About the Book
There has been nothing like Selfless Self: Talks with Shri Ramakant Maharaj on the market before. This truly is the reader's story. It is the 'greatest story ever told' because it takes you by the hand and methodically, step by step, shows you how to uncover the hidden, living truth that you are. This is Self-Revelation in the most direct, meaningful and real way ever! Eureka! What a joy! Your inner master is re-awakened, regenerated, revealed at last! Page after page is filled with active, verifiable truth - the reader's truth.
This is absolutely not conceptual ideology. This is a pragmatic manual, a roadmap to Self-Realization. Ramakant Maharaj spent nearly 20 years with the world-famous Master, Nisargadatta Maharaj. He followed his Master's instructions, and in turn, there was self-realization. This Master acts as a mirror in which you can see yourself. The 177 talks in this book guide the reader with a quiet but firm assurance, towards that which he already is. If you seriously and earnestly absorb and follow Ramakant Maharaj's instructions as laid out in this book, then spontaneous enlightenment, realization will arise. Guaranteed!
If the reader is open and receptive, and puts the knowledge into practice, there will be a dramatic shift in perception. He will be totally transformed. And not only transformed, but filled with gratitude because at last, he KNOWS the answer to the perennial question, "Who am I?"
In these pages, Shri Ramakant is like a physician. The diagnosis is one of 'chronic illusion'. You think you are born and are going to die. You believe that you are a separate individual with a body and mind. "You are mistaken," says the physician. All this talk is illusion. So, he sets about remedying this universal condition by prescribing the medicine of Mantra Meditation - to remind you of your True Identity. This is used to clean out your house, by repeatedly sweeping out all the illusory concepts that have been dwelling within you as 'unlawful tenants' from childhood till today. "You are already realized. You simply do not know it," says the Master-physician.
The aim of this pragmatic, instructional book is to enable the reader to awaken, to return home to Reality, to the Thoughtless Stateless State, "prior to beingness/consciousness." In that state, there was nothing: no mind, no ego, no intellect. No knowledge, no concepts, no needs. No need of philosophy, spirituality, religion or God. No need of happiness, peace, food or sex or power. All this is body-related knowledge, material knowledge, illusory layers on your Presence that need to be removed. If we take the medicine, the prognosis is excellent. You will be rewarded with continuous happiness without any material cause. In Selfless Self, spirituality is defined in a fresh way: "The purpose of spirituality is to know yourself in a real sense, to erase illusion and to dissolve all body-knowledge." How do we do this? By forgetting and dissolving all our illusory concepts using the tools of self-enquiry, self-knowledge, meditation, mantra and song. "No knowledge is knowledge," states the Master. At the beginning of the book, the Master says: "There is no difference between you and the Master, except that I know I am not the body whereas you do not know." At the end, the reader can also say, "I know!" Home at last, he is happy, peaceful, tension-free and fearless. Indicators for Self-Realization have now been ticked! This book reveals the story of Oneness. It is a universal story, a 'Spiritography', and it is your story. Just read it, and see! All that is needed is acceptance, and then, slowly, silently, permanently Ultimate Reality will awaken. A timeless classic.
