What kind of teachings or advice did Maharaj offer to the people who gathered to see him? Was it focused on complex spiritual texts?

Maharaj's method of teaching was primarily ethical rather than academic. Chapter 0 explains that he did not openly give discourses on profound Vedanta subjects or the Upanishads. Instead, he offered advice through stories that addressed the various matters on the minds of the people present. The text describes his approach as purifying the disciple's ground before sowing the seed of knowledge, which is a traditional Sadguru practice. Therefore, his verbal advice consisted of general ethical principles, though the experiential advice received from him was considered infinitely more valuable.