What do you think?
Rate this book
Consciousness and the Absolute : The Final Talks of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
In this book you will find the last teachings of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, the final dialogues he had with the people who had come from all over the world to hear his words. These talks, coming during the last days of his life, were the culmination of the rarest teachings he had to give us; they were the summit of the heights of his wisdom.
118 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
8 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
About the author
Nisargadatta Maharaj
88 books558 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 8, 2014
Maybe all spiritual teachers should be this chilling.
These are the final talks (more like Q&A) of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj as he was dying of lung cancer (he was a life-long smoker and bidi merchant). When asked what was in store for him after his death, he replied, "Now I know that I do not know. In death I won't know that I don't know."
It's as if Samuel Beckett were a guru.
These are the final talks (more like Q&A) of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj as he was dying of lung cancer (he was a life-long smoker and bidi merchant). When asked what was in store for him after his death, he replied, "Now I know that I do not know. In death I won't know that I don't know."
It's as if Samuel Beckett were a guru.
April 2, 2013
There is never a moment of boredom when reading any book of Nisargadatta Maharaj; written with permission by others. Regardless of the book title, Maharaj addressed only one essential subject: "Consciousness." "Consciousnesses is all there is, without it, nothing would exist," he would say.
No matter the questions put to him by other's, Maharaj always took time to answer each question thoroughly, deliberately, and with the utmost care and concern of no one in particular.
Warning! You must be exceedingly open to receive any spiritual nourishment from questions put to Maharaj directly. As without any doubt, Maharaj was exceedingly purposeful in assuring you receive exactly what was needed at the exact moment, by making you an example of your own ignorance. Ignorance is beneficial, if you are serious in your quest for Truth, or for "what is," as it suggest ones openness and willingness to listen intently; but mind you, do not sit before him pretentiously, as so many others have done, and who have boasted themselves to have some definitive knowledge on spirituality.
"Leave your concepts where they belong," as he, himself would suggest to you, and do come alone, but without the burden of an objective ego.
"The search for reality is one of the most dangerous of all undertaking," as Maharaj so often put. Because not only will it help to break the spell of your ignorance as a "particular-self," but it will also help to awaken you from a deep slumber, freeing you from a world of which you believed to be real!
So the question as to which book would be best to start? Any book, written with permission of Nisargadatta Maharaj. All books are in dialogue form, so that its ultimate understanding may be conveyed.
Second warning! Regardless of the size of book you start with,(thick or thin, sort or long) one book may require many months of reading, because following its conclusion, you may find yourself returning often for another dose of "shocking reality," with innermission of deep contemplation following every page!
Every book is a treasure of work for keeps! May you find in each, that which you seek.
Orion Xalanda
No matter the questions put to him by other's, Maharaj always took time to answer each question thoroughly, deliberately, and with the utmost care and concern of no one in particular.
Warning! You must be exceedingly open to receive any spiritual nourishment from questions put to Maharaj directly. As without any doubt, Maharaj was exceedingly purposeful in assuring you receive exactly what was needed at the exact moment, by making you an example of your own ignorance. Ignorance is beneficial, if you are serious in your quest for Truth, or for "what is," as it suggest ones openness and willingness to listen intently; but mind you, do not sit before him pretentiously, as so many others have done, and who have boasted themselves to have some definitive knowledge on spirituality.
"Leave your concepts where they belong," as he, himself would suggest to you, and do come alone, but without the burden of an objective ego.
"The search for reality is one of the most dangerous of all undertaking," as Maharaj so often put. Because not only will it help to break the spell of your ignorance as a "particular-self," but it will also help to awaken you from a deep slumber, freeing you from a world of which you believed to be real!
So the question as to which book would be best to start? Any book, written with permission of Nisargadatta Maharaj. All books are in dialogue form, so that its ultimate understanding may be conveyed.
Second warning! Regardless of the size of book you start with,(thick or thin, sort or long) one book may require many months of reading, because following its conclusion, you may find yourself returning often for another dose of "shocking reality," with innermission of deep contemplation following every page!
Every book is a treasure of work for keeps! May you find in each, that which you seek.
