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Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
TALKS IS ALL PURE GOLD -Major Alan Chadwick During the four years from 1935 to 1939,Munagala Venkataramiah,a veteran devotee and author of this work,painstakingly recorded the conversations that took place in the old hall between Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and his devotees. People from all faiths and every walk of life came to sit at Sri Bhagavan s feet:Whether ignorant or erudite,a simple peasant or royalty,they traveled from the far corners of the earth to place their doubts before him or just to sit in his divine presence.His infinite compassion and unique insight ensured that none left his ashram empty handed. Their questions covered every aspect of the spiritual search and every problem troubling the human mind:Maharshi s answers gently led the questioner to the correct solution,each question answered according to the questioner s own level of spritual development.All had their doubts dispelled,their hearts suffused with peace and their beings uplifted in his presence.This book is a truthful chronicle of such happenings. Reflecting the warmth,the humour and the deep spirtual atmosphere generated by the Master s presence,this work is a treasure-house for all who seek the highest truth.Sri Bhagavan s teaching,self-enquiry,is the core of this work.However,doctrinal questions from the various faiths,Hindu,Christian,Buddhist,Theosophical etc., have also been answered by the Maharshi.His explanations have revealed the common thread underlying all faiths and the absolute unity of the spiritual quest,irrespective of the diverse paths encountered on the journey to the highest Goal. First printed in the year 1955 the book has been reprinted thirteen times.
724 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
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About the author
Ramana Maharshi
253 books601 followersBhagavan Sri Ramaṇa Mahārṣi (Tamil: ரமண மஹரிஷி) born Venkataraman Iyer, was probably the most famous Indian sage of the twentieth century, he was born on December 30, 1879 in a village called Tirucculi about 30 miles south of Madurai in southern India. His middle-class parents named him Venkataraman. His father died when he was twelve, and he went to live with his uncle in Madurai, where he attended American Mission High School.
At age 16, he became spontaneously self-realized. Six weeks later he ran away to the holy hill of Arunachala where he would remain for the rest of his life. For several years he stopped talking and spent many hours each day in samadhi. When he began speaking again, people came to ask him questions, and he soon acquired a reputation as a sage. In 1907, when he was 28, one of his early devotees named him Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Divine Eminent Ramana the Great Seer, and the name stuck. Eventually he became world-famous and an ashram was built around him. He died of cancer in 1950 at the age of 70.
Ramana Maharshi was born 30 kilometers south of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India.
His Self-Realization
At age 16, he heard somebody mention "Arunachala." Although he didn't know what the word meant (it's the name of a holy hill associated with the god Shiva) he became greatly excited. At about the same time he came across a copy of Sekkilar's Periyapuranam, a book that describes the lives of Shaivite saints, and became fascinated by it. In the middle of 1896, at age 16, he was suddenly overcome by the feeling that he was about to die. He lay down on the floor, made his body stiff, and held his breath. "My body is dead now," he said to himself, "but I am still alive." In a flood of spiritual awareness he realized he was spirit, not his body.
His Guru
Ramana Maharshi didn't have a human guru (other than himself). He often said that his guru was Arunachala, a holy mountain in South India.
His Teachings
Ramana Maharshi taught a method called self-inquiry in which the seeker focuses continuous attention on the I-thought in order to find its source. In the beginning this requires effort, but eventually something deeper than the ego takes over and the mind dissolves in the heart center.
At age 16, he became spontaneously self-realized. Six weeks later he ran away to the holy hill of Arunachala where he would remain for the rest of his life. For several years he stopped talking and spent many hours each day in samadhi. When he began speaking again, people came to ask him questions, and he soon acquired a reputation as a sage. In 1907, when he was 28, one of his early devotees named him Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Divine Eminent Ramana the Great Seer, and the name stuck. Eventually he became world-famous and an ashram was built around him. He died of cancer in 1950 at the age of 70.
Ramana Maharshi was born 30 kilometers south of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India.
His Self-Realization
At age 16, he heard somebody mention "Arunachala." Although he didn't know what the word meant (it's the name of a holy hill associated with the god Shiva) he became greatly excited. At about the same time he came across a copy of Sekkilar's Periyapuranam, a book that describes the lives of Shaivite saints, and became fascinated by it. In the middle of 1896, at age 16, he was suddenly overcome by the feeling that he was about to die. He lay down on the floor, made his body stiff, and held his breath. "My body is dead now," he said to himself, "but I am still alive." In a flood of spiritual awareness he realized he was spirit, not his body.
