Customer Reviews

Arunachala Shiva - Commentaries on Sri Ramana Maharshi's Teachings Who Am I?

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If you want a modern commentary on Ramana Maharshi's `Nan Yar' (`Who am I?'), this is it.

If you want an intelligent re-interpretation of the words, rather than a simple and literal translation, read James Swartz's crystal-clear explanations of some knotty problems (such as the manonAsha - death of the mind concept).

If you enjoy reading fascinating, previously unpublished anecdotes about Ramana's life, read some of the reminiscences that David Godman learned from speaking with those who actually lived in Ramana's presence and experienced his frequent `human' side.

There are also chapters containing the autobiographies of the three contributors themselves. David Godman tells of his experiences with Nisargadatta and his curious relationship with Papaji. James Swartz relates the story of his colorful path from reprobate to close associate of Swami Chinmayananda. Premananda tells the story of his travels around the world, by way of Osho and Papaji, to his present community in Germany.

And, if you just want a beautiful book, with lots of wonderful, glossy, full-color photographs of Ramana, his disciples, Arunachala and Ramanashramam, Premananda has put together exactly the book for you. His insightful interviewing elicits some marvelous material, both biographical and spiritual. There is even a pull-out, diagrammatic map, showing the key features around the mountain and a preview DVD of the companion film of Ramana's life and teaching.

I cannot recommend this superb book too highly if you are at all interested in the teaching of Ramana Maharshi or the stories of seekers who found what they were looking for.

Dennis Waite, author of Back to the Truth: 5000 years of Advaita

To start with: this book is very carefully designed beautiful book!

It attracted me especially because of its wonderful graphics and its many photos
of Ramana and his family. There is a lovely map of the Arunachala area in the book
as well as a pre-view DVD of the film.

I think for everyone who really wants to dive deep into nondual teachings like the teachings of Ramana Maharshi,
this book is an important source. Three nondual teachers give a detailed introduction into Sri Ramana's life and his
teachings and provide practical guidance on how to do self-enquiry. It contains also the original text of Sri Ramana's
"Nan har?", "Wer bin ich?" and a lot of original Sri Ramana quotes.

Especially fascinating was to me the life stories of the three teachers, all have lived a long time in India and
with their masters, and all have been writing about and teaching Advaita Vedanta for some time now.

I will take it with me when I travel to Arunachala mountain in January, it's the perfect inner and outer travel guide!