Orion Xalanda
November 25, 2021
Najveći guru , u mom srcu zauvijek.
January 13, 2017
"If you are interested in the world, then you are not interested in the consciousness ..." - Nisargadatta Maharaj
January 3, 2021
The mistake I made while reading such timeless books was that, I would, page by page, constantly look for some kind of benefit. While Maharaj, in each page questioned the very existence of the benefiter. "Who is really there to get the benefit?", Maharaj often asked. Wish I had known this earlier, I would have had a new, fresh, and prolific understanding of the subject. Well, not that this was my last meeting with him...
The only pre-requisite for reading this book or any other by Maharaj, is your complete faith (blind-faith) in his teaching. Otherwise, don't waste time, read The Martian.
The only pre-requisite for reading this book or any other by Maharaj, is your complete faith (blind-faith) in his teaching. Otherwise, don't waste time, read The Martian.
August 9, 2016
At Pickathon there was a lending library in a tiny house display. I traded in a copy of The Ballad of Johnny Arcane for a water-damaged edition of Consciousness and the Absolute, The Final Talks of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. While waiting through sound checks I worked my way through some of its enigmatic pronouncements. The juxtaposition of experiences was laden with significance. A Questioner asks Maharaj, “The spiritual experiences which I have, are they something which should not be there?” Maharaj answers, “It is all entertainment. You are present here; is your body not the result of someone’s entertainment? So long as you know that the experiences are only appearances in consciousness, it is all right.”
This kind of spirituality is so far beyond the battles between Good and Evil, the salvation of Christianity, the jihad of Islam or the long line of pagans entreating the gods or the ancestors for favor. It is nearly ungraspable from our everyday point of view, our hopes, dreams, pleasures and struggles. I look up from the book and see the soundmen wrestling with reverb and wire. The music begins. People start to dance. You are present here. It is all entertainment. Indeed…
This kind of spirituality is so far beyond the battles between Good and Evil, the salvation of Christianity, the jihad of Islam or the long line of pagans entreating the gods or the ancestors for favor. It is nearly ungraspable from our everyday point of view, our hopes, dreams, pleasures and struggles. I look up from the book and see the soundmen wrestling with reverb and wire. The music begins. People start to dance. You are present here. It is all entertainment. Indeed…
January 23, 2025
I'm fortunate to stumble on this book. This is real GOLD (if you could comprehend the book).
The book resonates much with my own experience. We are the Absolute Awareness, not bounded by space-time or this limited body-mind. We are eternal. We are all connected. Stop your restless mind and start enjoying the experience on this wonderful earth.
The book resonates much with my own experience. We are the Absolute Awareness, not bounded by space-time or this limited body-mind. We are eternal. We are all connected. Stop your restless mind and start enjoying the experience on this wonderful earth.
February 24, 2025
This book is pure, undiluted truth—Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj’s final teachings, stripped of all conceptual embellishments, pointing directly to the essence of being. Unlike I Am That, which gently guides the seeker through self-inquiry, Consciousness and the Absolute is Nisargadatta at his most direct and uncompromising, cutting through illusion with fierce clarity.
August 11, 2023
The best and deepest teachings reverberating with the essence of truth and unfailingly guiding the reader back home. Could be read a thousand times and each read will be like a fresh shower of the bliss of the Self. So full of gratitude.
August 4, 2018
Top-notch direct path advaita (I know, that's merely a concept :)
August 9, 2020
This is Gold!
Read
October 31, 2023Last Talk of maharaj on deathbed. Verbatim of all of his teaching one can get.
January 10, 2025
One of my favourite spiritual teacher!
DEEP, PURE & RADICAL!
DEEP, PURE & RADICAL!
November 15, 2017
No beating around the bush, straight to the point and sharp as an arrow! 'Consciousness and the Absolute' is a collection of THE most direct and most profound talks given by Sri Nisargadatta. These talks were given by him as he was nearing his death. He wanted to deliver knowledge in the most effective way before he left, and succeeded.
December 30, 2016
though not as lucid as I Am That ... it has all the ingredients of reality as described by maharaj
July 18, 2013
Beyond the words.. ultimate.. thanks that i have read this book .. :)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews