RAYS OF THE ABSOLUTE A GITA FOR SRI NISARGAdATTA MAhARAj The SONG OF The AbSOluTe STepheN h.WOlINSky ph d Copyright 2010 Stephen H. Wolinsky, PhD An imprint of Quantum Press, under the auspices of Quantum Institute Inc. Stephen H. Wolinsky, PhD Library ISBN 0-9749954-2-8 114 Rio Del Mar Blvd. Aptos, California 95003-4648 website stephenhwolinskyphdlibrary.com Typesetting: Bramble Books www.bramblebooks.com FORWARd To the beloved Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj Rays of the Absolute: A Gita For Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, is an attempt to offer a song, prose, verses or sutras, to my beloved Teacher, Guru and Spiritual Mentor, as a way to honor him, (The Maharaj Principle) as the Absolute. It is with the deepest reverence that each sentence was written. To My beloved Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, whose teachings have been with me and changed the course of this life. Some forty years ago, I longed for one document to “tell me the way it is”. I always wanted to cut through all the spiritual roundabout and be exposed to such a form and Teacher. In the early 1970’s, I read my first copy of the Bhagavad Gita, and rejoiced at its, beauty, I actually felt like Krishna was speaking to me, and it was all in one book. Of course “I” came to realize that appreciating and imbibing such a document was a life’s work. By the early 1970’s, words of the Buddha from the Heart Sutra, “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form”, or the Diamond Sutra, “No being has ever entered Nirvana”, began to fall into my hands at the now famous Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles, California. “I” began to fantasize that more then likely the verses, gitas, sutras, etc, were attempts to write down in short Zen-like Koan’s, teachings that were brief sayings as a way to remember and preserve the teachings as well as the teaching style itself. By the middle of 1975, “I” was involved with chanting sanskrit verses which gave a way to remember, and arguably disseminate both teachings in a form which was easy for disciples to participate in, as well as somehow meditative. Still the metaphors used sometimes hit, and other times missed my window. In 1976 “I” was fortunate to receive a copy of the now famous, “I Am That” by my beloved Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. This book was a turning point as his words were short, sutra like, easy to remember, and carried with them the power of a Zen Koan. Moreover, the metaphor-pointers caught hold of me, “like a virus” . Maharaj used to say, Forget me, forget Maharaj, forget the teachings, Stay in the consciousness and your own unique path will emerge for you. In this way Maharaj presented powerful sutra-like teachings as an umbrella. He would present a concept as a thorn to remove a thorn. To quote Maharaj: “My words if planted in you will destroy all other words and concepts.” So as not to recreate the wheel, “Rays of the Absolute” was put together is an attempt to make available the teachings of Maharaj, in a concise, provoking, and “meditative” way. This gita, prose, verses or sutras, are offered to Nisargadatta Maharaj. With my never ending gratitude and reverence to my beloved Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Pranams Your Guru brother Stephen H. Wolinsky January 31st, 2010 dedication To my beloved Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, my all and everything, may my life and breath never deviate from reverence, gratitude and service to you. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Acorn Press, for there devotion to Nisargadatta Maharaj through their time and energy making Maharaj’s work available to the world. To Neti Neti films for there work in making Maharaj archival footage available to the world. To my sweet love Carol, for her willingness to go through the manuscript 1st edition copyediting. To Simon Abbott for his patience and copyediting for the 2nd edition. To S. K. Mullarpattan, Maharaj’s primary translator for the hours and hours we have spent together both in his home and on the phone over the last so many years. To Mohan and Jayashri Gaitonde for the gift of sharing over 30 hours of Maharaj audio tape, which he lovingly translated along with the beautiful time in their home.. To Dr. Vanaja, for taking the translated tapes and putting them in a usable format. To Vijay Sawant, Maharaj’s trustee, who spent days with me, (us), just talking about Maharaj and sharing his stories. To all students and disciples everywhere who, even as this is read, are devoting their, time, energy, and life to Maharaj. Finally to the memory of Jozef Nauwelarets ,and his wife Christianne Baes, for providing me with more then 60 hours of Maharaj audio tapes to convert to CD’s. May Jozef rest in the arms of Maharaj, the/his beloved Absolute. ReCOMMeNded uSe “Rays of the Absolute: The Gita For Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” This book and CD set has numerous applications. First and foremost it is an “educational and meditative” device, and as such it is recommended to first sit and read the book, while listening to the CD’s . In this way the CD’s (which are an audio version of the book) can guide you effortlessly through its content. (Please note this book will follow the CD’s about 95% of the time. During the recording “some” slight alterations may be present). Next, as the material becomes more and more absorbed, listen to the CD’s while relaxing, during Hatha Yoga, or just quiet time can help to both relax and realize its message. Please note the material is not recommended while driving, or operating machinery. Although there are no rules, the CD’s and book will hopefully act as a study guide for appreciating the context of the extraordinary Teaching Master, the beloved Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Nisargadatta Maharaj Ki Jaya!