The Essential Teachings of Ramana Maharshi: A Visual Journey [Paperback]

Matthew Greenblatt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002

The Essential Teachings of Ramana Maharshi contains concise, compelling aphorisms that reflect the essence of his teachings. These profound sayings, set against a background of exceptional photographs, help us experience the deep meditative silence which is our natural state. This compilation of wisdom teachings is based in the truth of nonduality and reveals that whichever path we follow, we can realize the profound peace of our infinite nature by turning our attention to the fundamental question that lies at the heart of all spiritual teachings, "Who Am I?"

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ramana Maharshi's spiritual greatness is guiding millions of people." -- His Holiness the Dalai Lama

About the Author

Throughout the world's spiritual traditions, few sages command as much respect and admiration as Sri Ramana Maharshi. The Dalai Lama, Carl Jung, Mahatma Gandhi, and others have acknowledged the depth of Ramana's Realization and the direct method of Self-Inquiry that he taught. Ken Wilber has called Ramana Maharshi "the greatest sage of the twentieth century."

Product Details

• Paperback: 125 pages
• Publisher: Inner Directions (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 187801918X
• ISBN-13: 978-1878019189
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #259,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every page is a complete teaching..., March 21, 2002

By 

Richard Redmond (San Rafael, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Essential Teachings of Ramana Maharshi: A Visual Journey (Paperback)

This editor has done a masterful job of compiling brief quotes from Ramana Maharshi, the great master of the spiritual teaching called Advaita. The truth of Advaita is simple, and, as in Zen Buddhism, the apprehension of that truth is mind-stilling and profound. Each page of this book contains a quote that performs the mind-stilling function quite admirably. The illustrations - photographs of Ramana Maharshi, his ashram, and the mountain Arunachala - are very beautiful. However, it is the enormous silence behind the words on each page that give this book its power. I couldn't recommend any book more highly.

43 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A BEAUTIFUL BOOK., May 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Essential Teachings of Ramana Maharshi: A Visual Journey (Paperback)

This book has become one of my favorites. It is filled with clear black and white photographs of Ramana Maharshi. Inserted on the pictures are GEMS of Ramana's teachings. The quotes are distilled and arranged in such a way to make them tremendously potent. I read a few pages at a time as I look at the pictures. I start feeling enlightenment. The words are dripping with profound simple insight into our apparent condition. The phantom self begins to drop away, peace begins to bring it's light, there is no need to seek. There is nowhere we need to go, it's all center, nobody's going anywhere. Time and space are but an illusion. Reading the words in this book. It's so simple and clear. All seeking, even religious seeking assume a separation from the infinite but the infinite is always here and now. Seeking objectifies and distances the infinite from us. It can even strenghthen the ego, now one has become a super holier than thou ego. There might be a certain readiness needed for this teaching. Some methods use seeking and a distance from God. Sometimes one needs to keep seeking because of all the commotion going on in one's soul. A tempest is blasting in one's soul and sometimes we are too in a hurry to be in the present. We've got things to do and places to go, you know. If you've begun to see the futility of seeking then you are ready for this book. You'll experience quiet, peace and stillness and an ordinary contentment with what is. What you feel after this depends on how much you contemplate and meditate upon these words and finally go beyond them into your REAL SELF. There is the phantom self and your REAL SELF. This book can help you find your REAL SELF that has been here all along, remember...?

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a pilgrimage in book form, May 22, 2002

By 

Orva Schrock "Author of "Worthless Boy"" (goshen, in United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Essential Teachings of Ramana Maharshi: A Visual Journey (Paperback)

This beautiful book is a treat for anyone interested in spiritual insight. Ramana Maharshi was a wise man and more: he knew himself to be identical with the One Self of all. The photos are beautiful, the text, though brief, is sublime. Ramana insists we are o k just as we are. We fail to realize it because we fail to know ourselves as we really are; infinite and divine, the one true Self. To read this book is to partake in a visual and philosophical feast. Its brevity demands attention. Its truths have the power to enlighten. Enjoy this book as a meditation which will help you see and know your own true Self.