Wisdom from The Ramayana: On Life and Relationships

by Chaitanya Charan Das

About the Book

What turns friends into worst enemies?
Is accepting misfortunes as our destiny fatalistic or pragmatic?
Can we regulate our emotions without repressing them?
Seeking answers to such universal questions, Wisdom from the Ramayana: On Life and Relationships taps into the timeless wisdom of the Ramayana, encompassing many of its characters and reflecting on the complex dynamics of their relationships.
By analyzing the thought processes of these characters and the principles they lived by, this self-help book offers guidelines to build lasting relationships and lead a spiritually fulfilling life.

About the Author

Chaitanya Charan is a mentor, life coach and monk. Building on his engineering degree from the Government College of Engineering, Pune, he complemented his scientific training with a keen spiritual sensitivity. For over two decades, he has researched ancient wisdom texts and practiced their teachings in a living yoga tradition.
Author of over twenty-five books, he writes the world’s only Gita-daily feature (gitadaily.com), wherein he has penned over two thousand daily meditations on the Bhagavad-Gita. Known for his systematic talks and incisive question-answer sessions, he has spoken on motivational and spiritual topics across the world at universities such as Stanford, Princeton and Cambridge and companies such as Intel, Microsoft and Google.

Genres: Spirituality

240 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2018

About the author

Chaitanya Charan Das is a monk, spiritual mentor and author.

Building on his engineering degree from the Government College of Engineering, Pune, he has studied extensively the philosophical and sociological ramifications of modern science. Complementing his scientific education is his keen spiritual sensitivity honed by systematic and sympathetic study of the bhakti tradition for over two decades.

He has been an invited speaker at several international conferences on the interface of science and spirituality, including the World Peace Conference 2006 and World Peace Congress 2008 organized by UNESCO. Based in India, he has given talks at colleges and companies all over the world from Australia to America. His writings appear regularly in several Indian newspapers including the reputed Speaking Tree column in The Times of India. Apart from 300 analytical articles (available at www.thespiritualscientist.com) and 1600 inspirational daily meditations on the Bhagavad-gita (available at www.gitadaily.com).

He is the author of 16 books on a wide variety of subjects ranging from Science and spirituality, socio-cultural analysis of religion, and the ancient texts of India, especially the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad-gita:
1. 10 Leadership Sutras from Bhagavad Gita;
2. Timeless Insights on Today's Issues;
3. Science & Spirituality;
4. ENERGY - Your Sutra for positive Thinking;
5. My Little Bhakti Companion
6. Idol Worship Or Ideal Worship ?
7. RECESSION - Adversity or Opportunity
8. Why do we need a TEMPLE?
9. Frequently Unanswered Questions
10. GK for PK
11. Gita For Daily Enrichment eBook (Gita Daily Series Book 1)
12. The Eye to See the "I" (Gita Daily Series Book 2)
13. Belong (Gita daily series 3)
14. The Spiritual Scientist - 1
15. The Spiritual Scientist - 2
16. OMG - Re-answering the questions
17. Prabhupada: The movements that made the movement
18. Demystifying Reincarnation
19. Mind It!
20. Inner Change
21. Wisdom - From Ramayana on Life & Relationships
22. The Searching Eye
23. Gita Wisdom through Quotes

He is a member of ISKCON’s leading intellectual body, the Shastric Advisory Council, which offers scriptural advice to the GBC (Governing Body Commissioner). He is an associate editor of Back to Godhead, ISKCON’s global magazine. His writings in English have been translated into several foreign languages including German, Chinese and Romanian and several Indian languages including Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Hindi and Marathi.

Reviews

[Sheetal Maurya - Godse (Halo of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day, in office, two of my colleagues started arguing on the Agnipariksha of Sita. Both had different perceptions and both were right. Just like this, we all know the story of Ramayana; it is an epic which has an in-depth meaning. Every decision and action of the characters have some motives. We have heard and read the various interpretations of Ramayana from different people and each one of us has a different opinion on this epic. However, this epic teaches us a number of lessons that are very necessary to understand and implement in today’s busy and material life.

Summary:

The author decided to write this book when during a speech he narrated the importance of relationship by taking examples from Ramayana, for his two friends, who were going through some misunderstanding. The narration helped them solve the misunderstanding.

This book is divided into nineteen chapters. Each chapter has a brief of the story and then it goes on to explain various elements that we do not generally look at.

The Ramayana is a vast epic with numerous characters and instances. The author has reasonably explained about actions and reactions of the characters. Positive as well as negative, he has analyzed every character.

Kaikeyi-Manthara, Rama-Lakshmana, Dashrath-Kaikeyi, Rama-Bharata, Sita-Lakshmana, Maricha-Rama, Rama-Shabari, Jatayu-Ravana, Vali-Sugriva, Sugriva-Lakshmana, Anagada-Hanuman, Vibhishana-Ravana, Rama-Monkeys- all these characters have played a significant role in every stage of this epic. However, if we look carefully, we will know that each one of them has acted as per the situation, some maintained their cool and thought rationally, while some lost their temper which created problem like the story of Vali-Sugriva.

On the other side, we meet four brothers of Ikshvaku scion, who were ready to sacrifice the throne for their elder brother. With this, we also meet Vibhishana and Ravana, where the former chooses Dharma over his brother. Though they all were brothers, we can see the vast difference between their relationships and thought process.

Apart from this, the author has beautifully described the concern of various people while Rama left Ayodhya and Hanuman’s journey to Lanka.

In the end, he has put his interpretation on the most controversial topic of Ramayana and from where I started this review, i.e. Agnipariksha of Sita. His interpretation is ethical and provides an unseen depth which can’t be understood easily.

If you are not familiar with the story of Ramayana, then the author has also given a brief at the end. You can read that first and then start the book.

Writing style:

Though it is a non-fiction, this book will keep you engrossed till the end. The chapters are properly categorized in small parts. The language is beautiful and at the same time easy to understand.

My perception:

This is one of the great self-help books I have ever read. Today we all are struggling to maintain a healthy relationship. People are becoming more selfish, families are separating, and the divorce rate is growing. If we look closely into this, we will get to know that by changing our mindset, perception and by talking, we can mend a breaking relation. This book is a great reminder to all of us. Ramayana is not just a devotional epic but it has a number of pearls of wisdom, which we can implement in our daily life. This book imparts various virtues in the mind of the readers. Great subject to write, the author did it fabulously. If you are a parent then you can read out this book to your children to make them understand about holding and mending a relationship. This is a need of today’s time.

Do read this book, to know the importance of relations and sacrifice. This book has something for every reader. A must read book for everyone.

Read more such reviews on https://www.haloofbooks.com/

[Pankaj Goyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wisdom from the Ramayana: On Life and Relationships by Chaitanya Charan is a recent book that deals with the Ramayana, one of the two great epics of Indian mythology. Most of the Indians must have read and heard the stories from the Ramayana a number of times since their childhood. However, these stories still fascinate us. We still love to read about them. Consequently, a number of new books based on the Ramayana get published every year. However, writing a new book on this epic is not an easy task as the author has to write about the subject well-known to the public. And, Chaitanya Charan accomplishes this difficult task successfully. Chaitanya Charan, a life coach and monk, has researched ancient wisdom texts and practiced their teaching in a living yoga tradition. He shares his perspective of the Ramayana in an engaging manner in this book.

The book does not try to narrate the Ramayana one more time. The intention of the author here is to concentrate on its relevance today. The author has selected some incidents from the epic and presented them within the contexts of themes important for understanding the value of life and relationships. However, these selected incidents have been described in detail to provide proper contexts. Additionally, a summary of the Ramayana has been given as an appendix for the readers unfamiliar with this epic. Some of the themes covered in the book include judgmentality, harsh speech, anger, suspicion, and arrogance, etc. The purpose here is to teach life lessons from different characters’ situation, dispositions and actions.

I really loved the way the book has been written. While the book is a non-fiction, the book takes hold of you right at the beginning and you find it difficult to let your attention go until the end. The author definitely knows the tricks of hooking his readers. The writing is emotionally charged and will certainly hit the readers strongly. On top of that, the writing is simple. The author has presented the content in easily digestible bites. The sentences are simple and vocabulary is easily understandable. The author presents the text like a teacher, stopping the narrative a number of times to discuss a character’s moral action. The analysis is profound and thought-provoking. In addition to providing valuable lessons to the readers, the author has been successful in capturing the beauty of the epic in an inimitable manner. I thoroughly enjoyed this illuminating book.

