The Happening of a Guru

by Ramesh S. Balsekar

The Happening of a Guru is a biography of the Advaita sage Ramesh Balsekar. This anecdotal biography is dotted with glimpses into his life, from his days as a boy growing up in Mumbai’s Saraswat community, to his years spent in the London School of Economics. It follows his career with the Bank of India of which he became the General Manager, and dwells on his close interaction with his own guru, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. The book culminates with Ramesh`s own insights into the teaching of Advaita, of which he is regarded as the foremost contemporary exponent today. A highlight of this book is the crisp and witty, yet inspiring, essay by Ramesh on ‘How do I live my life?’ Here, with great clarity and simplicity, Ramesh puts across the basic tenets of his complete understanding of Advaita. The biography is exquisitely printed on Art Paper in full colour, and is complemented with photographs of Ramesh as a young banker, of his wife and family, pictures of his guru Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and unique portraits of Ramesh as he looks today… the embodiment of an enlightened Master.

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2013

About the author

Ramesh S. Balsekar was a disciple of the late Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, a renowned Advaita master. From early childhood, Balsekar was drawn to Advaita, a nondual teaching, particularly the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Wei Wu Wei. He wrote more than 20 books, was president of the Bank of India, and received guests daily in his home in Mumbai until shortly before his death.

Balsekar taught from the tradition of Advaita Vedanta nondualism. His teaching begins with the idea of an ultimate Source, Brahman, from which creation arises. Once creation has arisen, the world and life operate mechanistically according to both Divine and natural laws. While people believe that they are actually doing things and making choices, free will is in fact an illusion. All that happens is caused by this one source, and the actual identity of this source is pure Consciousness, which is incapable of choosing or doing.