The Final Truth: A Guide to Ultimate Understanding

by Ramesh S. Balsekar

The Final Truth is one of the most complex and rewarding of Ramesh's written works. It may well be the most comprehensive look at Advaita currently in print. It takes us on a rich and vivid journey from the arising of "I AM" to the final dissolution into identification as pure Consciousness.

Genres: Spirituality

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

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.

Reviews

[John Chancey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ramesh S. Balsekar Mind boggling! Hard to follow at times , but I think I get it. Everything is consciousness. There is no I. Need to read again some time.

[Phil Calandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the author succeeds in explaining Nisagardatta's mysticism in general terms, this is the most complicated presentation of non-dual philosophy and "self-enquiry" that I have ever read. The material is presented in a rather impersonal and cryptic way which is not very uplifting, nor motivating if one chooses to study this philosophy. The author states that spiritual exercises will not help the aspirant gain "self-realization" and that, indeed, the individual is not real but only a phantom of one's own imagination. The "Absolute" is seen as impersonal, not aware of itself, and no cogent explanation is given to the growth of relative reality. I feel a better choice in explaining this non-dual philosophy and "self enquiry" Is "I am that I am Talks with Sri Nisagardatta" by Maurice Frydman