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Ivan Frimmel presents

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Ramesh Balsekar - The Nonvolitional Way

(1917 - )

Ramesh S. Balsekar10 Sindhula

North Gamadia RoadMumbai 400026

India

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His Photos

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His Biography (1) Ramesh was born in 1917 in India, and studied commerce...Ramesh was born in 1917 in India, and studied commerce...

He married Sharda in 1940 and they raised three children. He married Sharda in 1940 and they raised three children.

It was in his career, which began in 1940 as a clerk in the Bank of India, that It was in his career, which began in 1940 as a clerk in the Bank of India, that Ramesh's brilliance truly shone through. Despite lacking a booming ambition, Ramesh's brilliance truly shone through. Despite lacking a booming ambition, he steadily rose through the ranks until his retirement in 1977 as that bank's he steadily rose through the ranks until his retirement in 1977 as that bank's General Manager. General Manager.

During his ten years of service as its head, he guided the bank through its During his ten years of service as its head, he guided the bank through its most rapid and successful growth period, overseeing the hiring of thousands most rapid and successful growth period, overseeing the hiring of thousands of people and the opening of hundreds of new branches in India and around of people and the opening of hundreds of new branches in India and around the globe. the globe.

Even during his working life, he always felt he was enacting some role in a Even during his working life, he always felt he was enacting some role in a play that must, and would, end soon. Deep within, he believed that there had play that must, and would, end soon. Deep within, he believed that there had to be more to life than merely getting ahead of the other man.to be more to life than merely getting ahead of the other man.

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His Biography (2) Shortly after his mandatory retirement at age sixty, Ramesh read a Shortly after his mandatory retirement at age sixty, Ramesh read a

magazine article about a guru named Nisargadatta Maharaj who was magazine article about a guru named Nisargadatta Maharaj who was teaching about Advaita (non-duality) in a poor area of Bombay. It was teaching about Advaita (non-duality) in a poor area of Bombay. It was a subject in which he had always had a keen interest. He went to hear a subject in which he had always had a keen interest. He went to hear him, knew at once that this was his ultimate guru and within three or him, knew at once that this was his ultimate guru and within three or four months began translating for Maharaj at his daily morning talks. four months began translating for Maharaj at his daily morning talks. It was not long before Ramesh too experienced the ultimate It was not long before Ramesh too experienced the ultimate understanding.understanding.

Retired bank president, golfer, husband and father doesn't fit the Retired bank president, golfer, husband and father doesn't fit the stereotype of an Indian guru... and perhaps that accounts, at least in stereotype of an Indian guru... and perhaps that accounts, at least in part, for the fact that 90% of the people who come to him are part, for the fact that 90% of the people who come to him are Westerners. His background and education combine with his Westerners. His background and education combine with his understanding to make him a master who is an ideal bridge between understanding to make him a master who is an ideal bridge between East and West, the spiritual and the material. East and West, the spiritual and the material.

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Ramesh on Space & Time

All thinking must necessarily refer to a person or a thing, All thinking must necessarily refer to a person or a thing, and an event concerning the person or thing. Therefore all and an event concerning the person or thing. Therefore all thinking is necessarily based on the existence of 'space' thinking is necessarily based on the existence of 'space' and 'time'. But, surely, space-time does not 'exist' and 'time'. But, surely, space-time does not 'exist' objectively. Therefore there cannot be any phenomena or objectively. Therefore there cannot be any phenomena or any thinking about any thing in the absence of space-time. any thinking about any thing in the absence of space-time. And if space-time is not some thing perceptible or And if space-time is not some thing perceptible or cognizable, it can only be the  Subjectivity - and that is cognizable, it can only be the  Subjectivity - and that is what, surely, we must be: 'I', the Noumenon, the Source, what, surely, we must be: 'I', the Noumenon, the Source, spaceless and timeless - Intemporality.spaceless and timeless - Intemporality.

