The teaching presented in *I Am That* stands firmly within the Advaita Vedānta stream of Hindu thought, even though its language is often stripped of technical terminology. Its central concerns—the non-dual nature of reality, the unreality of the separate person, and the insistence that only the Absolute is ultimately real—are all hallmarks of classical Advaita. The book repeatedly turns the reader back to the pure sense of “I Am” as the gateway to recognizing the identity of the individual self (ātman) with the Absolute (Brahman). In this way, the dialogues echo the traditional Advaitic emphasis on discerning the real Self from the transient play of body, mind, and world.

At the same time, the work is not merely an abstract philosophical treatise; it is deeply shaped by a specific living lineage. Nisargadatta Maharaj taught from within the Navnath Sampradāya, a Hindu tradition that transmits a non-dual understanding through a guru-disciple relationship. His devotion to his guru, Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj, and his frequent references to that lineage, give the book a distinct flavor of traditional Indian spiritual instruction. The dialogue format itself reflects a classical pedagogical style, where the guru uses direct pointing and inquiry to guide the seeker toward recognition of the Self.

Within this framework, the text also carries devotional and practical elements characteristic of Hindu spirituality. Emphasis on devotion to the guru, on surrender, and on practices such as mantra repetition appears alongside the uncompromising non-dual message. Thus, the book can be seen as Advaita Vedānta as lived and transmitted through the Navnath Sampradāya, where non-dual insight, devotion, and disciplined inquiry are woven together. The result is a teaching that is both rooted in a well-defined tradition and expressed in a stark, experiential language that continually directs attention back to the simple, immediate sense of being.