Both the cover and blurb of the book are also great. The only fault that I could find in this book is the repetition of certain incidences from the Ramayana in the text. This could have been avoided or the same could have been presented in a different manner. However, this small fault can be ignored as the book as a whole is filled with some quality content. The book is not a one-time read and must be read several times to enjoy the beauty of this book.

Overall, the book is an engaging analysis of some of the incidents described in the Ramayana and you would love reading the same. The book will shake your thinking cap by offering a number of guidelines to build long-lasting relationships and lead a spiritually fulfilling life.

Note: The review was originally published on my blog:
https://pgalmora.wordpress.com/2019/0...

[Kushagra Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a special attachment to the Ramayana. The epic is one of my first introductions to Indian culture and heritage in this lifetime. Ramayana is a story of the land of Bharat, our historical heritage, a tale for ages and holy text for the practioners of Bhakti Yoga. As a reader, you cannot go wrong with Ramayana. (As long as one is not fiddling with the story like the kinds of Amish). There is captivating story, life-enriching wisdom and all kinds of human emotions to experience.

The most relevant part for human beings of our day and age is the life enhancing and enriching wisdom bit. The author, a dedicated, scholarly monk, Shri Chaitanya Charan Das potently brings out relevant some nuggets of wisdom from the epic applicable to inter-personal relationships. It has been my personal blessing to have spent some time in the company of the author; a person who’s been challenged with Polio yet, uses the crippling circumstace to serve more people by writing and teaching. Shri Chaitanya Charan’s person life is an example of embodying wisdom from Vedic scriptures.

Most of the people born in the land of Bharat, irrespective of religious identity or caste are familiar with the premise of Ramayana. Yet, in the age of Kali(conflict), it’s imperative to not just know the story but take inspiration from the amazing characters to make us all happier humans. What, the author does so wonderfully is pick situations between characters in the story that help is reflect on our life choices. Reflection upon the timeless scripture brings forth a new perspective as to how we view the characters.

The book is spread across nineteen chapters covering instances of Shri Rama’s banishment to the forest, Mother Sita’s abandonment, Shri Hanuman’s Lanka visit amongst others. All of the chapters pick an instance from the story to present an /easy to understand/ nugget of wisdom.

I happily recommend you this book if you wish to explore and gain a deeper understading of Ramayana.

[Deborah Charnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the short tales from the Ramayana followed by modern-day advice and relevance.

[Arunayan Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Philosophical thoughts from Indian Mythological Epic Ramayana in different way to understand relationships in our life. Good book to know about it.

[Meher Gandhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Non-fiction
My Rating: 4.75/5 stars

*NOTE: I am extremely grateful to Fingerprint! Publishing for sending me this book. However, this does not at all hinder my honest opinions regarding the book. This is a spoiler-free review. All opinions are solely mine. Check out my blog 'The Scribblings' (https://thescribblingssite.wordpress.com) for more book reviews.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

I believe that everyone needs to read this beautiful non-fiction book. The author has made sure that even if you don’t know the story of Ramayana, you’ll still be able to grasp the meanings clearly. This book is meant to provide the reader with optimistic and rational viewpoints and to let the reader enter into the enlightening world of life lessons.

I love the fact that the life lessons are not just lessons that one should be aware of but also, lessons that would definitely help in leading a better life holistically. This brings me to the next characteristic of this book that really impresses me. The life lessons provided in this book are aimed at improving our quality of life in all the dimensions, be it emotional stability, sense of responsibility, dutifulness and what not.

This book grows in the reader a renewed sense of self.

It is to be appreciated that the author has first explained a particular situation/event of the Ramayana and then has gone ahead to extract whatever we all should note and learn from that particular event. All the events followed by the life lessons are arranged in chronological order i.e. the order in which the events actually take place in the Ramayana. However, it is not necessary to read the chapters in the same order. The reader can hop on to any chapter as each follows the same pattern (event followed by the life lesson(s)).
I really like how thoughtfully the author has structured this book.

The author has also made an effort to relate the life lessons with the real life situations that we face.

“We live in a culture that frequently champions rights and downplays responsibilities.”

