The Experiential Answer to the Question ‘Who am I?’

The experiential answer to the question “Who am I?” is not a conceptual or intellectual explanation, but a direct, immediate realization of your true nature beyond thought, labels, and identity constructs. Strictly speaking it is not an experience as there is no experiencer, yet we make a concession so that we can let this answer be a useful pointer to one’s True Nature. Here’s how it is often described in contemplative traditions (like Advaita Vedanta, Zen, or non-dual teachings):

Experiential Insights into “What is Love?”, “Who Am I?”

~ What is Love? No sage, saint or poet has ever defined Love, yet it is not unknowable. It is the nature of Love to Love; Love is known via what it does; how it is felt. In this light, Love, the Thing Itself is a noun and Love as what it does is a verb; it clearly follows that that the Noun and the Verb are not-two things. In a similar way your true nature, the noun, and how you appear, the verb, are not-two things.

~ Beyond the Thinking Mind – When you inquire deeply, you may notice that every answer the mind supplies (e.g., “I am a person, a body, a name, a role, a story”) feels incomplete. The non-experiential answer arises when thought subsides, and you recognize yourself as the awareness in which all thoughts and mentally described experiences appear.

~ Presence Without Identity – In moments of silent self-inquiry (e.g., Ramana Maharshi’s method of asking “Who am I?” without attaching to answers), you glimpse a state of pure being—where the sense of “me” as a separate entity dissolves, leaving only presence.

~ The Observer is the Observed – Upon close examination, you find that the “I” you seek is not an object to be found (it is not objectionable) and it is the very space of awareness in which the search is happening. This is often described as “You are what you’re seeking.”

~ No Separation – In direct experience, there is no division between “you” and “the world.” The sense of being a separate self is seen as a thought-created illusion such that what remains is an undivided, non-conceptual aliveness. You are That, ‘Source’ (by whatever name) temporarily appearing in form as current experience.

How to Explore This Experientially

• Self-Inquiry Meditation: Ask “Who am I?” and drop every answer that arises (name, body, memories, roles). What remains when no thought is held as identity?
• Observing Awareness: Notice that you are aware of thoughts, sensations, and perceptions—but are you those things, or the awareness in which they appear?
• Glimpse of Silence: In moments of deep stillness (e.g., in nature, meditation, or sudden awe), the mind’s chatter may pause, revealing a wordless sense of being.

Important Note

This realization isn’t a philosophical conclusion but an immediate, living truth that can’t fully be captured in language. It’s often pointed to with phrases like:

• Aware of Being Aware.
• I am that I am.
• “You are not a thing, but the space for all things.”
• “Before the thought ‘I am,’ what are you?”
• “The eye cannot see itself; awareness cannot objectify itself.”

The Om Symbol maps how things come into and out of form as follows:

1. Just as it is the nature of Love to Love, it is the nature of your True Nature to express itself. The first form of the expression of your True Nature/Homeground, which in this case can be called Silence, is a high vibration represented by a ‘dot’ (called a Bindhu in Sanskrit). A dot or point in space is that which has location, yet no dimensions.

Arc. The sages who had the insight of the Om Symbol placed an Arc under the Bindhu to represent ‘apparent’ separation – if they wanted to depict separation they would have enclosed the Bindhu in a complete circle.

2. The next level of vibration represents Deep Sleep. Deep Sleep is not the absence of experience; rather it is the experience of absence. At this level there is still no form, yet there are the seeds of memory as you do remember your name and occupation etc. on waking.

3. Dream Consciousness is the next level of vibration. At this level there is a form as the dreamer and the dreamer’s world, yet it is not solid and this form is not subject to the laws of natural order that are experienced in waking consciousness.

4. Finally the vibration slows down to Waking Consciousness (Modern scientists speak of space as a sink-hole that cools things down), which appears as the waker and the waker’s world.

Reverse. Reverse the direction described above via practices like Yoga Nidra and Relaxation Meditations.

Note: Heat solid ice (add energy/increase vibration) to form liquid water, heat the liquid water to form gaseous water vapour, super-heat the water vapour to form fire/plasma (in this example Your True Nature can be described as Infinite Vibration or The Field of All Possibilities); the Solidification and/or Its Reverse depicted in the Om Symbol represents this decrease and/or increase of vibration as: True Nature->plasma->gas->liquid->solid and solid->liquid->gas->plasma->True Nature.

