On a June evening in 1958 at around six o' clock, Ambalal Muljibhai Patel, a family man, a contractor by profession, was sitting on a bench on the busy platform number three of Surat's train station. Surat is a city in south Gujarat, a western state in India. What happened within the next forty-eight minutes was phenomenal. Spontaneous Self-Realization occurred within Ambalal M. Patel. During this event his ego completely melted and from all Ambalal's thoughts, speech and acts. He became the Lord's living instrument for the salvation of mankind, through the path of knowledge. He called this Lord, Dada Bhagwan. To everyone he met, he would say, "This Lord, Dada Bhagwan is fully manifest within me. He also resides within all living beings. The difference is that within me He is completely expressed and in you, he is yet to manifest."

Who are you ? What is God ? Who runs this world ? What is karma ? What is liberation ? Etc. All the world's spiritual questions were answered during this event. Thus nature offered absolute vision to the world through the medium of Shree Ambalal Muljibhai Patel.

Ambalal was born in Tarasali, a suburb of the city of Baroda and raised in Bhadran, Gujarat. His wife's name was Hiraba. Although he was a contractor by profession, his life at home and his interaction with everyone around him was exemplary even prior to his Self Realization. After becoming Self-Realized and attaining the state of Gnani, (The Awakened One, Jnani in Hindi), his body became a 'public charitable trust.'

Throughout his whole life he lived by the principle that there should not be any commerce in religion, and in all commerce there must be religion. He also never took money from anyone for his own use. He used the profits from his business to take his devotees for pilgrimages to various parts of India.

His words became the foundation for the new, direct and step-less path to Self-Realization called Akram Vignan. Through his divine original scientific experient (The Gnan Vidhi), he imparted this knowledge to others within two hours. Thousands have received his grace through this process and thousands continue to do so even now. 'Akram' means without steps; and elevator path or a short cut, whereas 'Kram' means an orderly step-by-step spiritual path. Akram is now recognized as a direct shortcut to the bliss of the Self.

When he explained to others who 'Dada Bhagwan' is, he would say: "What you see here is not 'Dada Bhagwan.' What you see is 'A. M. Patel.' I am a Gnani Purush and He that is manifest within me, is 'Dada Bhagwan.' He is the Lord within. He is within you and everyone else. He has not yet manifest within you, whereas within me he is fully manifest. I myself am not a Bhagwan. I too bow down to Dada Bhagwan within me."

‘‘I am personally going to impart siddhis (special spiritual powers) to a few people. After I leave, will there not be a need for them? People of future generations will need this path, won’t they?’’

Param Pujya Dadashri used to go from town to town and country-to-country to give satsang and impart the knowledge of the Self as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interaction to all whom came to see him. In his final days in fall of 1987, he graced Dr. Niruben Amin, and gave her the siddhis to continue his Work.

After Param Pujya Dadashri left his mortal body on January 2, 1988. Dr. Niruben continues his Work, traveling within India to cities and villages; and abroad in the USA, Canada, UK and Africa. She is Dadashri’s representative of Akram Vignan. She has been instrumental in expanding the key role of Akram Vignan as the simple and direct path to Self Realization for modern times. Thousands of spiritual seekers have taken advantage of this opportunity and are established in the experience of pure Soul while carrying out their worldly duties. They experience freedom, here and now, while living their daily life.

Powerful words in scriptures help the seeker in increasing the desire for liberation and thus they represent the path. The knowledge of the Self is the final goal of all seeking. Without the knowledge of the Self there is no liberation. This knowledge of the Self (Atmagnan) does not exist in books. It exists in the heart of a Gnani. Hence the knowledge of the Self can only be acquired by meeting a Gnani. Through the scientific approach of the Akram Vignan, even today one can attain Atma Gnan, but it can only occur by meeting a living Atma Gnani and receiving the Atma Gnan(Knowledge of The Self). Only a lit candle can light another candle.