I AM

Recently, I was very fortunate enough to travel to the Himalayas. There is something inexplicable about the mountain ranges that I enjoy. They instill in me a certain silence and peace which I yearn for. During this trip, I could visit some extremely beautiful places – valleys, rivers, apple orchards in full blossom, flower gardens. I enjoyed the experience thoroughly and thanked nature for having provided such lovely objects of joy and happiness.

I then reflected upon the experience of silence and peace to grasp them better - What was happening within me? How did I feel? What did I experience? Why did I find it so good? I realized it was so difficult to explain that experience/state in words. I can even say that the state of peace was “Nothing”. 

As I dug deeper to characterize the experience, I realized that the experience was not something that was “happening to me” - I was not happy! I was not joyful! I was not peaceful! Happiness or joy weren't characteristics that “I” was experiencing. They weren’t possessions that “I” was holding. On the other hand, when I “thought” I was happy, “I” was not happy! Instead,

“I” WAS Happiness itself.

When I thought I was joyful, “I” was not joyful! Instead,

“I” WAS Joy.

When I experienced Silence, I didn’t feel silent. Instead,

I was the SILENCE

There is nothing to me apart from the experience. In fact,

I AM the experience.

Or further still, I simply AM.

May be I just got a clue to understanding the biblical statement I AM THAT I AM. I learnt that the word Jehovah means I AM! Aham Brahmasmi!