Nisargadatta Maharaj

Indian Advaita teacher from Mumbai whose book I Am That — a transcript of his dialogues — became one of the most influential non-dual teachings in the West.

I Am That: the primary teaching is the distinction between the sense of 'I am' (pure being, prior to all thought) and everything that comes after 'I am...' (body, mind, world). Self-recognition: the witness — pure awareness — is what you are; the rest is appearance. A direct, non-gradualist approach: no method required beyond attending to the I-am sense.