Master Key to Self-Realization - International Edition

Master Key

to Self-Realization

The Spiritual Science of Self-Knowledge

As Presented by

Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj

A Sadguru Publishing Publication

Copyright Page:

© 2023 Sadguru Publishing

2023, First International eBook Edition

No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical for commercial or social media usage without written permission from Sadguru Publishing.

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This book was previously published in a different form and is a derivative work printed with Permission and Cooperation from Shri Sadguru Trust - Mumbai, India

This book is dedicated to

Shri Sadguru Siddharameshwar Maharaj,

Shri Ranjit Maharaj, and Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj,

as well as their devotees, who in offering 

the sweet dish of their devotion, have brought

about the manifestation of this text.

Preface

In this book the reader will find the Master Key to Self-Realization that is in the form of the methodical teaching of Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj about Self-Knowledge and realization of Final Reality. The teaching contained in this text reflects the clear and direct language that was used by Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj and that has been similarly used for expressing Advaita Vedanta teachings that have been passed down through the ages. The spiritual instruction contained in this book forms the foundation for understanding the Advaita teachings of Shri Ranjit Maharaj and Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj, and is consistent with the teachings of other great Masters such as Shri Ramana Maharshi, Shri Adi Shankaracharya, and Saint Shri Samartha Ramdas, among others.

Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj had many Self-Realized disciples. This book was originally written in the Marathi language by Shri Dattatray Dharmayya Poredi a distinguished disciple of Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj. Upon humble request from several of his disciples, Maharaj narrated the simplified instruction for Self-Realization for the benefit of aspirants which was written down by Mr. Poredi as it was being spoken. Upon completion, he received confirmation of its correctness from Maharaj as well as a pat on the back for a job well done The first Marathi edition of this book was called Adhyatma Jnanachi Gurukilli and was published by Shri Ganapatrao Maharaj of Kannur (a brother disciple of Shri Ranjit Maharaj and Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj). This text was studied thoroughly by disciples of Siddharameshwar Maharaj. Many years later, Shri Ranjit Maharaj then received verbal permission from Ganapatrao Maharaj to have the text translated into English. Ranjit Maharaj entrusted the translation responsibilities to Dr. Mrs. Damyanti Dungaji. The completed English translation was then proofread and subsequently published by Ranjit Maharaj. When all of the copies of that original English text were sold, the text was incorporated into another book of Siddharameshwar Maharaj's talks entitled Amrut Laya. More recently this has been included in the book named Master of Self-Realization written by Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj.

Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj was the disciple of Shri Bhauseheb Maharaj who mainly taught the path of Meditation as a means to realization. During his spiritual practice, Siddharameshwar Maharaj spent much of his time practicing meditation and reflecting on the teachings of great Saints such as Shri Samartha Ramdas, a renowned Maharashtran Saint of the 17th century (author of Dasbodh and Manache Shlok), as well as the teachings of Adi Shankaracharya, Valmiki and Vasisthta, and other great Saints such as Kabir, Tukaram, Eknath, (author of Eknathi Bhagwat), and others. After the passing away of his master Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj in the year 1914, Siddharameshwar Maharaj continued meditating on the teachings of his Master. In 1918, he renounced the world and joined four of his brother disciples to popularize his Master's teachings. In the year 1920 when he was on the tour of popularizing his Master's teachings, he got the idea that one could go beyond the path of many years of long meditation as a means for realization and that meditation is an initial stage to attain Final Reality. His brother disciples disagreed with Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj, saying that their master, Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj has not told them this. He agreed with them, but stated, Okay! Can one not go beyond that? He left his co-disciples and returned to his home in Bijapur. While in Bijapur he meditated for nine months continuously without a break. Since his Master had taught him only meditation, he had no other means to find out the way to attain the Final Reality without long arduous meditation. He said, I will attain the Final Reality even at the cost of my life. By the grace of his Master Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj he attained the realization of Final Reality.

After his realization, Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj began teaching that in addition to the path of long arduous meditation which is often referred to as The Ant's Way, one can attain Final Reality very quickly through the path of The Bird's Way, which is the path primarily of listening to the teachings of the Sadguru, as well as utilizing the power of discrimination (Viveka), combined with thoughtfulness and investigation into one's True Nature(Vichara).  This is the most direct path to realization. He said that it is through thinking that Ignorance has become firmly established in one's Consciousness, and it is through thinking that Ignorance can be completely dispelled. His instruction as to how this is done is explained thoroughly within the contents of this text. Truly fortunate are those who come across these teachings in their lifetime. It is the voice of the Supreme Self, Paramatman that is found here in these pages. May the one reading these words attain the realization of the Final Reality with the aid of this text by the Grace of the Sadguru, who is your own True Self.

