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English Books
Robert Adams Silence of The Heart Dialogues With Robert Adams, edited by the Infinity Institute, Acropolis Books, Atlanta, 1999. Robert Adams was a self-realised master and a direct disciple of Ramana Maharshi. His earliest memories were of a two-feet tall, white bearded man standing at the end of his crib, who would speak to him in words he didn't understand. The "little man" stayed with him until he was seven years old. At the age of fourteen, while taking a math test in the Bronx, New-York, Robert received an experience of illumination, an awakening to Self-realization. Soon afterward he traveled to Ramanashram, at India's holy mountain of Arunachala, where he remained for the last three years of Ramana Maharshi's life. Ramana was indeed the little man who had appeared to robert during his chidhood. Conseillé par  Cat_1955, 3/23/2003.
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Wayne Liquorman (Ram Tzu) Acceptance of What Is Edited by Catherine Asche, Advaita Press, Redondo Beach, 2000. Review of a reader: If you are already interested in the Advaita philosophy and somewhat familiar with it, this book is in the "must read" category... I am captivated by it. I've read about half of it so far, slowly, joyfully, savoring each idea and the cheerfulness with which Wayne presents it. At first I thought Wayne was irreverent and harsh, but I no longer feel that way. If you are new to this philosophy, this may also be a good book, but Wayne recommended Ramesh Balsekar's Consciousness Speaks as an introductory book, and that was a good choice for me. But this book may also work well for a newcomer... Highly recommended!! Review of a another reader: One of the essential ideas from Advaita and Zen that is injested and then gradually understood is the idea of absolute non-doing. Having soaked in this idea from other writers... in the timeless stream of the expression that "consciousness is all there is", I really appreciate Wayne's book because of his humorous and insightful discussion of the many nuances surrounding the belief in personal doing-ship, as shown by the lengthy dialogues with his visitors, many of whom are precariously suspended over the void, holding onto a few remaining threads of belief in their own ideas concerning choice, control, decision-making, etc. The exchanges are very enjoyable to read ! "When Acceptance comes, it cuts off involment, and then there's peace. This isn't the momentary peace you get from getting what you want and it isn't the peace that is oblivion, but rather the peace at the center of the storm, the eye of the hurricane. All around is the swirl of life and living, and the tumult that is life, but in the eye of the storm there's peace. There's quiet. This Acceptance I am pointing to is synonymous with that peace and quiet. (Excerpt from ch. 5)
Conseillé par Cat_1955, 3/23/2003.
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David Godman No Mind - I Am the Self The Lives and Teachings of Sri Lakshmana Swamy and Mathru Sri Sarada, Sri Lakshmana Asshram, Chillakur, India, 1986. Sri Lakshmana Swamy is a direct disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi. After several years of intense meditation Sri Lakshmana realised the Self in Ramana's presence in 1949. Ever since then he has been living a recluse life, mostly in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Sri Lakshmana has a small ashram there and he teaches his disciples primatily through the medium of 'spiritual silence', the method made famous by Sri Ramana Maharshi. Mathru Sri Sarada is his adopted daughter and appointed successor. She came to him while she was still in her teens, completely surrendered to him and realised the Self within four years. She is now teaching her own devotees at Sri Lakshmana's ashram This book is the first account of the lives, experiences and teachings of these two contemporaries Gurus. Conseillé par Cat_1955, 3/23/2003.
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Death Must Die - The Diaries of Atmananda Sri Atmananda A Western Woman's Life-Long Spiritual Quest in India and Its Fulfillment Through Her Guru - Anandamayi Ma. Edited with introduction, commentary and final chapter by Ram Alexander. Indica Books, Varanasi (India) 2000.
This book gives an intimate first-hand account of a courageous woman's spiritual quest in close association with several of India's greatest modern saints. Although written in a diary format, her story reads almost like a novel, beginning with her youthful involvement with Theosophy in the Vienna of the 1920s. In the 1940s she goes to Benares to teach at a school founded by J. Krishnamurti, a close associate. Here we encounter several of her friends and fellow travellers, in particular the English poet and mystic Lewis Thompson who exerted a profound influence on her. Drawn deeper into the heart of Indian spirituality, she encounters Ramana Maharshi at his ashram in South India and in 1945 she ultimately comes into contact with her guru - the great Bengali mystic, Anandamayi Ma, with whom she embarks on the great spiritual adventure of her life as told here-in, culminating in sannyasa, the ultimate renunciation. We are given an in-depth picture of her intense relationship with the extraordinary women. This book is a rare record of a remarkable spiritual odyssey. There are also photos of Ananadamayi Ma, as well of photos of Atmananda, Lewis Thompson , J. Krishnamurti and Ramana Maharshi.
