I Am That by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaja
This is a collection of talks given by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, a noted Indian Guru of the twentieth century who lived in Mumbai. ‘I am that’ is considered a spiritual classic and grounded in Advaita Vedanta, or Nonduality. How relevant are its teachings to the modern day?
Nisargadatta Maharaj
Nisargadatta Maharaj’s own guru was Siddharameshwar Maharaj, and his most important instruction to his pupil was to sit with the feeling ‘I am’.
My teacher told me to hold an to the sense ‘I am’ tenaciously and not to swerve from it even for a moment. I did my best to follow his advice and in a comparatively short time I realized within myself the truth of his teaching. All I did was to remember his teaching, his face, his words constantly. This brought an end to the mind; in the stillness of the mind I saw myself as I am — un- bound
He practised what his guru taught him, whilst running a small shop selling cigarettes. Soon he began to receive visitors, who wanted to sit with him in Satsang and meditation.
As his renown grew, more visitors arrived, and he eventually gave up the shop. He continued to expound on his message, and did so up until his death in 1983 at the age of 82.
‘I am that’ is broken into a hundred small sections of three of four pages, detailing conversations between Nisargadatta and his visitors. This structure makes it easy to read in small snippets, and given the simple profundity of some of his statements, suited me well.
Meditation
I have a shelf of books on meditation, and don’t need another one. Just as well, as Nisargadatta barely mentions meditation throughout the whole book. Just one small section sums up his approach, or lack of:
Q: What is meditation and what are its uses?
M: As long as you are a beginner certain formalized meditations or prayers may be good for you. But for a seeker for reality there is only one meditation—the rigorous refusal to harbour thoughts. To be free from thoughts is itself meditation.
Q: How it is done?
M: You begin by letting thoughts flow and watching them. The very observation slows down the mind till it stops altogether. Once the mind is quiet, keep it quiet. Don't get bored with peace, be in it, go deeper into it.
Q: I heard of holding on to one thought in order to keep other thoughts away. But how to keep all thoughts away? The very idea is also a thought?
M: Experiment anew, don't go by past experience. Watch your thoughts and watch yourself watching the thoughts. The state of freedom from all thoughts will happen suddenly and by the bliss of it you shall recognize it.
NonDuality
Nonduality is an interest of mine, as shown by this list, and it’s not something that it’s easy to write about. You can only point to it, and there were so many times in this book, after just a minute of reading, that I had to put the book down, not to think about something, but to rest in that which he’s pointing at, that which can’t be described.
His pointers are so incredibly clear.
There is nothing to do. Just be. Do nothing. Be.
I do not even say: "be yourself", since you do not know yourself. Just be. Having seen that you are neither body nor mind, just be.
Dialogues
It’s a book that bears similarity to that of another renowned guru, Ramana Maharishi, who gets a number of respectful mentions and whose ‘teachings’ shares a lot with Nisargadatta.
He’s patient and direct with his answers, clear and often humorous. There are times when it seems he’s being provocative, but he’s really just aiming his answers at the true self, not the false ego.
The mind can’t understand this. There’s something deeper that can, and you are aware. You have direct experience. You don’t need anything else.
Advaita
Listen, there are probably easier beginner books on Nonduality to read, and there’s a plethora of teachers on the internet who can tell you all you want about the subject. (As always, beware of teachers - it’s not something you learn, but rather is pointed to. A teacher can help to clarify points, no doubt. Watch plenty of videos. That’s my experience anyhow.)
But I found this incredibly clear. Maybe something in me was ready for it.
Is it still relevant? Well, he doesn’t use spiritual jargon or refer to scripture, so I’d say it’s pretty timeless. He’s as precise as a surgeon with his pointing, and it’s easy to see why he’s so beloved of nonduality teachers and students.
I read it start to finish, but going forward I’ll be lifting it. Even after finishing it, I just open it at random, and what I need is exactly on the page.
I recently rewatched ‘The matrix’ and if you are ready, this is a literary red pill.
The ‘I’ has nothing else to say about this book.
Your true nature is beyond description. It cannot be known with mind, yet it exists. Your true state is ever-existent.
The mind is simply the collection of impressions that have been recorded since birth. It is occupied by thoughts, which are based upon its predominant concept.
Be the witness of thoughts. Catch hold of the knower of the mind.