The Ultimate Medicine: Dialogues with a Realized Master: A Message and Example That Can Awaken Us to Our Original Nature

The Ultimate Medicine, Dialogues with a Realized Master, is Nisargadatta Maharaj in the final years of his life. His earlier work, I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, is a classic and the core message of Advaita Vedanta. The Ultimate Medicine continues where I Am That leaves off, cutting to the core of the message. Nisargadatta points directly at that I AM prior to thoughts, prior to the experience and idea of being a "person". His illness took away the patience to deal with the normal "spiritual" questions and forced the "seeker" to look straight in the direction of the looker, the witness, THAT which IS, the ACTUALITY of timeless being. Most find the words of Nisargadatta difficult to understand - this is because the mind is utilized - isn't this the normal way of trying to attain, trying to add to the knowledge and wisdom to "get it"? Nisargadatta would say that what you're seeking already IS, already is witnessing the very concept of a questioner. See the false as the false, the rest is irrelevant. love randall http://avastu0.blogspot.com

Unlike the first book produced on Nisargadatta, "I AM THAT" which was stripped bare of all religious trappings, the discussions recorded in "The Ultimate Medicine" between Nisargadatta and his visitors have many more references to Hindu terminology and concepts. I would therefore recommend that anyone new to Nisragadatta's teachings begin with "I AM THAT". Something I found very interesting in this book were the discussions that centered around one understanding one's birth, which is not really discussed in "I AM THAT". Nisargadatta says several times that alöl will be clear when one can, underrstand, experientially, (through meditation), how this consciousness came about, how birth came about. The book was written shortly before Nisargadatta died from cancer, and he was suffering from the illness at during these recordings. His comments concerning this illness are also something to ponder over. This is really a unique and important book, and anyone who seeks enlightenment through *knowledge* should look at this and Nisargadatta's other books. You won't find these ideas more clearly expressed anywhere else. Nisargadatta was a unique teacher, and we're fortunate indeed to have his teachings available in book form like this.

This book is a collection of some of the later question and answer sessions between Sri Nisargadatta and visitors from around the world. After finishing `I Am That' I read this book. There is a noticeable difference between the words of Nisargadatta in the two books. `I Am That' is unquestionably the better of the books, and the pinnacle of Maharaj's teachings. During His earlier days, Maharaj was eager to teach, and would continually answer beginners questions. In this book, which collects talks during which He was ill and close to death (the body's death), he stated that he no longer desired to teach, and was a little intolerant of beginners unfamiliar with the basics of his teachings. So this book deals with some of Nisargadatta's more advanced teachings. Maharaj in this book talks about the necessity of understanding your own incarnation, and what you were before the body was born. He talks about the interdependence of the vital breath and consciousness, stating that both consciousness and the sense of `I-Am-Ness' are dependent on the body. This book gave me a better understanding of the principle method taught by Sri Nisargadatta, which is holding onto the sense of `I Am.' He taught that this method will lead to the realization that you are not the body, but consciousness. However, He also said that this isn't the Ultimate, and that even the association with consciousness has to be given up eventually. If I understand correctly, realizing that you are consciousness is Brahman, and when this is realized you become the totality of manifestation. But the Ultimate, Parabrahman, is the witness of the Brahman and the full and final enlightenment. All of this is elucidated in `The Ultimate Medicine.' So, while not the monumental work that `I Am That' is, this book is still very worth reading, especially if you want to go deeper, and read some of the more advanced teachings by this great Master, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

For those that have read I am That-Nisargadatta Maharaj's main work, this book is an amazing compliment to his work. This book differs from I am That in one main way, Nisargadatta Maharaj is in his last years and is extremely direct and no nonsense. He respnonds to questions with cutting honesty. No handholding or sugarcoating. For instance he bluntly points out the many pitfalls of many popular spiritual concepts that separate you from the Self. In I am That, he was a bit softer in his responses, here because his body is old and weary-not to mention he's been teaching for decades at this point, he has little tolerance for getting into "kindergarten spirituality"as he terms it. Here, he goes for the very core of spiritual teachings. He doesn't say anything new from I am That, just poses things more directly and from a few new angles. I loved this book. It is well worth purchasing, especially if you are one who prefers very direct teachings. The core of the teaching is--You are not the body/mind. Stay with the I-am-ness and discard all concepts. Understand what consciousness/beingness is until you come to the realization of your true nature as the Unborn Reality. Some Quotes " Consider this beingness or consciousness as the supreme god"...."The beingness itself is the Guru"...."There is no birth, death it as all a concept, an illusion....You are that which observes the coming and going of consciousness....Stay put in beingness and all desire to be will melt away.

A must have for any earnest seeker. Rarely do we have opportunities to be guided by a genuine teacher of Hindu philosophy in such a deft manner. If you are looking for instructions on meditation for the highest purpose you will find it here. A no-nonsense practical book that hits the nail on the head.