Review
"Verily I tell you I know nothing but God," said Sri Ramakrishna. And Sri Ramakrishna spoke of the God that he experienced within and without, day and night in simple language, stories, anecdotes, parables, metaphors and allegories. Seeing God directly in all His aspects and speaking about Him has made Sri Ramakrishna s life a veritable encyclopedia of religious, spiritual, mystical, philosophical and metaphysical experience. An Extensive Anthology of Sri Ramakrishna s Stories has taken Sri Ramakrishna s God-experiences and teachings and strung them into a beautiful garland. The range is breathtaking and comprehensive. Here we see Sanatana Dharma, Eternal Religion, at its best. Sri Ramakrishna s profound words of wisdom make the materialistic mind start questioning its experiences, the truth of which it usually takes for granted. However, the Great Master does not leave it in uncertainty; he is an ocean of compassion who replaces our illusions with divine grace. The teachings and stories in this massive anthology are mainly taken from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The author, Babaji Bob Kindler, has at times slightly reworded some stories and parables without marring their meaning. His modern titles are very striking. Altogether 687 stories are categorized into three main parts: Eternal Principles , Obstacles to Realization , and Spiritual Path . These are further classified topic-wise. Eternal Principles has sections on Brahman, Shakti, Ishvara, Maya, and so on; Obstacles to Realization has sections on Worldliness, Ego and Egotism, Ignorance and Bondage, Desires, and the like; and Spiritual Path has sections on Yearning for God, Holy Company, Sadhana, Self-surrender, Character, Devotion, Knowledge, Renunciation, and more arranged under three subdivisions: Necessities for Successful Spiritual Practice, Specific Practices, and The Results of Spiritual Practice. Each section contains many sayings/parables, and every one of them is uniquely commented on with wonderful insight. One might imagine that the commentary on one story in a particular section would tend to repeat itself elsewhere, but amazingly it does not! For example, the section on Ego and Egotism has twenty-six sayings/parables, but the commentary on each story is different. The average length of a story and its commentary is about a page. Each saying/parable is given in bold, followed by a short, succinct explanation of two or three lines in italics. Then comes the commentary, which stays close to Sri Ramakrishna s core teachings. Here the author also draws support from various Indian scriptures, philosophies, mythologies, spiritual traditions, mysticism, the teachings of saints, devotional songs, etc. He has, at times, allowed himself some latitude in the commentary, but this becomes necessary in order to give creativity a little play. His lucid language makes the deep spiritual topics comprehensible. The categorization of the stories is wonderfully and logically accomplished so that the book tends to unfold gradually, expanding our minds and letting the spiritual luminosity of Sri Ramakrishna flood our hearts. There is a very helpful Sanskrit Glossary, a Vedic Teachings Glossary, a Vedic Teachings Appendix and a Cross-reference Index to the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. This book is a real mine of spirituality for all types of aspirants of all religions. Sri Ramakrishna s teachings are universal and the anthology adheres to that high ideal. The essential teachings of Sri Ramakrishna are so simple that even a child can grasp them. This anthology too has kept things simple and is heartily recommended to everyone. The production is flawless. Numerous black-and-white graphics embellish the stories and the book. Swami Satyamayananda Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata --Prabuddha Bharata, January 2006
About the Author
Babaji Bob Kindler began his formal spiritual training in Yoga and Vedanta in 1970 at the age of twenty. After more than a decade of spiritual austerities and extensive study of the scriptures in Eastern Traditions, he received initiation into the Ramakrishna lineage by Swami Aseshananda, a direct disciple of Sri Sarada Devi, wife and spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He also received guidance and instruction from Swami Nityasvarupananda, another direct disciple of Holy Mother, and training in ritualistic worship from Swami Damodarananda, both of the Ramakrishna Order as well.
Babaji's emergence as a teacher of Sanatana Dharma occurred naturally with the creation of Jai Ma Music, an acclaimed sacred arts ensemble which he founded in 1980 as a vehicle for the exalted teachings of India through wisdom-oriented devotional music. He also received encouragement from his friend, Lex Hixon, the instigating force and co-founder of the national SRV Association of the West, based in New York state.
Throughout the 1980's and 90's, Babaji and Jai Ma Music toured the United States offering concerts of bhajans and chanting, lectures, classes, workshops and seminars on the various aspects of Sanatana Dharma at temples, churches, schools and spiritual centers. Trained as a classical musician from the age of eleven, he also fulfilled a career as an instrumentalist, appearing as a professional soloist, accomplished chamber player and orchestral cellist for 30 years. His classical training in Yoga, Vedanta and the Fine Arts is reflected in his style of teaching at the SRV ashramas where the profound Wisdom of India's perennial philosophies are effectively integrated with devotional and instrumental music from both East and West.
As Spiritual Director of the independent SRV associations, formed in 1993, Babaji visits the centers approximately four times a year to give classes and retreats. The retreats integrate knowledge, devotion, meditation and selfless service through study of scripture, chanting, introspection, worship and holy company. These spiritual disciplines, engaged in within the proximity of guru and sangha, bring purity of heart and clarity of mind. This allows aspiring beings who are living in the world to withdraw into solitude, experience sacred communion with their inner Self and focus on Divine Reality.
