Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj
From the guru of Nisargadatta Maharaj, 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 non-dual Vedanta teachings passed down through the ages. The spiritual instruction contained in this book provides the reader with solid foundation for understanding the Advaita Vedanta teachings of not only Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj, but also great saints such as Shri Ranjit Maharaj and Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj, and other great Masters such as Shri Ramana Maharshi, Shri Adi Shankaracharya, and Saint Shri Samartha Ramdas, among others. This ’Master Key’ empowers the spiritual aspirant to verify and understand for oneself the timeless essence of non-dual wisdom. 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. From that time on he taught 'The Bird’s Way' as a direct path to realization instead of the path of meditation. Now we are blessed with Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj’s precious teaching on the Bird’s Way through Master Key to Self-Realization and other books containing his teaching like Amrut Laya and Master of Self-Realization.