Conseillé par Cat_1955, 5/11/2003.
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Ramana Maharshi Be as you are This superb compilation of Ramana Maharshi's writings and dialogues is the best available single volume about his teachings. It covers all aspects of Sri Ramana's teachings and arranges them in the order preferred by Sri Ramana himself, with the most important or highest teachings first. The editor, David Godman, is one of the world's foremost experts on Sri Ramana. Conseillé par Cat_1955, 6/29/2003.
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Les Hixon Great Swan: Meetings With Ramakrishna I'm just reading Balsekar's Peace and Harmony in Daily Living and he gave an interesting extract from Hixon's book. So I thought to let you know of it. Here's a brief review borrowed at Amazon.com (where you can read some others): "Hixon, a disciple of both Ramakrishna's wife and his spiritual successor, provides contemporary commentary based on The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and The Great Master . This retelling in clear contemporary English requires no background knowledge and makes accessible the ideas of a most remarkable Hindu saint who worshipped Kali, the Divine Mother, but also experienced union with Jesus, Muhammad, and Allah. Hixon claims his book "is not a conventional biography but a workbook" to provide Ramakrishna's guidance to the spiritually inclined reader of any religious tradition and to clarify the mystical path. Hixon is self-effacing: what shines through is Ramakrishna sanctity and wisdom, as well as the devotion of his disciples." Conseillé par Cat_1955, 6/30/2003.
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Mouni Sadhu In Days of Great Peace Sri Rananasramam, Tiruvanannamalai, India, 2001. First printed by Allen & Unwin in 1952 and revised in 1955. "In days of great peace" inspired many westerners to seek spiritual guidance from Sri Ramana Maharshi in the years following his Mahasamadhi. It is an account of the author's visit to the Ashram in 1949. _____ This book, first published in Europe in 1953, has been out of print for some years. Due to popular demand and by special arrangement with the copyright holders, it has been republished by Sri Ramanasramam in a limited edition of 5,000 copies. In this, book Mouni Sadhu recounts his visit to the Ashrama of Sri Ramana Maharshi in 1949. Through a narrative that is both simple and profound, the author takes us on his journey to the quiet hermitage of the renowned Sage of Arunachala in South India. Basking in the radiance of the 'Great Rishi' his mind turns inward, following the path of Self-enquiry of 'Who Am I ?'. He describes, with perceptive insight and emotion, how in the graciuos presence of the Master, thoughts are stilled and one rests calmly in the thought-free, egoless state. Conseillé par Cat_1955, 7/19/2003.
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Wayne Liquorman Never Mind A Journey into Non-duality. Edited by Christa French, Advaita Press, Redondo Beach, 2004. Written with Wayne's characteristic humor, irreverence and profound insight, this book provides a bold, new look at the nature of existence.
Wayne's teaching points to the divine nature of everything that exists, no matter how hurtful or painful it might be. According to Wayne, everything is the perfect manifestation of the Source and it is in the acceptance of everything that peace is revealed
An indispensible addition to the spiritual library Conseillé par Cat_1955, 11/24/2004.
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Ramesh S. Balsekar The Wisdom of Balsekar The Essence of Enlightenment from the World's Leading Teacher of Advaita. Edited by Alan Jacobs, Foreword by Wayne Liquorman, Watkins Publishing, London, 2004. Ramesh Balsekar is widely regarded as the world's greatest living sage. He has said on many occasions that his primary inspiration for exploring the spiritual life came from Ramana Maharshi; he takes up Ramana's teaching and enlightens questioners from the advanced level of his Advaitic teaching, the teaching of non-duality. This anthology of the writings of Ramesh Balsekar gives thematic extracts from all of his own written works to date and is approved by the sage himself, as well as his leading disciple, Wayne Liquorman, and will serve to stimulate its readers to study more of his books and edited talks--and indeed to meet him in Mumbai. ...... A truly excellent compilation of extracts from Ramesh's various books organized by topics such as Free Will, Faith, Self-Enquiry, Death, Acceptance etc. The incredible depth and scope of Ramesh's Teaching is presented in this concise and readily accessible format. Conseillé par Cat_1955, 11/24/2004.
