$26.95

Paperback

I Am That

Nisargadatta Maharaj

This book has been my all time favorite spiritual text for the last several years. It is the book I would choose, without hesitation, if I could only have one for the rest of my life.

I Am That is deep and profound, yet simple and accessible. The text is 400+ pages of personal interactions between seekers and Nisargadatta Maharaj, one of the great Advaitans of the 20th century. Amazingly, I can read this book over and over and over, and discover new and important knowledge every time. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

Review by James Braha

I Am That, subtitled Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj is acknowledged by many to be one of the greatest spiritual treasures of the 20th Century. We have included this book in our short list we call Books You Can't Live Without. It is an incredibly rich feast of wisdom that's best read a few pages per day over an extended period of time. Most serious seekers of Truth will want to read this book over and over again.

Review by Len Oppenheim

I Am That is the Operator's Manual for the serious Post-New-Age seeker. If you have had enough of bells and whistles and are ready to move out of your spiritual comfort zone, perhaps after several years of studying and practicing techniques for personal growth, this is the book for you.

Sri Nisargadatta himself is a study in the co-existence of opposite values. He is at once focused and expansive, wise and irreverent, compassionate and cantankerous. But no matter what his mood, his teachings are always supremely bold and energizing. Along with Sri Ramana Maharshi, he is considered the foremost proponent of Advaita Vedanta of the twentieth century. This collection of questions and answers is his seminal work.

Page for page, I Am That is the most engaging book I have ever read. I just finished reading it for the fifth time and continue to be amazed. On almost literally every page is at least one "mini mahavakya", one great idea that challenges the way we are taught to think about spirituality. For example, opening at random I find Sri Nisargadatta saying, "Abandon false ideas, that is all. There is no need of true ideas. There aren't any." His ability to use just the right bold-simple turn of a phrase to drive home an abstract point is unparalleled.

I Am That definitely says something different than the last hundred spiritual books you may have read. As the radical teachings of Zen are to the rational teachings of orthodox Buddhism, so is the ancient philosophy of Advaita Vedanta to orthodox Hinduism. That is, it represents the culmination and fulfillment of the system of thought of which it is a part, and at the same time, the complete antithesis of all that has been said before.

In a nutshell, rational, or "first stage," philosophies tell us that we are not a body (physical, mental or otherwise), but formless pure consciousness. Radical, or "second stage", philosophies (such as Zen and Vedanta) start from there and tell us that, ultimately, we are not even consciousness, but the absolutely still 'ground state' in which it manifests. An image often used is that, if consciousness is like pure energetic light, then our true nature is the still and silent vacuum of empty space through which light travels.

Though very direct, the path of knowledge may be experienced as difficult because its theory and practice are, counter-intuitively, quite different in some aspects. In this regard, Sri Nisargadatta dispels a very subtle and prevalent misunderstanding about Vedanta (and second stage philosophies in general): that mastery is easy. Simple perhaps, he says, but rarely undemanding.

The theory of Vedanta asserts that "All is One" and, since we know that we exist, we are that One. The good news is that no effort is required to claim one's status as the Self of all. Especially for those who have spent many years toiling at spiritual practices, this is good news indeed and, upon discovering Vedanta, many are tempted to stop all practice and simply rejoice in their "newfound" status.

However, Sri Nisargadatta points out that, "words describe words", and even the elegant statements of Vedanta are mere words until one has realized their truth for oneself. For the serious seeker, he says, effort is still required in the form of constant vigilance to consciously remember one's true nature at all times. Specifically, the practice calls for rigorously engaging a single thought before transcending the realm of thought altogether. At first, this process requires a good deal of effort.

This subtle distinction between effortlessness in theory and effort in practice is extremely elusive, especially if one is, perhaps unconsciously, seeking a break from the spiritual grind. It is here that the perspective of a teacher with laser–sharp discrimination is vital. Sri Nisargadatta is just such a teacher and this critical point is a good example of what distinguishes I Am That from any number of traditional and New Age titles available in the market today.

And what is this single thought which we are to "rigorously engage"? According to Sri Nisargadatta, it is nothing other than the familiar thought "I am". As the "I"-thought is always intimately accessible at the heart of every other thought, he says, it serves to link who we think we are to who we really are, the immortal Self. As he says in literally hundreds of ways in this book, all that each of us really has and really knows is this prime datum at the core of every experience: "I am". He says, for example, "The only true statement is 'I am'. All else is mere inference." Therefore, he says, holding onto "I am" is the key.

Who would have believed it? The one thing that it seems we've all been able to agree upon is that the ego is the enemy. Yet here is a very hard to dismiss teacher telling us that it is the key to heaven, brahmaloka, the whole works. Clearly defining the exact role of the "I am" as the witness in theory and the key in practice is Sri Nisargadatta's great gift to us.

I rate I Am That near the very top of my list, in fact, tied for second place among my favorite books of all time. (I have more to say about these two unique books in a joint review.) It is a true transitional classic, reminiscent of Be Here Now in its shocking potency. Its one hundred and one short chapters are perfect for reading right before falling asleep. By the time the book is finished, you may well find that your thoughts about spirituality and how it may be most directly advanced have changed, never to be quite the same again.

Review by Michael Baxter

$45.00

Paperback: 3 Volume Set

Nothing Ever Happened

David Godman

This 3-volume biography about Papaji (H.W.L. Poonja) is truly as entertaining and informative as can be imagined. It is a book I used to read every night until I could no longer keep my eyelids open. Papaji was a gnani who lived a life of daily miracles and was able to transmit realization to others. The book is similar to Autobiography of a Yogi, but is (in my view) far more uplifting and fascinating. It is also more topical since Papaji lived during our time and speaks about many of the spiritual teachers and movements that have arisen since the 1960's.

The book is jam-packed with detailed accounts of peoples' miraculous experiences and instantaneous awakenings at the feet of this Advaitan master. The only drawback is that for several years after reading it I could not escape the fact that Papaji was alive until the late 1990's and I did not hear of him until after his death. After my first reading of the 3-volume set, I immediately went back to volume one and started over. It is that good.

Review by James Braha

$21.95

Paperback

Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing

Jed McKenna

Jed’s words lead the reader to the edge of the abyss and then his deft writing nudges you over the edge.

Jed’s books totally demystify truth realization, peeling away the layers of falsehood to reveal the real, unadorned truth within.

McKenna writes with cutting edge insight and a sense of humor that makes his teachings easy to digest.

His basic premise is that truth realization is just that. Realizing you are an actor in a part and seeing the drama that really is "of no real consequence," one begins to just relax and watch the show unfold. Truth realization is not mystical experiences, being blissful 24/7, or even moral… it is just plain seeing the illusion and not being caught up in it… it has nothing to do with diet, giving to charities, or saving dolphins.

I highly recommend this title… truth presented without all the window dressing.

Review by Tony Kainauskas

$14.50

Paperback

Surprised by Grace

Amber Terrell

Amber tells her story in a very personalized way… as if I am peeking at someone’s diary of their search for truth, made even more so by the fact that I know Amber personally.

After 25 years spent with one guru Amber feels frustrated and disillusioned with the spiritual journey. After deciding to lay off Spiritual gurus she quickly becomes involved with another: Gangaji, a western devotee of Papiji (Sri H. W. L. Poonja.) The love and adoration Amber feels for her new master is felt throughout her every word. This book is really a Valentine to Gangaiji, whom Amber feels has finally woken her up after years of deep sleep. This is a must book for any fan of Gangaji and for any one interested in life behind the scenes of a popular spiritual movement. I found the book an interesting read as Amber’s journey seems to parallel other spiritual seekers’ quest, their first years with a Spiritual movement, and then the frustration and disenchantment followed by a letting go of the search altogether. The seeker is then lead to the end of the search as one realizes there was really nowhere to go and no path to tread.

Review by Tony Kainauskas.

$14.95

Paperback

As It Is

Tony Parsons

The content of Tony’s book is expressed perfectly by its title. His basic message is that all suffering is due to resistance, and freedom from suffering is a direct result of total acceptance of the present moment. The many words in this delightful book all point to that one truth… at times phrasing the same truth in many different ways helps to imprint it in the consciousness of the reader. Sometimes for me it may take a particular set of words to hit deep inside. For you it may be a totally different set of words. But once the words lead you to that awareness, they drop off as meaningless and all that you are left with is present moment awareness, total surrender to life AS IT IS.

Tony’s book took me on a nice journey to that place of surrender. I may have left it temporarily, but I know I’ll keep coming back to visit, to one day surrender and call it home.

Review by Tony Kainauskas

$16.00

Paperback

Duet of One

Ramesh Balsekar

This is my favorite book by Ramesh Balsekar (a direct disciple of Sri Nisargadatta.) I have read it and re-read it. Balskekar’s commentary on The Ashtravakra Gita (The Bible of Non-Duality) to me, offers wondrous insight into the preordained drama that we call life. The Ashtravakra Gita and Ramesh's commentary bring into sharp view what is real and what separates the real from all else. At first there may be fear created by this reality, but through acceptance it brings much peace, as all happens and unfolds as it should, and all action is predetermined. The main theme is that we are dreamers (in actuality there is only one dreamer), the dream being this life. When the time is opportune we awaken to the one reality. This awakening is inevitable and the time and place already set… all we need do and can only do is just carry on in the drama of every day life until that day when the drama becomes a comedy and the laughter begins to flow.

Review by Tony Kainauskas

$14.95

Paperback

Autobiography of a Spiritually Incorrect Mystic

Osho

Osho, (known as Rajneesh, when he and his followers started a gigantic commune in Oregon and when he owned 96 Rolls Royce’s) was a guru about whom I knew almost nothing until a trusted friend suggested I read this book. Although I was skeptical, I did like the title, so I read the book. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and illuminating books I have read in years. The title is quite apt. In many ways Osho reminded me of the stories of Gurdjieff, about whom I had read voraciously 30 years ago. The description of Osho’s early years, being brought up by his grandparents who gave him incredible freedom and treated him like a young prince in his small Indian village was fascinating and entertaining. His career as a scholar and a guru are very insightful. All in all, Osho was a remarkable being and I would think that any reader will feel enriched after reading this book. The following quote catches the essence of the man and his quest, "My interest has remained the same: to know what is the ultimate Truth, what is the meaning of life, why I am here and not anywhere else. And I was determined that unless I find the answer, I am not going to rest and I am not going to let anyone around me rest either." After I read this book I understood why he attracted to many followers, whom he called "sannyasins". I also regretted not having known about his power and presence when he was alive, because certainly I would have made an effort to see him.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$14.95

Paperback

The Ultimate Medicine, as Prescribed by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: Dialogues with a Realized Master

Edited by Robert Powell, Ph.D.

Unlike I Am That which has gained cult status, this book seems to be relatively undiscovered. The master is the same, the teaching is the same, and in fact, I think, this book is far more easily read and absorbed. (Maybe I think that way because the print is much larger and my eyes are getting weaker as I age.) In any event, the message is the same and the personality of the master comes through just as well. The following, taken from the editor's note is a pretty good choice for getting to the root of the Advaita teaching as revived by Nisargadatta: "Jivatman is the one who identifies with the body-mind as an individual separate from the world. The atman is only Beingness, or the consciousness, which is the world. The Ultimate principle which knows this Beingness cannot be named at all. It cannot be approached or conditioned by any words. That is the Ultimate state." —Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

It's easy huh? Just understand that short paragraph and you will have it all. Good luck and enjoy!

Review by Len Oppenheim

$16.95

Paperback

Pointers from Nisargadatta Maharaj

Ramesh Balsekar

This is included in this section as well as the section under Ramesh, because Ramesh claims in the preface that the material written in this volume "emerged spontaneously, dictated, in a fine frenzy that surcharged my being, by a compulsive power that could not be denied." Ramesh goes on to explain that not only did the book really spontaneously write itself, but that its publication kind of "just happened", through a series of "coincidences." It is very important to note that the writings and publication both took place while Ramesh was still continuing to attend satsang and before Ramesh himself attained "guruhood status." Nisargadatta authorized the publication saying: "I know that you both are aware that all writing originates in consciousness, that there is writing but no authors."

