The Ultimate Medicine: As Prescribed by Sri Nisargadatta [Paperback]

Nisargadatta Maharaj (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 1996

In this volume Nisargadatta provides advanced instrutions for spiritual aspirants. He elucidates the nature of Ultimate Reality clearly and simply. He makes the highest self-realisation a matter of common understanding so that any sincere seeker can garsp the essence of it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In the Ultimate Medicine, Nisargadatta, like the great sages of old India, elucidated the nature of Ultimate Reality clearly and simply. He makes the highest Self-realization a matter of common understanding so that any sincere seeker can grasp the essence of it." -- David Frawley, OMD, author of Beyond the Mind,Tantric Yoga,and Ayurvedic Healing

"Nisargadatta Maharaj is my greatest teacher. His words guide my writing, speaking and all of my relationships." --Dr. Wayne Dyer, author of Your Sacred Self and Your Erroneous Zones

About the Author

Robert Powell was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1918. After obtaining his doctorate in chemistry from London University, he pursued a career first as an industrial chemist and later as a science writer and editor in Britain and the United States. Robert Powell's personal exploration of spirituality began in the 1960s, and his quest for self-discovery led him to Zen and a number of spiritual masters including J. Krishnamurti and Ramana Maharshi. His own spiritual awakening coincided with his discovery of the teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj. He is the editor of a Nisargadatta trilogy, and the author of a number of books on what he describes as "human consciousness transformation." Powell now lives a busy life in La Jolla, California, with his loving wife, Gina.

Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass, (December 6, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8120814185
• ISBN-13: 978-8120814189
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,511,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very deep and direct--a priceless book., April 23, 2003

By 

Zen (sherman oaks, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ultimate Medicine: Dialogues with a Realized Master: A Message and Example That Can Awaken Us to Our Original Nature (Paperback)

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.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Consciousness, November 15, 2005

By 

Nathan (U.S.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ultimate Medicine: Dialogues with a Realized Master: A Message and Example That Can Awaken Us to Our Original Nature (Paperback)

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.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for the serious seeker, September 18, 2002

By 

Arvind (India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ultimate Medicine: Dialogues with a Realized Master: A Message and Example That Can Awaken Us to Our Original Nature (Paperback)

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.