Bob's Book

Satsang with Bob Nickel

Bob's Book

A Nickel's Worth

The Wonderful Life and Spiritual Message

of "Captain Bob" Nickel

One of the non-duality masters featured in A Nickel's Worth is V. Ganesan.

This photo of Bob with Ganesan is from 2006.

A Nickel's Worth is about Bob's life and spiritual message.

A Nickel's Worth includes:

Bob's life story, from childhood to satsang.
major parts of his satsang
some of the best satsang and interview question and answer segments
tales of gurus, teachers, and masters
behind the scenes with Bob's medical personnel as they try to get Bob more life
and more

The Shiva Paradox is a spiritual adventure set in Bob's India (his favorite places, including Arunachala) with Bob as a major character. Bob gave his permission to be part of the book, and luaghed when a friend called up after reading an early version and asked for "Captain Tom Diamond" (Bob's name in the book.)

Another esteemed non-dualistic master featured in A Nickel's Worth is Ramesh Balsekar.

Here Ramesh is with Bob in March, 2008.

A Tale of Two Gurus

V. Ganesan, the grand-nephew of Ramana Maharshi and one of Bob's favorite teachers, was visiting the USA in September 2009. Bob and I (Mark Sawyer, Bob's website, film, and writing helper) invited him to lunch.

While eating, Bob mentioned to Ganesan that Mark really enjoyed the teachings of Ramesh Balsekar. And that Mark had visited Ramesh at his home in Mumbai quite often. Hearing this, Ganesan smiled. Then he told a story.

Sometime in the late 1980's or early 1990's Ganesan had been invited for a series of "sharings" along the west coast of the USA. It turned out that his schedule took him to many of the same destinations as Ramesh Balsekar, who was on his own tour. Ganesan said, "Often I found myself at the same place as Ramesh, but a week later. And every time that happened, I found a note from Ramesh waiting for me. And in every one, Ramesh said a thank you for having introduced him to his guru, Nisargadatta Maharaj."

I burst out, "YOU introduced Ramesh to Nisargadatta!!??" This was very significant. Ramesh was one of Nisargadatta's most well-known followers. Nisargadatta himself affirmed Ramesh's "Enlightenment," and told Ramesh to "speak" after he was gone. (Of course, Nisargadatta is also the heart of the classic I Am That.)

Ganesan's smile got bigger. "Not in person. I wrote an article about Nisargadatta in The Mountain Path. Ramesh read it, and that is when he first heard about Nisargadatta." The Mountain Path is the famous magazine published by Ramanasram. Ganesan headed the ashram and was the editor of the magazine for many years, and is the author of many books.

Bob showed Ganesan a picture of Bob, Ramesh, and Mark together in Ramesh's meeting room. Ganesan smiled and generously exclaimed, "Three gurus." Everyone laughed. (The picture is to the left.)

The date was September 27, 2009. The next day I got an e-mail message. I frowned, and went to talk to Bob. "Ramesh died yesterday," I told Bob. "This is not an easy one to detach from for me."

At least we were with Ganesan on the day Ramesh left.