Papaji’s Main Spiritual Message: Freedom Is Here and Now

H.W.L. Poonja (1910–1997), affectionately known as Papaji, a disciple of Ramana Maharshi, carried the flame of Advaita Vedanta into the modern age with a startling message:

“Stop searching. You are already free. Awakening is here and now.”

For thousands of seekers who met him in Lucknow, India, these words were like thunder, shaking them out of endless spiritual seeking and pointing them directly to the truth of their being.

Yes, freedom is here and now, and awakening is here and now, but to know this truly, mental knowledge is not enough. You don’t need to search from the outside. They are here, but covered by your thoughts, beliefs, doubts, and fears. You need to delve inside yourself to reveal them.

Who Was Papaji?

Papaji was born in Punjab in 1910. From an early age, he had visions of Krishna and a deep longing for God. For years, he practiced intense devotion, constantly repeating the name of God. But something remained incomplete.

His turning point came when he met Ramana Maharshi at Arunachala. Ramana’s silent presence and his teaching of Self-Inquiry dissolved Papaji’s restless search. Papaji realized that what he was seeking was not separate from himself.

From then on, Papaji lived as a free being — working in ordinary jobs, raising a family, and later welcoming seekers from all over the world who were drawn to his uncompromising presence.

The Core of Papaji’s Teaching

Papaji’s central message can be summed up in one phrase: “Be still.”

He insisted that freedom is not a future goal, but in this very moment. The problem, he said, is not that we lack enlightenment, but that we are endlessly searching for it elsewhere.

He often told seekers:

• “Don’t touch any thought.”
• “Don’t pursue the past. Don’t anticipate the future.”
• “Look where the ‘I’ arises and stay there.”

Papaji’s Message

Many seekers found Papaji’s teaching both liberating and unsettling. The idea that awakening is available right now feels almost too simple.

Papaji would challenge this conditioning directly. When students asked, “How long will it take to be free?” he would answer:

“How long does it take to see the necklace that is already around your neck?”

To him, searching for enlightenment was like a thief pretending to be a policeman looking for the thief — a futile circle. The search itself keeps us from seeing what is always present.

Related: Papaji Quotes and sayings.

Meeting Papaji: The Transmission of Silence

Those who met Papaji in Lucknow often described his presence as electric. His words were powerful, but even more powerful was the silence that followed them.

Seekers reported that simply sitting in his presence could trigger a shift — a sudden recognition of freedom beyond thought. He didn’t give long philosophical lectures; instead, he cut through doubts with humor, sharpness, and compassion.

Many modern teachers of nonduality, including Gangaji and Mooji, trace their awakening to their time with Papaji. Through them, his message continues to reach countless people worldwide.

I don’t think that what he meant was to stop every practice and do nothing, since enlightenment is already here.

Just knowing that freedom is here does not make one free. It is the first step.

It is like saying that a brilliant, large diamond is hidden deep beneath the soil. Knowing this might make you feel happy, but to obtain the diamond, you need to dig, remove the soil, and uncover it, which requires work, not doing nothing.

How to Apply Papaji’s Teaching Today

Even though you cannot sit in Papaji’s living presence, his teaching is immediately available. Here are ways to live it:

1. Stop Searching for a Future Self

The mind says: “I will be free when I meditate more, when I travel to India, when I meet the right teacher.” Papaji says: Stop. Freedom is already here. When you catch yourself chasing a future state, pause and notice the awareness that is already present in the present moment.

2. Don’t Touch Thoughts

Papaji often said, “Do not touch any thought.” This doesn’t mean suppressing thoughts, but refusing to chase them. Let thoughts arise and fade, without following them. The space in which thoughts appear is your true nature.

3. Rest in Stillness

Even for a few seconds, stop doing, stop seeking, stop trying to change anything. Allow yourself to simply be. This stillness is the doorway Papaji pointed to.

4. Trust the Present Moment

Instead of waiting for awakening to come later, look into this very moment. Awareness is always now — never in the past, never in the future.

Common Misunderstandings

• “If everything is now, does that mean I don’t need practice?”
  Papaji’s teaching was not against practice, but against endless seeking. If practice helps you turn inward, use it — but don’t mistake practice as a substitute for realization.
• “Does Papaji mean we should do nothing in life?”
  No. Papaji himself worked and lived a family life. His message is not passivity but awakening in the midst of ordinary living.
• “Is awakening really instant?”
  For some, recognition is sudden. For others, it unfolds gradually. Papaji emphasized that the essence, the Self, is always here and ever-present.

The Relevance of Papaji Today

In our world of constant striving, Papaji’s teaching feels revolutionary. We are told to achieve more, learn more, and improve endlessly. But Papaji reminds us: the treasure is already within.

This doesn’t mean abandoning life or goals. It means living from the recognition that our true Self is free, untouched by success or failure. From this space, life is lived with more ease, joy, and authenticity.

FAQ About The Teachings of Papaji

You Are Already Free

Papaji once said, “You are already free. You are already That. Just keep quiet.”

His words continue to be heard across the world, calling us to stop running, stop seeking, and rest in the truth of what we already are.

Freedom is not in tomorrow. It is not in a distant ashram or a hidden scripture. It is here, now, in the stillness of your own being.

The question is not how to get there, but whether you are willing to stop for a moment and see. This means looking within, not just outside. It means maintaining constant awareness and paying attention to your inner self. This is inner work.

Looking within, during meditation, and in everyday life, will gradually bring inner peace and a sense of freedom. This might be sporadic and for just a few seconds at first, but with persistence, these moments of peace, freedom, and realization will grow longer.

Learn more about Papaji.

Learn about Nonduality:

What Is Nonduality? Definition and Meaning

Nonduality, Non-Dualism and Duality: Information in Simple Words

Enlightenment and Spiritual Awakening from the Nonduality Point of View