If you’re familiar with my earlier writing about how “dangerous” Nisargadatta Maharaj’s teachings are, then what I’m about to write now should not come unexpected…
Coming from a solid catholic background, my view of spirituality was as a “funny religion” where gods are many, but none as real as my God.
Some three years ago, following a sense of dissatisfaction with my life, I begun searching for the answers to one fundamental question: How to make my life more fulfilling, with God being the final judge? By then, I had enough of life experience to know that in the end it is God I’ll be reporting to; not some adoring females, family, social club members or a bank manager…

Purely by chance, if you believe it, Dr David R Hawkins’ book “Power vs. Force” appeared on the horizon. And before I knew, spirituality became a part of my life, with solid foundations built by diligent studies of Dr Hawkins’ teachings. Has Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj appeared then, in the early days, he would surely be ignored as one of many Indian gurus, still seen as foreign in the West. But, it was through Dr Hawkins’ books that Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi and other eminent spiritual teachers came to my attention. Six moths ago, Maharaj’s book “I Am That” was bought; and after reading it four times, it maintains its magnetism today. This is the book that, from my perspective, surpasses the wisdom of all the books I’ve ever read, including the Bible. One reason why Maharaj’s spiritual message is so appealing to me is its simplicity, directness and its power brought by the strength of his convictions. He doesn’t mince his words, nor offers sympathy for spiritual wannabes and pretenders. He treats naive seekers harshly, yet gives them all the tenderness and warm heart they need. His straightforward approach and purity of intentions, all so evident in “I Am That”, have formed a unique teaching style that was so appealing to me.
No, nothing of the kind of “spiritual circus” that is so prevalent nowadays; with most “gurus” being stage-managed by their marketing managers, aiming at building their following and wealth, more than anything else.

Yes, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj is one of the greatest gurus, and his teachings will hopefully continue to “enlighten” the ever growing numbers of spiritual seekers. By now, you’re probably asking: But, you’ve said that he’s trying to take you away from God!”
Indeed, that’s my problem. You see, Maharaj is my guru. Meaning, that although you and I have one and the same Guru, one that only matters – the Self, we all need an “external” guru to make the final step and reach the Self.
For me, Maharaj is the guru. However, for him to be effective in his role, I must obey him unreservedly, embrace his teachings wholeheartedly, and banish all doubts; that’s what he himself said, insisting that all those having doubts ask questions during the frequently held satsangs. Unfortunately, some 40 years later, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj is gone, and there’s hardly anyone to ask for guidance. And the question I’d like to ask him is this: Is there God, and if so, why are you questioning His importance?
For those spiritual seekers who came from the non-religious background, this question may hold little relevance. But for me, it is at the core of my existence. Put simply, I believed, believe and will believe in God as the Highest. Always!
This is a conditio sine qua non for my spiritual sanity. And where does Maharaj come into it? you may ask…

It’s got all to do with the book I’m reading now: “The Ultimate Medicine as prescribed by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, dialogues with a Realized Master” edited by Robert Powell. This book contains teachings on the level of awareness higher than those delivered in “I Am That”. Consisting mainly the discourses given within the last year before Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj’s death, it is free of “kindergarten spirituality” but characterised by his desire to expand on the key issues on the deepest level possible. What hit the raw nerve in me were his apparent denials of God. Not that I’ve not been warned…
Right at the beginning of the book he said: “My word, as knowledge, if planted in you, will remove all other words, all concepts.”
Still, I didn’t expect to hear the following: “You will never be alerted to that higher state (realization) if you do not believe that you are the God. That is advaita devotion. There is no difference between a God and you. You are God only.” Wow! Have I told so to my religion teacher, or to my mother for that matter, my sound mindedness would have been seriously questioned, with my sore bottom a reminder of how far I’ve strayed… But, some 50 years later, I’m on my own. There’s nobody to ask, nothing to reconcile Maharaj’s words with, only my conscience; or, should be my consciousness?

What then, am I supposed to worship? That’s obvious, according to Maharaj: “… consider this Beingness or consciousness as the supreme God…”
Yes, for him, your or my Beingness, the knowingness that one is, is all we really have here and thus worshipful. It gets “heavier”; says Maharaj: “Because you know you are, you know the world is. You also know that God is. If you don’t know you are, where is the world and where is God?”
My immediate question is: Who Maharaj or I for that matter are, to make existence of God dependant on some knowledge-based conditions?
Just when I thought it cannot get worse, he, Nisargadatta Maharaj, my guru says: “I don’t need even a house to live in; what is more, I don’t need God either.”
How can one reconcile these words with the exultation “Gloria in Excelsis Deo!” that underscores all Dr Hawkins’ books?
Even Buddha’s position on matters related to God seem to be easier to accept that that taken by Maharaj. Dr Hawkins, when asked: “Why did Buddha not speak of God?” explained: “Because of religions, God has had many definitions and descriptions so that concepts about God would, paradoxically, actually be blocked to the awareness of the reality of God, and the seeker would end up seeking for a preconceived concept rather than surrendering it so that the reality could present itself.”

What am I going to do? There’s no point in following the guru one doesn’t agree with, even worse, questions his teachings. Hang on; right here, Maharaj would ask: Who is saying that?
Indeed, who is saying “… following the guru one doesn’t agree with…”?
Is it my ego reeling under the merciless liquidation of acquired concepts and ignorance?
Is it my mind putting up last ditch attempts to delay the dawning of Truth?
Is it Maharaj trying to probe the depth of spirituality of his new devotee?
What if this is God using Maharaj’s words, bringing the Truth that All Is One?
Perhaps the meaning of “God” I knew is putting Him out of my reach?
The Divine goes by many names and concepts. Only when you and I go beyond them, we’ll find the Reality.
Thank you, Maharaj, for your belief that I’ll get this far!