His Guru
Ramana Maharshi didn't have a human guru (other than himself). He often said that his guru was Arunachala, a holy mountain in South India.
His Teachings
Ramana Maharshi taught a method called self-inquiry in which the seeker focuses continuous attention on the I-thought in order to find its source. In the beginning this requires effort, but eventually something deeper than the ego takes over and the mind dissolves in the heart center.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 8, 2014
It feels odd reviewing a book on pure spirituality, especially one that is a record of utterances by a man universally acclaimed as a saint-like figure - no ego trips, no wine and women in the temple basement, no hoarded or blown monies, no controversy, simple as that. Somehow I don't view this as just another book on my shelf for me to judge. But as it's important to me I'll say a few words.
Personally I have no problem with religions and their teachings. Some I like more than others, of course, but I don't recoil and knee-jerkedly react when the subject of religion is brought up. I understand these responses, however; religion is a perennially hot button topic that just gets hotter and hotter, and it's virtually impossible to ignore it, and so many of religions' spokespeople are such insufferable boneheads and bores, and unfortunately these boneheads and bores often have ridiculous amounts of clout.
I don't go in for institutionalized religions. For one thing most of them seem like little more than products of human fancy and imagination and mythologizing run rampant. But often this fancy and imagination (and rioting human reason justifying its own fancies) often makes it impossible to get to the pure heart of a particular religion. Jesus may've been a spiritually realized soul of infinite humility and compassion, but you wouldn't know that when encountering brill-cremed bediamonded grinning hucksters at the television pulpit.
So I go in for spiritual teachings not too overrun with stuck-on mythologies and fancies and egocentric perpetuators, such as Zen and a form of mental yoga by the name of Advaita so purely exemplified by Sri Ramana Maharshi. No gods, priests, or teachers if you don't want them. Both are spirtitual practices that are freely available to any misfit fool looking for something else.
The basic teaching of Advaita is that we are not our minds and bodies, and there are different mental methods available to help one come close to realizing this. Sometimes the methods can feel like post-modern literary tricks (of the self-reflective variety), especially when one is advised to ask simply "Who am I?", and then as soon as one answers to ask "Well then who is answering?" and so on and so on like two parallel mirrors reflecting each other until one's mind is blown. (There's actually an hilarious novel by Harry Mathews that exemplifies this called The Journalist - highly recommended) At other times this method appears very similar to Guy Debord's theory of the Society as Spectacle, as when Maharshi uses the example of the physical world as a movie screen, and even the thoughts in one's head as existing on this movie screen; but it's all in the effort to help us realize that nothing we can see or even think is who we are, which for me helps restore a tremendous mystery to existence itself while at the same time lightening my personal load.
Personally I have no problem with religions and their teachings. Some I like more than others, of course, but I don't recoil and knee-jerkedly react when the subject of religion is brought up. I understand these responses, however; religion is a perennially hot button topic that just gets hotter and hotter, and it's virtually impossible to ignore it, and so many of religions' spokespeople are such insufferable boneheads and bores, and unfortunately these boneheads and bores often have ridiculous amounts of clout.
I don't go in for institutionalized religions. For one thing most of them seem like little more than products of human fancy and imagination and mythologizing run rampant. But often this fancy and imagination (and rioting human reason justifying its own fancies) often makes it impossible to get to the pure heart of a particular religion. Jesus may've been a spiritually realized soul of infinite humility and compassion, but you wouldn't know that when encountering brill-cremed bediamonded grinning hucksters at the television pulpit.
So I go in for spiritual teachings not too overrun with stuck-on mythologies and fancies and egocentric perpetuators, such as Zen and a form of mental yoga by the name of Advaita so purely exemplified by Sri Ramana Maharshi. No gods, priests, or teachers if you don't want them. Both are spirtitual practices that are freely available to any misfit fool looking for something else.