Both Nisargadatta and Ramesh teach that nothing happens and that there is no doer. Therefore, neither of them outlines a path. In fact both teach that enlightenment cannot be achieved, it just happens, as much as a leaf falling off a tree just happens. When I attended satsang with Ramesh in 2004 he made this point rather graphically. He was trying to drive home this point that enlightenment just happens. He said, "It can happen at any time. It could happen while you are seated on the commode. In fact if it should happen at that moment you might get up and even forget to wipe your ass."

This attitude, that nothing happens, results in many levels of paradoxical traps for the seeker. If there is nothing you can do to get enlightened, then why bother attending satsang? In fact these great teachers say the choice to attend or not attend satsang is not yours to decide. If you are at satsang it is merely because you were destined to be there. Most seekers have trouble with this concept. If we consider ourselves seekers, then we must feel we are involved in the volitional act of seeking. What I like best about this book, Pointers, is that despite the view that there is nothing you can do, this books gives some practical advice or "pointers" which these masters feel may help one to have enlightenment happen to the seeker. If you can figure this out and explain to me in conceptual terms how this makes sense, I would be eternally grateful. Anyway, I loved this book and think it is clearly a must read for the serious student of Advaita.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$16.00

Paperback

Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi

Edited by David Godman

This is the best book for introducing serious spiritual seekers to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi, the foremost exponent of experiential Advaita Vedanta of at least the last century. It is also the finest job of book editing I've ever seen.

Prior to compiling this book, Godman had been the librarian at Sri Ramanashram for several years. He has arranged the material in such a way as to present the most important ideas first, as was Sri Ramana's own style in teaching. So carefully has this been done that I am tempted to believe that if a Vedantic principle is not presented in the first half of this book, I probably don't need it in the long run. The questions and answers which form the bulk of each chapter have been taken from many sources and assembled in such a way as to give the appearance of a smooth and continuous conversation. The brief prefaces to each chapter are also very clear and informative.

The most impressive aspect of the book, however, is its emphasis on the practice of self-enquiry to re-establish one's identity with the unbounded Self. While some form of this technique, sometimes referred to as atma vichara, has existed since antiquity, Sri Ramana prescribed it in an innovative form designed for the modern world, to be practiced during both silence and activity. He recommended this technique so often and so vigorously that it is regarded as the most distinctive motif in his teachings.

Godman presents Sri Ramana's instructions for self-enquiry in three chapters, placed second only to the presentation of the concept of Self. Although the practice itself is very simple, much has been said about it by Sri Ramana and others over the years, with potentially confusing results. The questions and answers in these three chapters greatly clarify these issues.

In addition, Godman's summary of the mechanics of the practice is completely lucid, indeed in a class of its own when compared to other discussions on this topic that I have come across. I have been in correspondence with Godman on this point myself, and have found his clarifications to be invaluable.

Sri Ramana taught that different spiritual paths are appropriate for different individuals according to one's temperament and qualification. He has said:

Self-enquiry is the first and most important step. The I-thought is traced to its source, which is the final goal. However, if the aspirant is temperamentally unsuited for self–enquiry, he must develop devotion. If neither enquiry nor devotion appeals to him, he can gain tranquility by yoga techniques. If he is unsuited to the first two methods by temperament and to the third on account of age or health, he must try karma marga, the path of good deeds and social service. He thus, in course of time, comes to be suited for one of the three former paths.

Sri Ramana preferred to teach in silence. If requested to speak, he would usually recommend self-enquiry unadorned with theoretical discussions. If pressed further, he would occasionally discuss related topics of a theoretical nature, always in the language of purest Advaita Vedanta (lit. 'non-dual end-of-knowledge'), a language spoken in the very heart of Gyan Yoga, "the path of knowledge."

Similarly, Sri Ramana taught the Vedantic perspectives on Bhakti Yogafor those with a devotional nature and Karma Yoga for those much inclined to action. Godman has done an excellent job of presenting Sri Ramana's teachings on these topics, as well. One cannot help but notice that the section on "Theory" is presented last, as is consistent with Sri Ramana's emphasis on practicality at all times.

Overall, I feel that this is the best introductory book written about the most respected teacher of modern times, and that the fifty pages devoted to self-enquiry present the most practical advice I have ever received. Although there are several other excellent modern–day books on experiential Advaita Vedanta, I could not recommend Be As You Are more highly. This is the one I would take to the proverbial desert island.

Review by Michael Baxter

$26.95

Hardcover

Talks With Sri Ramana Maharshi

T. N.Venkataraman, Sri Ramanashram

This long but very easy to read book is regarded as the "bible" of the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi, the highly regarded 20th-century exponent of Advaita Vedanta. Its 600-plus pages contain nothing but questions to, and answers from, Sri Ramana on a wide range of topics, recorded during the period from 1935 to 1939. The material is presented in roughly chronological order, with no attempt to organize along topical lines. It thus offers a glimpse into the natural flow of conversations at Sri Ramanashram during this four-year period.

Sri Ramana always preferred that both teaching and learning occur in silence, rather than on the basis of verbal discussion. From his side, he preferred simply to sit and radiate a current of pure consciousness with which seekers could effortlessly align. From the aspirant's side, he encouraged actually engaging in the practice of self-enquiry, rather than posing questions to satisfy the mind while keeping it active on its surface level. Fortunately however, he did answer a few questions each day.

According to the interests of the his visitors, many topics are discussed here, including all of the favorites of spiritual aspirants throughout the ages, such as the nature of enlightenment, states of consciousness, the role of the witness, knowledge versus devotion, effort versus grace, etc.

At some point while reading this book one begins to notice that, while addressing various questions, Sri Ramana's replies all seem to follow a similar pattern. Intellectual understanding, initially in the foreground, gradually gives way to an intuitive recognition of this pattern as being somehow very personal to the reader himself.

This is because Sri Ramana persistently brings one's wandering mind back to its true purpose, the recognition of its own source. He does this by pointing out that every question asked is actually an extrapolation of the primal question, "Who am I?" and then by offering an experiential answer to this all-important question.

In this way, even "horizontal" theoretical discussions are used as opportunities for experiencing "vertical" self-enquiry, thereby coming full-circle to Sri Ramana's eternally practical purpose. This persistent switch from fascination with external objects (in which frame the question is posed) to fascination with the subject of enquiry (in which frame the answer is experienced) is Sri Ramana's special gift.

With its comprehensive scope, great depth, and reader-friendly style, Talks, as it is known by its many fans, is my second favorite book of all time. The journal-type entries are all very short. I recommend reading one or more of them each night right before falling asleep. An added advantage to this approach is that the calm, settled feeling one gets from the readings may well continue throughout the night and result in a wonderful rested feeling of inner wakefulness.

Review by Michael Baxter

$16.95

Paperback

Essential Teachings of Ramana Maharshi: A Visual Journey

Matthew Greenblatt

An A+ introduction to the philosophy of Ramana Maharshi. Contains bullet points of his philosophy as well as incredible black and white photos. This makes a wonderful gift for any one on the spiritual path.

$16.95

Paperback

The Wisdom - Teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj: A Visual Journey

Matthew Greenblatt

Rare and incredible photos of Nisargadatta intertwined with major points of his philosophy. A great gift filled with spiritual wisdom.

$18.00

Paperback

What's Wrong with Right Now Unless You Think About It?

Bob Adamson

This book is one of the finest Advaitan texts ever. I spent five weeks living with Sailor Bob, and the difference between his teachings and other Advaitans is that he teaches only non-duality.

As one who awakened while with Nisargadatta Maharaj, (author of I Am That), Bob's teaching is absolutely pure. He leaves no room whatsoever for dualistic thinking. He offers the student nothing to attain in the future—no carrots, no falsehoods. All is right here, right now. His book directly and powerfully points students toward Presence Awareness—what he describes as the "natural state," which is non conceptual, ever present, self shining, one without another.

Bob was told by Nisargadatta that the best thing he could do was to "take others beyond the need for help." For those who are ready, this book accomplishes that.

Reviewed by James Braha

$15.00

Paperback

Loving What Is

Byron Katie

The book is as good as the title. This book really delivers—it is an incredible "how-to." "How to" embrace your very own life exactly as it is unfolding in present time with all its goodness and what you might call its badness. The subtitle of the book is "Four Questions That Can Change Your Life." I can attest through personal experience that with sincere application you can indeed change your life. There are not many books that even attempt to provide such simple, clear-cut, profound advice, much less actively provide it. This is a rare and wonderful book for those who are interested.

Review by The Literate Lady.

$21.95

Paperback

Secrets of Yoga

Osho

A fascinating compilation derived from Osho’s lectures. Much of this book is devoted to Osho’s interpretation of The Yoga Sutra’s of Patanjali.

In this book Osho uses many jokes and tales to illustrate his points. The book provides a very interesting perspective on how a modern and roguish mystic views the ancient teachings of one of the great Rishis of all time. Having practiced the TM Sidhi Program, as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, based on the teaching of Patanjali, I found it quite interesting to compare and contrast how these two very different 20th Century Masters interpret Patanjali. While Osho’s unique and incisive mind is capable of some very deep insights, the teachings of Maharishi, at least in my understanding and in practice, go much deeper than the teachings of Osho. However there is much wit and wisdom in this book, and I highly recommend it.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$35.00

Hardcover

The Book of Secrets

Osho

This book by Osho is literally and figuratively "heavy." It is a hardbound volume of over 1000 pages. It is the "soup to nuts" compendium of Osho’s teachings. It is about life, death, and everything in between. It is both philosophical and practical, containing many techniques suggested to practice. If Osho had attained the widespread acceptance as one of the great teachers of the 20th Century, like Nisargadatta, this book would be the equivalent of I Am That. For the serious student of Yoga, Tantra, the metaphysical, and the occult, this is a giant feast that can be read slowly over a long period of time.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$14.95

Paperback

Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self-Knowledge

Arthur Osborne

Both a biography of the great saint and an explanation of his teachings. This book has a very special place in my heart. If we had not put Godman’s book in Books You Can’t Live Without, this book would have been there. It was difficult to choose between the two. This is a book you cannot afford to miss reading.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$23.00

Paperback

Miracle of Love: Stories About Neem Karoli Baba

Ram Dass

Out of print for many years, but is now available again. The book is a compendium of stories about Ram Dass’ guru, who he calls Maharajii. Some of the stories involve Ram Dass, or events he personally witnessed, while others were gathered from over one hundred other devotees. I am a junky for stories about Gurus and Yogis and their miraculous deeds and/or lessons they teach, both verbally and non-verbally. I especially enjoy these stories when they are modern, having occurred during my lifetime, and when the teller of the stories, or the gatherer of the information is highly credible. Those are the reasons I highly recommend this book.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$17.95

Paperback

Sai Baba Man of Miracles

Howard Murphet

Written in 1971, yet it still remains, at least in my opinion, the best book to start with if you have not read about Sai Baba. It is an almost perfect introduction to a reader who wants to know Sai Baba’s personal history and explore a reasonably objective view of his miraculous powers and his devotional teaching. Murphet tells the story in a straightforward and highly credible manner. This book is fun to read and an exciting journey for those who have not explored the story of Sai Baba.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$9.00

Paperback

Sai Baba the Holy Man and the Psychiatrist

Samuel H. Sandweiss M.D.

Written in 1975 but remains timely. This is a very personalized account of a western psychiatrist who goes to India, spends time with Sai Baba and feels compelled to relate the story of an avatar "who can materialize objects from thin air and is capable of remarkable clairvoyant, telepathic, and healing powers; who is able to transform himself into other forms and identities and transport himself great distances instantaneously; and who has been seen in two or more places at once." Sandweiss wrote this at a time when it was an "off the wall" position for a respected psychiatrist to not only attest to these miraculous powers, but also embrace the spiritual message from this avatar. This is a classic first person narrative, well-worth reading.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$9.00

Paperback

My Baba and I

Dr. John Hislop

One of many first person narratives written about Sai Baba. What makes this one a little special is that Hislop and his wife not only met Sai Baba, but they had previously met Yogananda, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and other great masters. Hislop’ s personal history of having met these other great spiritual luminaries of our age adds a depth to this account that I found most appealing. Describing his first meeting with Baba, the author says: "It is difficult, and probably impossible to express in words the effect upon myself of that first meeting with Baba. My entire being was profoundly affected and changed. Immediately Baba became the center of my life and has remained so. In his presence, at that first meeting, the world fell away from me, my entire consciousness was drawn inward and, at a most subtle level of awareness, Baba appeared in my heart as love." This book is very compelling and focuses on the spiritual teachings of this "miracle man."

