Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897–1981) was an Indian spiritual teacher and Advaita Vedanta sage, regarded as a modern exponent of nondual realization. Born Maruti Shivrampant Kambli in Maharashtra, he lived an outwardly ordinary life, working as a small shopkeeper and cigarette seller in Mumbai while supporting a family. His life took a decisive turn upon meeting his guru, Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj, who initiated him into the path of self-realization. From this point, his existence became a living inquiry into the nature of the Self, even as he continued to move within the rhythms of everyday urban life.

His guru gave him the mantra centered on the sense of “I am” and instructed him to focus exclusively on this pure feeling of being, without attaching it to any personal identity or story. Through intense and sustained contemplation of this bare sense of existence, he came to abide in what he described as his “natural state,” the Self beyond body and mind. It was in this context that he received the name “Nisargadatta,” often understood as “naturally given” or “gift of nature,” pointing to a realization that is not constructed but uncovered. His teaching thus rested on the insight that one’s true nature is already present, prior to all conceptual overlays.

From a small upstairs room above his shop in Mumbai’s Khetwadi area, Nisargadatta Maharaj began to share this realization with seekers who were drawn to his uncompromising clarity. His style was direct and often challenging, cutting through philosophical speculation to emphasize immediate self-inquiry into one’s true nature as the Absolute, beyond all notions of individuality. He taught pure Advaita, insisting that individual consciousness and universal consciousness are ultimately one, and that this unity can be recognized through earnest investigation of the sense “I am.” Despite lacking formal education, his dialogues displayed a penetrating insight that spoke to both simple devotees and sophisticated inquirers.

These conversations were recorded and later compiled into the book *I Am That*, which brought his voice to a wider audience. The work presents question-and-answer sessions in which he consistently redirects attention from conceptual understanding to direct realization. Throughout, the central thread of his teaching remains the same: by staying with the naked sense of being, free from identification with body, mind, or role, one awakens to the Self that is ever-present. In this way, Nisargadatta Maharaj stands as a significant figure in the Advaita tradition, embodying a radical simplicity that points seekers back to their own immediate awareness.