This is Ramesh's letter to God published in the book The Ultimate Understanding.

Dear God,  

This is my record of eternal gratitude to You.

You gave me birth in a most respected Hindu family, but not high enough in social status to make me proud.

You gave me a physical form well-admired for its perfection, but it was small enough to keep me humble.

You gave me education high enough to be most useful in life, but not high enough to make me proud.

You gave me success in sports high enough to be satisfied, but not proud.

You gave me a career in which You took me high enough to be admired, but not high enough to make me arrogant.

You gave me a wife and family for which I have always been eternally grateful, but You did not spare me some grief to remind me not to forget what life is all about, and to be always grateful for what I do have.

You did not forget to place an adequate number of temptations in my way so that I may not be too critical of others who have to face their own temptations.

I am now 84, and perhaps the only wish that remains is that the long life You have given me will not carry a burden at the end. But in that case, I know You will also give me the necessary courage to go with it.

You gave me a lot to show me how little is needed to be content and how much could be given away.

And, undoubtedly, the most important of all - as if the bounty You have showered on me were not enough - You crowned Your achievement by using this psychosomatic apparatus to convey to the world the most important message of Advaita. Truly I am blessed. Or, indeed, my Beloved, have You not blessed Yourself?!

Finally, it occurs to me, if You were to design for Yourself a life in phenomenality, could it have been much different from this one? And, for this thought, no tears are enough to wash Your Noumenal feet.

 
Ramesh S. Balsekar worked as the General Manager of a leading nationalized bank and retired as its President in 1977. Soon after his retirement, he met the well-known sage Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and became his student. The total understanding that 'no one does anything' happened in 1979. Ramesh began translating most of the daily talks held by Nisargadatta Maharaj at this time.

He himself began teaching in 1982. The 'command' to talk was given by his Guru. These talks or 'conversations' began on the day when an Australian man showed up at his door early one morning. The next day, this Australian returned with a few of his friends. Gradually, the number of visitors who came to listen to Ramesh began to grow.
 
Ramesh, was married and a father of three children, and was widely regarded as a 'householder' Guru. He elaborated his own concepts with those of Nisargadatta Maharaj, the Buddha, Ramana Maharshi, select Hindu scriptures, as well as the teachings of Taoist Masters and Wei Wui Wei. All serve as pointers to the Truth - The Ultimate Understanding.

He wrote over 20 books and held several seminars in Europe and the USA and, while he was alive, the talks continued every morning at his residence. Ramesh used to say, "No one is invited, and everyone is welcome." Ramesh S. Balsekar left his body on September 27 2009, after a brief illness. He was 92. www.rameshbalsekar.com/letter.asp

"All action is a divine happening through a human object - it is not something done by someone." Ramesh S. Balsekar

Until you return, fill your days with GIGGLES, JOY, and APPRECIATION!

SylviaSilk, D.D. Director of the Institute For Balanced Living, Los Angeles,CA, USA
DoctorofDivinity, SpiritualCoach, ReconnectiveHealingPractitioner, Writer