Description

About The Book

The title It Is What It Is arises from the heart of Advaita Vedanta. At first glance, it may seem like a casual phrase of acceptance — a shrug before the inevitable. But in the light of Self-knowledge, it becomes a profound pointer to Truth.

This book springs from the timeless current of Advaita Vedanta, flowing through the lives and words of great masters — Bhagavān Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Jiddu Krishnamurti, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, and the eternal wisdom of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya. Across time, their voices echo a single truth: the Self is ever-present, and realizing it is the highest purpose of human life.

It is what it is — a simple yet immeasurable truth. Who we are is not something to construct; it is something to discover. The meaning of “I” cannot be borrowed from books, beliefs, or identities. It can only be directly known through Self-enquiry and turning within.

In Advaita, the first “I” is the ego — the limited sense of self bound by name, form, and conditioning. It declares, “I am this body,” “I am this mind,” “I am my story.” This “I” is nothing more than a bundle of thoughts, arising and dissolving like waves in the vast ocean of consciousness.

The path from “I” to “I-less” lies at the very heart of Self-enquiry (Ātma-vichāra), as taught by Bhagavān Sri Ramana Maharshi. By turning attention inward and asking, “Who am I?”, the false “I” is seen for what it is — a temporary shadow. As the illusion fades, what remains is the “I” that is not personal: the pure Awareness in which all experiences appear and disappear.

The sages have called this Sat — pure existence. It does not strive to become; it eternally is. This is the “I-less” state, where the personal ego dissolves into the impersonal Self. To recognise It is what it is is to stand at the unmoving center of your own being, seeing life as it is, free from the distortions of attachment or fear.

When the restless mind releases its need to control, judge, or alter reality, what remains is the simple fact of Being — changeless, uncaused, and untouched by the pairs of opposites. Whether pleasure or pain arises, whether gain or loss passes through, Reality itself stands unmoved.

This title, therefore, is not a casual saying. It is an invitation to turn inward, enquire into the nature of “I,” and awaken to that which has always been — before words, before thought — the Self, whole and complete.

This final “I” is not an individual. It is Ātman — infinite, formless, and undivided. It is the “I-less I”: being without ego, presence without possession, existence without separation. This is the liberation Advaita points to — the recognition that the seeker, the seeking, and the sought have always been One.

To be “I-less” is not to lose yourself; it is to discover your Self beyond limitation. The “I” we are accustomed to — the ego — is a restless manager of life. It measures, compares, and worries. It constantly says, “I want,” “I don’t want,” “I fear,” “I expect.” This egoic “I” is the root of much human suffering, for it lives in separation, seeing the world as something to fight, protect, or conquer.

When this false “I” dissolves in the light of Self-awareness, life becomes simpler, freer, and more harmonious. We stop taking every word personally, stop clinging to every desire, and stop reacting to every challenge as a threat. The “I-less” state does not make us indifferent — it makes us clear. We respond to life without the distortion of ego, without the heavy burden of “me” and “mine.”

In daily life, this means greater peace in relationships, emotional balance, and the strength to meet change without losing our inner ground. Decisions arise from clarity rather than fear. Gratitude replaces complaint. And in the quiet left behind by ego’s noise, the silent joy of Being becomes a constant companion — whether in the marketplace or in meditation.

My own journey has been shaped by the living presence of silence and surrender, guided by the grace of Bhagavān Ramana Maharshi. Immersed in contemplation, service, and surrender, my life became the fertile ground from which these reflections grew. This is not a work of intellectual debate, but a gentle mirror to turn your gaze inward.

The pages ahead invite you to walk from the restless, self-centered “I” toward the spacious freedom of the selfless, “I-less” state. May this journey bring clarity, peace, and a deep homecoming to your true nature.

