Description

This book comprises two works of great distinction. The first is “Master Key to Self Realisation” and the second is “Amrutlaya”. Both works are attributed to a spiritually enlightened guru, Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj. The first was written by him in Marathi and the second was originally published in Marathi based on his lectures on Dasbodh, which he delivered between 1925-36.

Master Key to Self realisation, based on Advaitic philosophy, delves into the essential nature of man – which it terms as final reality. It elucidates that the ultimate goal of the man seeking true happiness is to abide in this ‘Final Reality’ by transcending the grosser states of being such as the physical, the subtle(mental) and the causal. Finally it asserts that these three states of being, identified in classical Indian thought as ‘Brahman’ or ‘Turya’, is also to be transcended giving rise to the ultimate ‘Stateless State’ which is beyond conception. This nameless state is termed as ‘Final reality’ only for the sake of identification.

Dasbodh written by spiritually enlightened Guru swami Samarth Ramdas in the seventeenth century captures the essence of Upanishadic thought – the reality of the all pervading oneness. In the early part of the twentieth century, Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj in his inimitable style expounded the hoary teaching of Dasbodh in his quest for a spiritual awakening amongst people. These teachings came to be published in a collection of his lectures aptly entitled ‘Amrutlaya’, which refers to the stateless state of Final Reality.

The essential merit of Amrutlaya lies in the fact that Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj interpreted the seemingly esoteric and abstract teachings of Dasbodh in a lucid manner to facilitate understanding by even those without a formal education. The essential nature of this phenomenal existence being illusory, it is incapable of providing lasting joy or peace. The way out of this illusion is devotion to the Guru and an unswerving commitment to imbibe real knowledge from the guru’s teachings. Hence this book is ideally aimed at the seeker who having tired of the transience of this phenomenal existence, strives to know the original cause of his creation( which turns out to be identical to the creation of this phenomenal world). Additionally this book will serve to inspire the curious reader to investigate the real cause of happiness and misery, which in turn may plant the seed for his self discovery.

Amrut Laya is available in 2 parts – Readers are advised to read both the parts.