Nisargadatta Maharaj's Lifestyle in Mumbai
For many who encounter the profound teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj through his classic text, I Am That, his humble, urban life can come as a surprise. Living in a small, noisy apartment above a street in Mumbai, he was a simple householder who ran a small shop selling bidis, or hand-rolled cigarettes. His lifestyle was far removed from the austere, isolated images of many saints and sages. He had a wife and children and engaged fully with the chaotic life of the city.
This unconventional setting was no accident; it was a deliberate and natural expression of his realization. His spiritual journey didn't lead him to a quiet ashram in the Himalayas but back to the very worldly life he had temporarily abandoned. The spiritual practice was not about changing external conditions but about fundamentally shifting one's internal identification.
The Fact of His Diet
Several first-hand accounts and discussions confirm that Nisargadatta Maharaj ate meat. In a conversation recorded by his followers, when asked why he ate meat, his response was telling: “My body has these habits — so what of it?”. This nonchalant attitude was a direct reflection of his philosophy. From his perspective, the liberated sage is not the body but the pure, unconditioned awareness. The body's habits, like its dietary preferences, are merely temporary conditions of the material form and have no bearing on the ultimate reality of the Self.
Another source mentions that he was a vegetarian in his younger years but later consumed meat. This shift, far from indicating a spiritual regression, simply underscored the irrelevance of such external practices for a realized master. The point was not to purify the body but to realize that one was never the body to begin with.
The Purpose of Action, Not the Action Itself
Nisargadatta's teachings on diet must be understood within the broader context of his philosophy. Unlike a seeker who might adopt a specific diet to cultivate purity (sattva), a realized being, or jnani, understands that all actions of the body-mind mechanism are ultimately a play of consciousness. The body is made of food, but the 'I Am' is not the food. Therefore, obsessing over the type of food one consumes misses the point entirely.
His perspective challenges the common assumption that spiritual progress is correlated with physical purity. For the seeker, certain habits can be obstacles, but for the one who has already arrived, they are simply phenomena arising within awareness. He taught that true liberation is a separation from the identification with the body and its tendencies, not the purification of the body itself.
Nisargadatta Maharaj vs. Ramana Maharshi on Diet
To further illustrate this unique perspective, it is helpful to compare Nisargadatta's view with that of another revered Indian sage, Ramana Maharshi, who was a proponent of a vegetarian, or 'sattvic', diet.
| Aspect | Nisargadatta Maharaj | Ramana Maharshi |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary Habit | Non-vegetarian, smoked cigarettes. | Vegetarian, advocated for a sattvic diet. |
| Viewpoint | Spoke from the perspective of a realized master, for whom the body's habits are insignificant. | Offered counsel for the seeker on the path, suggesting a sattvic diet to minimize obstacles. |
| Core Teaching | Radical non-dualism focused on direct identification with the Absolute, transcending the body entirely. | Self-inquiry ('Who am I?'), with practical advice like diet to aid the process. |
| Analogy | The enlightened one's journey is complete; the body's habits are just the 'idiosyncrasies' of the realized one. | The seeker is on a journey; the diet is a tool to lighten the load and make the path smoother. |
This comparison highlights the difference between instruction for the seeker on the path and the words of one who has already arrived. Nisargadatta was truthful from the absolute perspective, while Ramana's advice was useful for those still struggling with identification.
The Principle of Non-Attachment in Action
Nisargadatta's diet was a powerful demonstration of his central teaching on non-attachment. The body's cravings and habits, whether for meat or bidis, were simply observed without identification. This practice of witnessing, without judgment or entanglement, is at the heart of his philosophy. By not being attached to the body or its tendencies, he could maintain a profound sense of peace and freedom, regardless of external circumstances. As a disciple once noted, Maharaj was clearly separate from the body, remaining unaffected even when a painful incident occurred, proving that his true nature was beyond physical sensation.
His attitude was a stark challenge to the ego, which often seeks to define itself through its choices and moral standards. For Nisargadatta, true liberation meant transcending such concepts entirely. It is not about becoming a better person but about realizing you were never a person in the first place. This is the essence of non-dual realization.
Conclusion: An Unconventional Path to Wisdom
So, was Nisargadatta Maharaj a vegetarian? No, he was not. But the truth about his diet is far less significant than the reason behind it. His dietary habits were a testament to his complete realization, demonstrating that for a liberated being, the body and its actions are a fleeting, dream-like phenomenon, not the source of identity.
For seekers, the conventional advice to follow a pure diet may still be valid, as it can help calm the mind and reduce obstacles. However, Nisargadatta's example serves as a powerful reminder that the ultimate goal is not physical purity but spiritual liberation—the profound realization that one is not the body or the mind but the eternal, unconditioned Self.
Key Takeaways:
- Dietary Habits: Nisargadatta Maharaj was a non-vegetarian and a smoker.
- Non-Identification: He saw his bodily habits as insignificant, stating, “My body has these habits — so what of it?”.
- Perspective of the Realized: His stance differs from advice given to seekers, who might benefit from a 'sattvic' diet to aid their path.
- Beyond Purity: The focus of his teaching was on transcending the body-mind complex entirely, not on purifying it.
- True Liberation: True freedom comes from separating oneself from identification with the physical form, not from changing its habits.
For more insight into the contrast between a seeker's path and a realized being's perspective, explore the video conversation on Acharya Prashant's site about this very topic.
