""I am Pure Consciousness, the underlying essence of all elements and beings. Nothing whatsoever exists separate from My Divinity. There is no power in the cosmos that does not emanate from Me and belong to Me. The entire universe is suspended from Me as if I were the string in a necklace of jewels. The gems may differ vastly, but the force holding them all together, the central thread, is Me, Divinity.
I am the innate nature of everything. In pure water I am the sweet taste. In the sun and moon I am the radiance. In the very center of human beings I live as virility and courage. I am the sacred Word... and I am the sound of it heard throughout the universe.
"I am the slight, delicate scent, the sweet fragrance of the earth. I am the brilliance in both fire and sun. I am the light of Divinity in all beings. I am the subtle spirit in spiritual practices that gives them their existence - I am the love in the devotee, for example, or the austerity in the ascetic, or the sweet sense of charity in the giver.
"I am the primordial seed of all entities, the power of discrimination in those who are intelligent, the splendor within all resplendent beings and things.
"Of the strong, I am their might and vigor. As I am beyond all attachments, I am the power in unselfish desire. I am the subtle force in good actions that puts them in harmony with the welfare of humanity. I am the innate urge to help others."
-The Bhagavad Gita: A walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley at p.69
"I am the Good Shepherd" as featured in the book The Christ Jouney which features several of the great "I am" sayings of Jesus accompanied by a commentary by Sr. Wendy Beckett. See https://www.piano-nobile.com/publications/42/ for details.
“God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’"Exodus 3:14 “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger.” John 6:35 “I am the light of the world; he who fallows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12 “I am the gate; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.” John 10:11 I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.” John 11:25 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1 “Truly, Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” John 8:58
Who am I? They often tell meI stepped from my cell’s confinementCalmly, cheerfully, firmly,Like a Squire from his country house. Who am I? They often tell meI used to speak to my wardersFreely and friendly and clearly,As thought it were mine to command. Who am I? They also tell meI bore the days of misfortuneEquably, smilingly, proudly,like one accustomed to win. Am I then really that which other men tell of?Or am I only what I myself know of myself?Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,Tossing in expectations of great events,Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all. Who am I? This or the Other?Am I one person today and tomorrow another?Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,And before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling?Or is something within me still like a beaten armyFleeing in disorder from victory already achieved? Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer who died in a concentration camp in April 1945 See http://www.dbonhoeffer.org/ for more.