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Paula Marvelly The Teachers of One Living Advaita - Conversations on the Nature of Non-duality. Watkins Publishing, London, 2002. Impelled by her own spiritual search, Paula Marvelly interviews Ramesh Balsekar, Wayne Liquorman, Gangaji, Francis Lucille, Tony Parsons along with several other of the best-known living teachers of Advaita. She observes them and herself with honesty and touches of humor. The conversations are intense and energy-filled. The dialogues are enhanced by Marvelly's striking photographic portraits of the teachers. Being a member of the Ramana Maharshi Foundation in London she includes, at the end of her book, her reminiscences of her visit to the Sri Ramanashram in India and the text of "Who am I" by Ramana Maharshi. Conseillé par Cat_1955, 5/26/2005.
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Eli Jaxon-Bear Sudden Awakening... ... Into Direct Realization. H. J. Kramer & New World Library, Tiburon, 2004. Awakening is a living transmission of silence and freedom, writes Eli Jaxon-Bear, granting final liberation to everyone. A teacher in the self-realization movements of Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Poonjaji, and Gangaji, Jaxon-Bear presents a unique map of egoic identification as a vehicle for self-inquiry and a final realization of freedom. Sudden Awakening puts spiritual awakening in a larger context: that it is humankind's next evolutionary leap. Based on ancient Indian teachings and years of contemplation, this book offers the key to the possibility of ending world destruction. The book is written in clear, beautiful prose, and readers can peruse each chapter as a meditation, or as a gateway into awakening the highest self-attainable. It offers insight into the nature of the true spiritual quest and shows the traps as well as the signs of confirmation along the journey. Conseillé par Cat_1955, 6/25/2005.
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Dennis Waite The book of One The Spiritual Path of Advaita, O-Books Alresford UK, 2003. The Book of One is perhaps the most accessible, articulate and relevant book on the nature of non-duality. A masterful and profoundly insightful survey of the Advaita teaching and the contemporary scene. this book will greatly contribute to a deeper understanding of this important movement, sweeping the West, and which eventually leads to Self Realization. __________ Advaita is the philosophy underlying most religions, including Christianity, though it is more usually associated with Hinduism. Its essence is summed up in its Sanskrit name, which essentially means ‘there are not two things.’ The full title of the philosophy is ‘Advaita Vedanta.’ Vedanta, derived from the scriptures that form the last part of the Vedas, itself means “the end of knowledge,” in the sense of being the highest knowledge one can attain. It is not in itself a religion however: there are no churches or priests, but it is at the root of all wisdom. Advaita Vedanta quite simply provides the answers to the questions of ‘life, the universe and everything’. It is very practical, yet offers explanations satisfying to the intellect. It provides a simple and elegant framework within which all of the problems of life and death may be understood and resolved. The answers are ultimately surprising, and a great relief. The book contains an appendix of 30 pages of links on the Internet. Dennis Waite lives in Dorset, UK. He has studied Advaita for over fifteen years, following the "Direct Path". He actively pursues his studies with key groups via the Internet and maintains a major web-site. He writes full time, his most recent book being The Spiritual Seeker's Essential Guide to Sanskrit. For more information on Dennis Waite and Advaita visit: www.advaita.org.uk. He is (occasionally) active on the Yahoo group Advaitin Conseillé par Cat_1955, 9/2/2005.
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Leo Hartong Awakening To The Dream The Gift of Lucid Living. Foreword by Tony Parsons, Non-Duality Press, Salisbury UK, 2003. (Available in e-Book at $5US) Awakening To The Dream is a book about you. It points to and from the source of your true identity. The clear seeing that it refers to is neither complex nor simple. It is not something exclusive for an intellectual or spiritual elite, nor is it remote or hiding in the future. It is all inclusive, pure presence, closer than your breath. It is the heart of hearts, your birthright and innermost Self. This is your invitation to re-member what was never really forgotten. A beautifully written exploration into the heart of the non-dual 'experience'. Leo writes in an accessible style and addresses the questions raised with wisdom and integrity. "The book, 'Awakening to the Dream', is written with a clarity of perception that is rare to find in the multitude of published outpourings that these days purport to express wisdom." From the foreword by Tony Parsons.
***** Read some comments at Amazon.com, one with extracts. Also read "search within" for other extracts. Conseillé par Cat_1955, 9/29/2005.
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