Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore is a modern enlightened master whose life journey bridges worldly success and spiritual realization. With an engineering degree, an International MBA, and corporate experience in top multinationals, he eventually dedicated himself to sharing timeless Vedantic wisdom. Through his books, satsangs, and online presence, he guides seekers toward self-realization.
The Literature Times: Your book Param Atmabodh: Aham Se Brahma Tak presents Vedantic wisdom with simplicity. What inspired you to write this book for today’s generation?
Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore: Just like when I was seeking liberation from my sufferings, it was the light of the Guru in the form of books and Satsang that came to me as a rescue. After realizing the truth, it became my responsibility to spread the teachings for seekers who are thirsty for the truth. I am sharing my experience and understanding of the truth with seekers out of love and compassion. Every Guru inspires others to become a Guru. So, behind every Guru, there is a Guru. It becomes natural, just like when a flower blossoms, its fragrance automatically spreads all around. In the same way, when enlightenment happens to a person, he automatically becomes a light for others. That light doesn’t only illuminate the path of a seeker but also helps the seeker in becoming enlightened. So, writing Param Atmabodh is not about achieving anything but about sharing everything that I have experienced and realized in my journey to the Truth. Through Param Atmabodh, I have tried to answer all the crucial questions of a seeker in the simplest, most scientific, and practical way. As a self-realized being, I can empathize with a seeker’s state of mind and also know the way to ultimate liberation. Therefore, my answers are direct, clear, and to the point, connecting the path of truth to the goal with utmost clarity.
The Literature Times: Having worked in multinational companies before your spiritual awakening, how did that transition influence your path to self-realization?
Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore: Life is about connecting the dots; every event has a purpose. In the pursuit of success and happiness, we do many things outwardly. But when true happiness still escapes us, despite fixing everything outside, the only path left is to turn inward. We must look within and introspect to uncover the real root of our suffering. This insight arises through deep observation of life’s experiences. My own exposure to MNC culture showed me that no one has ever found life’s ultimate fulfillment outwardly, no matter how high their position or remuneration. Competition and comparison exist at every level, and the chase for the “next stage” never ends. It is like running after a mirage on the road, something that appears real from a far distance but disappears when you reach it. This realization brought clarity about where not to search for happiness. And that was the beginning of the inward journey, the true spiritual path.
The Literature Times: Many seekers struggle with reconciling worldly responsibilities and spiritual practice. How does your book help bridge this gap?
Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore: Before Self-realization, I too was a seeker, so I understand the doubts and questions that arise in the mind of a seeker. This book answers all those deep questions and doubts in a simple and scientific way, directly from the state of Self-realization. Since this book covers both the journey and the goal of spirituality, it serves as a complete guide or roadmap to liberation.
The Literature Times: You emphasize both the path and the goal in your writings. How do you define the ultimate goal of self-realization?
Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore: The ultimate goal is the state of being free from the personal sense of achieving anything, as Self-realization is the goal itself beyond which no personal achievement is required. It is the state of being free from fear and greed. A self-realized being feels content in all conditions, and therefore, his work is not for personal gain but for showing seekers the right path to Self-realization. I understand that it may be a little difficult to grasp the ultimate goal from a distance, but I will try to explain it with an example.
It’s like when you are thirsty you search for water, and when you find it, you drink it to quench your thirst. Once your thirst is quenched, you feel satisfied from within. Thereafter, you can help others by directing them to the source of water so they too can quench their thirst. That’s why the actions performed by a self-realized being are termed Nishkama Karma, as such actions are not done for external completeness but arise from inner wholeness. This allows a self-realized being to act with the right intention and accept the results of the action without regret.
Thus, groundedness is the sign of Self-realization.
The Literature Times: Vedanta can sometimes feel abstract or inaccessible. How do you make its profound truths practical and relatable for modern readers?
Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore: Vedanta means the “Culmination of knowledge.” It is the ultimate wisdom that is written and spoken from the state of Self-realization for seekers of the ultimate truth. Vedanta consists of statements arising from the state of Self-realization. I understand,it is very difficult for a seeker to understand these statements without being connected to that state.
Bhakti (trust or devotion) is what connects one to this state. Thereafter, the practice is no longer confined to a mechanical process or mental exercise but becomes a profound understanding that arises from a deep longing for liberation, the state of Self-realization. Most people are unaware of the science behind Bhakti or devotion. This book, Param Atmabodh, explains Bhakti in the simplest yet most scientific way.
Once Bhakti is understood, one becomes perfectly aligned to receive the ultimate wisdom of life. This book helps remove the cloud of doubts from the seeker’s mind, allowing them to tune into Vedanta and move toward ultimate liberation.
The Literature Times: In your journey, what role did meditation and devotion play in leading you toward realization?
Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore: Meditation is all about turning inward and introspecting, while devotion is about trusting the Guide or Guru. Both are deeply interlinked, great yearning for liberation gives rise to devotion, and with devotion comes meditation. Therefore, devotion and meditation together lead to Self-realization.
The Literature Times: Your mission is to make self-knowledge accessible to all. What message would you give to someone just beginning their spiritual journey?
Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore: See the Ideal, follow the Ideal, and you shall attain the Ideal. Trust the process, just as you trust your teacher, school, or university when pursuing your professional education, in the same way trust the Guru, Vedanta, and the Existence. When you do, everything else falls into its right place.
The Literature Times: Could you share an experience or moment where your own doubts transformed into clarity?
Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore: Earlier, I used to seek happiness outside. My happiness was always either in the past or in the future. In the present, I was left only with regrets about missing happiness in the past and stress about achieving it in the future. But after Self-realization, I am happy in the present moment, a happiness that never ends. Now, I don’t work for happiness outside but from the happiness and freedom within. My happiness is no longer distant from me.
Earlier, I was chasing a mirage of happiness, an endless process. But through understanding, I have found contentment within myself. Self-realization is the end of comparison and competition, which in turn gives freedom for creativity. This inner contentment also allows me to accept others without judgment.
The Literature Times: Beyond books, you engage seekers through satsangs and digital platforms. How important is it to spread spirituality through modern mediums like YouTube?
Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore: Nowadays, people are more connected to their phones, so it makes sense to use phones as a tool for communication. Many use platforms like YouTube for entertainment or learning something new. Sharing Vedantic wisdom through YouTube is a great idea because it creates a virtual connection between a seeker and a knower.
The medium or platform of communication changes with time, and it’s wise to adapt to these changes to avoid any communication gaps. However, it’s important to understand that while the mode may change, the foundation of communication remains the same. Reading, listening, and writing will always stay relevant for serious learners, no matter what platform is used.
The Literature Times: “When the seeker is ready, the Master appears.” How can a seeker recognize when they are truly ready for the path of realization?
Bhagwan Shri Narendra Kishore: When the yearning for God or a sense of completeness goes beyond material satisfaction, you become aligned with the true purpose of life. Only then do you discover the true Guru, who reflects your Pure Self and guides you toward inner freedom and fulfillment. It’s as if the Guru has always been present, but we fail to recognize them because we are not tuned to that connection just like a radio receiver needs to be tuned to catch a frequency that’s always present but otherwise inaccessible.
The search for happiness often begins with material possessions. Over time, through effort and deep observation, we realize that seeking happiness in material possessions is a never-ending cycle. This understanding brings the insight that material possessions are not the goal of life but merely a means, a mirror that helps us look inward and realize our true Self.
As long as we seek happiness in material objects, we are not ready for the spiritual path. But once we understand that material possessions are a means not the ultimate goal, we become aligned with life’s higher purpose. At that point, the Master appears to guide us on the journey. It is like going to the higher class where you find higher level master to teach you the higher lessons of life.
This is beautifully summed up in the saying: “When the seeker is ready, the Master appears.”