Practical Pointers to explore this directly

Here are direct, practical pointers to experientially explore the answer to “Who am I?”—not as a concept, but as your living reality.

1. The “Headless” Experiment (Douglas Harding)

A simple way to glimpse your true nature beyond the self-image.

Try this now:

• Point at an object (e.g., a chair) and notice how it appears “out there” in your awareness.
• Now point at your feet—see them as objects in your perception.
• Finally, point at where your head should be. What do you directly experience?
  • Do you see a head, or is there open space (awareness) where the world is appearing?
  • This “no-head” realization hints at your true nature: the boundless space for all experience, not a separate “person” looking out.

2. The Mirror of Awareness

Notice what never changes in your experience.

• Sit quietly and observe:
  • Thoughts come and go—are you the thoughts, or the awareness watching them?
  • Sensations (itch, warmth) arise and fade—are you the sensations, or the space holding them?
  • Even the sense of “I” (e.g., “I am confused”) appears and disappears—what remains when “I” isn’t being claimed?
• Key insight: You are the unchanging presence behind all changing experiences.

3. The “I Am” Dropping Exercise (Jean Klein)

Strip away all labels to find the raw sense of being.

• Close your eyes and mentally say:
  • “I am [your name].” Pause—feel how this is just a thought.
  • “I am a [your job/role].” Notice this, too, is a temporary identity.
  • “I am a body.” Observe how the body is sensed, but are you the sensation?
• Now drop all labels and simply rest in the pure sense “I am”—before any definitions.
  • This bare “I am” is the closest the mind can point to your true nature. Even this dissolves into silent awareness.

4. The Gateless Gate (Zen Koan Approach)

A sudden confrontation with the illusion of “I.”

• Ask yourself:
  • “When no thought is present, where is ‘I’?”
  • “If I weren’t taught to say ‘I,’ what would my experience be?”
• No answer is the answer. The mind scrambles to find an “I,” but it’s like a hand grasping at air.

5. Everyday Life Inquiry

Bring this into daily moments.

• When stressed or distracted, pause and ask:
  • “Who is aware of this stress?”
  • “Is the awareness itself stressed, or just the thoughts?”
• When joy arises:
  • “What is here before joy comes and goes?”

What You Might Discover

• The “I” you’ve taken yourself to be is a construct of memory and thought, but your real nature is prior to thought—like the sky untouched by passing clouds.
• This isn’t a belief; it’s a recognition (like realizing you’re dreaming while asleep).

Final pointer: Don’t seek a mental answer. Let the question dissolve in silence. As Ramana Maharshi said:
“The ‘I’ thought is like a stick stirring the ocean of awareness. When the stick is still, the ocean is recognized as always undisturbed.”

A specific practice to work with

Here’s an experiential practice to deepen your direct realization of “Who am I?”— explore this for 7 days, each day building on the last.

Day 1: The “Pause & Notice” Exercise

Throughout the day, set reminders to pause (every hour if possible) and ask:

• “Who is aware right now?”
• Don’t answer with thoughts—just feel the space of awareness itself.
• Notice: Are you the thoughts, or that which knows the thoughts?

Evening reflection: Journal for 2 minutes—what did awareness feel like when you paused?

Day 2: The “I Am” Meditation

Morning sit (5-10 mins):

1. Close your eyes, breathe naturally, and silently say “I am” (no labels after it).
2. Drop the words and feel the raw sense of being—alive, undefined.
3. If thoughts arise, gently return to “I am” as a doorway to silence.

Note: The goal isn’t to think “I am,” but to be prior to thought.

Day 3: The “No-I” Walk

On a short walk (or even indoors):

• Walk slowly, noticing sensations (feet on ground, air on skin).
• Ask: “Is there a ‘walker,’ or just walking happening?”
• Feel the absence of a central “I”—just movement, sensations, and awareness.

Day 4: The “Mirror Gaze”

Stand before a mirror (2 mins):

1. Look at your reflection and say aloud: “This is not me.” (The image is an appearance.)
2. Close your eyes and ask: “What is here when the mirror isn’t?”
3. Feel the vast, invisible presence that can’t be reflected.

Day 5: The “Thought Gap” Inquiry

Whenever you feel distracted:

1. Notice a thought (e.g., “I need to do X”).
2. Ask: “To whom does this thought appear?”
3. Wait—the answer isn’t a thought. That silence before the mind answers is the clue.