About the Author :
Shri Ramakant Maharaj (b. 08 July 1941), is a direct disciple of the late Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj (d. 08 September 1981), and spent 19 years with him. He is an Indian spiritual teacher of Advaita, Nonduality, and a Guru, belonging to the Inchegiri branch of the Navnath Sampradaya. He offers initiation to this Sampradaya. Ramakant Sawant was brought up in rural Phondaghat, Gadgesakhal Wadi. In 1965, he attended the prestigious establishment of Elphinstone College, Bombay, at the behest of Nisargadatta Maharaj. Following this, he graduated from Bombay University in 1972, (M.A in History and Politics). In 1976, he obtained his LLB qualification, from Siddhartha Law College, Bombay. He worked in banking, in the Legal Department, from 1970 until his retirement as Manager in 2000. He is married to Anvita Sawant, also a long-standing disciple of Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj. They have two sons. In 1962, Ramakant Maharaj was introduced by relatives to his future Guru, Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj. After spending a few months with the Master, he took the Naam Mantra, the Guru Mantra on 2nd October, 1962. From then on he attended faithfully, and listened to Nisargadatta Maharaj's discourses regularly. He was present at his Master's Mahasamadhi on 8th September 1981. During the last decade or so, at Ranjit Ashram in Nashik Road, (Nashik, Maharashtra), Shri Ramakant Maharaj has been introducing students, disciples and devotees from around the world to these teachings and, on occasion, initiating them into the Inchegiri Navnath Sampradaya Lineage. About his life, Maharaj says, "I know my past and where I have come from. I am a miracle. All thanks to my Master, Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj." Ann Shaw's search began in the late 1960's and has continued throughout her life. At university in the UK, she studied Theology, Philosophy and Comparative Religion, Sanskrit, and specialized in Indian Philosophy and Religion. Over the decades, she practised meditation, Self-enquiry, contemplation and went on solitary retreats. She immersed herself in a wide variety of spiritual literature from east and west. This included the mystics, teachers and masters such as St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, Thomas Merton, Soren Kierkegaard, Patanjali, Ramana Maharshi, Paramahansa Yogananda, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Joel Goldsmith, Lao Tzu and Taoism, Rumi and Sufism, D. T. Suzuki and Zen, et al. Further on down the 'illusory' road, the teachings of Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj brought the search to an end. When she eventually visited Nisargadatta's disciple, Shri Ramakant Maharaj, she knew for certain, that she had reached the destination! A background in publishing and writing in various genres also prepared her for the task of compiling Selfless Self. The 'Spontaneous Direct Knowledge' flowing from Shri Ramakant Maharaj coupled with diligence and understanding on the part of the editor, have together produced a power-packed, spiritual classic. In her own words: "I was completely absorbed in the unfolding of this book and was guided throughout by both the living Master, Shri Ramakant Maharaj, and by (my) Inner Master - 'Selfless Self'. "This is an instruction manual through which the Master guides, pushes, and draws the reader towards Spontaneous Self-Realization. Selfless Self: Talks with Shri Ramakant Maharaj is the highest knowledge delivered in plain, simple language. These pragmatic teachings are aided by a methodical presentation to enable the fullest absorption of Ultimate Truth."
Review :
Alan Jacobs, President Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK: "Ann Shaw has done truly remarkable work in editing this great spiritually encyclopaedic work recording the Teachings of the Self Realised Sage and Jnani, Sri Ramakant Maharaj, successor to the esteemed Jnani Nisargadatta Maharaj. In over 500 pages Sri Ramakant explores every aspect of the necessary Spiritual Practices or Sadhanas, which are needed for the ardent aspirant to achieve Self Realisation. In this important book questions are put to the Sage and then lucid answers are given which are precisely appropriate to the question. In this book the earnest aspirant will surely find the question and answer appropriate to his or her need. In reading the whole book he or she will find all that is essential for him or her to form their own synthesis, and proceed on their great journey towards Enlightenment. This is truly a great book and a worthy successor to the much celebrated 'I AM THAT', Talks given by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sri Ramakant's own Master." New World Library, California: "A penetrating and provocative book." Ricky James Manager, Watkins Books, London: "'Selfless Self' will - without doubt - become a 'Direct Way' classic. If you have a copy of 'I Am That' by Nisargadatta Maharaj on your shelf then this more than deserves a place next to it. The author (Shri Ramakant Maharaj), spent 19 years in 'physical proximity' with his Guru and these talks have not been filtered through a translator as they were spoken in English. Written by Selfless Self for Selfless Self. Page after page, this book hits you straight between the eyes." Christopher Quilkey, Editor, 'Mountain Path', Sri Ramanasramam.: "One has to breathe this book not think it. There is more happening in the dialogues than words can say. After reading through this book I have come to the conclusion that to be in the presence of Ramakant Maharaj is to enter another dimension of understanding."