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$19.95

Paperback

Wake Up Laughing: My Miraculous Life with Sai Baba

Connie Shaw

Published in 2000, making it a relative newcomer to the first person accounts of meeting with Sai Baba. For some reason I found this to be the most enjoyable book I have read on the topic of Sai Baba. Her writing style is very charming and captivating. It feels as if the author is being flat out honest and candid. Very often, I find books written by devotees to be too carefully orchestrated. This book flows, and has drama, love, joy, and humor. Everyone will enjoy reading this account.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$19.95

Paperback

Daughter of Fire

Irina Tweedie

This is a true classic, but is clearly not for everyone. This "Diary of a Spiritual Training with a Sufi Master" is just over 800 pages long and can be heavy and onerous. Tweedie was 59 when she met her guru, Bhai Sahib, in 1959. Her master told her to keep a diary. This is her diary. It is detailed and honest. I have never read another book like it. The author goes through many ups and downs and they are all reported in the book. Not only is this a rare documentary of a serious seeker, it is also a rare glimpse into the teachings of a Sufi master. Tweedie was born in Russia, educated in Vienna and Paris and was married to an English naval officer who passed away in 1954. She had a strong background in Theosophy, which explains why, and how she ended up in India seeking her master. Tweedie may have been more than just a seeker; many regard her as having achieved her goal. Tweedie is the real deal, as far away from a dilettante as one could possibly be.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$24.00

Paperback

Consciousness Speaks

Ramesh Balsekar

Ramesh has written more than a dozen books. Each one is worth reading. In talking to fans of Ramesh, I have found that very often a single book resonates most strongly for a given individual. For some it has been Sin and Guilt, for others A Duet of one, and for other individuals it has been one of the other titles. For me, it was Consciousness Speaks that somehow opened my mind and heart to the full appreciation of this wonderful teacher. The brief introduction by Wayne Liquorman sets the tone for the book. In fact, I believe that reading the eight-page introduction is worth the entire price of the book, and in this seed is contained the wholeness of the teaching. Although Ramesh is a brilliant and skillful writer, I believe he is at his best when teaching and responding to questions from seekers. This book uses the question and answer format and that is why I believe it is his most effective book, and certainly it has been his most popular book at our bookstore. When my sons became interested in Ramesh, it was this book that I provided for them to read first.

The book is very comprehensive, covering all subjects, including mind, intellect, emotions, biology, creation, etc. All the answers are straightforward and simple. Ramesh pulls no punches and allows the knowledge to flow through him, as the title of the book suggests. This is a book to be cherished and read over and over again.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$19.00

Paperback

The Odyssey of Enlightenment

Berthold Madhukar Thompson

This is a book to which I give the highest possible recommendation. I love chronicles of personal seeking, when well written and obviously truthful. This one fits the bill. Thompson has chapters on 12 spiritual teachers and he does an excellent job of capturing the essence of both the teaching and the teacher. Each chapter follows the question and answer format, which I found to be very clear and concise. I also found that Thompson asked most of the questions I would like to ask, were I in his position. Among the most well known teachers in his journey are Osho, Papaji, Gangaji, Ramesh Balsekar, U.G. Krishnamurti, and Andrew Cohen. (Although Thompson is a native of Germany, his English is excellent.) There is a great intimacy and truthfulness about this book that makes it very compelling. If you are not prepared to go to India and seek out saints and masters in remote locations, reading this is the next best thing. Thompson now lives in Hawaii, and after reading this book I would be very tempted to pay him a visit to discuss his experiences and the wisdom he has gained. I rate this an absolutely must read book for any spiritual seeker. An added bonus is that there are photos of each of the 12 masters. Often their eyes and features communicate a great deal. Finally, the author does not claim to be enlightened, and his odyssey leads him to question whether or not enlightenment is achievable by following any guru or any particular sadhanas recommended by any teacher. Perhaps the lesson to be learned is that active seeking actually stands in the way of finding. This lesson is expressed in the title of the chapter about U.G. Krishnamurti, "The Worst Desire Is the Desire for Enlightenment."

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$16.00

Paperback

Acceptance of What Is: A Book About Nothing

Wayne Liquorman

Liquorman begins chapter one with this caveat: "Buyer Beware: Truth disappears in the telling of it." Liquorman was acknowledged by his guru, Ramesh Balsekar, to have "gotten it", in other words to have realized the Advaita Teaching and to be a gyani. So, this is a book about nothing. At the same time it is a book about everything. The book uses a question and answer format, which I find to be very easy to follow and understand. Liquorman has a great sense of humor and a zest for life, both of which clearly come through. Liquorman has the kind of mischievousness and charm I find irresistible. I find it refreshing to get the story of how a Westerner, a businessman, and former substance abuser, achieves realization and how this grace just happens. This is clearly a must read, and if you like the book as much as I did you will take the next step and go to see and hear Wayne, live and in person. Seeing Wayne is a treat, as is reading this book. Although the book is simple, something about the style and presentation resonated so deeply with me that I consider it to be one of the dozen or so books I have ever read that have profoundly influenced me and changed the direction of my life.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$20.00

Paperback

Answers

Mother Meera

Question and Answers by Mother Meera, popular woman saint currently living in Germany.

$20.00

Paperback

Answers: Part II

Mother Meera

A new book of questions & answers by Mother Meera.

$16.95

Paperback

Great Swan: Meetings With Ramakrishna

Lex Hixon

Now back in print. This is a new rendition of the famous "Gospels of Ramakrishna". Beautifully written, it teaches the oneness of all religions and worship of the Divine Mother.

$17.95

Paperback

Swami: Encounters with Modern Mystics

Doug Boyd

I confess to be a "junky" when it comes to books written by people who have spent time with masters, saints, yogis, swamis, and gyanis. I am fascinated by the experiences these seekers encounter and by the stories about the various luminaries they meet. This book did not disappoint me at all.

The first one-third of the book describes the months in 1970 when the author served as Swami Rama's personal assistant while the Swami was being studied by the doctors and researchers at the Menninger Foundation in Kansas City. The Institute people were interested in studying the Swami's physiology and brain wave functioning as he did such Yogic feats as stopping his heart, experiencing various states of consciousness, and altering body temperature etc. What makes this section of the book most interesting is that the author, Boyd, is not a devotee and is quite objective in his observations and judgments. It is really most fascinating to learn so many intimate details about a highly evolved Yogi who had been a Shankaracharya and then founded the very successful worldwide organization, The Himalayan Institute. Swami Rama was both very highly educated in Western institutions of higher learning, and an accomplished Yogi who had visited virtually all the major saints and yogis of the mid-twentieth century.

Boyd later goes to India with a group from the Institute who take all their paraphernalia with them to study other Yogi's. They spend time in and around Rishikesh and their meetings and explorations are very interesting.

Finally, Boyd goes back to India by himself, eventually returning to Hardwar and then Rishikesh. He is accompanied by Hridiya Sing, who acts as his guide and translator. Boyd spends some "quality time" with a number of interesting Swami's. Perhaps most interesting is the time spent with Tat Walla Baba. What sets this book apart from most of the other books I have read by "seekers" visiting holy men in India is that Boyd is not really a seeker. Instead he is an "observer". This puts a different spin on his experiences and the view one gets of the various holy men. Boyd unlike virtually all the other seekers I have read is really not looking for enlightenment or personal evolution. Instead he is trying to figure out how to make the world a better place on a more exoteric level.

The book covers very interesting ground and is well written. I rate it a "must read".

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$45.00

Paperback

Special Set: Two of the Greatest Spiritual Books of All Time

T.N. Venkataraman, Sri Ramananashram, Nisargadatta Maharaj

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi

I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Reading either one of these books may well change your life. If you're ready for a change, reading the two of them together almost certainly will. I'd like to tell you how reading them together changed mine.

Please don't be put off by my use of specialized terminology. If you encounter terms that you are not familiar with, I invite you to do what my wonderful wife, Intesar, does. She tells me that "truth rings its own bell" and listens with her heart.

I've been a seeker all of my life. I was bitten by the "spirituality bug" and started mantra meditation in 1970. At that time, I felt sure that I'd be 'enlightened' within ten years. Just to be on the safe side, I gave it twenty.

On my twentieth anniversary I quit meditating, telling myself that I must have internalized the spirit of it by now. This felt like the right thing to do, but it left an enormous feeling of emptiness inside. It was then that I discovered experiential Advaita Vedanta, although at first I didn't know it by that name.

One day I had an interesting experience. I had been considering the thought process from two points of view and then comparing the subjective feelings of veracity between them. The first way of thinking had to do with adding up a number of parts to create or recreate a feeling of wholeness. The second way began with this feeling and moved toward the parts without ever quite losing it. On this particular day, the scales in my mind tipped quite suddenly and decisively in favor of this second way of thinking.

I don't think of this as any kind of realization. After all, it was purely mental. I think of it as a sort of "intellectual inversion," a sudden abandoning of one governing paradigm for another. I simply found myself looking at things in a new, upside-down sort of way. I now had a new batch of questions, or rather, a feeling of having some new answers to questions that I did not fully understand, questions like:

Is meditation something I do or something I am?
Is it even possible to stop real meditation?
Does transcendence occur within "normal" awareness or vice versa?
Is it meaningful to try to evaluate one state of mind from within another?
Is sleep really dull or do I just think so afterwards?
Does memory really work or do I just have what I need in my mind right now?
Are my thoughts actually connected to each other in any way?
Do thoughts that govern others develop differently than "garden–variety" ones?
Can I really claim to have personally crafted even a single thought?
When I think, who am "I" talking to?
Is my sense of presence a subject or an object, and where does it come from?
and above all, who is the real protagonist of this story?

I found myself re-evaluating things that I thought I knew. It occurred to me for the first time that the term "spiritual knowledge" might be something of an oxymoron, referring to something better divested than acquired. And I knew, like a child first hearing the truth about Santa Claus, that I could not go back to my previous way of thinking even if I wanted to.

All of this transpired so vividly that, scooping up all of my ready cash (about $250), I literally ran to The 21st Century bookstore to consult with my friend, Tony, as to how best to explore this new perspective. My plan was to buy the seminal work of each of the great masters of the east and see which of them were speaking this new language, as I felt sure some of them must be.

Two teachers jumped out at me, Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Everything they said seemed to make perfect sense, but only in this new way. I later found out that they were the two main proponents of the ancient school of thought known as Advaita Vedanta (lit. 'non-dual end-of-knowledge') of the last century.

Enter the books

I had bought one book by each of these great teachers. They were, Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi and, I am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Each is about 600 pages of questions and answers and has (or had) a yellow jacket. I thought of them as my "yellow pages," because I felt sure that anything I really needed to know could be found between their covers.

Each book presents the theory and practice of gyan yoga, the "path of knowledge." Each has a strong emphasis on the technique of atma vichara, or "self-enquiry," to locate and stabilize awareness in the unbounded Self that we are told is within us. But this is where their similarity ends.

Although I believe both of these men to have been enlightened sages, or jnani's, they could hardly have been more different in personalities and teaching styles. Where Sri Ramana was a gentleman, it seems that Sri Nisargadatta was a bit of a rascal. Where Sri Ramana preferred not to speak much, Sri Nisargadatta appears to have enjoyed heated discussions. Where Sri Ramana was an ascetic who led a very pure lifestyle, Sri Nisargadatta was a family man who earned his living selling strong Indian cigarettes. Where enlightenment had dawned unbidden on Sri Ramana at an early age, Sri Nisargadatta appears to have earned it through sheer courage and strength of will, perhaps even stubbornness.

I decided to read these two books together, right before bedtimes, in the hope that the feeling of their teachings would permeate my sleep. First, I would read about fifteen minutes of Sri Nisargadatta. I found his style to be supremely bold and direct (not to mention entertaining) and therefore perfect, I thought, for a "spiritual warrior" like me. He pulled no punches and protected no egos.