About The Author

Acharya Vasudev Ji is a distinguished spiritual teacher, renowned Katha Vachak, and scholar of Advaita Vedanta and Sanātana Dharma. He is known for harmonizing modern intellect with timeless Vedantic wisdom, guiding seekers to discover the light of the Self amidst the challenges of contemporary life.

Born into a family rooted in dharmic values, Acharya Ji walked in the footsteps of his revered grandfather, who was a dedicated follower of the Arya Samaj movement. From him, Acharya Ji inherited a spirit of discipline, service, and reverence for the Vedas, which later blossomed into a deeper quest for truth. While his grandfather embodied the reformist zeal of Arya Samaj, Acharya Ji carried that same flame of Swamy Dayanand Saraswati teachings and clarity into the broader expanse of Advaita Vedanta and Shiva consciousness.

Acharya Ji’s academic brilliance led him to pursue a B.Tech in Engineering and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the United Kingdom. For several years, he lived in London, building a successful career and serving the Hindu community across Europe. Yet, despite worldly accomplishments, an inner restlessness continued to whisper—an unmistakable call of the spirit that refused to be silenced.

In his spiritual quest, Acharya Ji visited many of the sacred pilgrimage centers of India, seeking wisdom and inner fulfillment. For a time, there remained a gap, an unanswered call in his journey. That call led him finally to Tiruvannamalai, the holy abode of Arunachala, where the silent presence of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi transformed his life forever. At the feet of the Maharshi and in the embrace of Arunachala, he experienced a profound awakening that dissolved his worldly pursuits and established him firmly in the path of Shiva consciousness and self-inquiry.

The turning point was so powerful that he left behind the security of a multi-million corporate path and chose instead the higher calling of seva (selfless service) and Shiva consciousness.

Since then, Acharya Vasudev Ji has dedicated his life to bringing the liberating wisdom of Advaita Vedanta to seekers across the world. A devout disciple of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, he founded Dev Foundation, a spiritual and charitable trust that serves as both a lamp of knowledge and a hand of compassion. Through its initiatives in daily food donations, medical camps, education programs, and community upliftment in places such as Tiruvannamalai, Kashi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, the Foundation has become a living testimony of his vision that spirituality must blossom into service.

Alongside his service work, Acharya Ji continues to inspire through kathās, satsangs, retreats, and workshops, where he simplifies subtle Vedantic truths with logical clarity and devotional warmth. His expositions on the Bhagavad Gītā, the Upaniṣads, the Shiva Mahāpurāṇa, and the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi and Swami Dayananda Saraswati are treasured by seekers for their depth and relevance.

Acharya Vasudev Ji also brings a modern understanding to the ancient path. Trained in Cognitive Behavioral Psychology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnotherapy, and Time Line Therapy, he has mentored over 10,000 individuals worldwide, helping them overcome mental struggles, rediscover inner clarity, and walk the path of Self-realization. His rare ability to integrate psychology with spirituality makes his guidance both transformative and practical.

At the heart of Acharya Ji’s mission is the commitment to demystify Vedantic wisdom, dissolve misconceptions, and make spiritual truths accessible to all—from students and professionals to householders and renunciates. For him, true spirituality is not an escape from life, but the discovery of the eternal amidst life itself.

Today, Acharya Vasudev Ji continues to walk the path of humility and devotion, dedicating every moment to Shiva, to the lotus feet of Bhagavan Ramana, and to the service of humanity.

Alongside his deep study of scriptures, Acharya Ji has also developed practical tools and techniques for modern seekers, such as self-evaluation frameworks, guided reflection practices, and pranic energy awakening methods. These tools bridge the gap between philosophy and lived experience, enabling seekers to move step by step towards inner transformation.

To countless seekers, Acharya Vasudev Ji is not merely a teacher but a compassionate guide—one who lights the way from confusion to clarity, from bondage to freedom, and from self-centered living to the radiance of the Self. Many have experienced in his presence a powerful aura of stillness and transformation, a living reminder of the grace of Shiva and the silence of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi.