiritualities across the globe, often deeply rooted in the interconnectedness of nature, also point towards an aware reality. The “Great Spirit” or the “Mystery” is frequently described as a conscious force that permeates all things, aware of and responsive to the interconnected web of life. The natural world itself is seen not as inert matter but as imbued with spirit and consciousness.
It is no coincidence that ancient sages and spiritual teachers, through contemplation and direct experience, arrived at the same conclusion about the ultimate ground of being, the essence of all that is.
The variations in terminology and theological frameworks can be seen as different attempts to articulate the ineffable nature of this aware reality using the language and metaphors available within their specific cultural contexts. But the core insight remains remarkably consistent: the fundamental nature of existence is not unconscious or mechanical. It is awareness, or aware presence.
Recognizing and understanding this pervasive theme in the world's sacred texts can be transformative. It shifts our understanding of reality from a collection of separate subjects and objects to a vibrant, conscious field in which we share an apparently physical existence. This understanding fosters a sense of belonging, interconnectedness, and a deeper appreciation and respect for life, and our place in it. ⬚
I Am Aware
Awareness is not a faculty we possess; it is the fundamental reality, the very ground of all being. It is the screen upon which the movie of our lives plays out, the space in which every thought arises, lingers, and dissolves. While the content of our experience changes, the simple fact of being remains.
Unlike the objects of awareness—the sights, sounds, thoughts, feelings—awareness itself has no objective qualities. You cannot see it, touch it, taste it, or measure it. It has no color, no shape, no size. It doesn't appear in the way a thought appears, it doesn't grow old like the body, and it doesn't fade like a memory. It is the non-objective ground that makes all objective experience possible.
To know something is to make it an object of your awareness. Awareness is the subject, the knower of all objective experience. You cannot step outside of awareness to observe it, just as the eye cannot see itself directly.
And yet, despite its non-objective nature, the existence of awareness is the most undeniable fact of our experience. No one can truthfully deny the simple, ordinary knowing of “I am aware.” Even the attempt to deny awareness presupposes the very awareness that is doing the denying. It is the foundational truth upon which all other experiences are built.
Aware presence is ever-present. It is the silent witness to every rise and fall, every coming and going. Recognizing this fundamental truth is essential to our understanding of ourselves and reality.
When we shift our identification from the body-mind to that which knows the body-mind, a very real sense of peace and stability begins to emerge.
This recognition, “I am aware,” or “I am,” is the heart of nondual understanding. It is the unmoving, unchanging reality that contains the seamless flow of life.
In this simple, ordinary, non-objective awareness, we find our true home. ⬚
There Can Only Be One Reality
The very notion of “reality” points to that which is fundamentally true, the ultimate ground from which all else arises and within which all experience unfolds. From the nondual perspective, this ultimate reality is not a collection of separate objects or events, but a singular, unbroken field of awareness. The apparent multiplicity we perceive—the subjects and objects—are temporary, localized expressions within one, unified field of consciousness.
There can only be one ultimate reality of awareness. When we posit the existence of two or more distinct and separate awarenesses, a question arises. In what larger reality do they exist and interact (or fail to interact)?
For independent awarenesses to exist, there would need to be a larger framework, a more encompassing reality to contain them. This larger reality would be the true ground. And if this larger reality is itself aware, which is a consistent theme in sacred texts around the world and which is also our own direct experience of reality, then we have, in essence, returned to the concept of a single, overarching awareness that encompasses all. We are back to the One.
The experience of individual consciousness, the feeling of “I am aware,” or “I am,” is not a separate pocket of awareness distinct from some other awareness. Rather, it is the one universal awareness manifesting itself through the lens of individual body-minds. Just as sunlight appears as individual rays when refracted through different prisms, infinite awareness appears as individual consciousnesses when filtered through the faculties of perception. The light, however, remains one and the same, unchanged.
So the idea of multiple, fundamentally separate realities of awareness is inherently contradictory. Any attempt to define a second, independent awareness invariably leads to the necessity of a larger reality in which to exist. Since reality is undeniably aware—you are reading these words—it follows that awareness itself must be the fundamental and singular nature of reality. ⬚
“Whoever knows their self, knows their Lord.”
A Single Recognition
The spiritual journey is often framed as a quest for liberation, a striving to break free from the limitations of the self and the suffering of the world. There are concepts like “spiritual enlightenment” and being “born again,” and movements from states of bondage to states of freedom.
However, the very notion of a separate individual achieving liberation becomes a paradox in the nondual understanding. For if reality is ultimately one seamless consciousness, who is there to be liberated?
The nondual understanding suggests that the experience of liberation is not a transfer of ownership or the acquisition of a new state of being. Instead, it is this simple recognition: separate consciousnesses do not exist.
To be “spiritually enlightened” or “born again” from this viewpoint is not to achieve some extraordinary state, or to merge with a distant divine entity. It is the dawning awareness of this fundamental truth: the consciousness that animates your thoughts, feelings, and perceptions is the same consciousness that animates the entire universe. The “you” that you take yourself to be is not a separate, self-contained unit along with consciousness, but a unique manifestation, a particular perspective being held within consciousness itself—made out of consciousness and known by consciousness.
Take, for example, an actor fully immersed in a role in a play. She experiences the character's joys, sorrows, and struggles as if they were her own. However, the actor, in her true identity, is aware that she is playing a part. Similarly, consciousness is playing the character you call "me,” experiencing the world through the limitations and possibilities of your particular body-mind.
