Customer Reviews

Consciousness Speaks: Conversations with Ramesh S. Balsekar

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I stumbled across this book at the Vedanta bookstore in Hollywood and could not put it down. I was utterly fascinated with Balsekar's simple and thorough answers to his interviewer (the entire book is a question and answer session.) Being a serious aspirant to Enlightenment i.e. Nirvana, Buddhahood, Braham, Truth..I appreciated the author's unpretentious description of the state/form of existing as consciousness itself. It was simply one of the most clearly and concisely written books I've yet come across on the subject. I do believe it worth mentioning that beginners to esoteric religious philosophy may find much of the material difficult to grasp, at the same time some of the book's passages were so simple and literally brilliant (a stand out to me was Balsekar's mention of the lack of a "me" and/or "I" that exists in all action and doership upon realizing oneself as consciousness itself) that I found myself becoming excited/enthusiastic about my own spiritual practice especially in my potential for the attainment of the discussed state of consciousness. Moreover, I wanted to take notes in order to share the passages with others. This book will provide those all to rare glimmers of insight which, by the sublime process of grace, can propell an individual's true spiritual advancement.

I had read many books on non-dualism. When I read this book I finally got it. I had a transformative experience where my separate sense of self dropped away and has not returned. It has been over five years since my experience while reading this book. Since then I have read another account of somebody having the same "experience" while reading this particular book. It is so clear and moves so directly to the point that it has the potential to be very transformative. Contemplate deeply the information that Balsekar gives here.

Tho a few may be gifted w/ deep and abiding insight from an early age, most on the path to enlightment struggle w/ such questions as: Have I got it yet? When will I get it? How do I keep it?

Regrettably these questions can only be answered by paradox: Awareness is available when "I" is not. To the thirsy pilgrim, the message is that s/he may only drink when the mirage of self has disappeared.

Ramesh, in the clear, simple language, states that there is nothing to do to achieve enlightenment. This lifting of effort, this recognition of Grace, is a bountiful gift. Many other teachers, either consciously or unconsciously, create a doing around enlightenment. The seeker often becomes burdened w/ guilt: Am I doing it right? Ramesh lifts that burden.

After reading many books on non-dualism, I found that when I read this book a sense of a personal self disappeared. The center that I had known to be me fled and has never returned. As he says understanding is everything, and this book conveys that understanding.

I read this book after attending a talk by Wayne Liquorman. Wayne recommended it as an introduction to a philosophy that he had adopted. I bought it because I felt upset and threatened by the ideas that Wayne presented. I wanted to have the philosophy in writing so I could find fault with it and remain attached to other ideas. But the book made more sense than those other ideas, and I have since decided that Ramesh and Wayne present the most reasonable model of reality that I have come across. This book was the catalyst for a transformation in my beliefs, and I am grateful! I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is open minded and trying to make sense of the world. Thank you, Ramesh!

This is a great book. Though I am a student of Hindu Advaita Vedanta for some time, reading this book has been illuminating. I seem to find some answers to my long bothering questions, and more importantly drawing me to a new level of understanding and practical approach.

The repeated attention paid to 'Impersonal Consciousness' and bringing it to answer every question is really superb and essentially serves the purpose of teaching non-duality. This 'Impersonal Consciousness' and the explanation of 'Karma' themselves should be sufficient 'Teaching' to transform our out-look to life and practice to realise our nature. There are other very subtle important teachings which are spread every where for a careful reader. Though initially I had some 'non-acceptance' in me for some of these ideas, as I am a student of Traditional Hindu Advaita Vedanta, as I read through the book carefully, I am quite helped by the teaching.

I would recommend this to any religious, irrelegious, or non-religious person. It was illuminating joy reading the book.

Ramesh's voice as a Sage is a rare mix of gentleness and explosive expansion of awareness. Widely considered one of the best teachers of Advaita (nonduality), Ramesh is charming and easy to understand, even if one has no background in esoterics.

I have studied other Eastern sages, such as Ramana Maharshi, Nisaragadatta Maharaj and the Dalai Lama, and I find Ramesh to be a rare and precious gem among many such jewels of evolutionary consciousness.

One of my favorite passages of this book has to do with clarifying the often misunderstood and murky concept of 'karma.'
That is correct. Karma means action. Karma means causality. It has nothing to do with the individual doer, the individual entity because there is no individual entity as the doer.

Q: Are you saying that the whole theory that people who do good works come back to a good rebirth and those who do bad things come back to a lower birth is false?

What you are saying is karma is based on people who do good deeds. What I am saying is good deeds can only happen, just as bad deeds also happen. Whose? Good deeds happen through particular body mind mechanisms and bad deeds happen through certain body-mind organisms. Both good deeds and bad deeds together form the functioning of Totality at that moment. It is only the human being who says, "good deeds, bad deeds." All are deeds performed, in this life and living by Consciousness, through body-mind organisms according to their natural characteristics.

A psychopath has not chosen to be a psychopath. Who has created the psychopath? He is part of the creation of the Totality of manifestation. There is a lovely poem by Omar Khayam. He speaks of an imperfect pot saying, "People reject me because I am odd shaped. Did the hand of the potter shake when he made me?" Did the psychopath choose to be a psychopath? Did the saint choose to be a saint?
If you're interested in understanding the nature of reality, expanding your awareness of the universe and enriching your personal experience of the unseen realm that is one with perceived reality, then this book belongs in your library. It is as appropriate for the beginner as it is for the more advanced student of mysticism, or devotee of Truth.

This book is probably the best overview to Balsekar's teaching; so if you're unfamiliar with his work then this is definitely a good place to start. It touches on practically every topic that could be expected--the ego, consciousness, surrender, karma, grace, the guru, reincarnation, as well as a description of his own enlightenment, and much more.

Within these dialogues you will find the same concepts reappearing throughout; for instance, that there is no personal 'self'--no 'doer' behind actions, or 'thinker' behind thoughts. Balsekar frequently emphasizes that, "All there is, is Consciousness" which is an 'impersonal' functioning of Totality. He therefore recommends for one to understand that 'you are not the 'doer', but to act as if you are.'

The same themes that are found in other teachings of non-duality will probably be found here as well. His points are very clear and easy to follow, with many wonderful examples to back them up. And since the format is in Q & A dialogue, this is one of those books that you can open up to any page and begin reading.

A real pleasure to read.

Like the book says, if you understand that all there is is Consciousness, then you need not read the book...

Otherwise, you will enjoy the book thoroughly... however, be prepared for the unexpected...

balsekar's "consciousness speaks" should be considered a classic in the teaching of non-dualism or advaita. he states, in clear western terms, what has always been and will always be - this_as_it_is_now: we are a single consciousness, expressing through various temporal forms and sometimes take the form to be one's self. this confusion of self identity is the root of suffering. balsekar's clear indications helps one unravel the confusion, thus pointing the way to liberty from the mind-made self and from suffering.