Decarte's "I think therefore I am" is one way to look at it but the Hindu and Buddhist way that I've gathered is just "I am" with the "I" not standing for a separate being but our door to the absolute or whatever. The Advaita Vedanta folks especially emphasize that all beings have the sense of I am and that it is pre thought. Ramana Maharshi said that the an ultimate spiritual statement was the Bible's famous "I am that I am" which god says but god of course is not someone else and not even every man but every sentient being. - dc
