Nisargadatta Maharaj’s famous tome I Am That, first published in 1973, describes a path to self-realization through non-identification. He was a member of a particular lineage and received teachings and instructions from his guru, and then went on a personal quest before settling to teach. I Am That remains a popular book—and although he died 40 years ago, Nisargardatta is well-known these days as a pioneering teacher of nonduality.

Yet, this framework of being a nondual teacher often neglects his unique understanding of the Absolute, the expansive ground of ultimate reality. While his readers focus on achieving pure nondual awareness, less attention is usually paid to how Nisargadatta went further still, to the source of awareness. And also there is no clear understanding of his instructions of how to realize this absolute nature.

It is easy to latch onto various ideas about the “I am” that Nisargardatta’s writings focus on, but these ideas lead at best to a partial understanding, and more often to confusion.

In this lecture, Almaas will carefully investigate Nisargadatta’s experience of “I am,” pure awareness, and the Absolute, in order to clarify an understanding of his teaching and bring appreciation and greater precision to the levels of self-realization that can be achieved by spiritual practitioners. This is an important understanding that is missing in many nondual teachings.

The lecture will last approximately 45 minutes followed by a question and comment period.