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Robert Adams

Modern Advaita

  • 1928–1997
  • taught in Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Video ↗
Portrait of Robert Adams

Los Angeles, early 1990s

Photo: Edward Muzika, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Teaching

Self-enquiry in informal talks: start from the plain fact 'I exist', ask where the 'I' comes from, and put aside every answer that arises. 1

Who it is for

For readers who know Ramana Maharshi's self-enquiry and want informal talks from the 1990s.

Life and places
  • In 1995 he wrote a farewell letter to his satsang group in Los Angeles before he moved to Sedona, Arizona. 3
  • He lived from 21 January 1928 to 2 March 1997. 2

Where to start

  • Recordings and transcripts of his satsangs from 1990 to 1993 are free on robert-adams.de. David Godman's page reproduces a 1990 talk on self-enquiry. 1, 2

Works

  • Silence of the Heart: Dialogues with Robert Adams

    Book · 1997 · Acropolis Books, Atlanta

    A book of dialogues from his satsangs, edited by the Infinity Institute in Sedona.

    openlibrary.org

The short summaries are ours.

More works of Robert Adams in the library

In their own words

Short passages in the words of Robert Adams, each with its source. Where the quoted text is not in the language of this page, a translation follows and says whose it is.

  • You should not accept anything I say nor should you believe anything I say until you’re able to prove it to yourself.

    Satsang talk of 1990, opening, as reproduced by David Godman · davidgodman.org Recorded: Transcript of a public satsang of 1990, reproduced by David Godman; transcriber not named.

  • Whatever answer comes to you is the wrong answer. Do not accept it but do not deny it. You simply put it aside. And you continue with the self-enquiry.

    Satsang talk of 1990 on self-enquiry, as reproduced by David Godman · davidgodman.org Recorded: Transcript of a public satsang of 1990, reproduced by David Godman; transcriber not named.

  • If you came to hear something profound, again you will be disappointed, because the only thing profound here is you. I am merely a mirror and what you see is what you get.

    I Am · Opening of the satsang of 10 February 1991 (transcript) · robert-adams.de Recorded: Transcript of a recording made by his students; transcriber not named.

Documented teaching relationships

  • Spiritual friendship with Laura Lucille

    Laura describes a spiritual friendship that began in 1994 and refers to Adam's teachings.

    Self-reported · lauralucille.org , batgap.com

  • Personal teacher of Pamela Wilson

    Pamela Wilson remembers meeting Robert Adams and taking part in the interview.

    Self-reported · batgap.com

Teaching relationships are documented statements. They confer no trust and do not attest realisation.

Sources
  1. Robert Adams on Self-enquiry · David Godman Ramana author and editor reproducing transcripts of Adams' 1990 satsangs; his introduction repeats Adams' own account of living at the ashram, unrevised on the page accessed 10 Oct 2026
  2. Robert Adams Satsang Recordings · robert-adams.de Site run by admirers that shares his recordings and transcripts free of charge accessed 10 Oct 2026
  3. Documents and Downloads · robert-adams.de Same site; lists transcripts, letters and students' accounts accessed 10 Oct 2026

Compiled by us from the sources listed. Last checked 11 Oct 2026.

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This description is factual. It contains no recommendation, ranking or assurance. Statements about effects are those of the respective source.