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Ramesh on Presence The 'past' is an impression, a belief, a memory. The 'future' is a The 'past' is an impression, a belief, a memory. The 'future' is a

presumption, a conjecture. The 'present' is gone before we can presumption, a conjecture. The 'present' is gone before we can recognize it as such. What is 'present', therefore, can only be recognize it as such. What is 'present', therefore, can only be 'Presence', outside of horizontal time, in the moment - Intemporality.'Presence', outside of horizontal time, in the moment - Intemporality.

The 'present' does not exist because even before it has been perceived The 'present' does not exist because even before it has been perceived and cognized as such, it has become the past. The same applies to the and cognized as such, it has become the past. The same applies to the future. The 'past' is merely an impression, a recollection in memory. future. The 'past' is merely an impression, a recollection in memory.

The 'future' is a conjecture, a presumption which may not even The 'future' is a conjecture, a presumption which may not even materialize if consciousness disappears.materialize if consciousness disappears.

The Presence, then, which always necessarily captures the illusive The Presence, then, which always necessarily captures the illusive 'present', in the moment, must necessarily be the Intemporality that we 'present', in the moment, must necessarily be the Intemporality that we are - the Noumenality of all phenomena, the Subjective Potentiality of are - the Noumenality of all phenomena, the Subjective Potentiality of all objects. all objects.

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Ramesh on Non-volitional Living

Events happening through any body-mind mechanism are Events happening through any body-mind mechanism are always beyond the control of the separate entity. But the always beyond the control of the separate entity. But the average person doesn't realize this. He is used to believing average person doesn't realize this. He is used to believing that he is doing the choosing. He believes that he has that he is doing the choosing. He believes that he has choice of decision and action and therefore continues to be choice of decision and action and therefore continues to be miserable.miserable.

You want to do what God would want you to do, and your You want to do what God would want you to do, and your problem is that you do not know God’s will. The joke is problem is that you do not know God’s will. The joke is that you cannot do anything that the Source or God would that you cannot do anything that the Source or God would not like you to do.Thy will be done.not like you to do.Thy will be done.

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Ramesh on Enlightenment

Enlightenment simply means that all of this is realized. Enlightenment simply means that all of this is realized. Then, instead of being involved in whatever actions take Then, instead of being involved in whatever actions take place, not only through his body-mind organism, but place, not only through his body-mind organism, but through those with whom he comes into contact, he through those with whom he comes into contact, he accepts all actions as part of the functioning of Totality. accepts all actions as part of the functioning of Totality. All that has changed is the attitude, the perspective, the All that has changed is the attitude, the perspective, the understanding. The world goes on and will continue to go understanding. The world goes on and will continue to go on in the same way.on in the same way.

How does an enlightened person know that he is How does an enlightened person know that he is enlightened? The query is an admission that the very basis enlightened? The query is an admission that the very basis of the matter has been missed: when, in enlightenment, the of the matter has been missed: when, in enlightenment, the very individuality as the doer is lost, who would need to very individuality as the doer is lost, who would need to know, and what? - and what for?know, and what? - and what for?

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Ramesh on Consciousness

All cognizing takes place in Consciousness; All cognizing takes place in Consciousness; Consciousness cognizes everything, but Consciousness cognizes everything, but Consciousness cannot cognize That which is Consciousness cannot cognize That which is cognizing because that is nothing other than cognizing because that is nothing other than Itself. Itself.

Consciousness is all there is.Consciousness is all there is.

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His Bibliography The Essence of the Bhagavad GitaThe Essence of the Bhagavad Gita (Zen Publications) (Zen Publications)

It So Happened ThatIt So Happened That ... The Unique Teaching of Ramesh ... The Unique Teaching of Ramesh Balsekar) (Zen Publications) Balsekar) (Zen Publications)

Consciousness SpeaksConsciousness Speaks (Advaita Press) (Advaita Press)

Pointers from Nisargadatta MaharajPointers from Nisargadatta Maharaj (Chetana) (Chetana)

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Thank YouThank You

Ivan FrimmelIvan Frimmel

Cell: 082-454-0311Cell: 082-454-0311

E-mail: ivan.frimmel@nanhua.co.zaE-mail: ivan.frimmel@nanhua.co.za