Pradeep Apte - The Nisargadatta Gita

A very important statement was made earlier
where the knowledge ‘I am’ was said to be
‘Brahman’ with the ‘Parabrahman’ lying beyond
it. Another important statement is made here where
the ‘Atman’ or the Self is to be understood by
understanding the ‘I am’. The ‘I am’ is the
‘Atman’. The ‘Atman’ with qualities or identifying
itself with the body is the ‘Jivatman’ (Jiva=living
being). The ‘Atman’ without qualities is the
‘Nirmalatman’ (Nirmal=pure). The ‘Atman’ which
transcends both is the ‘Paramatman’ (The ultimate
transcendent Self). As you abide in the ‘I am’ you
will know the ‘Atman’ or Self in all its aspects, and
this is Atma-jnana or Self-knowledge. It is the
knowledge of your True being as the Absolute
which is all pervading, limitless and infinite.
93. To abide in the knowledge ‘I am’ is
one’s true religion. Give the highest
honor due to it. Doing so you will not
undergo suffering or death.
Conventional religion comes after the ‘I am’ before
belonging to any religion you have ‘to be’ and it is
only after ‘you are’ that you are anything else. So,
the true religion that you are endowed with is the
knowledge ‘I am’ and this is common to all. So to
abide in the ‘I am’ is your true religion and by