In the vibrant city of Melbourne, far from the Himalayan peaks and ancient temples, lives a teacher whose journey has touched seekers across Australia and beyond. Rajiv Agarwal is not a distant figure hidden away in ashrams. He is a living example of what it means to integrate profound awakening into everyday life. His presence carries the same depth found in the great traditions of Advaita Vedanta, Zen, and Buddhism, yet his words are grounded and shaped by decades of direct experience.
Rajiv’s life is proof that enlightenment is not confined to monasteries or retreats. It can be lived in the midst of a busy city, in the rhythm of ordinary days.
A Life Shaped by the Search for Truth
Rajiv’s path began in India, in a small town where religious rituals were part of daily life but the deeper essence of spirituality was rarely understood. From an early age, he felt drawn to something beyond belief and tradition, something that could only be known through direct experience.
He travelled widely, meeting enlightened masters, living in Himalayan caves, and spending long stretches in silence and meditation. Along the way, he studied the works of Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Atmananda, and J. Krishnamurti. He absorbed the teachings, but more importantly, he lived them.
This was not an easy journey. In his early years, his choice to seek truth over wealth and social approval was met with ridicule. Gossip followed him. Friends turned away. In a culture where spirituality was acceptable only as ritual, his dedication to finding the ultimate reality made him an outsider.
Yet these challenges only deepened his resolve. They stripped away illusions and tested his commitment to the path.
Moments of Awakening
Through years of meditation and inquiry, Rajiv experienced extraordinary states of bliss and stillness. There were moments when every cell in his body seemed to vibrate with joy, when the sense of self dissolved into a vast ocean of awareness. In one transformative moment in the Himalayas, his consciousness seemed to expand beyond the limits of his body, embracing mountains, clouds, and sky as one whole.
These glimpses of awakening brought profound insight, yet they also set the stage for a deeper challenge. For years, Rajiv found himself chasing “final” enlightenment, convinced that only a permanent, perfected state would bring true completion. The more he pursued this goal, the further it seemed to slip away.
The Turning Point
In 2013, a profound realisation ended the cycle of seeking. Rajiv saw that in chasing a future ideal, he had been overlooking the infinite peace and joy that were already present. Awakening was not a destination to be reached. It was the recognition of what had always been here.
This shift ended the restless search. Life became rooted in the simplicity of present awareness. The stillness that had been glimpsed in rare moments became the quiet ground beneath every moment.
Living and Teaching in Melbourne
Rajiv now shares this understanding from his home in Melbourne. Here, he guides seekers who long for clarity, peace, and freedom from the endless cycle of becoming. His gatherings, known as satsangs, are held in intimate spaces across the city. They are free from ritual and complexity, focusing instead on direct exploration of awareness.
In these meetings, Rajiv speaks with the clarity of one who has walked the entire path. He points beyond intellectual understanding to the lived experience of freedom. Participants often describe these gatherings as a return to something deeply familiar, a sense of coming home to themselves.
For those who feel the pull of the spiritual path, meeting an awakened master can be a turning point. Books and online talks can inspire, but sitting in the presence of someone who lives in awareness creates a shift that words alone cannot convey.
A Spiritual Community in Melbourne
Melbourne has become home to a growing sangha, a community of like-hearted seekers drawn to Rajiv’s clarity and simplicity. They come from all walks of life, united by a shared longing to live in truth. Some are beginning their spiritual journey, while others have been seekers for decades. All find in Rajiv’s presence a reminder that awakening is not about escape from the world, but about seeing it as it truly is.
Regular meetings provide a space to explore the nature of thought, the illusion of separation, and the ever-present awareness that holds all experience. Many leave with a lighter heart, a quieter mind, and a renewed sense of ease in daily life.
Australia is home to a rich spiritual landscape, yet it is rare to find an awakened teacher who blends the depth of Eastern traditions with the accessibility of modern life. Melbourne, with its diversity and openness, provides the perfect ground for this integration. Here, seekers can explore the highest truths without leaving their families, careers, or communities behind.
If words like awakened, guru, or master stir something inside you, it may be time to explore further. You do not need to prepare, study, or perfect yourself before meeting a teacher. You need only the willingness to look directly at your own experience.
Rajiv invites you to join a satsang in Melbourne or connect from anywhere in Australia. Here, you will find no promises of quick fixes or mystical shortcuts. Instead, you will find a direct, honest exploration of truth and a living example of what it means to rest in awareness.
Awakening is not about adding something new to yourself. It is about seeing clearly what has always been here. Sometimes, all it takes is sitting with someone who has already seen it.
To explore Rajiv’s journey in detail, visit his My Story page.
One Response
Melbourne is such an interesting place when it comes to seeking meaning. I remember wandering by the Yarra, just watching the ripples and how the city seems to hold both the busy and the peaceful at once. This balance always reminds me that spiritual questions show up anywhere, even in the middle of trams and coffee shops.