I deeply appreciated Sri Nisargadatta's directness. I felt that I was finally being treated like an adult, like someone who could digest facts unmixed with fiction. I also felt just a little bit beaten up by the end of the quarter hour, so rigorous were his demands on me as a reader. I would then read about fifteen minutes of Sri Ramana and he would somehow, while being equally direct, manage to soothe my mind and send me off to sleep on a settled note.

Within about three months I had finished reading both books. I enjoyed them immensely and especially admired the fact that both teachers began with the feeling of wholeness and never left it, no matter what detail was being considered. I felt vastly enriched and much more clear about my path.

You may want to find out for yourself what the current interest in experiential Advaita Vedanta is all about. This bookstore has prepared a special discount when you buy both of these books. I encourage you to get them for yourself, or for someone you love, and read them together as I did. Have fun with it.. Honestly, I envy you the adventure!

Review by Michael Baxter

$14.95

Paperback

The Wisdom of Balsekar: The Essence of Enlightenment from the World's Leading Teacher of Advaita

Ramesh Balsekar
Edited by Alan Jacobs

Ramesh Balsekar is generally regarded as the leading living exponent of Advaita Vedanta, the philosophy of Non–Duality. Born in 1917, educated at The London School of Economics, a householder with children and grandchildren who retired over twenty years ago having risen to President of the Bank of India, Ramesh, now eighty-seven years old, holds satsang seven days a week in his Mumbai apartment. His spiritual quest was inspired many decades ago by his interest in the great saint, Ramana Maharshi. However, his "awakening" occurred after his retirement, as he sat with his guru, Nisargadatta Maharaj, and in "real time" translated Nisargadatta's talks from Marathi into English.

Ramesh has written over twenty books and is known and loved by seekers from around the world. He has been teaching Advaita since 1982. I have read more than a dozen of his books, have been uplifted by attending his satsangs in Mumbai, and have thoroughly enjoyed selected videos and DVD's about Ramesh. I would recommend all of his books, going to see him, and viewing the videos. However, suggesting to someone where to start reading Ramesh has always been difficult. This book solves that problem, because it is an anthology.

This anthology is organized by subject, or theme. The editor has done an excellent job of selecting both the right themes and best passages from Ramesh. You can't go wrong reading this book, as it will either enliven the best parts of Ramesh's teachings for those of us who are familiar with them, or introduce them to the novice.

Ramesh is personable, witty, and knowledgeable, on the mundane or relative level. On the deeper level, he is awakened, a gyani, one who has pierced the illusory veil of duality.

Wayne Liquorman, acknowledged by Ramesh as his only awakened American student, very succinctly sums up the value of this book, in his foreword: "Throughout these pages are to be found countless pointers to a profound Truth, a singular Truth… a Truth that is vast and Unknowable and yet as familiar and intimate as our breath."

I recommend this book without hesitation to any and all interested in the pursuit of Truth.

Reviewed by Len Oppenheim

$13.95

Paperback

Awakening to the Dream: The Gift of Lucid Living

Leo Hartung

A beautifully written exploration into the heart of the non-dual "experience." Leo writes in an accessible style and addresses the questions raised with wisdom and integrity.

Awakening to The Dream is a book about you. It points to and from the source of your true identity. The clear seeing that it refers to is neither complex nor simple. It is not something exclusive for an intellectual or spiritual elite, nor is it remote or hiding in the future. It is all inclusive, pure presence, closer than your breath. It is the heart of hearts, your birthright and innermost Self. This is your invitation to remember what was never really forgotten.

$21.95

Paperback

Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment

Jed McKenna

The mark of the true master is that he can express a profoundly complex subject with astonishing simplicity. Jed McKenna is such a master, and spiritual enlightenment is his subject.

His first book, Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing, was an instant classic and established him as a spiritual teacher of startling depth and clarity. Now, his second book, Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment, takes us on a fascinating tour of the enlightened state; what it is and what it's not, who's there and who's not, how to get there and how to get somewhere better.

Jed McKenna's books aren't for everyone. They're for people who are tired of the spiritual merry–go–round and wish to confront the real journey of awakening. If you like your teachers with all the spiritual trimmings and trappings, you won't like Jed, but when you're ready to jump off the merry–go–round, Jed McKenna is the guy you want to see standing there, waiting for you.

$13.95

Paperback

Daughters of the Goddess: The Women Saints of India

Linda Johnsen

Gives brief but wonderful mini–biographies based on the author's experience with a number of modern day female saints.

Review by Michael Laughrin.

$18.00

Paperback

Yogis, Destiny and the Wheel of Time

K.N. Rao

A wonderful contemporary volume that has chapters on many of modern India's living treasures—her saints.

Review by Michael Laughrin.

$16.00

Paperback

The Science of Being and Art of Living

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Maharishi’s book is as is stated in the Introduction, "the summation of the practical wisdom of integrated life advanced by the Vedic Rishis of ancient India, understood in the light of scientific thinking in the present-day western world." There are certain books that everyone must read! Without a doubt this falls into that category, and that is why it is included in our very select list we call "Books You Can’t Live Without". Not only should everyone read this book, it should be read every few years. One of the basic teachings of Maharishi is that "Knowledge is structured in consciousness". This was the motto chosen by Maharishi International University when it was founded. A corollary of this, is that "The world is as you are." I would say that these two interrelated statements form the cornerstone of Maharishi’s teachings. When I first encountered these teachings from Maharishi I grasped their profundity. As I have lived and matured and been exposed to more and more teachers and more and more wisdom, I have come full circle to the realization that there are no more profound teachings than these. This book covers all subjects from all angles of approach. Whatever your state of consciousness and whoever you are, you will gain a tremendous amount of insight into yourself and the nature of reality as you read this book. Because our consciousness is always evolving we should read this book over and over again to maximize our own understanding and evolution.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$39.95

Paperback

Questions and Answers

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Like the other books or pamphlets in this series, this is not an authorized book by Maharishi. It is, instead, a compilation of commentaries by Maharishi taken from several of his lectures. There is a foreword, which deals with the issues of the ultimate goal of meditation, meditation and health, and meditation and education. The topics covered by Questions and Answers are: Meditation, Mantra, Mind, Free Will, Master, Suffering, Healing, Psychoanalysis, and Hypnosis.

Imported from Croatia

$12.95

Paperback

Ritam Bhara Pragya

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

This will answer everyone's questions about how Pure Consciousness, the Field of All Possibilities, the Home of All the Laws of Nature, and the Source of Infinite Correlation can be summoned for the fulfillment of all desires. (34 pages)

Imported from Croatia

$14.95

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Beacon Light of the Himalayas

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

A compilation of the three lectures given by Maharishi in Kerala, India, in 1957 that give birth to the worldwide TM movement. (34 pages)

Imported from Croatia

$14.95

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The Vedas

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

This is a transcription of a tape recording of a lecture by Maharishi given on December 6, 1964. This lecture is about the "knowledge of life," right from the beginning, including a discussion about how creation manifests from "the will of God." A great classic. (37 pages)

Imported from Croatia

$12.95

Paperback

World Peace and the Deep Meditation

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

An excellent introductory lecture, first published by SRM in 1962. (14 pages)

Imported from Croatia

$14.95

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Artist and Scientist

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Another lecture given by Maharishi. This talk was given in Austria in 1970, about objectivity and subjectivity. Most people who read this find the knowledge very profound and useful in putting many aspects of life into perspective. (41 pages)

Imported from Croatia

$29.95

Paperback

Power of Silence

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

In my opinion, a priceless collection of short quotes gathered from Maharishi's talks over many years and on many continents. If you have never seen this, or don't own it, you are in for a tremendous treat. This is a kind of "A to Z" or Soup to Nuts compendium of wisdom about every important topic that could ever come to mind. There are 175 pages chock full of wisdom that you will want to read over and over again. Makes a fantastic gift for anyone, TM practitioner or not, who loves wisdom and truth.

Imported from Croatia

$14.95

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Maharishi's Lecture on Indian Philosophy

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

A glimpse of Indian philosophy in its true light.

Imported from Croatia

$14.95

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Maharishi Answers Questions

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Talks Given by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in question and answer format.

$39.95

Paperback

Guru Purnima: Maharishi, Guru Dev, and the Holy Tradition

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Guru Purnima addresses by Maharishi throughout the years. Contains a beautiful picture of the Holy Tradtion.

Imported from Croatia

$39.95

Paperback

Samkhya Sutras

Samkhya Sutras in Sanskrit Devanagri, transliterated Sanskrit, and English translation.

$39.95

Paperback

Vedanta Sutras (Brahma Sutras)

Sanskrit Devanagri, transliterated Sanskrit, and English translation.

$10.95

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Whole Thing the Real Thing

Rameshwar Tilwari

Another biography of Guru Dev., a very inspiring story of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Master.

$25.00

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The Mother

Adilakshmi

Biography of Mother Meera, a well known Indian saint now living in Germany.

Table of Contets

Mother Meera: Her Life and Her Experiences

Human Glimpses of the Mother

Mr. Reddy: The Divine Messenger

Questions and Answers

Some Testimonies by Devotees

Epilogue

Names and Terms

Darshan Information

$10.95

Paperback

Strange Facts About a Great Saint

Adilakshmi

A biography of Guru Dev by an uncle of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. A book for any practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation techniques.

$17.00

Paperback

Never Mind: A Journey into Non-Duality

Wayne Liquorman

I have read about a dozen books by Ramesh Balsekar, Liquorman's first book, Acceptance of What Is, Nisargadatta's classic, I Am That, and a number of other books written by or about Advaita sages. I have also had satsang with Ramesh and with Wayne Liquorman. Based on my readings and experience I really thought I knew about as much about Advaita as I was ever going to know.

Surprise! Surprise! I was totally blown away. There is something about the way Wayne Liquorman is able to explain and characterize things that (to use his word) resonates with me. Maybe it is the fact that he is a Westerner and I share with him many cultural and experiential similarities. Whatever the reason, it does not matter. I experienced so many "aha" experiences reading this book that I was in a constant state of hyperawareness.

Reading this book was, to me, like sitting at the dinner table with the greatest dessert I have ever had. I couldn't wait to taste bite after bite, but I did not want to take another bite, because each bite would mean I would be closer to the end. I couldn't put the book down, but at the same time I wanted it to last forever.

It has been a long time between books for Wayne, but it was well worth the wait. I could not possibly give a higher rating to any book I have ever read. This is a must read for everyone.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$14.95

Paperback

Prior to Consciousness

Nisargadatta
Edited by Jean Dunn

Insights into the teachings of Nisargadatta.

This Book is based on the talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj whose first collection of talks were published under the title I Am That. Jean Dunn, a close follower of Maharaj edited this and two other volumes that make up a triology of Maharaj's talks, Seeds of Consciousness and Consciousness and the Absolute.

$16.50

Paperback

Meeting Papaji

Roslyn Moore

In the early nineties, when H.W.L. Poonja (Papaji), an enlightened master in the lineage of Ramana Maharshi, could no longer travel, a flood of westerners came to be with him in Lucknow, India. He told them to call off their search. He said that they were what they were searching for. All they had to do was keep quiet. "You are happiness. You are peace. You are freedom itself." They heard him. A remarkable number of them awakened, or at least had a glimpse of their true identity. Their stories are captivating, and through their portrayals of Papaji his living transmission is offered to us.

Intimate first hand accounts from Gangaji, Prashanti, Yudhishtara, Isaac, Mira, Surendra, Sangeeta, Chandra, Yamuna, Neelam and Dasarath.

Intimate first hand accounts from Gangaji, Prashanti, Yudhishtara, Isaac, Mira, Surendra, Sangeeta, Chandra, Yamuna, Neelam, and Dasarath.

$14.95

Paperback

The Collected Works of Ramana Maharshi

Arthur Osborne

Once, during a workshop on Advaita Vedanta at The 21st Century Bookstore, Tony asked me to name my favorite books. I had brought four with me, but mentioned only three of them (reviewed separately). When he asked me why I hadn't mentioned the fourth one, Collected Works, I told him, 'I don't really think of this as just a book, because it's not something to be read once or twice and understood in the sense that one might attempt to grasp the principles of Gyan Yoga ('the path of knowledge').'As the complete written teachings of possibly the greatest teacher since Adi Shankara, it seems more like a description of mySelf than a map to it.

