In the consciousness hierarchy there are three stages:

1) Jivatman (individual soul). Is the one who identifies himself with
the body-mind. One who thinks i am a body, a personality, an
individual apart from the world. He excludes and isolates himself from
the world as a separate personality because of identification with the
body and the mind.

2) Next only the beingness,or the consciousness,which is the world.
“I AM” means my whole world.Just being and the world. Together with
the beingness the world is also felt – that is Atman (The Self).

3) The Ultimate principle that knows this beingness cannot be termed
at all. It cannot be approached or conditioned by any words. That is
the Ultimate state.

The Hierarchy I explain in common words, like: I have a grandson (that
is jivatma). I have a son and I am the grandfather. Grandfather is the
source of the son and grandson.

The three stages cannot be termed as Knowledge. The term knowledge
comes at beingness level.
I have passed on to you the essence of my teachings.

(Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj)