(Satsang-2) Master of Self-Realization (Volume-1)

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His holiness Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj, the spiritual master of Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj gave very informal and powerful discourses (satsangs) on spiritual wisdom during the period from 1934 to 1936. (Before this he released a brilliant teaching booklet that expounds the essence of Advaita Vedanta called: Master Key to Self-realization which at some point will be recorded.

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, belonged to the Navnath Sampradaya lineage (the lineage of the nine Gurus). At the time he was a early student of the master and in his mid 30s. Later Nisargadatta said,

"We are called collectively the “Nine Masters”. The legend says that our first teacher was the Rishi Dattatreya, the great incarnation of the trinity of Brahman, Vishnu and Shiva...Those who practice the sadhana of focusing their minds on “I am” may feel related to others who have followed the same sadhana and succeeded...The nine Masters’ tradition is like a river—it flows into the ocean of reality and whoever enters it is carried along... Power and Grace are for all and for the asking...as long as you are intensely mindful of yourself, the accumulated obstacles to self-knowledge are bound to be swept away."

Through these 130 recorded satsangs, one will be at the feet of a great master, imbibing the same primordial words that reached the heart of Nisargadatta.

These satsangs recorded from 1934-1936 were based not only on scriptural texts like Dasbodh of Samartha Ramdas, Yogavasishtha, etc. but also based on Siddharameshwar's own realization. During that time while attending these discourses, Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj used to take handwritten notes. Much later in 1961 - 62 Nisargadatta Maharaj with the help of Shri Khanderao Sabnis, alias Bhainath Maharaj, got them published for the benefit of devotees and other interested readers. This edition was soon out of print and the publication was not available for many years. A new edition was therefore published in 2001 at the insistence of Shri Ranjit Maharaj.

These primordial words of the master were originally published in two volumes in Marathi, the language in which they were delivered. Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Shri Ranjit Maharaj, both disciples of Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj became prominently known to non - Marathi Indian and western spiritual aspirants through the books I am that (Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj) and illusion vs reality (Shri Ranjit Maharaj) which were published in English. Readers of these books became therefore keen to know more about Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj and his teaching and often requested for publication of an English translation of these discourses.

In 2009 an english translation of both of these two volumes acquaint the non - Marathi Indian and western aspirants with the teachings of Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj as well. Shri Diwakar Ghaisas offered to undertake the task of English translation in the spirit of service without any reservation.

Shri Diwakar Ghaisas is an accomplished author as well as translator of a number of religious and spiritual publications. He had the good fortune to listen to late Shri J. Krishnamurti for over thirty years and to translate several of Shri J. Krishnamurthis books into Marathi. He has also translated Dasbodh of Samarth Ramdas into lucid English. He is also well known in spiritual circles because of his own accomplishments in that field. We have therefore, entrusted this English translation to his experienced and able hands.

thumbnail: Siddharameshwar Maharaj