‘I am’ :The Mahamantra

of
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Pradeep Apte
First edition 2009
C Pradeep Apte
aptep@yahoo.com
India
 Introduction

This small text was prepared in one sitting of about and

hour or so. It is primarily meant to be used as a daily
reading at least once at the beginning of the day in order to
get stabilized in the ‘I am’. If one can do it more number of
times it’s all the more beneficial. I believe that those who
go through this text are already familiar with the techings
of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Even if one has not read
anything about him it will in some way inspire him to know
more about Maharaj and his teachings.

Pradeep Apte
st
31 December 2008
 ‘I am’
The Mahamantra*

(The great reminder)

 ‘I am’
Watching
The
‘I am’
 1

The ‘I am’ is
the mahamantra*
given to me by
my Guru
Sri Nisargadatta
Maharaj.
 2

The Guru said:

always abide in
the ‘I am’,
let it be your
God, Guru and
guide.
 3

The ‘I am’
means
‘I am’ only
and
nothing else.
 4

The ‘I am’
without
words is
pure awareness
without form.
 5

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 6

I ever
abide
in the
‘I am’.
 7

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 8

The ‘I am’ is
my destiny,
I dwell in it.
 9

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 10

The ‘I am’ is
the only identity
I have.
 11

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 12

I see the
‘I am’
in everything
I perceive or
conceive.
 13

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 14

The throb of
‘I am, I am’
goes on
forever.
 15

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 16

The ‘I am’
is indeed
the God
in me.
 17

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 18

The ‘I am’
is the only
sravana*,
manana* and
nididhyasana*
I know.
 19

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 20

The ‘I am’
is the only
eight limbed
yoga
I know.
 21

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 22

The ‘I am’
is the only
jnana*
I know.
 23

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 24

The ‘I am’
is the only
samadhi*
I know.
 25

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 26

The ‘I am’
is the only
teaching and
religion
I know.
 27

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 28

All that
I know
is the
‘I am’.
 29

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 30

Abidance
in the
‘I am’
is the only
sadhana*
to be done.
 31

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 32

The one
abiding in the
‘I am’
can do
no wrong.
 33

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 34

The one
abiding in the
‘I am’
has no
questions or
doubts.
 35

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 36

The one
abiding in the
‘I am’
is free forever.
 37

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 38

The ‘I am’
is the turiya*
your true
natural state.
 39

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 40

There are no
differences in
the ‘I am’,
all differences
are post ‘I am’
modifications.
 41

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 42

To be irreversibly
established in the
‘I am’ is turiya*,
which is turiyatita*
as well.
 43

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 44

The ‘I am’
disappears on
being irreversibly
established
in it.
 45

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 46

The ‘I am’
is bound to
disappear as there
is only the ‘I am’
everywhere and
nothing else.
 47

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 48

The sadhana*
of abiding in
the ‘I am’
must go on
till the ‘I am’
disappears.
 49

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 50

I ever abide in
the ‘I am’
and thus
have no
requirements.
 51

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 52

The ‘I am’
is my gateway
to freedom.
 53

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 54

Abiding in
the ‘I am’,
impartiality
prevails,
as all is
the ‘I am’.
 55

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 56

Abiding in
the ‘I am’,
love abounds,
as all is
the ‘I am’.
 57

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 58

Abiding in
the ‘I am’,
stillness and
silence prevail,
as all is
the ‘I am’.
 59

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 60

The ‘I am’
is most
fundamental,
without it
nothing exists.
 61

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 62

The more
I dwell in
the ‘I am’
the more is
the peace.
 63

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 64

Irreversible
establishment
in the ‘I am’
is eternal peace.
 65

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 66

There is no
fear or misery
as I abide in
the ‘I am’.
 67

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 68

There is
no desire
as I abide in
the ‘I am’.
 69

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 70

There is
no conflict
as I abide in
the ‘I am’.
 71

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 72

To abide in
the ‘I am’
is the only vow
to be taken.
 73

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 74

To abide in
the ‘I am’
is the highest
renunciation.
 75

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 76

To abide in
the ‘I am’
is the greatest
sadhana*.
 77

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 78

To get
irreversibly
established in
the ‘I am’
is the highest
siddhi*
ever known.
 79

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 80

The more I dwell

in the ‘I am’
the more
I like it.
 81

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 82

The ‘I am’
has taken hold
of me and
wouldn’t leave
me now.
 83

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 84

Only the fortunate

ones come to know
the ‘I am’
and abide in it.
 85

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 86

The ‘I am’ is
the only truth,
the only reality
that you need
to know.
 87

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 88

The only free will

you have is
to abide in
the ‘I am’.
 89

I am not
the body
‘I am’ only
the
‘I am’.
 90

The redemption
of all lies in
abiding
in
the ‘I am’.
 91
Mankind shall
forever remember
my Guru
Sri Nisargadatta
Maharaj
for handing down
this priceless and
astonishingly simple
legacy of the
‘I am’.
*
Mahamantra: Great Spiritual chant.
Sravana: Listening to Guru’s words.
Manana: Reflecting on the Guru’s words.
Nididhyasana: Direct experience of Guru’s words.
Jnana: True or direct knowledge of the reality or the Self.
Samadhi: Direct but temporary experience of the Self.
Sadhana: Spiritual practice to attain liberation.
Turiya: The fourth state that underlies the states of waking,
dreaming and sleeping.
Turiyatita: Beyond the fourth state.
Siddhi: Attainment or power.

********