Alongside the myriad classical texts (Shruti, Smriti, Puranas, etc) that constitute the formal body of the Ved (the sacred literature of ancient India), this book stands alone as perhaps the only truly accessible authoritative treatise on the immortal Self written by a contemporary Rishi (sage or seer) of the highest order.

At the risk of sounding as if I'm saying, 'my teacher is better than yours', I submit that I was originally trained as a scientist and, after years of applying my most objective 'physics–nerd research techniques', I have come to view Sri Ramana Maharshi as 'the sadguru (teacher of highest truth) of the millennium', the kind of teacher who comes along only once every thousand years or so. This high regard appears to be widely held, as I have yet to encounter an author or teacher who, in referring to Sri Ramana, did not accord him their very highest respect. Even my other favorite teacher has a large portrait of him on his wall.

Sri Ramana often compared his teaching style to that of Dakshinamurti, a mythical Vedantic Rishi, said to be a form of the god, Shiva. In fact, throughout most of his fifty–four years of living and teaching on the 'holy hill', Arunachala, he bypassed words altogether and rarely spoke or wrote anything down; this book is well under two hundred pages long.

He read only those texts which were placed in front of him by devotees, thus in time he became erudite without seeking or valuing erudition. 'Collected Works' includes virtually all that was written by him since his spontaneous enlightenment in 1896 at the age of sixteen, having undergone no previous spiritual training.

Sri Ramana was a supremely practical man. Since some of his writings may appear to be purely theoretical, this would seem to be an appropriate reminder. As the editor says in his introduction,

He attached little importance to theory. That expounded in the following works is all turned to the practical purpose of helping the reader towards Self–knowledge—by which is not meant any psychological study, but knowing and being the Self which exists behind the ego or mind. Questions that were asked for mere gratification of curiosity he would brush aside. Thus he was turning the questioner from mental curiosity to the spiritual quest.

I would like to briefly introduce you to each of the writings in this book. It is my great honor to do so. I must acknowledge the excellent introductory comments of the editor, and shall draw upon them freely.

Original Works

Self–Enquiry

This is Sri Ramana's first work. It was written in about 1901 in response to a request for guidance from one of his earliest disciples and is concerned with practical questions on the path to realization. Section titles include, 'The Supreme Being is the Self', 'Enquiry into the Self', 'Worship is only Self–Enquiry', and 'The Eightfold Path of Knowledge'.

This last section is a wonderful interpretation of the classical 'Eightfold Path of Raj Yoga' in terms of the technique of self–enquiry (atma vichara). This technique was vigorously and consistently prescribed by Sri Ramana as the single most effective way of gaining inner freedom. It is a unique process which is introduced more fully in another review.

Who Am I?

'Who am I?' was written during the same period as 'Self–Enquiry'. It began as a series of answers to fourteen practical questions asked by another early disciple. It is the last prose exposition Sri Ramana ever wrote; thereafter he answered questions verbally. Records were kept of his discussions, but he himself wrote down nothing other than the few verse items that follow.

Five Hymns to Sri Arunachala

Arunachala is the name of the hill in south India where Sri Ramana spent his entire adult life. According to Sri Ramana as well as ancient Hindu scriptures, it is also a manifestation of Shiva. Sri Ramana was drawn to live on the side of this hill shortly after his enlightenment and regarded it as his Guru.

The verses in the collection known as the 'Five Hymns to Sri Arunachala' are the first real poems written by Sri Ramana. I will refer to them by numbers 1 through 5. The 'Marital Garland of Letters' (1) was written in response to a request by some of his followers circa 1914 when he was about thirty–five years of age. This hymn beautifully describe the love between man and God.

The next three hymns, written at about the same time, adopt the same attitude of devotion and aspiration, whereas Sri Ramana's later poems are directed more toward gaining a clear understanding of Vedantic theory and practice.

The 'Eleven Verses' (2) and the 'Eight Verses' (3) are among the very few poems that were written spontaneously, without any request. According to Sri Ramana,

The opening words of the 'Eleven Stanzas' came to me one morning and even though I tried to suppress them saying, 'What have I to do with these words?', they would not be suppressed till I composed a song bringing them in, and all the words flowed easily, without any effort. In the same way, the second stanza was made the next day and the succeeding ones on following days, one each day. Only the tenth and eleventh were composed the same day.

The 'Eight Stanzas' (4) were composed in a somewhat similar manner. The last hymn, however, is of a different nature. Sri Ramana was asked to write a poem in Sanskrit. He replied that he knew scarcely any Sanskrit and no Sanskrit meters. A meter was explained to him and by the same evening the 'Five Stanzas' (5) had been written in flawless Sanskrit verse. It is a somewhat cryptic account of the different margas (paths to Self–realization). A commentary is included.

Forty Versus

Sri Ramana was asked to write a 'cycle' of forty verses which would provide a succinct synopsis of his Upadesa (teaching). Later, a supplement consisting of a second forty verses was added to the first. Taken together, these eighty verses are considered to be the most comprehensive exposition of Sri Ramana's teaching.

The Essence of Instruction

A disciple of Sri Ramana's, the great poet Muruganar, was writing a legend in Tamil verse in which Shiva is said to be instructing a group of Rishis in the supreme truth. When he came to the part of the legend in which the final teaching is concisely stated, he deferred to Sri Ramana, who then went on to describe the various margas, grading them in order of excellence and showing that the most direct path is self–enquiry.

The section on 'Original Works' is concluded with several short poems, including 'The Self in the Heart', which contains a verse written by Sri Ramana in both Sanskrit and English, although in general he did not write in English and his knowledge of it was not great. Here is that verse just as he wrote it:

In the inmost core, the Heart,
Shines as Brahman alone,
As 'I–I', the Self aware.
Enter deep into the Heart
By search for Self, or diving deep,
Or with breath under check.
Thus abide ever in Atman.

Adaptations and Translations

The Song Celestial

Sri Ramana was once asked to select a single verse from the Bhagavad Gita which could be regarded as the embodiment of the entire epic poem. He thereupon mentioned book 10 verse 20, 'I am the Self dwelling in the Heart of every being. I am the beginning and the middle and also the end of all beings.' He then selected forty–two verses and arranged them in an appropriate order, giving them the title, 'The Song Celestial'.

Translations from the Agamas

The twenty–eight Agamas are used widely in temple worship in India. Among them, 'Atma Shakshatkara' and 'Devikalottara' are outstanding expressions of Vedanta which were spontaneously translated by Sri Ramana into Tamil. Both are instructions in Gyan Yoga, said to have been given by Shiva, the former to his son, Guha, and the latter to his wife, Parvati.

Poems by Sri Shankara

In the eighth century A.D., Vedantic teaching had sunk to a low ebb and was then restored to full vigor by the great spiritual teacher, Sri Shankara. Sri Ramana accepted Sri Shankara's teaching as his own. From time to time he translated one or another of his poems, either spontaneously or at the request of devotees. 'Guru Stuti' and 'Hymn to Dakshinamurti' are excellent examples of these works.

The 'Vivekachudamani', or 'Crest Jewel of Discrimination', is a major work by Sri Shankara which has been well known and loved by millions of people since it was written twelve centuries ago. Sri Shankara wrote this piece after completing formal commentaries on the three major works of classical Vedantic literature (the 'Bhagavad Gita', the 'Upanishads' and the 'Brahma Sutras'), in order to present the essence of his teaching in a readily–accessible format. Sri Ramana's fifty–page rendition of this poem is his longest work. It is a very free translation, even the order of the paragraphs being changed to some extent, which perhaps shows the degree to which Sri Ramana identified Sri Shankara's teachings with his own.

The final piece included in 'Collected Works' is a translation of Sri Shankara's 'Drik Drishya Viveka'. The Sanskrit word, 'drik' means 'subject of experience', 'drishya' means 'object of experience' and 'viveka' means 'discrimination'. In this short essay is examined the precise difference between the inner experience of 'subject' versus 'objects', and the vital importance of this difference in the practice of self–enquiry.

The Central Importance of Discriminating Between the Subject and Objects of Experience

Sri Ramana stated repeatedly that the most important use of the intellect is to bring one to the understanding that lasting happiness is supra–mental and that the true purpose for which the faculty of discrimination exists is only to distinguish between the real and the unreal. He also taught that an earnest and sustained enquiry into the nature of the 'I'–thought is the key to re–establishing awareness of the true Self. In practical terms, therefore, Sri Ramana is telling us that the ability to distinguish between the 'I'–thought (the subject of experience) and all other thoughts (objects of experience) is the highest use of the intellect, and leads to liberation.

The capacity to exercise this distinction, over and over again if necessary, is at the very core of the process of self–enquiry, which is itself the distilled essence of all of Sri Ramana's teachings. And just what is the difference between one's experience of the singular subject versus any object? Sri Ramana tells us that, (1) the 'I'–thought is the only thought that is always available, and that, (2) it is always the most intimate feeling inside of us. In a nutshell, the thought, 'I', simply feels different from all other thoughts, and is therefore a uniquely qualified tool for inner work. It seems that it takes the greatest teachers to point out the simplest truth. I believe that a deep familiarity with Sri Ramana's translation of Sri Shankara's 'Drik Drishya Viveka' is an invaluable aid to personal growth.

Conclusion

Although Collected Works is not the least demanding of books, I believe that it is one of the very best to own and absorb over the years. To be able to hold all of the writings of perhaps the greatest sage of the millennium in one's hands is a unique opportunity indeed. I know that, however far I may be able to grow in life, this book will always direct me to deeper and deeper aspects of mySelf. What more can any book offer?

Review by Michael Baxter.

$7.00

Paperback

Autobiography of a Yogi

Paramanhansa Yogananda

This book has become a spiritual classic. I have read it quite a few times and each time I reread it, I find something new. It is written on many levels, so as you grow and change on your path, you will be drawn to different passages in the book. This book will change your life, because it will change your consciousness. Everyone I have ever met who has read the Autobiography has said they were deeply affected and changed to some degree. Some people are changed on a deep level and some on a more superficial level. But if you read this book, you will be moved and changed.

This is the biography of Paramanhansa Yogananda who as a small boy always had a deep spiritual yearning and love for God. The book is filled with many stories of his meetings with miraculous yogis, spiritual adventures and insights. He finally meets his guru, Sri Yukteswar, enters his ashram and begins his monastic life. The experience of cosmic consciousness his guru bestows upon him is absolutely spellbinding. His descriptions of his encounters with India's illumined masters are uplifting and spiritually profound. Particularly mesmerizing is the description of his paramguru's (Sri Yukteswar's guru, Lahiri Mahasaya), spiritual awakening by the deathless Master Babaji in the Himalayas. Sprinkled throughout the book is Yogananda's deep love of meditation, his respect and observance of yogic principles and his love for mankind.

Yogananda emphasizes the unity between East and West, bringing yogic philosophy and meditation to the United States. He comes to the States, speaks to numerous standing only audiences across the country and establishes his organization, Self Realization Fellowship, in Los Angeles, California. Yogananda entered mahasamadi, a yogi's conscious final exit from the physical body, in March 1952.

Review by Margie Zalk.

$58.00

Hardcover

The Second Coming of Christ

Paramahansa Yogananda

The full title of the book is The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You, A revelatory commentary on the original teachings of Jesus. This gives you an idea of the depth of the 2 volume set. The set consists of 75 Discourses where the reader is taken verse by verse through the Four Gospels. Yogananda discusses the hidden meaning of the gospels along with showing the similarity between the principles espoused by both Christ and Krishna; there are many references to the Bhagavad Gita. Yogananda felt it was part of his divine mission to "make manifest to the world the essence of 'original Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ.'" (p.xix) Jesus was here to tell and show mankind that each one of us can experience the awakening of Divine Consciousness within each of our souls. This is the promised second coming of Christ.