~ Chaitanya Charan, ‘Wisdom From The Ramayana

This book has successfully answered questions like “what do we do when a promise we have given comes back to strangle us?”, ‘Is destiny our controller?’, “even if someone speaks when in tension, should absolutely no intention be ascribed to their words?”, and many more!

The author has made use of good vocabulary and at the same, has made sure to keep the sentence structures simple.

I could only find one typo which will not come to notice if one is not reading too closely.

All in all, as I said, I recommend this book to literally everyone, especially to those who are willing to gain a fresh perspective on life and are wanting to see life through a different lens. I also recommend this book to the fans of Indian mythology. This book is like a treasure to them as it provides the readers with deeper meanings lying beneath the actions and events that unfolded in the epic Ramayana.

The life lessons provided are truly impactful and can change the readers’ lives for good!

[Tushar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book teaches you how to face a difficult situation in life with courage, determination, and love. All this is being taught by giving a reference from Ramayana. There is a total of 19 chapters in this book. Each chapter takes a story from Ramayana and while telling the story the author tells us how to use it in our life. Only the main stories, not whole Ramayana is retold by the author and the author tells these stories' significance according to modern times. The one story about Vali and Sugriva teach us how misunderstanding runs havoc in our life. There are so many stories in this book that teaches us Compassion, Devotion, Love, Courage, etc. I really liked the book. The book only contains the 238 pages. So it is a fast read.

[Pankaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

I mostly enjoyed this book, although there were moments where the author's arguments failed to fully convince me. For instance, his justification of Shri Ram's abandonment of Mata Sita seemed lacking, and some of the connections drawn between historical events and modern scenarios appeared weak. Given its religious influence, the book occasionally delved deeply into religious themes, which would appeal to devotees. However, as someone less inclined toward religiosity, these parts were only moderately engaging for me. Nevertheless, I appreciated the book for imparting valuable insights, particularly in enhancing my ability to navigate real-life situations effectively.

[Rumi Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing anything about the author and this book will be 'chota muah badi baat'. So, I would rather keep this very general and less technical. The author of this book, as we all know, is a profound researcher of Bhagavad-Gita and other ancient texts. In his latest book, he talks about the learning one can have from Ramayana on life and relationships. While reading the epic during our childhood, we never thought that it is more than a story, let alone a treasure of spiritual wisdom. The author's perception of this old text is truly fascinating and enchanting. You find yourself reliving your childhood but with a new life lesson in every chapter.

The language of the book is simple, but the use of many difficult words makes it a bit challenging for a reader with a limited vocabulary. Using simple words to explain the rather complex topic of spirituality would have helped us. Also, the way bhakti yoga and spirituality are showcased as an answer to every question makes it difficult to digest for people who are yet to take a step towards the path of yoga or spirituality. We suggest that one should choose this book only if they are ready to take a leap of faith towards spirituality and yoga. If you are looking for answers to your relationship problems, this book is definitely not the right choice. This book is much more.

There is nothing much to talk about the flow of this book because Ramayana itself is a complete package of interesting characters and intriguing events. As we proceed through each chapter in this book, we tend to understand the characters and probable reasons behind the way they behaved during a particular event.

The best part of the book is a small summary at the end. If you have not read Ramayana in school or during your childhood and even missed watching Ramanand Sagar's series aired on Doordarshan during the late 80s, you should start this book by reading the summary first. It will introduce you to the epic before you dive into the depths of this time-honored text. Once you are done reading all the chapters and the small summary, the author surprises you with a note on 'Pure Love' as he finishes his book.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your copy and enter the mysterious world of Rama, which is full of wisdom; if only you are willing to seek it.

PS-I have written this review for someone else and never posted on my profile. Now Compiling all the reviews on my personal page.

[Simarpreet Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Wisdom from the Ramayana as a Sikh was an interesting and enriching experience. Even though the Ramayana is not part of Sikh scripture, I grew up hearing stories of Ram, Sita, and Hanuman, and this book gave me a chance to reflect on them in a new way. Chaitanya Charan doesn’t just retell the epic—he pulls out lessons about discipline, humility, and duty that feel relevant regardless of one’s faith.

What resonated with me most was how the book emphasized inner strength and moral clarity. The struggles faced by Rama, the courage of Sita, and even the downfall of Ravana carry universal lessons about staying true to values, resisting ego, and finding purpose. As a Sikh, it reminded me of how Gurbani also encourages us to learn from examples—good and bad—so that we can walk the path of righteousness in our own lives.

