The one, which expresses itself as 'I', is not 'I' but it is formless consciousness

Many spiritual masters say that sticking to "I am" is way out from the physical shackles. But that "I am" itself is creates the prison. The one, which expresses itself as 'I', is not 'I' but it is formless consciousness. Therefore the ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ is not the self. Considering the ‘I’ or ‘I AM as self is erroneous.  The self, which is in the form of consciousness   cannot be called anything nor approached because it is prior to anything that exists. When the consciousness is the substance of the whole universe  and its contents ,  thoughts and words  and it is not a thing or entity or identity within the physical existence (universe)but it pervades the whole physical existence(universe) than it is erroneous to limit the ‘I’ to the physical entity(waking entity or ego)  alone. 

 

The mind rises from the formless soul, which is in the form of consciousness. The sense of ‘I’ rises as mind. The mind is in the form of universe. Thus ‘I’ is the mind or universe. Universe appears as waking or dream and disappears as deep sleep.  Holding sense of ‘I’ limited to the ego is cause of separation. It makes one feel, he is an individual separate from the world and world existed prior to him, and he is born in it afterwards. Until one has this conviction, it is very difficult to grasp the non-dual truth. 

Thus it is necessary to realize the self is neither the ego nor the world but is the witness of the ego, body and world together.  The true self is formless witness of the three states.  And it is also the formless substance of the three states, because without self the three states are non-existent.

 

People think ‘I’ or ‘I AM as self only their body is not self. Only when the ‘I’ is there than only the body, ego and the world is there. If ‘I’ disappears than the body, ego and the world disappear.  Without the ‘I’ there is neither body, nor ego and nor world.  The ‘I’ is present when the mind is present. Mind is present only when the universe is present. Universe is present only when the waking is present. Waking is present only when there is ignorance. 

Thus ‘I’ is cause of the ignorance. Getting rid of the ignorance is very much necessary to acquire self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The existence of the soul, which is the true self has to be, has to be grasped and assimilated.' I or 'I' am is mere expression.

The whole physical existence or universe is an expression. Thus physical existence or universe is mere illusion. The man and his experience of the world and his belief of god are within the illusory expression.  The diversity is created out of single substance and knowing that single substance brings unity in diversity in consciousness. 

Thus experience of duality is mere illusion. That is mind is an illusion. The one that has this illusion is the consciousness, which is the innermost self.

Therefore it is erroneous to seek truth on the base of 'I' because 'I' is not self. It very much necessary to rectify the seeking base by proper understanding  of the fact that ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ is not the  self before indulging in the pursuit of truth.

As long as a person has a firm conviction that 'I' is self, he will not be able to understand ,assimilate and realize the non-dual truth, Because whatever knowledge one assimilate he assimilates as a person, which adds to his existing accumulated information. Therefore, seeker has to discover the fact that 'I' is not the self but 'I' is the whole universe, which appears in the form of mind. Universe is mere mirage.  The duality is experienced only when the universe is present. Thus universe is duality. Consciousness is formless substance and witness of the universe.   Thus consciousness is the true self and cause of the universe but it itself is uncaused because no second thing exist other than it.

It is necessary to have firm conviction 'I' is not self but the formless consciousness is the true self. To understand, assimilate and realize the non-dual truth.