 Nisargadatta never spoke in English. His teachings were delivered in his native language, Marathi, at Satsangs held in his Bombay apartment. The lectures were compiled and translated from Marathi by Maurice Frydman and/or Ramesh Balsekar. Sri Nisargadatta is still considered by many Westerners to be the greatest exponent of Advaita, despite the demise of his body in 1986. It seems to me unfair to say he "died" in 1986 since he often said, "I was never born." This was not an egocentric belief, since he also said: "No one is born, no one dies. What is born is only a concept. There is no entity to be freed. Not understanding this fact constitutes the bondage of the ignorant; apperception of it is the freedom of truth." There is little doubt that Nisargadatta was one of the most influential teachers of the 20th Century. His leading disciple, Ramesh Balsekar, carried on the teaching (although with his own twists), by holding Satsang daily in his Mumbai (formerly Bombay) apartment. Ramesh speaks perfect English. In fact, Ramesh even dreams in English. 
$26.95PaperbackI Am ThatNisargadatta MaharajThis book has been my all time favorite spiritual text for the last several years. It is the book I would choose, without hesitation, if I could only have one for the rest of my life. I Am That is deep and profound, yet simple and accessible. The text is 400+ pages of personal interactions between seekers and Nisargadatta Maharaj, one of the great Advaitans of the 20th century. Amazingly, I can read this book over and over and over, and discover new and important knowledge every time. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! Review by James Braha I Am That, subtitled Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj is acknowledged by many to be one of the greatest spiritual treasures of the 20th Century. We have included this book in our short list we call Books You Can't Live Without. It is an incredibly rich feast of wisdom that's best read a few pages per day over an extended period of time. Most serious seekers of Truth will want to read this book over and over again. Review by Len Oppenheim I Am That is the Operator's Manual for the serious Post-New-Age seeker. If you have had enough of bells and whistles and are ready to move out of your spiritual comfort zone, perhaps after several years of studying and practicing techniques for personal growth, this is the book for you. Sri Nisargadatta himself is a study in the co-existence of opposite values. He is at once focused and expansive, wise and irreverent, compassionate and cantankerous. But no matter what his mood, his teachings are always supremely bold and energizing. Along with Sri Ramana Maharshi, he is considered the foremost proponent of Advaita Vedanta of the twentieth century. This collection of questions and answers is his seminal work. Page for page, I Am That is the most engaging book I have ever read. I just finished reading it for the fifth time and continue to be amazed. On almost literally every page is at least one "mini mahavakya", one great idea that challenges the way we are taught to think about spirituality. For example, opening at random I find Sri Nisargadatta saying, "Abandon false ideas, that is all. There is no need of true ideas. There aren't any." His ability to use just the right bold-simple turn of a phrase to drive home an abstract point is unparalleled. I Am That definitely says something different than the last hundred spiritual books you may have read. As the radical teachings of Zen are to the rational teachings of orthodox Buddhism, so is the ancient philosophy of Advaita Vedanta to orthodox Hinduism. That is, it represents the culmination and fulfillment of the system of thought of which it is a part, and at the same time, the complete antithesis of all that has been said before. In a nutshell, rational, or "first stage," philosophies tell us that we are not a body (physical, mental or otherwise), but formless pure consciousness. Radical, or "second stage", philosophies (such as Zen and Vedanta) start from there and tell us that, ultimately, we are not even consciousness, but the absolutely still 'ground state' in which it manifests. An image often used is that, if consciousness is like pure energetic light, then our true nature is the still and silent vacuum of empty space through which light travels. Though very direct, the path of knowledge may be experienced as difficult because its theory and practice are, counter-intuitively, quite different in some aspects. In this regard, Sri Nisargadatta dispels a very subtle and prevalent misunderstanding about Vedanta (and second stage philosophies in general): that mastery is easy. Simple perhaps, he says, but rarely undemanding. The theory of Vedanta asserts that "All is One" and, since we know that we exist, we are that One. The good news is that no effort is required to claim one's status as the Self of all. Especially for those who have spent many years toiling at spiritual practices, this is good news indeed and, upon discovering Vedanta, many are tempted to stop all practice and simply rejoice in their "newfound" status. However, Sri Nisargadatta points out that, "words describe words", and even the elegant statements of Vedanta are mere words until one has realized their truth for oneself. For the serious seeker, he says, effort is still required in the form of constant vigilance to consciously remember one's true nature at all times. Specifically, the practice calls for rigorously engaging a single thought before transcending the realm of thought altogether. At