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Be as You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Arkana)
written by Sri Ramana Maharshi
Studio : Penguin (Non-Classics)
by Penguin (Non-Classics)
Publisher : Penguin (Non-Classics)
Released : 1989-02
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780140190625
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 38 reviews)
List Price : $24.95
Our Price : $7.59
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Simple Words of the Greatest Sage |
Which to prefer, this or "Talks with Ramana Maharshi" (Inner Directions)?
"Talks" sets down conversations recorded by various people in the order they occurred, over a period of years. Occasional accounts of innocuous events around the Ashram add background. There is space and atmosphere.
In the present book, David "Is That Really His Surname?" Godman arranges mainly short exchanges under subject-headings: The Nature of the Self; Self-Enquiry; The Guru; Samadhi; Life in the World. So it is more focussed, less rambling, but less spacious in feeling. Each approach has its advantages. There's a teensy, inconsiderable overlap of material between the two.
Sri Ramana Maharshi was one of the greatest saints and spiritual teachers of the 20th century, perhaps the most attractive, the most radiant of all. He was not a learned man; he doesn't go into the technicalities of Hindu philosophy or spiritual methods. His questioners are mainly ordinary people, not highly advanced yogis. Children can benefit from many of his teachings, yet no-one could possibly outgrow them.
Don't confuse with Western Nondualism: "The Universe is perfect just as it is; you are perfect just as you are; your search for Enlightenment is what is keeping you from realising that you're already Enlightened." Sri Ramana's teachings are simple and simply expressed, but try to put them into practice and you soon discover how much they demand. He summed it up this way: "Renounce everything you can renounce: what remains is the Real."
Both of these books are worth their weight in gold; I wouldn't dream of being without either of them. I prefer this book, just because it's smaller and easier to carry around with me. |
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Pure Adoration |
What is going on here? What kind of a Being could appear in this world and be completely oblivious to the body, mind and world and still exist without doing anything at all to support these manifestations? What was Ramana attending to? What was he absorbed within that would allow him to ignore what we here adore and then return to love it all without condition? These are the questions that arise from reading this book. What is real and who am I? If this interests you deeply then this book is surely all you need to propel you into the enigma of Self-realization.
This is a book about truth and reality and surely those who interested in something else will not find reason or impulse to immerse their attention into this writing and thereby receive its profound impact. The only thing missing from this book as far as this writer is concerned are photographs of this sage, because in the case of Ramana a photo is not worth 1000 words, it worth all that is or will ever be.
Ramana says in this book that another name for you is Awareness and the implications of this truth exceed everything that you hold dear and yet, everything will be so dear to you when you finally realize that who you are is one with the source of all Being and every mainfest expression in Consciousness. Gold has a clear value to the world and Godman's account of Ramana and his teachings is manna from Heaven right here on Earth. Your riches are within, look deeply into your Heart, there you will find the Self, Ramana, Who You Are, God, Love, Peace, Truth and Freedom. This book is a gift of pure Grace. I simply adore it.
Sundance Burke, Author Free Spirit: A Guide to Enlightened Being |
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Essential Wisdom, Must Read, Extraordinary Sage |
Be As You Are is a spiritual classic from one of the most revered sages of modern day India. First and foremost, the book carries the frequency of presence and will have its effect without even reading a single word. As far as structure, David Godman has compiled Ramana's dialogues with his students with skill and clarity. I have the paperback edition which is 251 pages as well as the aged original hardbound copy edition entitled "Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi" that was published by Sri Ramanasramam in Tiruvannamalai in South India.
As far as structure, "Be as You Are" begins with Acknowledgments followed by an Introduction that introduces Ramana, his life, awakening and Self-realization. The book is divided into six parts followed by a quite helpful Glossary, Notes and References, a Bibliography and an excellent Index.
Ramana is pointing to a single, indivisible Supreme Reality that lies deep within every human being. In fact, we are experiencing this Reality right now, we just may not be consciously aware of it. Ramana, with the help of David Godman, begins in Part One by presenting the nature of True Self and who the "teacher" really is. Part Two leads to Self-inquiry as a means to discover our true identity. It clearly presents the theory, practice and any misconceptions that we might have.
In Part Three, we focus on the guru and what the 'teacher' is actually representing and point to the stillness and silence of sat-sanga; being in the presence of someone who has realized the Self. Part Four is an instruction on meditation and yoga (meaning scriptures), the use of mantras (sacred words) and japa (repetition of the name of God) as well as life in the world.
Part Five is an important chapter for those awakening, since it is so easy to be trapped by spiritual experience, such as visions and psychic powers. Finally in Part Six, creation theories are discussed and the reality of the world is revealed. He touches on the subject of reincarnation, the nature of God, suffering and morality, and ends with a discussion on karma, destiny and free will.
Sooner or later, you will be lead to this profound spiritual classic, the extraordinary wisdom of Ramana Maharshi and realize the deepest peace. I strongly recommend this book as well as the other spiritual classic, "I am That" by Nisargadatta.
~ Katie Davis,Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment |
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Exposits the central message of Sri Ramana Maharshi as best as words can |
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While the style is anything but concise and to the point David Godman lays out the"teaching" of the Sage of Aranachula in a way that should be accessible, if not particularly helpful, to those of a western mindset. |
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Finally someone whom you can trust completely |
Twenty years ago I bought this book in Delhi in order to have some good
reading for a would-be sannyasin, who was en route to an ashram for an indefinite period. Well, the book was read through many times so that it also became geru (the ochre colour of the robes of sannyasins), but I did not understand the central tenets of Ramana Maharshi. Now, after much water has flown in the Ganga, I feel that I have very theoretically understood something of what Ramana Maharshi, the most atractive and lovable of Indian ascetic of the 20th centure, was trying to teach to us blockheads. After being disappointed with so many "gurus", it is a wonderful feeling to have met someone in the "biz" ( no, - actually outside the guru biz) who has no selfish motives. He was a true ''jivan mukta'', completely enlightened person, and gave his sparse verbal teachings with a lucidity and logic, which overwhelm my western mind. Sometimes I, a jnani-type intellectual, am moved to tears reading him.
Give yourself time and patience for this book! Godman's series of "The Power of the Presence" are helpful reading beside "Be as you are", as the reminiscenses of people who visited Ramana Maharshi have more emotional appeal compared with "the bare bones" Ramana Maharshi serves. It is good to keep in mind, that the book cannot transmit the most important "method" Ramana Maharshi used in his "upadesa" (teaching): his pregnant and powerful silence.
Godman is the chief interpreter of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi in our times. He has stayed close to the Holy Hill of Arunachala ever since 1976. He worked during the 80'es as the librarian of the Ramanashramam, and has written some great spiritual books about the devotees and followers of Ramana Maharshi.
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