You wake up in the morning, your eyes "see" the world and you say "this is the world." Then where was this world when you were asleep?

There are THREE STATES available to the average person: Waking, Dreaming, and Deep sleep.

There is a FOURTH STATE, or SUPERCONSCIOUSNESS or TURIYA. It is available to the Gnani, the Realized person. Once realized, the Gnani, like NISARGADATTA, tells you he has SEEN IT, KNOWN IT, EXPERIENCED IT.

"It is so wonderful, so full of joy, of bliss, it is your birthright. Work towards it. You will love it and never allow yourself to lapse back into your 'IGNORANT' state."

Gnanis have tried to put into words (and words are mere toys -- playthings of the mind) their experience of this Fourth State, this Reality. But it is so difficult to express in words that most have failed.

Nisargadatta, with a rare simple eloquence, is able to give us descriptions of this Realized state and also give pointers so the aspirant can embark on the journey of Self-Realization with confidence.

The entire book, I AM THAT, weaves along this thread of REALITY versus UNREALITY. However, we will pick a few of the chapters or"discourses" for deeper understanding of words such as: "the Real," "the Unreal," "Awareness," "Consciousness," "death," "immortality" and others.

Katy Guard