first, this process requires a good deal of effort. This subtle distinction between effortlessness in theory and effort in practice is extremely elusive, especially if one is, perhaps unconsciously, seeking a break from the spiritual grind. It is here that the perspective of a teacher with laser–sharp discrimination is vital. Sri Nisargadatta is just such a teacher and this critical point is a good example of what distinguishes I Am That from any number of traditional and New Age titles available in the market today. And what is this single thought which we are to "rigorously engage"? According to Sri Nisargadatta, it is nothing other than the familiar thought "I am". As the "I"-thought is always intimately accessible at the heart of every other thought, he says, it serves to link who we think we are to who we really are, the immortal Self. As he says in literally hundreds of ways in this book, all that each of us really has and really knows is this prime datum at the core of every experience: "I am". He says, for example, "The only true statement is 'I am'. All else is mere inference." Therefore, he says, holding onto "I am" is the key. Who would have believed it? The one thing that it seems we've all been able to agree upon is that the ego is the enemy. Yet here is a very hard to dismiss teacher telling us that it is the key to heaven, brahmaloka, the whole works. Clearly defining the exact role of the "I am" as the witness in theory and the key in practice is Sri Nisargadatta's great gift to us. I rate I Am That near the very top of my list, in fact, tied for second place among my favorite books of all time. (I have more to say about these two unique books in a joint review.) It is a true transitional classic, reminiscent of Be Here Now in its shocking potency. Its one hundred and one short chapters are perfect for reading right before falling asleep. By the time the book is finished, you may well find that your thoughts about spirituality and how it may be most directly advanced have changed, never to be quite the same again. Review by Michael Baxter 
$16.00PaperbackDuet of OneRamesh BalsekarThis is my favorite book by Ramesh Balsekar (a direct disciple of Sri Nisargadatta.) I have read it and re-read it. Balskekar’s commentary on The Ashtravakra Gita (The Bible of Non-Duality) to me, offers wondrous insight into the preordained drama that we call life. The Ashtravakra Gita and Ramesh's commentary bring into sharp view what is real and what separates the real from all else. At first there may be fear created by this reality, but through acceptance it brings much peace, as all happens and unfolds as it should, and all action is predetermined. The main theme is that we are dreamers (in actuality there is only one dreamer), the dream being this life. When the time is opportune we awaken to the one reality. This awakening is inevitable and the time and place already set… all we need do and can only do is just carry on in the drama of every day life until that day when the drama becomes a comedy and the laughter begins to flow. Review by Tony Kainauskas 
$14.95PaperbackThe Ultimate Medicine, as Prescribed by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: Dialogues with a Realized MasterEdited by Robert Powell, Ph.D.Unlike I Am That which has gained cult status, this book seems to be relatively undiscovered. The master is the same, the teaching is the same, and in fact, I think, this book is far more easily read and absorbed. (Maybe I think that way because the print is much larger and my eyes are getting weaker as I age.) In any event, the message is the same and the personality of the master comes through just as well. The following, taken from the editor's note is a pretty good choice for getting to the root of the Advaita teaching as revived by Nisargadatta: "Jivatman is the one who identifies with the body-mind as an individual separate from the world. The atman is only Beingness, or the consciousness, which is the world. The Ultimate principle which knows this Beingness cannot be named at all. It cannot be approached or conditioned by any words. That is the Ultimate state." —Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj It's easy huh? Just understand that short paragraph and you will have it all. Good luck and enjoy! Review by Len Oppenheim 
$16.95PaperbackPointers from Nisargadatta MaharajRamesh BalsekarThis is included in this section as well as the section under Ramesh, because Ramesh claims in the preface that the material written in this volume "emerged spontaneously, dictated, in a fine frenzy that surcharged my being, by a compulsive power that could not be denied." Ramesh goes on to explain that not only did the book really spontaneously write itself, but that its publication kind of "just happened", through a series of "coincidences." It is very important to note that the writings and publication both took place while Ramesh was still continuing to attend satsang and before Ramesh himself attained "guruhood status." Nisargadatta authorized the publication saying: "I know that you both are aware that all writing originates in consciousness, that there is writing but no authors." Both Nisargadatta and Ramesh teach that nothing happens and that there is no doer. Therefore, neither of them outlines a path. In fact both teach that enlightenment cannot be achieved, it just happens, as much as a leaf falling off a tree just happens. When I attended satsang with Ramesh in 2004 he made this point rather graphically. He was trying to drive home this point that enlightenment just