Ramesh Balsekar

Ramesh S. Balsekar (25 May 1917 – 27 September 2009) was an Indian Advaita teacher and physical culturist. He was disciple and principal translator of Nisargadatta Maharaj, a renowned Advaita master. From early childhood, Balsekar was drawn to Advaita, a nondual teaching, particularly the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Wei Wu Wei. He wrote more than 20 books, was president of the Bank of India, and received guests daily in his home in Mumbai until shortly before his death in 2009.

Career

As a young man, Balsekar was interested in bodybuilding, physical culture and yoga. He was a student of K. V. Iyer. Balsekar was featured with photographic coverage in the physical culture magazine Strength & Health and others. His 1940 book Streamlines included yoga-āsana and sūrya namaskāra exercises.

He won the "All-India Body Beautiful Competition" in 1938 and studied physical culture in England under Lawrence A. Woodford, author of Physical Idealism and the Art of Posing. After returning to Mumbai he became a clerk at the Bank of India. He was promoted throughout his career, culminating to the highest position of the president of the Bank of India, which he held for ten years until his retirement in 1977.

Selected publications

Streamlines (1940), Bombay: G. C. Dorsett Duet of One: The Ashtavakra Gita Dialogue (1989), Consciousness Speaks: Conversations with Ramesh S. Balsekar (1993), Who Cares?! The Unique Teaching of Ramesh S. Balsekar (1999), The Ultimate Understanding (2002), Confusion No More (2007),