The basic teaching of Advaita is that we are not our minds and bodies, and there are different mental methods available to help one come close to realizing this. Sometimes the methods can feel like post-modern literary tricks (of the self-reflective variety), especially when one is advised to ask simply "Who am I?", and then as soon as one answers to ask "Well then who is answering?" and so on and so on like two parallel mirrors reflecting each other until one's mind is blown. (There's actually an hilarious novel by Harry Mathews that exemplifies this called The Journalist - highly recommended) At other times this method appears very similar to Guy Debord's theory of the Society as Spectacle, as when Maharshi uses the example of the physical world as a movie screen, and even the thoughts in one's head as existing on this movie screen; but it's all in the effort to help us realize that nothing we can see or even think is who we are, which for me helps restore a tremendous mystery to existence itself while at the same time lightening my personal load.
September 22, 2008
no words
January 20, 2015
found this gem in the library when i was sixteen. i think i literally stopped physically growing after i had read this. this is that kind of book where you can read a few pages in a day but it might take a lifetime (or this moment) to figure out
Currently reading
November 27, 2008I must admit, that I am not egoless, but I am an aspiring Jnani, and I have been convinced that it is the most beautiful achievement possible. But like even the last few days, there is an I that pretends it's me, and it is ashamed, scared, desireous, depressed, unsatisfied. Who is that I? That was the point the sage of sages Ramana Maharshi made. All of this is me, all of this is you, there is nothing seperate, no divisions. I can from that vantage point embrace my madness, and love myself and through loving myself, which is everyone and everything, there becomes only love, and I am always in love. I aspire to give up the illusions I've bought into, perpetuated, that have sustained the illusion of unhappiness. In this book Maharshi explains it well...
October 24, 2009
A spiritual journey into inquiry of who am I? Finding the Self, where there is no subject, no object, no doer, only Being.
The talks in this book (1935-1939) are often quite heady, very intellectual, but they cannot be comprehended by the intellect, at least not mine. Ramana Maharshi, a sage of the 20th centrury, led a very simple life, but was quite knowledgeable. Many remarkable seekers sought him out and posed questions on the spiritual path. Visitors included Swami Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi.
Ramana Maharshi is the guru for Punaji, who is the guru for Catherine Ingram, a spiritual teacher who inspired me to find the Self.
The talks in this book (1935-1939) are often quite heady, very intellectual, but they cannot be comprehended by the intellect, at least not mine. Ramana Maharshi, a sage of the 20th centrury, led a very simple life, but was quite knowledgeable. Many remarkable seekers sought him out and posed questions on the spiritual path. Visitors included Swami Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi.
Ramana Maharshi is the guru for Punaji, who is the guru for Catherine Ingram, a spiritual teacher who inspired me to find the Self.
December 6, 2012
This book contains a conversations with a peoples from different background. A very good reading even if you never read Sri Ramana's books. This edition is more comprehensive than previous edition, containing the name of the people who asking the question and the date they came to ashram. Very enlightening book.
December 4, 2009
This is a book I read over and over. Like all Advaita teachings, the wisdom contained in the pages needs to be digested carefully,and repeatedly. Of the many books I'd read on Advaita, I consider this to be the preeminent one.
July 7, 2011
Another classic book on advaita. The master dispels doubts in his inimitable way. Wonderful read.
January 26, 2015
Perhaps the most compelling book ever compiled by the most accessible and shocking master of the 20th century. You are already enlightened. You are already the Self. Profoundly simple and beautiful. Get this book if you are a seeker, and you will understand that you will seek no more. Wow!
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September 10, 2007Mind blowing, literally. Or should I say mind dissolving.
March 2, 2008
So far I feel as though every time I pick up this book, I am continually fed insight as to who I am here, now, from a far past and into the oncoming future.
Read
October 15, 2010my hero
July 28, 2014
A must read, with every answered question you feel your true nature more and more... To me this man is the proof that Jesus and Buddha were real people who realised and told the Truth.
September 26, 2014
Recommended for experienced meditators...
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September 1, 2019A few years before I could not really appreciate most of the discussions in this book. But after a few years of consistent study, when I revisited this book in the past few months, a lot of the content rang many bells and I also had some epiphanies. A book to be revisited often to appreciate the progress made in the study of advaita Vedanta. I will be revisiting the book again in a few years for sure.
May 14, 2019
This is without doubt the ONE book I would take to a desert island.
My copy (first edition 1972) is well worn.
My copy (first edition 1972) is well worn.
September 19, 2017
Having read this book you would have pretty much no questions left unanswered. Sri Ramana Maharshi's vision as an enlightened Vedantin is beyond description in words. Beginners might find it very hard to understand at the first place, unless you are very keen to know about the questions being asked in the book.