happens. He said, "It can happen at any time. It could happen while you are seated on the commode. In fact if it should happen at that moment you might get up and even forget to wipe your ass." This attitude, that nothing happens, results in many levels of paradoxical traps for the seeker. If there is nothing you can do to get enlightened, then why bother attending satsang? In fact these great teachers say the choice to attend or not attend satsang is not yours to decide. If you are at satsang it is merely because you were destined to be there. Most seekers have trouble with this concept. If we consider ourselves seekers, then we must feel we are involved in the volitional act of seeking. What I like best about this book, Pointers, is that despite the view that there is nothing you can do, this books gives some practical advice or "pointers" which these masters feel may help one to have enlightenment happen to the seeker. If you can figure this out and explain to me in conceptual terms how this makes sense, I would be eternally grateful. Anyway, I loved this book and think it is clearly a must read for the serious student of Advaita. Review by Len Oppenheim 
$13.95PaperbackBe As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana MaharshiEdited by David GodmanThis is the best book for introducing serious spiritual seekers to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi, the foremost exponent of experiential Advaita Vedanta of at least the last century. It is also the finest job of book editing I've ever seen. Prior to compiling this book, Godman had been the librarian at Sri Ramanashram for several years. He has arranged the material in such a way as to present the most important ideas first, as was Sri Ramana's own style in teaching. So carefully has this been done that I am tempted to believe that if a Vedantic principle is not presented in the first half of this book, I probably don't need it in the long run. The questions and answers which form the bulk of each chapter have been taken from many sources and assembled in such a way as to give the appearance of a smooth and continuous conversation. The brief prefaces to each chapter are also very clear and informative. The most impressive aspect of the book, however, is its emphasis on the practice of self-enquiry to re-establish one's identity with the unbounded Self. While some form of this technique, sometimes referred to as atma vichara, has existed since antiquity, Sri Ramana prescribed it in an innovative form designed for the modern world, to be practiced during both silence and activity. He recommended this technique so often and so vigorously that it is regarded as the most distinctive motif in his teachings. Godman presents Sri Ramana's instructions for self-enquiry in three chapters, placed second only to the presentation of the concept of Self. Although the practice itself is very simple, much has been said about it by Sri Ramana and others over the years, with potentially confusing results. The questions and answers in these three chapters greatly clarify these issues. In addition, Godman's summary of the mechanics of the practice is completely lucid, indeed in a class of its own when compared to other discussions on this topic that I have come across. I have been in correspondence with Godman on this point myself, and have found his clarifications to be invaluable. Sri Ramana taught that different spiritual paths are appropriate for different individuals according to one's temperament and qualification. He has said: Self-enquiry is the first and most important step. The I-thought is traced to its source, which is the final goal. However, if the aspirant is temperamentally unsuited for self–enquiry, he must develop devotion. If neither enquiry nor devotion appeals to him, he can gain tranquility by yoga techniques. If he is unsuited to the first two methods by temperament and to the third on account of age or health, he must try karma marga, the path of good deeds and social service. He thus, in course of time, comes to be suited for one of the three former paths. Sri Ramana preferred to teach in silence. If requested to speak, he would usually recommend self-enquiry unadorned with theoretical discussions. If pressed further, he would occasionally discuss related topics of a theoretical nature, always in the language of purest Advaita Vedanta (lit. 'non-dual end-of-knowledge'), a language spoken in the very heart of Gyan Yoga, "the path of knowledge." Similarly, Sri Ramana taught the Vedantic perspectives on Bhakti Yogafor those with a devotional nature and Karma Yoga for those much inclined to action. Godman has done an excellent job of presenting Sri Ramana's teachings on these topics, as well. One cannot help but notice that the section on "Theory" is presented last, as is consistent with Sri Ramana's emphasis on practicality at all times. Overall, I feel that this is the best introductory book written about the most respected teacher of modern times, and that the fifty pages devoted to self-enquiry present the most practical advice I have ever received. Although there are several other excellent modern–day books on experiential Advaita Vedanta, I could not recommend Be As You Are more highly. This is the one I would take to the proverbial desert island. Review by Michael Baxter 
$16.95PaperbackThe Wisdom - Teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj: A Visual JourneyMatthew GreenblattRare and incredible photos of Nisargadatta intertwined with major points of his philosophy. A great gift filled with spiritual wisdom. 
