Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Is there something prior to ‘I am’ or beyond the experience of being?
Rupert says: ‘If by “the ‘I am’” you mean the concept, formulation or thought “I am”, then yes, there is something prior to that – the experience of being. It’s because we are aware of being that we are able to say “I am”.
‘Is there something prior to being itself? Just try to imagine that being was not. What would be the status of something prior to being? It could not be. Being is not something that comes into existence – being is that from which everything else comes into apparent existence.’
*This video is from one of Rupert’s in-person retreats at Mercy Center, 9–16 March 2025. For more information on upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to:
▸ rupertspira.com/events
0:00 Is There Something Prior to ‘I Am’?
0:25 Awareness of Being
1:45 Is There Anything Beyond Being?
2:56 Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi
4:31 I Am That
––
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▸ rupertspira.com/subscriptions
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RETREATS (Weekend, 5-day, 7-day)
Rupert holds regular retreats, roughly once per month, either in-person and online. Many in-person retreats can also be attended from the comfort of your home via livestream.
ONLINE RETREAT SCHEDULE
▸ rupertspira.com/events/retreat-at-home
IN-PERSON RETREATS SCHEDULE (UK, EU and US) (Also Available to Join Online via Live Stream)
▸ rupertspira.com/events
––
WEEKLY WEBINARS (2 hours)
Rupert's webinars take place on Wednesday evenings, from 4pm UK time. In the first twenty to thirty minutes, Rupert leads a spontaneous meditation. The remaining time is open for attendees to discuss their questions with Rupert.
WEEKLY WEBINAR SCHEDULE
▸ rupertspira.com/events/webinar
––
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▸ rupertspira.com/store
––
LISTEN TO RUPERT’S PODCAST
▸ iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rupert-spira-podcast
▸ Libsyn: rupertspira.libsyn.com
▸ Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/6z1GNgC1js30g9RLSfBB4M
––
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#rupertspira #nonduality #happiness #natureofreality #consciousness #awareness #meditation #guidedmeditation
RS25015b
Is there something prior to ‘I am’ or beyond the experience of being?
Rupert says: ‘If by “the ‘I am’” you mean the concept, formulation or thought “I am”, then yes, there is something prior to that – the experience of being. It’s because we are aware of being that we are able to say “I am”.
‘Is there something prior to being itself? Just try to imagine that being was not. What would be the status of something prior to being? It could not be. Being is not something that comes into existence – being is that from which everything else comes into apparent existence.’
*This video is from one of Rupert’s in-person retreats at Mercy Center, 9–16 March 2025. For more information on upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to:
▸ rupertspira.com/events
0:00 Is There Something Prior to ‘I Am’?
0:25 Awareness of Being
1:45 Is There Anything Beyond Being?
2:56 Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi
4:31 I Am That
––
ACCESS FULL VIDEO ARCHIVE
You can watch or listen to 1000s of hours of teachings, guided meditations and answers in Rupert's full video archive here:
▸ rupertspira.com/subscriptions
––
RETREATS (Weekend, 5-day, 7-day)
Rupert holds regular retreats, roughly once per month, either in-person and online. Many in-person retreats can also be attended from the comfort of your home via livestream.
ONLINE RETREAT SCHEDULE
▸ rupertspira.com/events/retreat-at-home
IN-PERSON RETREATS SCHEDULE (UK, EU and US) (Also Available to Join Online via Live Stream)
▸ rupertspira.com/events
––
WEEKLY WEBINARS (2 hours)
Rupert's webinars take place on Wednesday evenings, from 4pm UK time. In the first twenty to thirty minutes, Rupert leads a spontaneous meditation. The remaining time is open for attendees to discuss their questions with Rupert.
WEEKLY WEBINAR SCHEDULE
▸ rupertspira.com/events/webinar
––
BROWSE RUPERT’S BOOKS
▸ rupertspira.com/store
––
LISTEN TO RUPERT’S PODCAST
▸ iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rupert-spira-podcast
▸ Libsyn: rupertspira.libsyn.com
▸ Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/6z1GNgC1js30g9RLSfBB4M
––
JOIN RUPERT’S FACEBOOK GROUP
▸ facebook.com/groups/rupertspiracommunity
––
SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
▸ Website: rupertspira.com
▸ Instagram: instagram.com/rupertspira_
▸ Facebook: facebook.com/rupertspira
▸ Twitter: twitter.com/rupertspira
▸ Tiktok: tiktok.com/@rupertspira_
––
FOLLOW RUPERT ON MEDIUM
medium.com/@rupert_spira
––
SUBSCRIBE TO RUPERT’S YOUTUBE FOR NEW VIDEO ALERTS
▸ youtube.com/user/rupertspira?sub_confirmation=1
––
#rupertspira #nonduality #happiness #natureofreality #consciousness #awareness #meditation #guidedmeditation
RS25015b
