Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Quotes
A prominent teacher of Advaita Vedanta who is best known for his teachings on non-duality and self-realization. His approach was direct and experiential, encouraging seekers to explore the nature of their own consciousness. His book, "I Am That," is a significant text in the study of Advaita Vedanta, offering profound insights into the nature of the self and reality. His teachings are valued for their simplicity and depth, guiding individuals toward understanding their true essence beyond the mind and ego.
Simply look at whatever happens and know that you are beyond it.
Between the banks of pain and pleasure the river of life flows. It is only when the mind refuses to flow with life, and gets stuck at the banks, that it becomes a problem.
These moments of inner quiet will burn out all obstacles without fail. Don't doubt its efficacy. Try it.
Time is in the mind, space is in the mind. The law of cause and effect is also a way of thinking. In reality all is here and now and all is one. Multiplicity and diversity are in the mind only.
To go beyond you need alert immobility, quiet attention.
You are already perfect, only you don't know it. Learn to know yourself and you will discover wonders.
Forget the known, don't be all the time immersed in your experiences.
All that happens is the cause of all that happens. Causes are numberless; the idea of a sole cause is an illusion.
When you go beyond awareness, there is a state of nonduality, in which there is no cognition, only pure being. In the state of nonduality, all separation ceases.
Words can bring you only up to their own limit; to go beyond, you must abandon them. Remain as the silent witness only.
The consciousness in you and the consciousness in me, apparently two, really one, seek unity and that is love.
You must realize first of all that you are the proof of everything, including yourself. None can prove your existence, because his existence must be confirmed by you first. Your being and knowing you owe nobody. Remember, you are entirely on your own. You do not come from somewhere, you do not go anywhere. You are timeless being and awareness.
The innermost light, shining peacefully and timelessly in the heart, is the real Guru. All others merely show the way.
Real happiness is not vulnerable, because it does not depend on circumstances.
Live your life without hurting anybody. Harmlessness is a most powerful form of Yoga and it will take you speedily to your goal. This is what I call nisarga yoga, the Natural yoga. It is the art of living in peace and harmony, in friendliness and love. The fruit of it is happiness, uncaused and endless.
Having never left the house you are looking for the way home.
The sum and substance of my teaching is this: Don't be dishonest to your vital breath; worship that only, abide in that only, accept it as yourself. And when you worship in this manner, it can lead you anywhere, to any heights- this is the quintessence of my talks.
When effort is needed, effort will appear. When effortlessness becomes essential, it will assert itself. You need not push life about. Just flow with it and give yourself completely to the task of the present moment.
The search for Reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings, for it destroys the world in which you live.
To go beyond the mind, you must be silent and quiet. Peace and silence, silence and peace - this is the way beyond. Stop asking questions.
There is only life, there is nobody who lives a life.
To know that you are a prisoner of your mind is the dawn of wisdom.
By all means attend to your duties. Action, in which you are not emotionally involved and which is beneficial and does not cause suffering will not bind you. You may be engaged in several directions and work with enormous zest, yet remain inwardly free and quiet, with a mirror like mind, which reflects all, without being affected.