In the introduction, Yogananda explains that the only way to have true understanding of Jesus' teachings is to go into the state of Christ Consciousness and directly perceive the true meaning of the teachings: "In these pages I offer to the world an intuitionally perceived spiritual interpretation of the words spoken by Jesus, truths received through actual communion with Christ Consciousness." (p.xxiii) He further adds, "…to the New Testament account of the Christ of Galilee I humbly add my own testimony. From personal experience I know the reality of his life and miracles, for I have seen him many, many times, and communed with him, and received his direct confirmation about these matters. He has come to me often as the baby Jesus and as the young Christ. I have seen him as he was before his crucifixion, his face very sad; and I have seen him in the glorious form in which he appeared after his resurrection." (p.xxvii)

I have to say that I have found this interpretation to be fascinating. For example, Yogananda's discussion of John the Baptist, Jesus as guru and disciple, and reincarnations of Elijah and Elisha are incredible. The verse describing Elisha's witnessing of Elijah's ascent to heaven in a chariot of fire and his taking up Elijah's mantle is explained. The spiritual mantle of Elijah (the guru) is passed onto Elisha, who asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. He receives this double portion when he reincarnates as Jesus. His guru, Elijah, reincarnated as John the Baptist, is there to assist his former disciple.

The missing years of Jesus' life from ages 13 to 28 are explored. The missing years were spent in Tibet and India, the 3 wise men were rishis (sages) from India and Jesus was repaying their visit. This 2 volume set is so rich with spiritual principle and inspiration, I could go on and on. But you need to read it for yourself. This can seem like a daunting task, but if you read about 5 pages a day, you'll be amazed at how much you absorb and how easily you progress into the book.

So, if you're up for a spiritual journey that will explain verses you've heard all your life, but never fully comprehended, this is the book for you. Or, if you're interested in expanding your wisdom and spiritual consciousness, this is the book for you. This book is beautifully written, with great reverence and divine love; you get a glimpse of what it is to be in the company of a great and divine personage, such as Jesus. I highly recommend the book, but pace yourself—it's a lot to read and a lot to absorb.

Review by Margie Zalk.

$19.95

Paperback

Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition

Marshall Govindan

This is about the immortal Babaji (mentioned by Paramahamsa Yogananda and his lineage. Since the mid-80's there has been a spur of publications on Babaji.

$12.95

Paperback

That Compassionate Touch of Ma Anandamaya

Narayan Chaudhuri

This book is full of miraculous stories depicting the infinite compassion of Ma, one of India's greatest female saints.

$18.95

Paperback

Living with the Himalayan Masters

Swami Rama

Swami Rama shared his encounters with different masters and yogis, including Guru Dev, Sri Brahmananda Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Jyotimath.

$45.00

Hardcover

Death Must Die: A Western Woman's Life-Long Spiritual Quest in India

Ram Alexander

Death Must Die gives an intimate first hand account of a courageous woman's spiritual quest in close association with several of India's greatest modern saints. Unfolding against the backdrop of Benares in the 1940's where she lived as a teacher and musician, we are given an in depth picture of her intense relationship with the extraordinary woman who becomes her guru Sri Anandamayee Ma. Atmananda as she came to be known was also closely associated with J. Krishnamurti, and a unique picture is given of him here in comparison with his peers and contemporaries within India. In her almost obsessive desire to understand J.K., as she calls him, she was driven ever deeper into the heart of Indian spirituality, encountering Sri Ramana Maharshi as well as other outstanding Indian sages before ultimately coming to the feet of Anandamayee Ma.

$20.00

Paper

Padamalai

Muruganar

The original Tamil work comprises 3,059 two-line verses that either praise Ramana Maharshi, record his teachings, or express Muruganar’s gratitude to him. This collection contains representative samples from all these categories, while concentrating on the teachings. Of the book’s 1,750 verses approximately three-quarters of them contain direct statements by Ramana Maharshi on all aspects of his teachings.

$19.00

Paperback

Already Awake

Nathan Gill

Nathan is a rare voice in the world of contemporary spirituality. In these transcripts of group meetings and one-to-one dialogues he consistently points out that all prescriptions for escape from the drama of separation actually serve as its reinforcement.

"What is, right now, is perfection. Presence has not arisen from the past and is not leading to the future. All appears presently as a play in awareness."

$19.95

Paperback

Awakening to the Natural State

John Wheeler

John writes of his experiences with "Sailor" Bob Adamson and the understanding which subsequently unfolded. The book also contains short chapters of email correspondence with questioners who are drawn to this direct approach. John shows that awakening is not the closely guarded preserve of mystics and sages; it is available here and now.

$22.95

Paper

Awakening to the Dream: The Gift of Lucid Living

Lee Hartong

A beautifully written exploration into the heart of the non-dual ‘experience’. Leo writes in an accessible style and addresses the questions raised with wisdom and integrity.

“The book, ‘Awakening to the Dream’, is written with a clarity of perception that is rare to find in the multitude of published outpourings that these days purport to express wisdom.” From the foreword by Tony Parsons.

$16.50

Paperback

Presence-Awareness: Just This and Nothing Else (Talks with Sailor Bob Adamson)

John Wheeler

People from all parts of the world have been drawn to Bob's clear pointers to the changeless, ever-present reality. This second volume of talks is transcribed and edited by John Wheeler and based on the material contained in the three well-known CDs of talks now available under the title Conversations on No-Thing

$6.50

Paperback

To Be Victorious in Life

Paramahansa Yogananda

In this powerful new book Paramahansa Yogananda shows how we can realize life's highest goals by bringing out the unlimited potential within us. He provides practical counsel for achieving success, outlines definite methods of creating lasting happiness, and tells how to overcome negativity and inertia by harnessing the dynamic power of our own will.

From To Be Victorious in Life:

God has given you mental dynamite sufficient to destroy all your difficulties. Remember that. It is the most effective force you can use to be victorious.

$16.95

Paperback

The Eye of The I

David R Hawkins

This is the second volume of a trilogy, which began with Power vs. Force and will conclude with I. The Eye of the I reveals the very core of the spiritual process critical to the state of enlightenment. The intrinsic power of the information in this book is sufficient to elevate the consciousness of the reader. Included are verbatim dialogues, instructions, and explanations with advanced students that illuminate the spiritual teachings of history.

$14.95

Paperback

Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior

David R Hawkins

Awaited for twenty years, the publication of Power vs. Force, by David R. Hawkins, M.D., finally reveals to the general public secret information heretofore only shared by the author with certain nobelists and world leaders. Analyzing the basic nature of human thought and consciousness itself, the author finally makes available to everyone the key to penetrating the last barrier to the advancement of civilization and science; he details how anyone may resolve for himself the most crucial of all human dilemmas—how to instantly determine the truth or falsehood of any statement or supposed fact.

This author's boyhood spiritual experience of the "Infinite Presence" has directed his life work as a healing psychiatrist—a healing that transcends his patients' physical world. Dr. Hawkins's basic thesis focuses on the "Ultimate Presence"—the source from which individuals can reach their highest potential. He uses theoretical concepts from particle physics, nonlinear dynamics, and chaos theory to support his study of human behavior.

The book is divided into 3 parts:

Part 1 describes the process of moving toward one's ultimate potential. Dr. Hawkins then discusses his theory by explaining the progression from negative energy fields or attractors to positive attractors, which ultimately lead to pure consciousness. Based on 20 years of research, he has developed an intriguing map of consciousness, which in essence charts one's spiritual growth. The map outlines a listing of attitudes and emotions with corresponding calibrated numerical values. Feelings such as blame, anxiety, and hate fall into negative energy attractor fields; affirmation, trust, and optimism are examples of positive attractors that are life-enhancing and ultimately lead to pure consciousness. By applying principles from kinesiology and acupuncture, the author explains the association between positive attractor fields and one's health, well-being and creativity.

Part 2 presents an extensive listing of adjectives that connote power vs. force patterns of human attitudes. It provides a basis for examining the quality of human interactions and relationships in various life endeavors, e.g., the marketplace, sports, the arts, health, and wellness.

Part 3 focuses on the evolution and current state of man's consciousness, which Hawkins suggests is at the threshold of power after centuries of force. He posits that an individual's power and level of consciousness can be enhanced through greater integrity, understanding, and compassion.

Readers will find themselves challenging methodology or various suppositions and being intrigued by others as the author relates the world of spirituality to the hidden dimensions of human behavior.

Review by Elizabeth Hughes
R.N., Ph.D., Former Dean of Georgetown University's School of Nursing
She is a consultant in health education in the Baltimore/Washington DC area.

$18.95

Paperback

I: Reality and Subjectivity

David R. Hawkins

I concludes the presentation of a long-predicted major advance in critical human knowledge. It explains and describes the very substrate and essence of consciousness as it evolved from its primordial appearance as life on earth on up through evolution as the human ego, and hence, to the ego's transcendence as the spiritual Reality of Enlightenment and the Presence of Divinity.

On the referenced Scale of the Levels of Consciousness, which calibrates the levels of Truth from 1 to 1,000, Power vs. Force calibrates at 850, The Eye of the I at 980, and the final volume of the trilogy, I, calibrates at a conclusive 999.8.

The uncommon clarity and lucidity with which the highly evolved subject matter is presented facilitates the reader's understanding and comprehension.

Some people experience Dr. Hawkins as the presence of a Bodhisattva. A Bodhisattva is one who works to overcome imperfections on the level of earth, and works with civilization as a whole, removing the dross that does not serve us and increases that which needs to be strengthened.

In his presentation, he describes advanced states of consciousness and the way to Enlightenment. He incorporates sharing of dialogues with both beginning as well as advanced spiritual students worldwide. The nature of consciousness is described in terms that re-contextualize and simplify the spiritual process. The nonlinear reality of the enlightened sage is thereby made comprehensible to the reasoning mind.

This exposition of the state of enlightenment is both unique and explicit in that it does not hide specifics in spiritual generalities, which has been the style of "traditional" spiritual classics. By analyzing the basic nature of human thought and the structure of the ego itself, Dr. Hawkins makes available to everyone the key to penetrating the last barrier to the advancement of civilization and science; he details how anyone may resolve for himself the most crucial of all human dilemmas—how to instantly determine the truth or falsehood of any statement or supposed fact. He then explains and describes the process of moving toward one's ultimate potential.

$11.50

Audio Cassette

Awake in the Cosmic Dream

Paramanhansa Yogananda

A rare recorded talk by Yogananda.

$9.50

Audio Cassette

Beholding the One in All

Paramanhansa Yogananda

Lecture on audio tape by Yogananda.

$14.00

CD

Follow the Path of Christ: Krishna and the Masters

Paramanhansa Yogananda

A lecture by Yogananda in CD format.

$16.00

Paperback

Divine Romance

Paramanhansa Yogananda

In this new anthology of his talks, the late author of Autobiography of a Yogi shows how we can meet our daily physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges by awakening to our divine nature. Readers will find these talks alive with the unique blend of all-embracing wisdom, encouragement, and love for humanity that have made Paramahamsa Yogananda one of our era's most revered and trusted guides to the spiritual life.

$12.95

Paperback

God Is for Everyone

J. Donald Walters (Swami Kriyananda)
Inspired by Paramanhansa Yogananda

Clearly and simply written, thoroughly non-sectarian and non-dogmatic in its approach, God Is for Everyone is the perfect introduction to the spiritual path. Religion can offer a pragmatic, eminently useful set of solutions to our most profound problems. Importantly, this is a vision of spiritual practice that emphasizes the underlying unity of all religions, while respecting the many different ways and forms of worship. In these times of intense religious strife, this landmark approach to religious unity is certain to help usher in an era of true mutual respect and understanding among the world's great religious traditions. Paramhansa Yogananda was the first true yoga master to settle in the West and is one of the best-known spiritual teachers of the twentieth century. His most famous book, Autobiography of a Yogi has been printed in over twenty languages and sold millions of copies worldwide.

$28.00

Paperback: 2 Volume Set

God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita

Paramanhansa Yogananda

Yogananda's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.

$3.50

Paperback

How You Can Talk with God

Paramanhansa Yogananda

Yogananda offers a fresh insight into the relationship between the creator and the soul, and how one might communicate with the divine. Suggests a method with which one might entice the Divinity to respond to our thoughts and mind.

$12.00

Hardcover

Inner Peace

Paramanhansa Yogananda

How to be calmly active and actively calm.

$16.00

Paperback

Journey to Self-Realization: Collected Talks and Essays on Realizing God in Daily Life

Paramanhansa Yogananda

Realizing God in daily life.

