We typically think of ourselves as people aware of other people and things: “I am a finite individual in a world of other individuals experiencing separate finite phenomena, none of which are me.” Said simply, “I am aware.”
With an enlightening shift of appreciation, we might come to recognise ourselves, not as limited entities who own awareness, but awareness itself: “I am the unbounded context of experiencing within which phenomena come and go.” Or essentially, “I am awareness itself aware of all that arises.” But this is still not the whole truth because there is a hint of duality.
As our awakefulness unfolds and deepens, we eventually find that this interminable awareness, or experiencing, that we are is the very essence of each passing experience. There is no thing that isn’t this wakeful presence. Indeed, there are no things whatsoever. The subject-object story collapses.
Now, our clarified conviction becomes: “I am seamless and infinite experiencing and every experience within me is nothing but me.” Said simply, “I am nondual awareness appearing as all.”