June 19, 2021
„Talks with Ramana Maharshi: On Realizing Abiding Peace and Happiness“ is a wonderful book of timeless spiritual wisdom. Ramana Maharshi is the example of a truly enlightened or liberated being, a Self-realized person (Sanskrit: जीवन्मुक्त jīvanmukta). Rare are such beings on this Earth. There are many who claim to be enlightened, but only few who have really attained enlightenment. Ramana seems to be such a fully awakened being. Ramana's teaching is basically Self-enquiry (Atma Vichara), Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge) coupled with Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion). It is worth noting that Ramana emphasizes divine grace and openly states that it is impossible to attain enlightenment without grace. Grace is essential...
“Divine Grace is essential for realization. It leads one to God-realization. But such Grace is vouchsafed only to him who is a true devotee or a yogin, who has striven hard and ceaselessly on the path towards freedom. (p. 26)”
“Prayer is not verbal; it is from the Heart. To merge into the Heart is prayer. That is also Grace. (p. 237)”
“Grace is ever present. The only thing necessary is that you surrender to it. (p. 369)” ― Ramana Maharshi, Talks with Ramana Maharshi: On Realizing Abiding Peace and Happiness
In other words: Do all you can and leave the rest to God. Surrender to God is the key. Ramana speaks a lot about that. He says: „God never forsakes one who has surrendered“ (mam ekam saranam vraja). The transformative power of divine grace and love can only illuminate our soul if we open our heart in surrender to the Divine, the One Infinite Being. Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga, the path of love and the path of knowledge, complement each other. Bhakti prepares the way for Ātma jñāna – Selfknowledge, the inner realization of Sat-Chit-Ananda (Truth-Consciousness-Bliss). Atma Vichara (the meditation of self- inquiry) leads to the nondual realization of truth, the realization that the Self and the universe and God are one. God realization and self-realization are one and the same. Self-realization is God-realization, and God-realization is Self-realization.
“Know thyself, and thou shalt know the universe and God.”
― Temple of Apollo at Delphi
“There is no greater mystery than this: being Reality ourselves, we seek to gain Reality.“
—Ramana Maharshi
Aham Brahmasmi अहं ब्रह्मास्मि
“Divine Grace is essential for realization. It leads one to God-realization. But such Grace is vouchsafed only to him who is a true devotee or a yogin, who has striven hard and ceaselessly on the path towards freedom. (p. 26)”
“Prayer is not verbal; it is from the Heart. To merge into the Heart is prayer. That is also Grace. (p. 237)”
“Grace is ever present. The only thing necessary is that you surrender to it. (p. 369)” ― Ramana Maharshi, Talks with Ramana Maharshi: On Realizing Abiding Peace and Happiness
In other words: Do all you can and leave the rest to God. Surrender to God is the key. Ramana speaks a lot about that. He says: „God never forsakes one who has surrendered“ (mam ekam saranam vraja). The transformative power of divine grace and love can only illuminate our soul if we open our heart in surrender to the Divine, the One Infinite Being. Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga, the path of love and the path of knowledge, complement each other. Bhakti prepares the way for Ātma jñāna – Selfknowledge, the inner realization of Sat-Chit-Ananda (Truth-Consciousness-Bliss). Atma Vichara (the meditation of self- inquiry) leads to the nondual realization of truth, the realization that the Self and the universe and God are one. God realization and self-realization are one and the same. Self-realization is God-realization, and God-realization is Self-realization.
“Know thyself, and thou shalt know the universe and God.”
― Temple of Apollo at Delphi
“There is no greater mystery than this: being Reality ourselves, we seek to gain Reality.“
—Ramana Maharshi
Aham Brahmasmi अहं ब्रह्मास्मि
March 28, 2021
Anything by Ramana is worth reading... The only trouble with this book is that not all the words in it are actually Ramana's (the transcribers inserted their words into it as well, without differentiating). It's still worth getting and reading. But I just want to let readers know.
January 30, 2019
Incredible self inquiry leading to ultimate discovery of most existential questions
April 13, 2019
Answers to all the possible queries by seekers of Truth
November 6, 2022
A Spiritual Classic must read for everyone in their SHELF
April 3, 2022
The words of a genuine Master radiating illumination and truth
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews