Customer Reviews

Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self Knowledge (A Rider book)

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A spiritual classic of modern times, this authoritative work on the life and teachings of Ramana Maharshi dispels the popular notion that books of this kind are meant only for the philosophically inclined'. Though a serious work, it makes for absorbing reading.

The Maharshi's habitual silence that communicated more than speech, his intuitive grasp of a questioner's mind, his simple answers to the most complex philosophical and religious problems, his sense of kinship with the animals and birds who sought his company, his compassion and humour, and above all the power and radiance of his mere presence -- all these are captured by Osborne in page after page.

Some of the best commentaries on the Sage of Arunachala have come from his western disciples, like Paul Brunton and S.S.Cohen; and Osborne is foremost among them. With ease and precision, Osborne evokes the spirit of the south Indian religious and social customs of the early part of this century, especially of the life in the Ashram at the foothills of Arunachala.

Ramana Maharshi insisted that the only way to freedom is through the enquiry `Who am I?'. It is a quest that reveals that what we call the mind is an illusion, and thus liberates us from our accumulated tendencies (`vasanas'). It can be undertaken by anybody at any time and requires neither scholarship nor austerities. The timelessness of such an ancient teaching adapted by the Maharshi to suit the modern times comes through lucidly in the author's presentation.

In `discovering' this book, one sets out on a journey of self-discovery.

- K. Krishnamurthy (hrmohan@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in), Madras, India

This is a most welcome reissue of a hard to find and out of print 1954 biography of Ramana Maharshi, one of the great spiritual figures of the last century, whose life, dialogues and silent teaching have been of enormous value and good example to people of all faiths. It has been written for the general reader and is quite accessible and intelligible even while presenting the basic teachings of Ramana. A helpful glossary clarifies the meaning of technical terms. It is written, however, in the hagiographical style common in many religious traditions from ancient times to the last century, so the modern sophisticated reader might well read some of the more usual stories about the Maharshi with a bit incredulity. Nevertheless, it is an excellent introduction to the man and his teaching, a help in the spiritual life whatever your faith, and a classic work.

This book is a bio of a being who never claimed to be the body. It is written for beings who still think they are their bodies. The majority of the book is about Ramana and his life around the ashram with devotees and interactions with visitors and even the local wildlife. Most books about Ramana are question and answer format so this one shows how an enlightened being interacts with life and people in everyday situations.
One of the most amazing parts was when Ramana was dying. The doctors knew he would die before the day was done and so did all the devotees. They sang songs outside his room. Even though he said he was not the body but the SELF, the ONE SELF in all of us, the drama was being played out on the physical plane. As the devotees sang, Ramana had tears in his eyes and then he just stopped breathing. I had tears in my eyes too, just reading about those last moments.

Unlike most Advaita books, this one is a biography. That means we get to actually hear a story (beginning, middle, and end) for once, instead of being told that "stories are all untrue" or whatever.

For me, this book is special because it was my introduction to Advaita. Shortly into reading it, I just knew that Ramana was The Truth, for lack of a better term.

The story itself is very entertaining. It's fascinating to hear about this young "unremarkable" boy who by no fault (really) of his own realized the Self.

And then he went and stayed in some temples, got eaten by rats, was force-fed food by concerned Hindus, and then went up into the hill of Arunachala.

Instead of just pointers, our story-deiring minds can actually get a landscape of context in which Ramana "happened".

By no means am I trying to knock other Advaita books or teachers. I'm just trying to illustrate what I think separates ... The Path of Self-Knowledge from most other Advaita fare. IT'S A BIOGRAPHY! :D

when it comes to indian holy men , its often hard to separate the dross from the sublime . books on indian mystics abound , most just end up stretching credulity . its not uncommon to come across a book which portrays some indian "saint" that leaves me shaking my head in an almost visceral disgust .

it therefore comes as a relief ( especially to my viscera ) when you read a neatly written book about an indian saint . i'm sure its next to impossible to please everyone when it comes to writing about someone no less a phenomena than ramana maharishi , but messrs osborne seems to have done a commendable job of it . i know he's done just such a commendable job of it because the book left me wanting to know more about the maharishi . not many books do that .

i can therefore , unreservedly , recommend this book .