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The Wisdom of Balsekar: The Essence of Enlightenment from the World's Leading Teacher of Advaita

Ramesh Balsekar
Edited by Alan Jacobs

Ramesh Balsekar is generally regarded as the leading living exponent of Advaita Vedanta, the philosophy of Non–Duality. Born in 1917, educated at The London School of Economics, a householder with children and grandchildren who retired over twenty years ago having risen to President of the Bank of India, Ramesh, now eighty-seven years old, holds satsang seven days a week in his Mumbai apartment. His spiritual quest was inspired many decades ago by his interest in the great saint, Ramana Maharshi. However, his "awakening" occurred after his retirement, as he sat with his guru, Nisargadatta Maharaj, and in "real time" translated Nisargadatta's talks from Marathi into English.

Ramesh has written over twenty books and is known and loved by seekers from around the world. He has been teaching Advaita since 1982. I have read more than a dozen of his books, have been uplifted by attending his satsangs in Mumbai, and have thoroughly enjoyed selected videos and DVD's about Ramesh. I would recommend all of his books, going to see him, and viewing the videos. However, suggesting to someone where to start reading Ramesh has always been difficult. This book solves that problem, because it is an anthology.

This anthology is organized by subject, or theme. The editor has done an excellent job of selecting both the right themes and best passages from Ramesh. You can't go wrong reading this book, as it will either enliven the best parts of Ramesh's teachings for those of us who are familiar with them, or introduce them to the novice.

Ramesh is personable, witty, and knowledgeable, on the mundane or relative level. On the deeper level, he is awakened, a gyani, one who has pierced the illusory veil of duality.

Wayne Liquorman, acknowledged by Ramesh as his only awakened American student, very succinctly sums up the value of this book, in his foreword: "Throughout these pages are to be found countless pointers to a profound Truth, a singular Truth… a Truth that is vast and Unknowable and yet as familiar and intimate as our breath."

I recommend this book without hesitation to any and all interested in the pursuit of Truth.

Reviewed by Len Oppenheim