Rays of the Absolute - Stephen H. Wolinsky Ph. D.

as a way to remember and preserve the teachings as well
as the teaching style itself.
By the middle of 1975, “I” was involved with
chanting sanskrit verses which gave a way to remember,
and arguably disseminate both teachings in a form
which was easy for disciples to participate in, as well as
somehow meditative. Still the metaphors used sometimes
hit, and other times missed my window. In 1976 “I” was
fortunate to receive a copy of the now famous, “I Am
That” by my beloved Sri Nisargadata Maharaj. This book
was a turning point as his words were short, sutra like,
easy to remember, and carried with them the power of
a Zen Koan. Moreover, the metaphor-pointers caught
hold of me, “like a virus” .
Maharaj used to say,
Forget me,
forget Maharaj,
forget the teachings,
Stay in the consciousness and
your own unique path will emerge for you.
In this way Maharaj presented powerful sutra-like
teachings as an umbrella. He would present a concept
as a thorn to remove a thorn.
To quote Maharaj:
“My words if planted in you will destroy
all other words and concepts.
So as not to recreate the wheel, “Rays of the Absolute”
was put together is an attempt to make available the
teachings of Maharaj, in a concise, provoking, and
“meditative” way.