Dedicated disciples of Nisargadatta Maharaj and Ranjit Maharaj in Mumbai are very extremely happy to announce that the English translation of the two volume book published in Marathi language by Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj in 1961-62 timeframe has now been completed, and is available for purchase on this website .

Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj's Introduction to Volume 2 of "Adhyatma Dnyanacha Yogeshwar," translated as "Master of Self-Realization."

English Translation of Preface to Volume 2 - Written by Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj

This the second part of the book Adhyatma Dnyanacha Yogeshwar. The first part of this book was published earlier on the 4th of November, 1961 at Bagewadi. That which is written here in the second part, is knowledge, but it is also called "Scientific Knowledge." The publisher, and some other Guru-Brothers of mine were urging me to write a preface to this book. However, to venture to do so is difficult, because the subject of this book is extraordinary, deep, vast, and in a way, endless. When we call this knowledge as "Spiritual Knowledge," or Vidnyana, the words that we intend to use are better left unspoken. Ignorance means "no knowledge" or absence of knowledge, while knowledge implies that there is awareness of Ignorance. That which is "known" is Ignorance, and as it has no existence as such, it disappeared. The knowledge which knows that "This is not That" has nothing more to be known, and has therefore, becomes mute. Lord Vitthala stands erect on this brick, and He stands very still. The capacity of knowing was not mentioned there. As speech did not get any object to be described by words, the speech was stopped. Here that speech made Vaikuntha its abode, which is the "Highest Heaven." Knowledge, together with speech became still. By the force of the Self, the Knowledge remained without any object, in the Self, only.

When we say that knowledge must have something to be "known," it is Ignorance that is the "known," and therefore the term "knowledge" became applicable to it. Now, as there is not any other object, it remained with itself without focus on any object. So, the function of knowing is gone. The sense that "I Am That" is also not functioning. He who saw that "knowledge" has no place, actually lost his power of seeing, and then saw. Thus, the Life-Energy (Chaitanya), the "Spiritual Knowledge" has no status. The Vidnyana is the "Power" which has perceived all of this. When knowledge loses its quality of knowing because of "Spiritual Perception" that is Vidnyana. It is Pristine Life-Energy only, and it undergoes a natural transformation, where it has no concept whatsoever, which makes for awareness of oneself as the Five Elements, or God, or Brahman. Now, that Vidnyana is witness to the Knowledge that has lost its duality. It is also witness to egolessness and the appearance of forms, like waves on water. So, we define this as "Vidnyana." In Vidnyana, there is neither a doer, nor an enjoyer, nor a provocative agent for either. There is only natural Being, which is "Self-Knowabilty." It has no sense of being any "thing" that is a mixture of the Five Elements, or any form, any names, any shapes, or a devotee, or an Avatar, or any active principle. Only that Chaitanya, the "Power" which has transcended all states, is Vidnyana.

Blessed are those who were lucky enough to listen to the discourses which were like showers of Nectar from the mouth of the Sadguru Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj, who was the embodiment of this Supreme Knowledge, Vidnyana. Equally blessed will be those who will read and listen to these discourses, and will become like the Immortal Nectar itself. They will never have fear of death, nor they will die. Those who devote themselves to the Sadguru, as if He is the most auspicious embodiment of the Absolute Brahman, may receive this Sacred Knowledge, and realize that they are not the body, but that they are that Life-Energy which moves the body. Gradually, then again while being increasingly aware of this Spiritual Self-Existence, there is the unnamable awareness of this Pure Awareness. When the understanding permeates the whole Conscious Existence, the spiritual aspect of life also loses its existence in the "Totality of Understanding." An example is not much warranted here, but it cannot remain unexpressed, and therefore, the example of a person who dines, is alluded to. When a person takes food and it is digested, the various articles of food are mingled in his system of the physical body, and he becomes satisfied and gets nutrition and strength. Similarly, the spiritual aspect of the Consciousness is mingled into the "Wholeness of Understanding," by giving peace, nourishment, and contentment. Therefore, that which is called the Science of Self-Knowledge, the Reality, which is Paramatman, the Absolute Parabrahman, remains unaffected by a permanent natural transcendent state, which has an endless compassionate contentment.

Saint Dnyaneshwar said, "The Ocean of all Happiness is the husband of Rakhumadevi (Rakhumadevi is the wife of Vitthala), who is our Father." Thus, even when the creative forces of the universe are taking place, this body of scientific understanding remains unaffected. Although it has multidimensional forces full of action, it remains beyond all qualities. It is inactive and unchanging, as a Reality complete with the very "Essence of Nature." It is a "Fullness of Bliss" beyond measure. By reading these discourses, full of Supreme Knowledge, those who are ignorant will have wisdom, and will reach the highest state by deep Devotion to the Sadguru. It is my humble prayer to all the people of the world who are themselves like Gods, that they will please read and learn this book.

Now, I will end my preface.

Dear readers, unknowingly, you are originally only Brahman. Therefore we request you, on our personal experience and conviction, that although you are Brahman today without being aware of it, you may knowingly be Brahman by having Direct Knowledge through reading this book. My salutations!

Nisargadatta

Nisargadatta Ashram Vanmali Bhuvan,

Khetwadi, 10th lane, Mumbai 4 Ashaddha vadya 11 shake 1884

Friday, 27-7-1962.