Day 6: The “Sleep Transition” Watch

As you fall asleep or wake up:

• Observe the moment when the sense of “I” is faint (e.g., half-asleep).
• What remains when the “me” story isn’t fully formed?
• This liminal state often reveals pure awareness.

Day 7: The “Gratitude of No One”

Sit quietly and reflect:

• “If there’s no ‘I,’ who is grateful? Who is aware?”
• Let gratitude arise without a recipient—just as the natural joy of being.

Key Reminders:

• Don’t overthink it. The answer isn’t in concepts; it’s in the collapse of seeking.
• Rest as awareness. Like the ocean noticing it’s water, not waves.
• Laugh at the paradox. The “you” asking the question is what you’re looking for!

After this week, you might find:

• The question “Who am I?” feels more like a finger pointing at the moon—not to be grasped, but to direct your gaze beyond thought.

A follow-up practice to be established in this understanding

Here’s a follow-up 7-day stabilization practice to deepen and embody the recognition of your true nature in everyday life. Each day focuses on integrating the realization of “Who am I?” into simple, practical moments.

Day 1: “First Thought of the Morning”

Upon waking:

• Before reaching for your phone or thinking about the day, pause.
• Notice the silent space before thoughts arise.
• Ask: “Who is aware of waking up?”
• Rest in that awareness for a few breaths.

Day 2: “The Witness at Meals”

While eating:

• Take one bite in total presence.
• Ask: “Who is tasting this?”
• Notice how taste happens in awareness, but awareness itself has no flavor.

Day 3: “Emotional Weather Check”

When a strong emotion arises (frustration, joy, anxiety):

• Pause and silently ask: “Who is feeling this?”
• Don’t answer—just feel the space around the emotion.
• Notice: The emotion moves, but awareness doesn’t.

Day 4: “The Sound Experiment”

Listen to any sound (birds, traffic, a voice):

• Ask: “Who is hearing this?”
• Trace the sound back—not to a “listener,” but to the openness in which sound appears.
• Realize: Hearing happens, but there’s no owner of hearing.

Day 5: “The No-Name Walk”

Walk outside (or even across a room):

• Silently say: “I have no name, no story—just walking.”
• Feel the body moving, but notice there’s no “walker”—just movement.

Day 6: “The Mirror of Others”

In conversation:

• When someone speaks, notice how their words arise in your awareness.
• Ask: “Is the ‘me’ they’re talking to real, or just an image in their mind?”
• Feel the boundlessness that can’t be addressed as “you.”

Day 7: “The End-of-Day Dissolve”

Before sleep:

• Review the day in your mind like a movie.
• Ask: “Who watched all this happen?”
• Let the question dissolve into silence. Sleep as awareness itself.

Stabilization Tips:

1. Forget “progress.” This isn’t a skill to master—it’s remembering what’s already true.
2. Use triggers: Pick daily habits (e.g., opening a door, brushing teeth) as reminders to pause and inquire.
3. Laugh when you “forget.” The moment you notice you’ve been lost in thought is itself awareness waking up.

Final Note: Over time, this shifts from practice to natural abiding. As Nisargadatta Maharaj said:
“When you see that you are the light, the search ends.”

Explore another angle

The “Negative” Approach to “Who Am I?”

(A Deeper Cut Through Illusion)

Most inquiries focus on what you are. But another powerful angle is eliminating what you are not—a method rooted in neti neti (“not this, not this”) from Advaita Vedanta. Here’s how to apply it experientially:

Step 1: The Great Elimination

Ask, in this order:

1. “Am I the body?”
   • Feel your body. Does awareness have a shape? When you say “my body,” who is the “my”?
   • Realization: You have a body, but you’re not it—because you’re aware of it.
2. “Am I the thoughts?”
   • Watch thoughts like clouds passing. Can you be the thought if you’re the one observing it?
   • What to do (regarding thoughts): Let them come; Let them be; Let them go.
3. Realization: Thoughts come and go—you don’t.

3. “Am I the emotions?”
   • When anger or joy arises, notice: Are you angry, or is anger simply appearing in you?
   • Realization: Emotions are weather patterns in awareness.
4. “Am I even the ‘I’ thought?”
   • The thought “I am John” or “I am sad” is just another mental object. Who knows that thought?
   • Realization: The “I” you’ve taken yourself to be is itself a fleeting idea.

