I Am That - Nisargadatta Maharaj

Q: How does one reach the Supreme State?

M: By renouncing all lesser desires. As long as you are pleased with the lesser, you cannot have the highest. Whatever pleases you, keeps you back. Until you realise the unsatisfactoriness of everything, its transiency and limitation, and collect your energies in one great longing, even the first step is not made. On the other hand, the integrity of the desire for the Supreme is by itself a call from the Supreme. Nothing, physical or mental, can give you freedom. You are free once you understand that your bondage is of your own making and you cease forging the chains that bind you.

Q: How does one find the faith in a Guru?

M: To find the Guru and also the trust in him is rare luck. It does not happen often.

Q: Is it destiny that ordains?

M: Calling it destiny explains little. When it happens you cannot say why it happens and you merely cover up your ignorance by calling it karma or Grace, or the Will of God.

Q: Krishnamurti says that Guru is not needed.

M: Somebody must tell you about the Supreme Reality and the way that leads to it. Krishnamurti is doing nothing else. In a way he is right -- most of the so-called disciples do not trust their Gurus; they disobey them and finally abandon them. For such disciples it would have been infinitely better if they had no Guru at all and just looked within for guidance. To find a living Guru is a rare opportunity and a great responsibility. One should not treat these matters lightly. You people are out to buy yourself the heaven and you imagine that the Guru will supply it for a price. You seek to strike a bargain by offering little but asking much. You cheat nobody except yourselves.

Q: You were told by your Guru that you are the Supreme and you trusted him and acted on it. What gave you this trust?

M: Say, I was just reasonable. It would have been foolish to distrust him. What interest could he possibly have in misleading me?

Q: You told a questioner that we are the same, that we are equals. I cannot believe it. Since I do not believe it, of what use is your statement to me?

M: Your disbelief does not matter. My words are true and they will do their work. This is the beauty of noble company (satsang).

Q: Just sitting near you can it be considered spiritual practice?

M: Of course. The river of life is flowing. Some of its water is here, but so much of it has already reached its goal. You know only the present. I see much further into the past and future, into what you are and what you can be. I cannot but see you as myself. It is in the very nature of love to see no difference.

I Am That - Nisargadatta Maharaj

Extracted from Chapter 64. Whatever pleases you, Keeps you Back

http://www.fixdisease.com/i_am_that.pdf

For those who don't know, Maharaj was Ramesh Balsekar's final guru. He used to sell bidis, and in his satsangs, it was ok to smoke. After he met his Guru, Shri Siddheshwar Maharaj, Nisargadutta did an escape act, that is, he left his family in search of enlightenment. He came back from the station, and set up his own corner in his attick, and spent time there by himself. Until whatever had to happen happened. And the bees came swarming, from all over the world.

Ramesh met him through an article in the Mountain path, a magazine published by Ramana Ashram. When Ramesh walked in to his house, Maharaj said absently, 'What took you so long?' Since both lived in Mumbai, Ramesh became a regular. Maharaj disuaded Ramesh from the temple brand of worship. Ramesh started tranlating the talk for the foreigners.

'No absentees!' Warned the Bidi seller to the Banker. The (retired) banker agreed. And one day, Ramesh was talking faster than his Master spake. That day, the understanding got transfered.

I love the blazing fire in Maharaj's eyes. He beams something. He is a bomb that would love to explode on you.