How I Met NIs

[Guest guest]

Going down memory lane to the first few posts

of this list, I found this:

 

Hi,

 

I came across Nisargadatta (not him, his book) in a book store in Santa

Monica, California, which was owned and operated by the Adi Da people

(then called Da Free John). The bookstore was divided into seven

sections reflecting the seven stages of life or understanding, as put

forth by Da Free John at the time. The seventh stage texts were those of

extreme nonduality and included the Avadhuta Gita and a handful of other

scriptures. The sixth stage books included the works of Ramana and

others. The seventh stage texts made absolutely no sense to me at the

time. It was like reading a foreign language. But the sixth stage texts

were like home.

 

I saw this thick bright orange book with the title boldly printed: I Am

That. I saw the picture of Nisargadatta. I opened the book and saw

another picture of Nisargadatta. All I had read was the title and all I

had seen was his picture. I said to myself: 'This is it.' With that I

carried the book to the cashier. Soon after reading I. Am That, I came to

understand the seventh stage texts.

 

By the way, Da Free John's books were kept in a separate section, not

part of the seven stages of life. Also they sold a lot of books on

conspiracy theory, which were shelved separately from the seven stages,

and which probably drew most of their customers.

 

Congratulations on this list, which has been made part of the link

below.

 

Jerry Katz

 

 

P: I met Nis at the Chicago Public Library in the early nineties.

I was roaming the aisle which housed Hindu Spirituality when

a very thin book caught my eye. I took it out and saw the

picture of a small guy sitting in the meditation posture.

it wasn't a good photo and the guy didn't look particularly

enlightened. I put the book back and was about to move on,

when this thought ran thru my mind: " Don't let appearances

fool you. Look again! I pulled the book out, opened it at

random, and read: " What you seek is your survival,

but what you hope will survive, doesn't exist even now. "

or words to that effect. I took the book home and Maharaj

became my last teacher. "

Maybe some of you will care to share how you met Nis.

 

Pete