While at times the commentary felt a little simplified, the overall message was meaningful. This book reminded me that wisdom can be found in many traditions, and as Sikhs, we are encouraged to seek truth wherever it shines. Wisdom from the Ramayana left me reflective and reminded me that at the heart of every dharmic story is the call to live with virtue, courage, and humility.

[Ira · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many tv shows, movies, books on Ramayan But hardly anyone gives you the wisdom of Ramayan. It is indeed a must read for everyone. The best part is that it is not detail of Ramayan but it narrates the incidents and what is the learning. There are certain portions which are written so well. The writer has very nicely explained about all the characters whether negative or positive. Even a controversial topic like "Agnipariksha of Sita" is also so reasonably explained and gives a completely new perspective. I am very happy n contented reading the book. It has given me a lot of peace and new perspective to look on things.

[Priyanka Vishwakarma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author explains all the events of Ramayan in most effective way. There are so many events we know, but author has tried to explained the meaning of those events. Author has discussed so many incidents from perspective of different people in Ramayan.

[Meena Yadem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stole this from my husband’s library. A deeply detailed interpretation of human relationships and the delicate balance between will and duty - a reminder of how carefully one must tread to avoid building karma and unnecessary drama.

[Anubhuti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing must read!

[Ekta Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review on https://wisdomekta.blogspot.com/2022/...

[Priyanka Rathore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Put the wisdom of the Ramayana in a more comprehensive form
Favorite quote: Separation does to love what wind does to fire- spread it more and more.
This sum it up 🧡

[Anna Sinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing viewpoint! Got to learn so much, the language is simple yet with a use of great vocabulary, the perfect revision or summary to the ramayana

[Prakash Parasuraman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ramayana is one of the two great epics of Indian mythology. It plays a major role in shaping the cultural and religious values of many Indians. It is a kind of epic that inculcates life lessons through simple stories. The view on Ramayana differs from person to person. It gives us different values when the perspective changes.

Wisdom from the Ramayana- the title might sound familiar, as there are numerous works on the topic. Chaitanya Charan has done a delightful job in sharing his perspective of Ramayana. The book is simple, yet effective tool to self-realization on Life and Relationships.

The book is divided into Nineteen simple chapters. Each chapter narrates a different story derived from Ramayana. Each story teaches the readers different lessons on Life. The beauty of the book is that the way the author has handled the stories and relates it to practical life.

It is one of the finest example of life lessons through story. Chaitanya has given answers to most of the life and relationship related problems. Each chapter opens up different views on relationship. The derived solutions are practical and simple to apply.

The lucid language and organized chapters makes it a pleasant read. It has everything to captivate the reader till the end. The font used is elegant and perfect in size. The attractive cover adds to the delight of reading. The author has added a summary of Ramayana to those who doesn’t know the epic.

On the downside, at times the teachings seems to be a little over stretched. I found few life lessons are a bit familiar to some that I already know (A problem with reading too many self-help books). Apart from the above, Wisdom from the Ramayana is a must read for life lesson seekers. A worthy read, to maintain peaceful relationships.

Read more reviews at: https://www.etale.in/wisdom-from-the-...

[Sai Theagaraj · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing perspective of the Ramayana and its interrelationships. A good take on the ethical and moral dilemmas faced by the characters in Ramayana. The morals displayed by the actions of these characters are hidden in plain sight unveiled by this book.

"Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles but misguided men."
"So if someone who is usually kind-hearted suddenly speaks something harsh, we needn't let that one outburst overshadow their past track record. Why let a potentially lasting relationship become hostage to one verbal lapse?"
"Love is our greatest, deepest need."

[Aman Varma Psychologist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really soothing read to better understand relationships.

[Chaitanya Das]

What turns friends into worst enemies?
Is accepting misfortunes as our destiny fatalistic or pragmatic?
Can we regulate our emotions without repressing them?
Seeking answers to such universal questions, Wisdom from the Ramayana: On Life and Relationships taps into the timeless wisdom of the Ramayana, encompassing many of its characters and reflecting on the complex dynamics of their relationships.
By analyzing the thought processes of these characters and the principles they lived by, this self-help book offers guidelines to build lasting relationships and lead a spiritually fulfilling life.