Consciousness and the Absolute: The final talks of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

This document is a compilation of the final spiritual dialogues of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, recorded and edited by Jean Dunn. The text captures conversations held between May 1980 and June 1981, during the final period of Maharaj's life while he was suffering from cancer. The dialogues take place in a small room in Mumbai, where seekers from around the world gathered to hear his teachings. The core of Maharaj's message focuses on the distinction between the body-mind, which is subject to birth, death, and suffering, and the Absolute, which is prior to consciousness and existence. He emphasizes that the sense of 'I Am' or consciousness is a spontaneous, time-bound phenomenon arising from the physical body, which is itself a product of food. Maharaj urges his listeners to disidentify from the body and the mind, and to realize that they are the unborn, undying Absolute. He frequently uses metaphors such as a cigarette lighter flame to illustrate the temporary nature of consciousness. The text also includes a glossary of Sanskrit terms used throughout the dialogues, such as 'Brahman', 'Maya', 'Jnani', and 'Parabrahman', to assist readers in understanding his philosophical framework. The document serves as a record of his final instructions, emphasizing that the ultimate truth is beyond concepts, words, and intellectual understanding, and that the seeker must abide in the Self to realize their true nature.