$11.50

Audio Cassette

Be a Smile Millionaire: An Informal Talk by Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramanhansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda draws many colorful stories from his own life experience to help us see that we do not have to acquire anything outside ourselves. Everything we are seeking in people, conditions, and events—all the love, power, happiness, and fulfillment—is already ours. On audio cassette.

$11.50

Audio Cassette

Great Light of God

Paramanhansa Yogananda

An Informal talk by Yogananda on audio cassette.

$3.50

Paperback

Law of Success: Using the Power of Spirit to Create Health, Prosperity, and Happiness

Paramanhansa Yogananda

This book contains wisdom for finding holistic wellness through balancing the strength of spirit. In Law of Success there are guidelines for using will power, clarity of thought, and control of destiny to find the measure of success in life.

$8.00

Hardcover

Law of Success: Using the Power of Spirit To Create Health, Prosperity, and Happiness

Paramanhansa Yogananda

$6.50

Paperback

Living Fearlessly: Bringing Out Your Inner Soul Strength

Paramanhansa Yogananda

Life is meant to be a great adventure—a precious opportunity to fulfill noble ambitions and achieve worthy dreams. But fear often waylays us on the journey, robbing us of our happiness and inner peace. In this book, the author of Autobiography of a Yogi teaches us how to break the shackles of fear and overcome our psychological stumbling blocks. Filled with life-transforming counsel, this concise book includes informal talks and personal anecdotes complemented by parable and prayer.

$12.00

Hardcover

Metaphysical Meditations: Universal Prayers, Affirmations, and Visualizations (Gift Edition)

Paramanhansa Yogananda

An ideal introduction for the beginner, this classic book contains easy-to-understand techniques for the practice of meditation with more than 300 brief meditations, prayers, and visualizations. Because meditation gives direct perception of God, writes the author, it raises the practice of religion above the differences of dogma.

$5.00

Paperback

Metaphysical Meditations: Universal Prayers, Affirmations, and Visualizations

Paramanhansa Yogananda

$12.00

Hardcover

Sayings of Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Collection of sayings, anecdotes, and words of wisdom—Paramahansa Yogananda's candid and loving responses to those who came to him for counsel. These brief vignettes offer the reader an opportunity to share in these personal conversations and experiences with him. Shining from every page are his compassionate understanding of humanity and his deep love for God.

$5.00

Paperback

Scientific Healing Affirmations

Paramahansa Yogananda

Long before the use of affirmations was embraced in mainstream settings as diverse as hospitals, recovery programs, sports arenas, and corporate suites, the renowned world teacher Paramahansa Yogananda understood and taught the deep spiritual principles that make this ancient scientific tool so powerfully effective.

This groundbreaking book, in print for more than 70 years, explains the underlying reasons affirmations work—why they are such a powerful tool for transformation, and how you can use them to create total health and happiness in every aspect of your life.

In this book, Sri Yogananda reveals the hidden laws for harnessing the power of concentrated thought—not only for physical healing, but to overcome obstacles and create all-around success in our lives. Included are comprehensive instructions and a wide variety of affirmations for healing the body, developing confidence, awakening wisdom, curing bad habits, and much more.

The first half of Scientific Healing Affirmations provides a deeper understanding of the remarkable relationship between mind, energy, and matter, and how concentrated affirmations can rouse the limitless power of Spirit within you. The last part of the book presents potent affirmations that Paramahansa Yogananda created while in higher states of consciousness. These are grouped so you can easily select the appropriate healing thoughts for addressing physical, mental, or spiritual needs.

$12.00

Hardcover

Scientific Healing Affirmations (Deluxe Gift Edition)

Paramahansa Yogananda

$8.00

Paperback

The Science of Religion

Paramahansa Yogananda

An amplification by Paramahansa Yogananda of his maiden speech in America—the historic talk that introduced his teachings to the Western world. He explains why the answers to the ultimate questions of life lie in the direct personal experience of a Higher Reality. Includes a detailed discussion of the scientific basis of yoga meditation.

$14.00

CD

Songs of My Heart: The Voice of Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda is considered one of the pre-eminent spiritual figures of our time. In the closing years of his life, he made these recordings of his own voice singing Indian devotional chants, with some of his own compositions, and reciting poems and prayers. This CD combines all of the selections from two previously released cassettes—plus, for the first time, Divine Mother's Song to the Devotee.

$6.00

Paperback

Spiritual Diary

Paramahansa Yogananda

The perfect way to start and end each day—with an inspiring thought, drawn primarily from the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda, designed to enhance your spiritual progress. Space is provided on each page to record personal reflections.

From the Spiritual Diary:

It is a good idea to keep a mental diary. Before you go to bed each night, sit for a short time and review the day. See what you are becoming. Do you like the trend of your life? If not, change it.

380 pages.

$10.00

Paperback

Where There Is Light: Insight and Inspiration for Meeting Life's Challenges

Paramahansa Yogananda

A practical handbook to which readers can quickly turn for a reassuring sense of direction in times of uncertainty or crisis, or for positive guidance and encouragement in meeting the challenges of everyday living. Selections from Paramahansa Yogananda's lectures, writings, and informal talks are arranged under more than 40 topics, including:

Friendship
Marriage
Creativity
Healing
Decision-making
Overcoming worry and fear
Understanding death

$14.00

Hardcover

Where There Is Light: Insight and Inspiration for Meeting Life's Challenges

Paramahansa Yogananda

Friendship
Marriage
Creativity
Healing
Decision-making
Overcoming worry and fear
Understanding death

$16.00

Hardcover

Whispers From Eternity

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda's universal prayers and vivid descriptions of his experiences in elevated states of meditation beckon readers of all faiths to cultivate their own intimate relationship with the Divine. Features invocations to the great prophets and leaders of the principal world religions, and a special section of children's prayers. Illustrated throughout with evocative nature photos and masterpieces of art, many in full color. Also available is a photographic reproduction of the well-loved first version of Paramahansa Yogananda's inspirational poems and prayers before he revised the book later in life.

From Whispers From Eternity:

O Lord of Compassion, teach me to shed tears of love for all beings. May I behold them as my very own—different expressions of my Self.

240 pages. 43 photos.

$6.50

Paperback

Why God Permits Evil and How to Rise Above It

Paramahansa Yogananda

Philosophers and religious scholars the world over have sought to answer the question of why a loving God permits evil. In these pages, Paramahansa Yogananda provides strength and solace for times of adversity by explaining the mysteries of God's lila, or divine drama. Readers will come to understand the reason for the dualistic nature of creation—God's interplay of good and evil—and receive guidance on how to rise above the most challenging circumstances.

$20.00

Paperback

Wine of the Mystic: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (A Spiritual Interpretation)

Paramahansa Yogananda

This award-winning work brings to light the deeper truth and beauty of a well-loved but long-misunderstood masterpiece—The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. With an in-depth commentary on every quatrain, Paramahansa Yogananda reveals the profound kinship between the Rubaiyat's hidden metaphysical philosophy and India's ancient science of Yoga. He presents as well a fascinating exploration of the mystical experience and such subjects as: the mystery of destiny and free will, the intricacies of karma, the perfecting of human love, and the role of meditation in attaining lasting joy.

$14.00

Paperback

World in Transition: Finding Spiritual Security in Times of Change

Paramahansa Yogananda

Selections from writings and talks by Paramahansa Yogananda and monks and nuns of his Self-Realization Fellowship.

A World in Transition reminds us that, behind the outward tumult, life has a profound purpose—that in the larger view we are on a universal journey that will ultimately reveal who we are and why we are here.

Includes talks by Paramahansa Yogananda, Sri Daya Mata, Mrinalini Mata, Tara Mata, Brother Anandamoy, and others.

$16.95

Paperback

Never to Return: A Modern Quest for Eternal Truth

Sharon Janis

Sharon Janis is an award winning television and film producer., this is her spiritual biography: sensitively written with clarity and a sense of humor. "Never to Return is a cry of the soul that longs to break free from the illusory world of limitation and confusion and rediscover its own true nature." Sharon was a long time devotee of Muktananda. This book provides a fascinating peek of life in Muktananda's Ashram in South Fallsburg, New York, with many interesting stories of Muktananda.

$21.95

Paperback

Experience of No-Self

Bernadette Roberts

This is a moving personal account of an American woman's spiritual odyssey. It describes her spiritual awakening, filling the void in contemplative literature. A cloistered nun for many years, Bernadette's story of spiritual enlightenment from a Catholic viewpoint is a fascinating read.

$17.95

Paperback

Explorations into the Eternal: Forays from the Teaching of Nisargadatta Maharaj

Ramesh Balsekar

In this volume, Ramesh Balsekar reaches beyond the communication of past knowledge to a creative exploration of the teaching of his guru, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, inspired by the thirst of other seekers for enlightenment. In his contemplations upon the sentience of the human spirit, Balsekar has used Maharaj's wisdom as the touchstone for his own ventures into the realm of conscious and unconscious.

$20.00

Paperback

Emptiness Dancing

Adyashanti

This is probably the best book on enlightenment I have ever read. It's written with intelligence, compassion, and knowledge in a very readable and understandable vernacular. I resonated with so much of it that I know I will be rereading it time and again, as my own experiences deepen. I highly recommend it to those who are truly ready to wake up out of the dream of the small self and fully realize the Self. This is the author's third book. The first, The Impact of Awakening, is mostly questions and answers, and is also excellent. I highly recommend both.

Review by HS

$23.00

Hardcover

BABA: Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Yogi

Rampuri

I have read almost every book that I can get my hands on which describes the journeys or pilgrimages of seekers looking for Truth, Enlightenment, or "The Holy Grail." Most of them I enjoy. Most of them I recommend. Most of them have a great deal in common. This one is quite unique, and it will definitely keep you interested and give you insights you will not have read elsewhere.

Rampuri (the given name of the American author, born in 1950 in Chicago, and raised in Beverly Hills) is the name given to the author when he took the vows as a Sanyassin and became a true yogi in a little known (by Westerners) ancient tradition of wisdom in India. Some of us, familiar with the Naga Baba's, who get famous every 12 years or so when there is a big Kumbha Mela in Allahabad, may know a tiny bit about this ancient and honorable tradition, but for the first time, the practices, knowledge, and day to day lifestyle of the Babas is presented from an insider's viewpoint.

I can't really begin to describe this book, this incredible journey. It is very authentic and will really blow your mind. This is clearly a unique story and has some very unique knowledge and experiences contained in it. Rampuri was 19 when he arrived in India in 1969. He was 20 years old when he met Hari Puri Baba, who became his guru. Rampuri was the first and perhaps only foreigner initiated in Juna Akhara, the ancient order of the Renunciates of the Ten Names. In 1984 Rampuri established his own ashram in Hardwar.

Rampuri has clearly gone places, done things, and arrived at certain knowledge that few, if any Westerners have ever experienced. I think anyone who reads this book is in for a treat and will certainly experience a few "eye-openers."

There is a big dose of mysticism and quite an interesting angle on the Vedas that flow from Rampuri. The book must be read, as I feel inadequate to do justice in trying to describe the uniqueness and esoteric aspects of the journey.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$17.00

Paperback

The Impact of Awakening: Excerpts From the Teachings of Adyashanti

Adyashanti, Stephen Bodian

Like great Zen masters of old, Adyashanti breaches the bounds of conventional Buddhist discourse and speaks directly from Being itself. —Stephan Bodian, from Foreword of Book

The Impact of Awakening is a collection of excerpts from the dharma talks and dialogues of spiritual teacher Adyashanti on the nature of spiritual awakening and the embodiment of self-realization. These discussions explore the true meaning of enlightenment in a down-to-earth language that reflects Adyashanti's roots in Zen Buddhism and non-dualism. These talks give many spiritual seekers the gift of freedom as a lived human experience.

$16.00

Paperback

Resting in the Cave of the Heart

Anne Courtney

Who are you? What do you really want? These questions are an invitation to discover the deepest calling of your heart. Rest in the eternal stillness of your true nature before any thought arises. The possibility is to stop all searching and open to the underlying reality of radiant being that is your Heart and abide here where you already are.