$18.00PaperbackWhat's Wrong with Right Now Unless You Think About It?Bob AdamsonThis book is one of the finest Advaitan texts ever. I spent five weeks living with Sailor Bob, and the difference between his teachings and other Advaitans is that he teaches only non-duality. As one who awakened while with Nisargadatta Maharaj, (author of I Am That), Bob's teaching is absolutely pure. He leaves no room whatsoever for dualistic thinking. He offers the student nothing to attain in the future—no carrots, no falsehoods. All is right here, right now. His book directly and powerfully points students toward Presence Awareness—what he describes as the "natural state," which is non conceptual, ever present, self shining, one without another. Bob was told by Nisargadatta that the best thing he could do was to "take others beyond the need for help." For those who are ready, this book accomplishes that. Reviewed by James Braha 
$45.00Hardcover, PaperbackSpecial Set: Two of the Greatest Spiritual Books of All TimeT.N. Venkataraman, Sri Ramananashram, Nisargadatta MaharajTalks with Sri Ramana Maharshi I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj Reading either one of these books may well change your life. If you're ready for a change, reading the two of them together almost certainly will. I'd like to tell you how reading them together changed mine. Please don't be put off by my use of specialized terminology. If you encounter terms that you are not familiar with, I invite you to do what my wonderful wife, Intesar, does. She tells me that "truth rings its own bell" and listens with her heart. I've been a seeker all of my life. I was bitten by the "spirituality bug" and started mantra meditation in 1970. At that time, I felt sure that I'd be 'enlightened' within ten years. Just to be on the safe side, I gave it twenty. On my twentieth anniversary I quit meditating, telling myself that I must have internalized the spirit of it by now. This felt like the right thing to do, but it left an enormous feeling of emptiness inside. It was then that I discovered experiential Advaita Vedanta, although at first I didn't know it by that name. One day I had an interesting experience. I had been considering the thought process from two points of view and then comparing the subjective feelings of veracity between them. The first way of thinking had to do with adding up a number of parts to create or recreate a feeling of wholeness. The second way began with this feeling and moved toward the parts without ever quite losing it. On this particular day, the scales in my mind tipped quite suddenly and decisively in favor of this second way of thinking. I don't think of this as any kind of realization. After all, it was purely mental. I think of it as a sort of "intellectual inversion," a sudden abandoning of one governing paradigm for another. I simply found myself looking at things in a new, upside-down sort of way. I now had a new batch of questions, or rather, a feeling of having some new answers to questions that I did not fully understand, questions like:
I found myself re-evaluating things that I thought I knew. It occurred to me for the first time that the term "spiritual knowledge" might be something of an oxymoron, referring to something better divested than acquired. And I knew, like a child first hearing the truth about Santa Claus, that I could not go back to my previous way of thinking even if I wanted to. All of this transpired so vividly that, scooping up all of my ready cash (about $250), I literally ran to The 21st Century bookstore to consult with my friend, Tony, as to how best to explore this new perspective. My plan was to buy the seminal work of each of the great masters of the east and see which of them were speaking this new language, as I felt sure some of them must be. Two teachers jumped out at me, Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Everything they said seemed to make perfect sense, but only in this new way. I later found out that they were the two main proponents of the ancient school of thought known as Advaita Vedanta (lit. 'non-dual end-of-knowledge') of the last century. Enter the books I had bought one book by each of these great teachers. They were, Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi and, I am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Each is about 600 pages of questions and answers and has (or had) a yellow jacket. I thought of them as my "yellow pages," because I felt sure that anything I really needed to know could be found between their covers. Each book presents the theory and practice of gyan yoga, the "path of knowledge." Each has a strong emphasis on the technique of atma vichara, or "self-enquiry," to locate and stabilize awareness in the unbounded Self that we are told is within us. But this is where their similarity ends. Although I believe both of these men to have been enlightened sages, or jnani's, they could hardly have been more different in personalities and teaching styles. Where Sri Ramana was a gentleman, it seems that Sri Nisargadatta was a bit of a rascal. Where Sri Ramana preferred not to speak much, Sri Nisargadatta appears to have enjoyed heated discussions. Where Sri Ramana was an ascetic who led a very pure lifestyle, Sri Nisargadatta was a family man who earned his living selling strong Indian cigarettes. Where enlightenment had dawned unbidden on Sri Ramana at an early age, Sri Nisargadatta appears to have earned it through sheer courage and strength of will, perhaps even stubbornness. I decided to read these two books together, right before bedtimes, in the hope that the feeling of their teachings would permeate my sleep. First, I would read about fifteen minutes of Sri Nisargadatta. I found his style to be supremely bold and direct (not to mention entertaining) and therefore perfect, I thought, for a "spiritual warrior" like me. He pulled no punches and protected no egos. I deeply appreciated Sri Nisargadatta's directness. I felt that I was finally being treated like an adult, like someone who could digest facts unmixed with fiction. I also felt just a little bit beaten up by the end of the quarter hour, so rigorous were his demands on me as a reader. I would then read about fifteen minutes of Sri Ramana and he would somehow, while being equally direct, manage to soothe my mind and send me off to sleep on a settled note. Within about three months I had finished reading both books. I enjoyed them immensely and especially admired the fact that both teachers began with the feeling of wholeness and never left it, no matter what detail was being considered. I felt vastly enriched and much more clear about my path. You may want to find out for yourself what the current interest in experiential Advaita Vedanta is all about. This bookstore has prepared a special discount when you buy both of these books. I encourage you to get them for yourself, or for someone you love, and read them together as I did. Have fun with it.. Honestly, I envy you the adventure! Review by Michael Baxter 
$14.95PaperbackPrior to ConsciousnessNisargadatta
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