The renowned Advaita master and teacher, Ramesh Balsekar in
his first
ever interview. Conducted by Advaita Fellowship co-founder Rifka
Hirsch.
Video Recorded in 1988 in Hermosa Beach, California
(in English w/Spanish
sub-titles)
A commerce graduate from the University of London, Ramesh S.
Balsekar worked as the General Manager of a leading nationalized Bank and
retired as its President in 1977. Even during his working life, he always felt
he was enacting some role in a play that must, and would, end soon. Deep
within, he believed that there had to be more to life than merely getting ahead
of the other man.
What was he seeking? The answer came soon after his
retirement when he had an encounter, which soon led to daily meetings, with the
well-known sage, and his Guru, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. The total
understanding that 'no one does anything' happened in 1979. Ramesh began
translating many of the daily talks held by Nisargadatta Maharaj.
He himself
began teaching in 1982. The 'command' to talk was given by his Guru. These
talks or 'conversations' began on the day when an Australian man showed up at
his door early one morning. The next day, this Australian returned with a few
of his friends. Gradually, the number of visitors who came to listen to Ramesh
began to grow. Since then, he wrote over 25 books and held several seminars in
Europe and the USA. Talks used to be held every morning with visitors all over
the world, at his residence in Mumbai, almost right to the end which came on September
27, 2009. As Ramesh used to say, "No one is invited, and everyone is
welcome.”
Recognized as one of
the foremost contemporary sages and considered a Master of pure Advaita around
the world, Ramesh, who was married and a father of three children, was widely
regarded as a 'householder' Guru. He elaborated his own concepts with those of
his Guru Nisargadatta Maharaj, the Buddha, Ramana Maharshi, selected Hindu
scriptures as well as the teachings of Taoist Masters and Wei Wui Wei. All
serve as pointers to the Truth - The Ultimate Understanding.
