The legendary spiritual teacher whom everyone recognizes when you say the word "Buddha" has had a meaningful impact on human consciousness for many centuries. Yet, in our own era, another spiritual giant has promulgated teachings equally as profound.
While in the former case, due to the blurring of time, there may be some doubt as to what was said for certain by the Buddha, in the case of Ramana Maharshi the record is no more than a couple of generations distant. Some of the disciples whom he guided to Absolute awareness are alive today; and we can even view them in film clips with Ramana.
Coming from his own experience, his pronouncements were remarkably direct and uncomplicated - and, consequently, effective.
What follows is a compilation of extracts from monographs I've written in recent years which address both Ramana's teachings and the spiritual topics he was concerned with.
This book's primary purpose is to provide a solid grounding in the precepts of nondaily awareness - and their implications - through the remarkable teachings of Ramana Maharshi.
A Tamil poet, Muruganar, first met Ramana Maharshi when, in his early thirties, he came to Ramana's ashram in 1923. He recognized in Ramana "the embodiment of true jnana [enlightenment]." Parting from his wife, Muruganar was a fixture in the ashram for 47 years, until his death in 1973.
According to phrases from his writings, through Ramana he had "the experience of the undivided reality".
"I have ended the confusion...and I entered the new life, in the boundless realm... beyond duality... beyond birth and death... thinking, yet beyond the realm of thought...my true nature stands revealed... ever present...the indivisible Self...the foundation of all things... the truth of the Upanishads... the import of all the Vedas... the Absolute."
Ramana once acknowledged Muruganar as one among the very foremost of devotees."
Muruganar often recorded Ramana's spoken teachings, and rendered these quotations into two-line couplets, though they were not organized into any systematic presentation.
While Ramana was still alive, some 800 such verses were published (as Guru Vachaka Kovai). These were carefully reviewed, revised and edited by Ramana, for its first printing.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Vedas (1278)
Upanishads (477)
Puranas (741)
Ramayana (892)
Mahabharata (329)
Dharmasastras (162)
Goddess (474)
Bhakti (243)
Saints (1288)
Gods (1280)
Shiva (334)
Journal (132)
Fiction (44)
Vedanta (323)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist