Ramesh Balsekar
Submitted by divine intervention on Tue, 09/11/2007 - 09:50.Tags:
Biography
Ramesh S. Balsekar worked as the General Manager of a leading nationalized Bank and retired as its President in 1977. Soon after his retirement he met the well-known sage, and his Guru, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. The total understanding that 'no one does anything' happened in 1979. Ramesh began translating most of the daily talks held by Nisargadatta Maharaj at this time. 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 has written over 20 books and held several seminars in Europe and the USA and, while he is in Mumbai, the talks continue every morning at his residence. As Ramesh says, "No one is invited, and everyone is welcome."
Ramesh, who is married and a father of three children, is widely regarded as a 'householder' Guru. He elaborates 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.
Teachings
Baleskar teaches from the tradition of Advaita Vedanta nondualism. His teaching begins with the idea of an ultimate Source, Brahman, from which creation arises. Once creation has arisen, the world and life operate mechanistically according to both Divine and natural laws.
While people believe that they are actually doing things and making choices, free will is in fact an illusion. All that happens is caused by this one source, and the actual identity of this source is pure Consciousness, which is incapable of choosing or doing.
This false identity which revolves around the idea that "I am the body" or "I am the doer" keeps one from seeing that one's actual identity is free Consciousness. Like other Vedanta teachers, Ramesh says that while creation and creator appear to be different and separate, that they are actually two sides of the same coin.
Balsekar teaches that life is a happening but there is no individual doer of life.
Photos
Locations
Satsangs are held every morning at Ramesh's residence from 9.00 a.m to 10.30 a.m. During Satsang, Ramesh answers questions posed by visitors. At the end Bhajan singing is taking place.
Though Ramesh has a splendid English, it is sometimes a little hard in the beginning to understand his diction. Don't worry - you will get used to it very quickly during the satsang.
Nawroji Gamadia Road, apt# 10
Mumbai, Maharashtra 400 028, India
(Off Peddar Road)
The apartment is a few minutes from Mumbai's famous Mahalaxmi Temple. Nearby is the Breach Candy Club and the US Consulate, which serve as useful landmarks.
Satsangs are held every morning from 9.00 a.m to 10.30 a.m.
Balsekar's assistance, Shirish Murthy, waits for the visitors outside the building (you will see people gathering there). Then at 9:00 the assembled group is climbing the stairs to Balsekar's apartement and satsang starts at the living room.
After satsang finishes, it is possible to buy there Ramesh's books (for very reasonable prices) and the recording of the satsang (for unreasonable expensive price!)
After satsang, visitors who wish and Ramesh's assistances are going together to have a tasty breakfast in a nearby Indian restaurant. This is an excellent opportunity to get to know the others seekers and to hear informal facinating anecdotes about Ramesh from his hardcore devotees and aids.
See recommendations for hotels in Mumbai at http://www.rameshbalsekar.com/satsang.asp
View Video
Books & Media
Confusion No More by Ramesh Balsekar
(Paperback)
Confusion No More is a combination of some original writing and other material drawn from his three much-loved books: Whoe Cares, Sin & Guilt and The Infamous Ego.
(DVD)
A baba is doing austerities. He has been sitting in the same circle of fire for a month, the scorching himalayan sun beating on him day after day. Yogis ponder the meaning of life as dead bodies rot in The Ganges. Ether sticks to their mortal remains...The temperature is a boiling 120 degrees Fahrenheit! It is just another day. The people of the land perform asanas (physical postures of hatha yoga), pranayama (breathing) and kriyas (acts of internal purification of organs). Children play in the water. Gurus give satsang (lectures) while the elephants give their blessings knowing the world was made too small for them. And then, as the sacred India dives deeper and deeper into the innermost recesses of the mind, it forces all to realize that there is nothing: this is the end!?!...The world of manifestations is just an illusion! Patanjali starts his \"Yoga Sutras\" with the aphorism:\"Yoga Chittam Vritti Nirodha\" (I,2). \"Yoga is the complete cessation of the fluctuations of the mind\". To interpret the depth of this abstract concept, Wils interviewed Ramesh Balsekar, Sraddhalu Ranade, Gurudev Chitrabhanu, Dadi Janki and several other yogis, all of them having published books on yoga. He included rare original satsangs of Swami Sivananda, founder of the Divine Life Society in 1932 at Rishikesh, Himalayas and author of over 300 books on yoga, vedanta and health, enlightenment and higher consciousness. This film will also shed light on ashtanga, meditation, samadhi and the lives of sadhus, swamis and sannyasins at Rishikesh, Tiruvannamalai, Benares and other holy places, ashrams (Ramana Maharshi ashram to name one) and yoga institutes. Shot during 6 months in \"cinéma-vérité\" style on 40 locations, the documentary renders the true spirit of India with cremations on the banks of The Ganges, yoga on a rope or on a mallakhamb. This film is a \"must see\" for the spiritual seeker who wants to enjoy the bliss of samadhi and \"drink the nectar of immortality!\" This is a 2-disc set, region free, 0/ NTSC. This DVD will play worldwide on PAL/ SECAM/ NTSC players. \"Thread of Yoga\", 88 minutes, 2006 & bonus DVD \"Shadow of a Thread\", 83 minutes, 2006, full-length feature with all new material. The musical score was recorded live on location.
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too much intellect
ramesh puts too much intellectual analysis in his approach... this naturally doesn't yield much...
still his daily satsangs in Mumbay are most recommended... the atmosphere and still the opportunity to meet someone who was in the presence of Nisargadatta Maharaj...
Also an opportunity to have a breathtaking visit in Nisargadatta Maharaj's house (see the exact instructions in his guru profile here)
Sounds OK...
Sounds OK, but when in India I think I'd rather see the Himalayas for breathtaking views ;-). Visiting an empty apartment, trying to get some essence of somebody... pfft. Sometimes I wonder if the living people are really the ghosts :-p.
http://www.omkaradatta.info
first, go go go to india.
first, go go go to india. your decisions will be different here (I am currently in india). just being here is a shortcut, Impossible to explain, those who were in india know what this means, something in the air here :-)
Second, do visit ramesh. with all the observations which more or less are true, being with him is an amazing satsang experience. he is very wise and advanced and after all he was in the presence of maharaj. dont underestimae him until you meet him face to face. believe me.
Unnecessary
I don't need to go anywhere to be aware of my Self... I can be living inside a cardboard box, and that would suffice.
Nisargadatta: "The only proper place is within. The outer world neither can help nor hinder."
I sometimes wonder why people don't consider it a disrespect to the guru to ignore his/her words and attach to places and personalities. In a way, it's like a slap in the face to what they are trying to communicate.
http://www.omkaradatta.info
~
People see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear. This is how Truth 'hides' to begin with, eh? Everybody has a special thing to do or a trick or technique. How could it not be nonsense from the start, and most likely a diversion?
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