Nisagardatta Maharaj
A great soul. Simple, direct, true.
He worked most of his life in a small shop in the back streets of Bombay, living an ordinary life to feed his family.
I know of only two persons who awakened in his presence, although many claim to have done so.
Even when dying of cancer, his body suffering and in great pain, he remained still and quiet within... and vibrantly alive.
An example more profound than all the silly enlightenment chatter of so many.
And oh yes, when his guru said "you are free already" Nisagardatta had the deep, profound courage to pursue the meaning of that statement, to the end.
To have such courage, to stop an nothing in the pursuit of full awakening, is very, very rare.
His absolute, unwavering presence was a gift beyond words to all who met him.