The longing for liberation, the feeling of being constrained, arises within this play of consciousness. It is the inherent impulse of the one to recognize its own wholeness, to see beyond the confines of the individual role. The “seeker” is not a separate entity striving for freedom. It is consciousness itself.
Therefore, liberation is not an escape for someone who is imprisoned, but a shift in perspective, a remembering of what is always true. There is no journey to undertake, no destination to reach. There is just the recognition that the feeling of separation was a misunderstanding, a temporary identification with a limited viewpoint.
The simplicity of this recognition can be startling. It cuts through the layers of spiritual striving and brings us back to the fundamental truth of our being. You are not a separate individual trying to become one with the universe. You are the universe experiencing itself through this unique body-mind. The awakening is simply the recognition, the realization.
“You are not a separate individual trying to become one with the universe. You are the universe experiencing itself through this unique body-mind.”
After this recognition, awareness feels fresh, renewed. So on we go, playing the parts, transformed, entirely. ⬚
Consciousness is Not a Feature of Reality but Reality Itself
No subject or object, no inner or outer, exists beyond or is independent of this fundamental awareness. Consciousness is reality itself.
Thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions all arise and subside within this field of awareness. It is impossible to conceive of something outside of awareness. Even the idea of an unconscious void requires awareness to be conceived. This is an obvious clue as to the fundamental nature of reality.
The traditional subject-object dichotomy, the ingrained belief in a separate “I” perceiving a distinct world, is the bedrock of our everyday experience. But this division, this separation, is ultimately an illusion. The perceiver is itself a manifestation within consciousness, a particular facet of the light of awareness experienced as a specific body-mind. The object, the perceived world, is equally an appearance within this same consciousness.
Waking reality, like the activity of dreams, is a manifestation within one, universal consciousness, one aware presence. The “you” that perceives the world and the world that is perceived are not two fundamentally different things. Both are expressions of this singular awareness. The apparent separation arises from the way consciousness localizes and identifies with specific points of experience, creating the illusion of individual subjects interacting with external objects.
There is no “stuff” of the universe that is inherently unconscious, waiting for consciousness to somehow emerge or be added to it. Rather, the very ground of being, the fundamental potential from which all forms arise, is itself conscious. What we perceive as inert matter is simply a particular expression of this underlying awareness.
“What we perceive as inert matter is simply a particular expression of this underlying awareness.””
This understanding dissolves the mystery of how consciousness arises in a seemingly physical world. It doesn't emerge. It is reality itself. The question then shifts from “how does consciousness arise from matter?” to “how does consciousness manifest as the diverse forms we perceive as matter?”
The implication of this perspective removes the fundamental barrier between ourselves and the world, revealing the inherent interconnectedness that transcends our ordinary perception. The “other” is not truly other but another expression of the same consciousness that constitutes our own being. Embodying this understanding fosters a deep sense of empathy, compassion, and a recognition of our shared reality.
Likewise, it liberates us from the limitations of a purely materialistic worldview. Consciousness is not a byproduct of physical processes; it is the very source and essence of all processes. The universe is not a blind, mechanical machine but an unfolding appearance within that which we are, aware presence. ⬚
Overheard In Devotion
Where are you going?
I am going where God takes me.
What if he takes you too far?
There is only God. I can only go where he goes.
. . .
Practicing the Presence
For centuries, spiritual traditions have emphasized the practice of being in the presence of God. Often, the practices are associated with specific rituals, prayers, or efforts to quiet the mind in order to connect with a transcendent being. In the nondual understanding, the presence of God is not something external to be invoked or a state to be achieved. Rather, it is the very ground of our being, the ever-present reality of awareness in which all experience unfolds. To practice the presence of God, then, is simply to rest knowingly in the experience of being aware. It is to rest as aware presence.
The stance of the silent witness could be described as neutral benevolence. We observe the unfolding inner and outer worlds, and we are happy to engage, but we do so without psychological attachment. In other words we interact with the world from a place of fullness rather than from a place of lack. We recognize temporary expressions within consciousness for what they are as temporary expressions within consciousness. We know that this consciousness, our being, is shared with everyone.
While this may sound passive, it is through this practice that we are granted access to deeper intelligence, for in the stillness we more easily intuit the larger patterns, the subtle promptings, and unspoken needs in others. Unattached, we remain open and available.
This is the presence of God—the fundamental awareness that is the source and substance of all existence. It is through this simple shift in perspective that life becomes worth celebrating.
The world of the senses, once a source of potential entanglement and suffering, becomes a colorful feast to be experienced and enjoyed. We savor the sunrise and the sunset, we smile at remembered dreams, find delight in the preparation and taste of food, and enjoy the warmth of meaningful connections with others. No matter how complicated things around us seem, within our being there is abiding, quiet simplicity. As we become established in out true nature, there is more room for the ease of being. In time, this peace becomes home.
Having taken the inward path, not to escape the world, but to discover our very essence as this boundless awareness, and, having recognized this truth, we turn naturally outward again, aligned with the inherent wholeness of reality. We fully understand that apparent divisions are just appearances, useful fictions pointing to the deeper reality.
Embodying this understanding, our actions in the world are motivated less by egoic desires and the pursuit of personal gain. We are moved to help foster connection, harmony, and meaning to the world according to our gifts, and through the spontaneous unfolding of the unified consciousness through us.
The practice of presence, the simple resting in awareness, becomes a wellspring for authentic action. Life unfolds as divine presence, a hymn to the unity that underpins all that is. ⬚