What do you think?
Rate this book
Prior to Consciousness
This Book is based on the talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj whose first collection of talks were published under the title -I AM THAT. Jean Dunn, a close follower of Maharaj edited this and two other volumes that make up a triology of Maharaj's talks, Seeds of Consciousness and Consciousness and the Absolute.
Paperback
Published September 1, 1999
7 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Nisargadatta Maharaj
88 books556 followersSri Nisargadatta Maharaj was an Indian spiritual teacher and philosopher of Advaita (Nondualism), and a Guru, belonging to the Navnath Sampradaya. Sri Nisargadatta, with his direct and minimalistic explanation of non-dualism, is considered the most famous teacher of Advaita since Ramana Maharshi. In 1973, the publication of his most famous and widely-translated book, "I AM THAT", an English translation of his talks in Marathi by Maurice Frydman, brought him worldwide recognition and followers.
According to Sri Nisargadatta, the purpose of spirituality is to know who you are. His discussions are not for academic scholars. He is a rebellious spirit, abrupt in his style of discussion, provocative, and immensely profound, cutting to the core and wasting little effort on inessentials. His terse but potent sayings are known for their ability to trigger radical shifts from philosophical mind-games to the purity of consciousness, just by hearing or even reading them.
He talked about the 'direct way' of knowing the Final Reality, in which one becomes aware of one's original nature through mental discrimination, breaking the mind's false identification with the ego, knowing that "You are already That". The scene for these talks was a small upstairs room at his humble flat in Khetwadi, used for his own meditation and also for daily chantings. A simple man, Nisargadatta was a house-holder and a petty shop-keeper selling bidis - hand-made leaf-rolled cigarettes.
According to Sri Nisargadatta, the purpose of spirituality is to know who you are. His discussions are not for academic scholars. He is a rebellious spirit, abrupt in his style of discussion, provocative, and immensely profound, cutting to the core and wasting little effort on inessentials. His terse but potent sayings are known for their ability to trigger radical shifts from philosophical mind-games to the purity of consciousness, just by hearing or even reading them.
He talked about the 'direct way' of knowing the Final Reality, in which one becomes aware of one's original nature through mental discrimination, breaking the mind's false identification with the ego, knowing that "You are already That". The scene for these talks was a small upstairs room at his humble flat in Khetwadi, used for his own meditation and also for daily chantings. A simple man, Nisargadatta was a house-holder and a petty shop-keeper selling bidis - hand-made leaf-rolled cigarettes.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 18, 2018
After I’d read I AM THAT a number of times, after a number of years had passed, I asked one of my wisest friends which Nisargadatta book to read next. ‘Prior to Consciousness’, she said.
“This cryptic blunt talk will not be available elsewhere,” Nisargadatta announces. He’s not kidding. This is a profound book, a difficult one, and likely one with a very small audience. I spent days reading it, a few pages at a time, and I’m grateful I did. Yet, in the end, I decided, “I’m not remotely qualified!” I’ll flee back to I AM THAT. I am a spiritual kindergartner -- and this is the post-graduate course.
Of course I AM THAT can be a confounding book -- but it is also exceedingly lovely. It’s no accident that snippets are now shared endlessly in heartwarming Facebook posts. (Surely Nisargadatta Maharaj would be outraged to be reduced to sound bytes and greeting card verse?!)
At the time of the talks recorded in ‘Prior to Consciousness’, Nisargadatta was dying of throat cancer. These are tough teachings. He’s not mincing words or suffering fools. This is the school of hard knocks. It ain’t heartwarming.
Think of all the lovely Nisargadatta quotes you know. They’re all from I AM THAT. Imagine if quotes from this book were shared instead:
“The touch of beingness is misery only.”
“All the experiences of suffering are the result of love.”
“The moment the waking state starts the worshipping of misery begins.”
No coffee mug will be emblazoned with those lines! No New Age bookshop will turn a profit off them -- but an exceptional and undaunted student might.