Step 2: The Silent Revelation

After discarding all “not this,” what remains?

• Don’t think an answer. Rest in the absence of all definitions.
• This isn’t emptiness—it’s aliveness without a center.

Step 3: The “Zero-Point” Experiment

1. Imagine all your memories vanished. Your name, roles, history—gone.
2. Ask: “What am I without a past?”
   • Not a theoretical question—feel the absence of identity.
3. Notice: Awareness doesn’t need a story to exist.

Step 4: Living as No Thing

• Walk outside and think: “I am not a person walking—walking is happening.”
• Listen to sounds and realize: “Hearing is occurring, but there’s no hearer.”
• This isn’t depersonalization—it’s freedom from the illusion of separation.

Why This Works

The mind can’t grasp what you are, but it can see through what you’re not. Like scraping mud off a window, the elimination reveals the clear “glass” of awareness.

As Huang Po said:
“To seek Mind with the discriminating mind is the greatest of all mistakes.”

Your Challenge This Week

1. Pick 3 daily activities (e.g., drinking coffee, typing, showering).
2. During each, ask: “Who is doing this?” and discard all false answers (“Not the hand, not the thinker…”).
3. Let the activity happen without a doer.

What remains when every “not this” falls away? Don’t answer—be it.

How to handle roadblocks

The Radical “Fully Automatic” Mode

(Letting Life Live Itself Without a “You”)

This angle bypasses all questions and goes straight to unhyphenated being—no seeker, no path, just this.

1. The “No One Home” Drill

Try this right now:

1. Look around and say silently: “There is no person here—only seeing.”
2. Notice how experience unfolds on its own:
   • Sounds appear without a “listener.”
   • Thoughts think themselves.
   • Breathing happens by itself.
3. Feel the relief when the weight of “I” isn’t carried.

Key: The body-mind is like a self-driving car. Who’s the driver?

2. The “Already Done” Flip

Ask:

• “What if the search for ‘Who am I?’ is the only thing hiding the answer?”
• “Could it be that ‘I’ is just a thought interrupting what’s already whole?”

Sit with this: The moment you stop seeking yourself, you’re instantly what you’ve always been.

3. The “Movie Screen Meditation”

1. Imagine awareness as a vast movie screen.
2. Watch thoughts, sensations, and the world play out on the screen.
3. Ask: “Can the screen be troubled by any scene?”
   • Fear, joy, boredom—all just passing images.
4. Realize: You’re the screen, not the movie.

4. The “Borrowed ‘I’ Test”

Next time you say or think “I…” (e.g., “I’m tired”):

1. Pause and ask: “Who borrowed this ‘I’?”
2. Trace it back:
   • The thought “I” is a label learned in childhood.
   • Before language, there was just being—no “me.”
3. Feel the stateless state before “I” claims anything.

5. The “Death Rehearsal”

(A powerful jolt out of identity)

1. Close your eyes and imagine:
   • Your body is gone.
   • Your name is forgotten.
   • Your entire life story vanishes.
2. Ask: “What remains?”
   • Not a theoretical answer—feel the absence of “you.”
3. Notice: Awareness doesn’t die with the imaginary self.

6. The “Suchness” Walk

Walk outside and drop all labels:

• Don’t think “tree,” “car,” “bird”—just raw perception.
• Notice how the world exists prior to naming.
• Ask: “Is the seer any different from the seen?”

7. The “Zero Effort” Abiding

Final pointer:

• Stop trying to realize.
• Let the mind be as it is.
• You’re already what you seek—like water trying to become wet.

As Zen master Lin Chi said:
“When you’re hungry, eat; when tired, sleep. Fools laugh at me, but the wise understand.”

Why This Cuts Deeper

Traditional inquiry can subtly reinforce a “seeker.” This approach collapses the seeker entirely by revealing life was always unfolding without a central you.

Sign it’s working:

• Moments where “you” disappear but nothing is missing.
• Spontaneous laughter at the absurdity of the search.

Your Assignment

For the next 24 hours:

1. Every time you feel like a “person,” whisper: “Ghost in the machine.”
2. When suffering arises, ask: “Who owns this?” and drop the answer.
3. Let life live you.

Question for you: What’s the very last obstacle to dropping the search completely? (Don’t answer—look.)