!! Jai Sadguru Parabrahman !!

Master Key

to Self-Realization

Chapter 1:  The Importance of Self-Knowledge

At the beginning of this exposition reverential adoration is offered to Shri Ganesh first, then to Shri Saraswati, and finally to Shri Sadguru. What is the reason for offering salutations in this order? If someone were to ask, If the sequence of this adoration is changed will there be confusion? The answer has to be, Yes, there will be confusion. This is because Shri Ganesh is the deity for meditation and contemplation, and Shri Saraswati is the deity for the exposition of the teaching through words. With the help of these two deities, the deity in the form of The Light of the Self, that arises in the heart of the aspirant, is none other than the Sadguru. Therefore, the Sadguru necessarily has to be adored after Shri Ganesh and Shri Saraswati. Only when the understanding of the subject becomes firm does The Grace of the Sadguru descend. Neither the exposition of this text, nor the contemplation on the contents of this text will by themselves lead the aspirant to the goal. Therefore, one should reverentially adore both Shri Ganesh and Shri Saraswati.

There is an ancient method of expounding the teaching of Vedanta that is commonly followed in this tradition (Sampradaya) when presenting the subject matter of this text to the aspirant. According to this method, first the manifest form of the Sadguru is seen by the eyes. Then the knowledge about the teachings of the Vedanta, and value and significance of these precious teachings is extolled through the words of the Guru. Then, a Mantra (a subtle name of God, or a phrase) is given and the aspirant is instructed to practice meditation on the repetition of the Mantra for a short period of time (usually several weeks) to imprint its significance within. This provides a means for the aspirant to make the mind more subtle so that the teachings to follow can be more easily grasped and realized. This is the seekers initiation to the teaching and invitation to become an aspirant on the path to realization.

In accordance with the method of the Saints that has been outlined above, the Sadguru first explains about the subject that is to follow, then indicates its characteristics, and finally follows by imparting a detailed knowledge of the subject. In most schools of education, when teaching small children about any subject, the teacher first verbally informs the child about the subject matter that will be taught. This is called the kindergarten method of education. Similarly, initially the Sadguru verbally gives you a concept, or idea of Reality (such as You are He or Only Brahman Exists, or some other similar form of mantra) that is to be contemplated upon. Through repetition or churning, this idea will be indelibly imprinted on the mind. This is called The Tradition (Sampradaya) of the Sadguru. Through this preliminary method the aspirant achieves results sooner. So be it.

Afterwards, the Guru expounds the Truth (the subject matter) to an ordinarily intelligent aspirant, and he understands what the Sadguru conveys, and about That which He is teaching. However, the main difficulty is in experientially realizing what has been intellectually understood. Through the exposition of the subject by the Sadguru, one understands what the Self (Atman) is. However, the ghost of doubt pops up in the mind of the aspirant in the form of the question How am I the Self? and the aspirant's mental attitude does not become free of doubt. There is an intellectual understanding, but no realization. The remedy for this is to study with determination, and learn the teaching. Unless there is sustained and repeated study, it will not be fully understood and realized. For example, in the instructional handwriting book, the letters presented are very beautiful. We understand this, but initially we cannot write the letters in the same way. If however the same letters are written repeatedly, then by virtue of that practice or study, the letters are beautifully formed as soon as the pen touches the paper. Here someone might ask, How much study or practice is required to learn the subject well? The answer is, The study, and the practice, or effort must continue relentlessly according to each one's capacity, until it is understood or realized.

A general example can be stated here to impress upon the mind of the aspirant the importance of repeated study. An ordinarily intelligent man can understand something if it is explained to him two or three times. If he repeats it ten or twenty times, it becomes a habit. If he repeats it a hundred times, it becomes like an addiction. Once he becomes familiar with it a thousand times, it becomes inherent nature for the one practicing it. If we look at the fibers of the jute plant, they are so delicate and fine that they become scattered in all directions when blown by the wind. However, when the same fibers are entwined together to form a rope, it is so strong that it can bind even a strong and violent elephant to a