I am aware, therefore I am*. Who am I? I am pure awareness. Awareness, Perception, Consciousness: I am pointing to that which is the fundamental force enabling you to see these words, and is just how you can...be.
Everything is happening around me in this field of attention. I am awareness, so I can safely say the things and thoughts I can be aware of is not me!
A very simple and powerful story is how author and teacher Eckhart Tolle came about this fundamental realisation. After many years of suicidal depression, he became aware of the bizarreness of a particular thought he had: "I cannot live with myself any longer".
This gave rise to a self-realisation. In this thought there are two entities: The "I", who cannot live with "myself" any longer. Strange! The "I" is me, the one who is aware. "Myself" only exists as a bundle of persistent thought forms, bits of memory, bits of expectation, bits of other people, bits of judgements about my job, my relationship, my living situation, etc. etc. ad infinitum.
This is the most profound and beautiful realisation a human being can come to.
Me, awareness, is a huge, divine, peaceful, powerful ocean. And all those things and thoughts I can perceive are little ripples on the ocean's surface. Sometimes delightful, sometimes painful, always fleeting and definitely impermanent!
Without awareness, you can't see. Without LIGHT, you cannot see. This is what is meant when Jesus said "I am the light of the world" and "You are the light of the world".
How beautiful it is to see a person's face light up; their eyes sparkle, and how amazing it is to truly connect with another human being. Why? We are the light of consciousness coming on Earth to recognise itself, and here, there is only one, there is only love, there is only peace. Every time this light is acknowledged, it strengthens, and the whole being becomes...lighter! A feeling of weightlessness and vastness, because what you are is not the density of the physical body and thought forms. Absolutely not. You are the light of the world! Be it. And you can be the change you want to see:
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Matthew 5:14-15
*The philosopher Descarte famously concluded, "I think, therefore I am". This, many would suggest, was the ego speaking! But the greatest deception. Go deeper, and I am simply conscious, therefore I am. Very simple.