Nisargadatta Maharaj’s teaching, as reflected in *I Am That*, stands out within the Advaita Vedānta landscape for its radical immediacy and uncompromising directness. Rather than endorsing a gradual, step‑by‑step path, he insists that what is sought is available “here and now” through clear seeing, not through prolonged ascetic or ritual preparation. His style is famously blunt and confrontational, cutting through conceptual comfort rather than cultivating it, and his language often employs paradox and strong negation to unsettle fixed views. This gives his dialogues a distinctive tone: less an invitation to adopt a new belief system and more a relentless dismantling of every standpoint the mind tries to occupy.

A central hallmark of his approach is the focus on the raw, pre‑conceptual sense of “I Am.” Many teachers speak of God, Self, or pure awareness in broad metaphysical terms, but Nisargadatta consistently directs attention to the immediate feeling of being, prior to any qualification such as “I am this or that.” The instruction is first to abide in this naked sense of existence, and then to recognize that even this “I Am” is an appearance, not the ultimate reality. In this way, the teaching does not stop at identifying with consciousness or awareness; it points beyond consciousness itself, refusing to allow the seeker any final conceptual resting place.

This orientation is matched by a marked lack of emphasis on elaborate practices, rituals, or psychological processing. Although rooted in a traditional background, he does not lean on scriptural exegesis, complex philosophical systems, or devotional frameworks. Instead, he stresses earnestness—an intense sincerity and longing to know one’s true nature—as more important than any particular method. Spiritual experiences, subtle states, and even refined understandings are treated as movements within consciousness, not as attainments to be cherished.

Another distinctive feature is the way his teaching works to dissolve, rather than refine, the identity of the spiritual seeker. Where some paths may inadvertently strengthen a sense of being a “spiritual person” progressing toward a goal, Nisargadatta consistently undercuts the very notion of an individual doer or achiever. Through persistent “neti‑neti” (not this, not that), he rejects identification with body, mind, experiences, and even with the sense of being itself. The result is a radical simplicity: a stark, uncompromising pointer that refuses consolation and continually redirects attention to that which is prior to all appearances, beyond both bondage and liberation.