Neville Goddard on I AM

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard teaches that "I AM" is the name of God, and this God is not an external being but is man's own awareness of being. This unconditioned consciousness is the one and only reality, the foundation upon which all things rest. It is the formless, self-existent awareness that precedes all creation and all states of being, such as being a man, being rich, or being poor. As the creative power, your I AM becomes that which you are conscious of being.

Key Concepts

• I AM is God: The Bible reveals God's name to be I AM. This is not a being outside of yourself, but your very own consciousness.
• Unconditioned Awareness: I AM is your fundamental sense of being, separate from anything you might be conscious of being. It is the awareness that exists before you identify as a man, a woman, rich, or poor.
• The One Reality: This unconditioned consciousness is the only reality. All things, or conditioned states, live and move within it.
• The Creator: All things are made by this principle. The unconditioned awareness (I AM) first conceives of a state and then becomes that which it has conceived. This power is identified with your own human imagination.
• Indivisible Center: While you may assume infinite forms or concepts of yourself (rich, poor, beggar, thief), the center of your being—the I AM—remains undivided and unchanged.

Detailed Explanation

The core of this teaching is that God is man's own awareness of being. Biblical figures such as Moses, David, and Isaiah are said to have discovered this truth, declaring, "I AM hath sent me unto you," and "Be still and know that I AM God." This is not a reference to a person, but to a universal principle. The many "I AM" statements in the New Testament, such as "I AM the way" and "I AM the resurrection," refer to this same power: your awareness of being is the door through which all manifestations pass into the world of form.

Neville makes a crucial distinction between unconditioned and conditioned consciousness. Your unconditioned consciousness is simply "I AM"—the knowledge that you exist, independent of any form. This awareness is self-existent and eternal. Conditioned consciousness is when this formless I AM takes on a concept of itself, such as "I am a man" or "I am rich." The I AM is the permanent center of being, while the conditions are temporary forms or states that it assumes. Though it can manifest in countless forms, the essential I AM cannot be divided.

This awareness is the first cause and the creative power of the universe, identified as your own imagination. The process of creation is a sequence of first conceiving something, and then becoming that which is conceived. By assuming you are what you want to be, you are speaking to your Self, the only God. This is the practical application of the principle: to change your world, you must claim within your own consciousness, "I AM" that which you desire to be, and persist in that assumption until it becomes your objective reality.

Important Quotes

Be still and know that I AM God.

— At Your Command

Before Abraham or the world was-I AM.

— Your Faith Is Your Fortune

Unconditioned consciousness is God, the one and only reality.

— Freedom For All

Related Concepts

• Consciousness: I AM is defined as unconditioned consciousness, the only reality. All things exist as forms or levels within this one consciousness.
• Imagination: Your own wonderful human imagination is identified as the creative power of God, the I AM. To imagine a state is to begin the creative act.
• States: States like being rich, poor, known, or unknown are conditions or concepts that the formless I AM assumes. The central I AM remains unchanged regardless of the state you temporarily occupy.
• Law of Assumption: The way to direct the power of I AM is to assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled. You dare to assume that you already are what you want to be, which is an application of your I AM.

Common Misunderstandings

• An External God: The teaching clarifies that I AM is not a God outside of man. It is explicitly defined as man's own awareness of being.
• A Historical Person: Biblical statements like "I AM the way" do not refer to a specific historical person, but to the universal principle of consciousness itself, which is the way to all manifestation.

Practical Applications

To apply this teaching, you must identify your desire and then dare to assume that you are already the person you want to be. This is not a request to an outside power, but a claim made within your own consciousness. If you wish to be rich, you must be able to say internally, "I am rich." If you wish to be known, you must claim, "I am he."

This requires persistent assumption, even when your senses and reason deny it. You are speaking to the only God there is—your own Self, your imagination—and asking your Self to bring your desire to pass by remaining loyal to your vision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'I AM' and 'I am a man'?

'I AM' is your unconditioned awareness of being, which is God. 'I am a man' is a conditioned state or concept that your formless awareness has assumed.

Is 'I AM' an external God?

No, the source material states that God is your own awareness of being, your own wonderful human imagination.

How does 'I AM' create reality?

The formless awareness of 'I AM' first conceives of a state, and then by its own law of being, it is compelled to become and express that which it has conceived.