Self Realization Mantra

The profound alignment between Nisargadatta's "I Am That" and the Self Realization Mantra - "I Am Thee Iself. I Am Thee Allself. I Am Thee Godself. I Am Thee Noself." - reveals itself through their shared pointing to the ultimate truth of our being. Both pathways begin with the recognition of our fundamental sense of existence - what Nisargadatta calls the pure "I am" and what the mantra acknowledges as "I Am Thee Iself." From this essential starting point, both teachings guide us toward expanding realizations of our true nature.
Just as Nisargadatta encourages us to abide in the "I am" until it reveals its own source, the mantra leads us through progressive recognitions of our larger identity. The expansion into "I Am Thee Allself" mirrors Nisargadatta's teachings about transcending the personal self to realize our universal nature, where we recognize our unity with all of existence. This naturally flows into the divine recognition of "I Am Thee Godself," paralleling Nisargadatta's guidance about our identity with the Absolute.
What becomes clear is that the four aspects of the Self Realization Mantra - Iself, Allself, Godself, and Noself - are actually detailed expressions of what Nisargadatta points to as "THAT." When we say "I am That," the "That" encompasses all levels of self and all expressions of being. The mantra simply maps out this territory explicitly, showing us that "That" includes our individual expression (Iself), our unity with all existence (Allself), our divine nature (Godself), and the boundless reality beyond all concepts (Noself).
The ultimate pointing of both teachings converges in the recognition of what lies beyond all concepts and identifications. The mantra's "I Am Thee Noself" and Nisargadatta's final teachings about transcending even the "I am" both indicate the same boundless awareness that is our true nature. Here, all divisions and limitations dissolve into the pure knowing that we are That - the ultimate reality that cannot be confined by any words or concepts.
What makes these teachings so powerful is their shared emphasis on direct experience rather than mere philosophical understanding. Both the mantra and Nisargadatta's pointing serve as practical guides for awakening to what we have always been. They offer complementary approaches to the same timeless truth - that our essential nature is the infinite, unbounded consciousness that is the source and substance of all existence. Through either pathway, we are guided to recognize and embody this profound truth, moving from the limited sense of individual self to the ultimate realization of our true nature as That which encompasses and transcends all manifestation.
In this light, the Self Realization Mantra can be seen as a detailed mapping of what Nisargadatta points to with "I Am That" - offering a systematic unfolding of exactly what "That" includes. It breaks down the components of "That" into recognizable aspects of our experience, while never losing sight of their essential unity. Both paths lead us home to the realization of our true nature, beyond all concepts, beyond all limitations, to the direct knowing of what we have always been.
The mantra's "I Am Thee" declarations are essentially saying "I Am That" four times, each time illuminating a different aspect of what "That" encompasses. This progressive revelation helps us understand and embody the full spectrum of what Nisargadatta was pointing to with that simple yet profound statement "I Am That."

Here's a deep dive into Itti Itti and how it contrasts with Neti Neti:
While many spiritual seekers are familiar with the ancient practice of Neti Neti ("not this, not that"), there exists a lesser-known but equally powerful approach called Itti Itti ("this too, this too"). Where Neti Neti seeks truth through a process of elimination and transcendence, Itti Itti finds it through radical inclusion and acceptance of everything that arises in experience.
Neti Neti proceeds by systematically rejecting all that is transient, temporary, or observable in order to arrive at what remains - the unchanging truth of pure awareness. It's a path of discrimination and rejection, constantly saying "no" to all appearances and phenomena. While this approach has its merits, it can sometimes lead to a subtle form of spiritual bypassing, where aspects of our experience are prematurely transcended rather than fully integrated.
Itti Itti, on the other hand, moves forward through complete acceptance and recognition. Instead of pushing away any aspect of experience, it welcomes everything as a valid expression of truth. This includes all thoughts, emotions, sensations, and experiences - both the seemingly spiritual and mundane. Nothing is rejected; everything is recognized as "this too" - another face of the ultimate reality.
The power of Itti Itti lies in its fundamental assumption that truth is not found by eliminating the false, but by recognizing that everything - absolutely everything - is an expression of truth. Even our confusion, resistance, and apparent obstacles are welcomed as "this too." This radical acceptance paradoxically leads to a profound liberation, as there is nothing left to reject or transcend.
Consider how these approaches might handle difficult emotions or challenging experiences. Neti Neti might say "I am not this anger, not these thoughts, not these feelings," attempting to find freedom through dissociation. Itti Itti instead proclaims "This anger too! These thoughts too! These feelings too!" - finding freedom through total inclusion and recognition.
The practice of Itti Itti requires great courage and openness. It asks us to abandon our habitual patterns of rejection and resistance, to open our arms wide to all of existence. It challenges us to find truth not by pushing away what we think isn't it, but by recognizing that everything, without exception, is it.
This approach aligns beautifully with non-dual understanding, which sees all phenomena as expressions of the one reality. Instead of creating a subtle divide between the absolute and the relative, Itti Itti recognizes that the absolute expresses itself as every relative appearance. There is no need to transcend the relative to find the absolute - the absolute is already perfectly present as every relative appearance.
In practical terms, Itti Itti can be easier to maintain in daily life than Neti Neti. Rather than constantly having to push away experiences or remind yourself "not this, not that," you simply welcome everything that arises with "this too, this too." This creates a natural state of acceptance and presence that can be maintained even in the midst of everyday activities.
Moreover, Itti Itti tends to lead to a more embodied and integrated awakening. Instead of creating a split between the spiritual and the mundane, it allows for a full embrace of our humanity while simultaneously recognizing our divine nature. Nothing needs to be excluded or transcended - everything is welcomed as another expression of the one reality.
In conclusion, while both Neti Neti and Itti Itti are valid paths, Itti Itti offers a particularly powerful approach for our times. Its message of radical inclusion and acceptance speaks to our need for wholeness and integration. Rather than seeking truth through rejection and transcendence, it invites us to find it through complete acceptance and recognition of everything that is. This is the revolutionary power of "this too, this too."