Talks With Ramana Maharshi: On Realizing Abiding Peace and Happiness by Ramana Maharshhi Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Talks With Ramana Maharshi: On Realizing Abiding Peace and Happiness
Book Review: The last book you'll ever need
Summary: 5 Stars
If I could, i'd give it 100 stars. I have no words to describe this book. Buy it. Download it from the Net (its available for free on Ramana's website). Buy many copies. Give it to friends who are truly spiritualy minded. Buy other copies. Why?
I could give many reasons: the sheer brilliance of his answers, the keen wits of his arguments, the love, humbleness and peace that flow from this pages like nothing i've seen before. But i'll give none. Someone said in a review above: this book is Rock bottom. Couldn't agree more. Thats the book i'd take to a desert island. For sure! This is it. The real thing.
However, as well pointed by other reviews, its not suitable for everyone. It might be good to start with a smaller one (like "Who Am I?", available for free on Ramana's official website).
You'll either LOVE this book or dislike it, like some previous reviews. Thats ok. Ramana would say: nevermind the others, let them be. Find out who you are. All others will be fine in due course. Brilliant. Truthful. Humble. Rock bottom.
Examples? Just a few:
God? Reply: Forget about God. You exist right here and right now. No one denies that. Find out who you are first, then inquire about God, if you feel inclined to do so.
Siddhis (Occult powers)? Reply: Forget about siddhis. They are all manifestations of the duality, therefore ilusory. Do not seek them. Its imaterial to spiritual realization. Find out who you are.
Help others? Reply: Realize your true Self. Interfere the least possible with the affairs of others and be compassionate. Thats the most effective help, indeed the only true help. The silence of the sages accomplishes more than all the speeches of men.
Yoga and other practices? Reply: They are good as aids to Realization, but not essential. The Self IS always. Can you not exist now? Do you need to do anything to be as you are, to abide in your true nature? Simply turn the mind within and seek your source. Asanas, pranayama, etc, may be left aside. Self-enquiry alone will do.
The guru? Reply: The guru is within. The guru is the Self. This body you call Ramana is not the guru. Do not prostrate before me with your body, but keep the mind in its source. THAT is true prostration.
And right before his death: " They say i'm going to die. But i'm not going anywhere. I am here. Where else could I go?"
If you grasp the depth of these words, then you will know why i took the time to review this book. Thats my only review, and probably the last.
Like many said above: you simply can not go deeper.
Do yourself a HUGE favor and get this book, even if you hate it afterwards. It is well worth the shot.
Book Review: Superb! Suited to serious aspirants
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the sort of book that can resolve your every doubt about the essense of Hinduism. Ramana Maharishi is widely acknowledged to be that rare and precious thing - a man who lived continuously in the state which all the Hindu scriptures promise. If you are not convinced of this 'authenticity', even then the book holds great value as his approach to questions is quite unique: he never says 'I have found it to be so, believe me'. Rather, he asks the questioner to examine his own experiences and tells him/her to make conclusions accordingly. Indeed, this book is an invaluable aid to those who take to that short yet exceedingly steep path of jnana yoga.
However, the book itself is a series of talks, chronologically arranged. The questioners dictate the agenda of discussion, and the responses were recorded immediately. Therefore, you cannot expect anything in the way of additional explanation, commentary, or even continuity. It is a transcript of interviews of Ramana Maharishi. But I assure you, after the initial disconcerting effect of reading disjointed discussions, the book is immensely interesting as all those little questions that have been nagging you are asked, and a great many that may not have occurred to you have been too. This includes the perennial questions like 'Who is God?' 'Why creation?' and 'Does Vaikuntha or Kailasa really exist' etc. I was genuinely delighted to see his explanations, which are concise and profound. But be prepared to ponder most responses for a while.
I say serious aspirants, and particularly those with an aptitude for Jnana Yoga should buy this because the stress is on either surrender or jnana. Karma and Bhakti methods are covered too, but you will have to hunt for them. Having said that, some of his tips on devotion and surrender are brilliant! When someone asks whether they will be liberated after they continue the practise of surrendering, he asks whether that is the question of one who has truly surrendered. When others ask about Japam, he says in an aside that people do not really understand the workings of Grace and Japam, and that once Japam is started one should be content to wait for Grace with faith. That is willpower, and that is the steady determination that brings liberation swiftly. These seemingly obvious truths are nevertheless ignored by most devotees.
Book Review: Talks With Ramana Maharshi: On Realizing Abiding Peace and Happiness
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my second purchase of the same book. This is one of the best books that is written about RM. This provides guidance who are looking for guidance, had half-knowledge / misled and ones who are already enriched by the wisdom of RM. It is amazing that RM's thoughts and words were captured by a non-Indian in those times. Anyways, I wish good for all those who read this book.
Book Review: The Book is Average
Summary: 3 Stars
As can be summed up from reading the 13 previous reviews, the thought on the pages of this work does not have the power to transcend the illusion, Ramana Maharshi. Read the reviews here, they say "Ramana is the greatest sage. . .," "Ramana is this, Ramana is that." Please! Where is the Self freedom that a 5 star work would lead one to? Its not to be found in the interpretation of this thought. In fact after reading this work one is left deeper into the illusion that "I have learned something from him." So "SELF" is left babbling in its own mind about an illusion known as Ramana. 5 stars for that, I don't think so. I give it 3 stars. Book Review: Truly My Most Important Book !!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Indeed if I was to choose the proverbial only book to bring to a desert island, this would be it! A lifetime of strong and profund insights from one who was considered a Jivanmukti (liberated while living) in India. In the form of dialogs with Western visitors and Hindus, about liberation (moksha). At the contact of his words, a genuine ring of truth will enlighten you from the very depths of your soul! Gently powerful and endowed with transformative power! If you are not familiar with Sri Ramana Maharshi's prose, you should begin with another shorter anthology of extracts from his dialogs called: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi in his Own Words, by Arthur Osborne. Contrary to the present work, it is arranged thematically. Welcome to Sri Ramana's liberated teaching. Also in print is the Indian hardcover edition. Give a copy to a spiritual friend!