The Ultimate Understanding

by Ramesh S. Balsekar and Susan Waterman

'The Ultimate Understanding', is, according to Ramesh himself, "a book containing the full essentials of the philosophy of Advaita, or Non-duality (Unicity). It is perhaps the most explicitly expressed and exquisitely presented book on this complex subject. What is the ultimate understanding? That there is no one to understand anything."

Recognized as one of the foremost contemporary sages, married and father of three, and a banker who retired from the top of his profession, Ramesh could be considered a householder Guru. In his latest book, Ramesh shares openly, poignantly, and with stunning humility, how a sage lives his life. Backed by the total conviction of the final understanding of a true Master, and at the same time presented from the perspective of "life as we know it", this treasure of Advaita is unrivalled in its unique conceptual expression of the highest Truth, delivered with fundamental wisdom, simplicity, and clarity - and with Ramesh's widely-loved gaiety and humor. Ramesh elaborates his own concepts with those of his Guru, Nisargadatta Maharaj, the Buddha, Ramana Maharshi, selected Hindu scriptures, several Taoist Masters and Wei Wu Wei, all serving as pointers to the Truth, to the ultimate understanding. While the book is a compilation of such classic themes as the nature of the phenomenal manifestation including the human being, the concept of space-time, temporality and Intemporality, the Guru, free will and non-volitional living, enlightenment and Self-realization, the Impersonal Energy - the Source, Noumenon or God, and conclusively, Consciousness is all there is, Ramesh explicitly summarizes that ultimately what he is talking about is "the most important thing in your life: peace and harmony in your life."

A rare gift to anyone and everyone seeking insight into how life happens, 'The Ultimate Understanding' is perhaps the pinnacle of Ramesh's writing. 'The Ultimate Understanding', heralds the total message he has to convey. What else remains can only be the final understanding, the final Truth, the silence of Unicity.

About the Author:

Ramesh S. Balsekar is a disciple of the late Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, a renowned Advaita master. From early childhood, Balsekar was drawn to Advaita, a nondual teaching, particularly the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Wei Wu Wei. Ramesh has written over 20 books, and discusses the Indian philosophy of Advaita daily in Bombay, with visitors from around the world. The basic concept is that "all there is, is Consciousness"; all actions are happenings, the functioning of the Primal Energy, and not the doing by anyone. Ramesh frames the concepts in the context of daily living, speaking from his experience as a bank president and a family man.