Sometimes he comes down, just a little, and then his statements are useful to those not so advanced, for fair to middling mortals like myself. (Note: if you have the book and you’re struggling with it, I found the most accessible talks were those recorded between January 10th and January 27th, 1981. Pages 97 to 104. They are magnificent, helpful, practical. Even for beginners like me.)
In general however, his tone is basically, “I am dying, and have no time to waste, and so I will keep throwing you in at the deep end!”
There are moments he seems to despair that anyone will really understand. Other times he says that these teachings will have their way with anyone who encounters them -- and they will have no choice in the matter! May it be so.
“This cryptic blunt talk will not be available elsewhere,” Nisargadatta announces. He’s not kidding. This is a profound book, a difficult one, and likely one with a very small audience. I spent days reading it, a few pages at a time, and I’m grateful I did. Yet, in the end, I decided, “I’m not remotely qualified!” I’ll flee back to I AM THAT. I am a spiritual kindergartner -- and this is the post-graduate course.
Of course I AM THAT can be a confounding book -- but it is also exceedingly lovely. It’s no accident that snippets are now shared endlessly in heartwarming Facebook posts. (Surely Nisargadatta Maharaj would be outraged to be reduced to sound bytes and greeting card verse?!)
At the time of the talks recorded in ‘Prior to Consciousness’, Nisargadatta was dying of throat cancer. These are tough teachings. He’s not mincing words or suffering fools. This is the school of hard knocks. It ain’t heartwarming.
Think of all the lovely Nisargadatta quotes you know. They’re all from I AM THAT. Imagine if quotes from this book were shared instead:
“The touch of beingness is misery only.”
“All the experiences of suffering are the result of love.”
“The moment the waking state starts the worshipping of misery begins.”
No coffee mug will be emblazoned with those lines! No New Age bookshop will turn a profit off them -- but an exceptional and undaunted student might.
Sometimes he comes down, just a little, and then his statements are useful to those not so advanced, for fair to middling mortals like myself. (Note: if you have the book and you’re struggling with it, I found the most accessible talks were those recorded between January 10th and January 27th, 1981. Pages 97 to 104. They are magnificent, helpful, practical. Even for beginners like me.)
In general however, his tone is basically, “I am dying, and have no time to waste, and so I will keep throwing you in at the deep end!”
There are moments he seems to despair that anyone will really understand. Other times he says that these teachings will have their way with anyone who encounters them -- and they will have no choice in the matter! May it be so.
April 24, 2012
Oh WOW !!! Nisargadatta is one of my favorite human beings ever !! And this book is one that distills his teachings to the most important essence of Being.
November 24, 2023
While I Am That is unequivocally considered to be Nisargadatta Maharaj's most famous teachings, Prior To Consciousness is a notch above.
September 16, 2024
After I had read 'I am That' several times, my daughter gifted me this book.
The revelations Maharaj makes through this book are extraordinary and several notches deeper. Maharaj alludes meaning of manifest avataras (pg 91), to the deepest experience as 'beyond known and even unknown' (pg106), explanation to 'para, pashyanti, madhyama and Vaikhari' (pg 116), 'linga deha' (pg 124), 'dukha bhagawan' (pg 127).
Many of these teachings transcend what we learn from the texts of Advaita.
The only other place where I have read about such teachings is in books by Sri Ramachandraji of Shahjahanpur. I will post my views on these books also.
The revelations Maharaj makes through this book are extraordinary and several notches deeper. Maharaj alludes meaning of manifest avataras (pg 91), to the deepest experience as 'beyond known and even unknown' (pg106), explanation to 'para, pashyanti, madhyama and Vaikhari' (pg 116), 'linga deha' (pg 124), 'dukha bhagawan' (pg 127).
Many of these teachings transcend what we learn from the texts of Advaita.
The only other place where I have read about such teachings is in books by Sri Ramachandraji of Shahjahanpur. I will post my views on these books also.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews