The text in question can indeed be approached as a standalone work. Its dialogical structure presents Nisargadatta Maharaj’s central insights in direct conversation with seekers, whose questions often mirror the uncertainties and inquiries of a newcomer. Because the exchanges continually return to key themes—such as the sense of “I am,” the nature of the Self, and the illusoriness of the separate person—the reader is gradually oriented to the core of the teaching through repetition and variation rather than through a formal system. For many, this very book has served as the first and primary encounter with Nisargadatta’s perspective.

At the same time, the style is notably uncompromising and not arranged as a step‑by‑step path. There is no systematic introduction, no glossary, and no carefully graded progression of concepts, which can make the text demanding for those unused to nondual discourse. Some prior acquaintance with Advaita Vedānta or nondual terminology—terms such as Self, witness, consciousness, or non‑duality—can make the reading more transparent, but such background is helpful rather than strictly required. The dialogues themselves are designed so that the reader can, in effect, learn alongside the questioners.

Because of this, the book functions both as an introduction and as a deepening of understanding, depending on the reader’s readiness. Beginners may find it fruitful to move slowly, to reread particular dialogues, and to allow the central pointer to the bare sense of “I am” to work on them over time. The lack of a rigid structure invites a contemplative engagement rather than a merely conceptual one, and repeated exposure to the same essential teaching from different angles can gradually clarify what at first seems elusive. For those drawn to this approach, the text can stand entirely on its own as a foundational encounter with Nisargadatta Maharaj’s teaching.