Revelation of the author's awakening in spare writing like Hemmingway's, well chosen words, many human touches, uncompromising honesty. —Victoria Ritchie, Editor, Practicing the Power of Now

I love it! It reads well, it's true, and it will be immensely helpful to all who read it. —Gangaji, Author, The Diamond in Your Pocket

This book is a warm gentle rain of Love… what a pleasure to raise my face to it and drink. —John Mizelle, Marriage Family Therapist

About the Author

Anne Courtney was thirty-three when she met her teacher, in Oakland, California. In this meeting with Gangaji the true fulfillment she had been seeking throughout her life was revealed. Gangaji has asked Anne to share her direct experience with all who are drawn. Anne lives and works in the Bay Area.

$23.00

Paperback

Awake in the Heartland: The Ecstasy of What Is

Joan Tollifson

Awake in the Heartland offers clear non-dual understanding, not in the abstract, but grounded in the actuality of daily life with all its messiness, complexity, uncertainty, paradox, and apparent imperfection. If there seems to be a gap between what the enlightenment books describe and what you find in your own life, if you still think enlightenment is something that will happen to you in the future (or not at all), if you're still chasing experiences or self-improvement, then this book may be just what you need to wake up to the truth that what you are seeking is already here.

About the Author

Joan Tollifson writes and talks with people about the nature of reality. She has an affinity with Advaita and Zen, but belongs to no formal tradition. Her first book, Bare-Bones Meditation: Waking Up from the Story of My Life, was published by Bell Tower in 1996 and has been translated into German and Dutch. Joan has lived in California, New York, and currently resides in Chicago. Some of the teachers who have touched her most deeply include Toni Packer, Joko Beck, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, and Tony Parsons.

Awake in the Heartland takes a fresh look at questions of addiction, free will, good and evil, authority, and identity. It encourages the reader to look for him or herself without clinging to old opinions or relying on outside authorities. Honest, funny, and profound, this is a book that invites you to discover who or what you really are.

$32.95

Paperback

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Yoga Sutras in Sanskrit Devanagri, transliterated Sanskrit, and English translation.

$14.00

Paperback

Coming Home: The Experience of Enlightenment in Sacred Traditions

Lex Hixon

Explores the experience of enlightenment in sacred traditions and how it affects those who experience it.

Hixon provides a somewhat idiosyncratic yet fascinating and informative view of ten paths to enlightenment, moving from the contemplative views of Heidegger and Krishnamurti through the tantrism of Ramakrishna and the naturalism of Ramana Maharishi to the Zen ox-herding pictures, Mother Serena (a contemporary Rosicrucian teacher), the Hasidic masters, and Paul of Tarsus seen as a mystic announcing the new age of divine-human union. Included are Hixon's consultations of the I Ching and an explication of Turiya as taught by Advaita Vedanta and experienced by Hixon with Swami Nikhilananda as his teacher. Though the tone is not consistent—some chapters are philosophical, others personal, still others purely expository—the book is certainly worth consideration. —Carolyn M. Craft, Longwood Coll., Farmville, VA

$22.95

Hardcover

The Golden Frog

Michael Mamas

A few months ago a read a book that really touched me. I normally read non-fiction and like to study, in a general way, things like physics, joytish, vaastu, palmistry etc. A friend, who was awestruck, told me I had to read The Golden Frog, a novel by Dr. Michael Mamas.

It's one of those novels where you know every word is true. It's the story of a young boy, born in Ohio, who grows up to be a great spiritual teacher in the Vedic tradition of Enlightened teachers.

I understand that in real life Dr. Mamas, while a student at Ohio State, began to experience different levels of enlightenment, but had never heard the word enlightenment. Eventually he found Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and sold his Vet practice to study privately, for about 10 years, with various teachers that Maharishi sent him to.

The novel conveys his life experiences and seems to be an attempt by someone who will likely become a well known teacher to say, "Hey I'm over here."

Review by Randy Connare

The Golden Frog, by Michael Mamas, is a unique piece of didactic fiction which will never find its way onto any "best seller" lists, but which will provide pleasure and insight to many who read it. On the cover of the book a reviewer describes it as "The Hardy Boys meet Harry Potter in a spiritual adventure that's ahead of its time." While reading it, I had the thought that it could best be described as "Narcissus and Goldman Lite."

The dual protagonists, Bruce and Nathaniel, grow up in Beaver Cleaver world in an Ohio suburb. Bruce eventually becomes a practicing psychologist while Nathaniel seeks enlightenment in India, eventually returns to become a veterinarian and finally a spiritual mentor.

While at times I was a little put off by the didactic and stylized form used by the author, in the end the sweetness, wisdom, and connection to Truth won me over. I really enjoyed reading this book and very highly recommend it.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$16.95

Paperback

The Translucent Revolution: How People Just Like You Are Waking Up and Changing the World

Arjuna Ardagh

For more than a decade, Arjuna Ardagh has studied a worldwide advance in human consciousness marked by "translucents"—ordinary people who have "a glowing appearance, as though light were coming through" because they are no longer limited to their own separate agendas ("opaques"). The Translucent Revolution draws on the author's dialogues and workshops with thousands of individuals around the world who have experienced and benefited from this phenomenon.

The book clearly explains the deep change in awareness, new sense of well-being, increasing joy in life, diminishing of fear—including fear of death—and striving for selflessness that mark this state. Ardagh blends observation, anecdote, and research, including commentaries from leading pioneers in the field of human consciousness, such as Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, Jean Houston, and Neale Donald Walsch, to create a blueprint for life change. The Translucent Revolution offers simple, concrete strategies for cultivating translucence.

$19.95

Paperback

Truth vs. Falsehood: How To Tell The Difference

David R. Hawkins, MD, PhD

The long awaited 4th book by Dr. David R Hawkins , author of best selling Power vs. Force.

This book's exploration into the truth of man's activities is unique, intriguing, and provocative. From a new perspective, one quickly grasps the levels of truth expressed by the media, the arts, writers, painters, architecture, movies, TV, politics, and war, as well as academia and the greatest thinkers and philosophies through the ages and up to present-day science, and advanced theories of the nature of the universe. Most importantly, the ego and its structure are revealed to facilitate the understanding of religious and spiritual truths expressed by the mystics and enlightened sages over the centuries. It becomes apparent why the human mind, unaided, has been intrinsically incapable of discerning truth from falsehood. A simple test is described that, in seconds, can solve riddles that have been irresolvable by mankind for centuries.

This book delivers far more than it promises.

$12.00

Hardcover

Paramahansa Yogananda: As I Knew Him

Roy Eugene Davis

Experiences, Observations, and Reflections of a Disciple

The author of this book, Roy Eugene Davis, had a very significant effect on my life. I met him in 1969 when I went to visit his late wife, Carolyn, in connection with a project on astrology in which I was involved. The astrology project never got very far off the ground, but when I met Roy my life was changed. He had a "presence" that was so strong and tangible that I wanted to know what it was and how I could achieve a similar state of being. Roy explained that he had been a discipline of Yogananda, and that his presence, or consciousness, had been developed by following the path of Kriya Yoga.

I attended Roy's lectures about the Bhagavad-Gita and read Autobiography of a Yogi. Roy initiated me into a form of Kriya, and my path as a seeker and meditator had commenced.

In this book Roy shares some intimate accounts of his relationship with his Guru, Yogananda. It is very personal and at the same time very universal.

Anyone who has read Autobiography of a Yogi, (and who hasn't?) will probably enjoy the views, reflections, and insights shared in this very intimate and pleasing book. I found it very enjoyable and uplifting, and I highly recommend it.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$21.99

Paperback

At The Feet of Mother Meera: The Lessons of Silence

Sonia L. Linebaugh

Sonia Linebaugh's spiritual journey goes straight to the heart of the Western seeker of spiritual light and wisdom, within the framework of family life. It's as familiar as a visit home and as wonderful as a new life.

"This trip is not just to another country but to another way of living," writes Linebaugh. "It's filled with the stunning strangeness of pushing the habitual self out into the fine atmosphere of consciousness with language and customs for which there is no guidebook."

Linebaugh's clear writing brings us effortlessly into the fine atmosphere at the feet of Mother Meera, the silent, beautiful Indian woman who is her teacher.

Mother touches Linebaugh's head and looks into her eyes as she does thousands who visit her German home. It is this touch and gaze that Linebaugh credits with opening her to the inner teachings. Encompassing ten years, At the Feet of Mother Meera: The Lessons of Silence describes the unfolding process of finding spirituality in everyday living. There are lessons in learning how to ask for guidance and help, lessons in acceptance, in understanding the normality of life, and, finally, in seeing the Divine face of love in every happening.

Linebaugh's descriptive and intimate writing bring the lessons of silence to life.

$15.95

Paperback

Deeksha: The Fire from Heaven

Kiara Windrider

"Enlightenment is very easy," says Bhagavan, "and everyone should get enlightened." This quote is lifted from the back cover of perhaps the most remarkable book I have ever read. The author, Kiara Windrider, describes his experiences of enlightenment along with the experiences of many others. This "gift" of enlightenment comes from an Indian man of God, formerly known as "Kalki," but now self-described as "Bhagavan."

The enlightening process is a transmission of energy called deeksha. Bhagavan says that enlightenment is a neurobiological process, and that all it takes is a little adjustment in the brain, which then allows the cosmic energies to flow through and dissolve the concept that we carry around of a separately existing "self," which is in fact only an illusion of perception.

The book claims that we are entering into a new, golden age and enlightenment will be more and more easily attained. The book is well written, the experiences of enlightenment are compelling and credible, and I would think that any "spiritual seeker" would find this book fascinating and perhaps most inspiring. Review by Len Oppenheim

$14.00

Paperback

A New Earth: Awakening to your Life's Purpose

Eckhart Tolle

Building on the astonishing success of The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle presents readers with an honest look at the current state of humanity: He implores us to see and accept that this state, which is based on an erroneous identification with the egoic mind, is one of dangerous insanity.

Tolle tells us there is good news, however. There is an alternative to this potentially dire situation. Humanity now, perhaps more than in any previous time, has an opportunity to create a new, saner, more loving world. This will involve a radical inner leap from the current egoic consciousness to an entirely new one.

In illuminating the nature of this shift in consciousness, Tolle describes in detail how our current ego-based state of consciousness operates. Then gently, and in very practical terms, he leads us into this new consciousness. We will come to experience who we truly are—which is something infinitely greater than anything we currently think we are—and learn to live and breathe freely.

$19.95

Paperback

Living Reality: My Extraordinary Summer with "Sailor Bob Adamson"

James Braha

Thank you so very much for the copy of Living Reality. I have read hundreds of spiritual search books but your book ends the search. My quest has lasted 35 years. I am 59 and now I have times when I am nothing. The feeling is that my life is all down hill now, containing more understanding and non-duality each day, even though there is no time. Is that a paradox? Oh well.

I must say "Chapter Seven: I Am That, Thou Art That - Now What?" is the bomb! No one else I have ever read approached those concepts. The whole book is beautifully written.

I love you and Sailor Bob for the understanding that is created by your books and presence.

Review by John Kendall

This book will become a modern classic representation of "the message." Living Reality is a very refreshing and a welcome addition to non-duality. The writing has a friendly atmosphere and is a comfortable read. Many will find it to be of considerable value.

If one reads it with relaxed attention, some otherwise difficult topics may well open up in a new way. The main message comes through loud and clear. Anyone who is a bit tired of the "heavy" non-dual literature should get this new book —it is a welcome sharing of this living reality!

Review By Gilbert Shultz, Host of www.shiningthroughthemind.net

$5.00

Paperback

Om Ma: Anandamayi Ma

Mangalananda

A short biography of Anandamayi, Ma is filled with beautiful, inspiring stories and includes a number of black and white photos.

Sri Anandamayi Ma (1896-1982) was one of the most influential spiritual luminaries of the Twentieth Century. Her devotees ranged from Prime Ministers and great Saints down to the simplest villagers, and people came from all over the world to simply see Her and sit in Her presence. Though virtually uneducated, She spoke with the authority of direct experience and captivated all with Her sweetness and power. To this day, Her presence and guidance is felt by those who turn to Her in prayer, and Her life is an inspiration to all who feel drawn to the spiritual Path. This book gives an informal introduction to Her life and teachings with the hope that it will direct seekers of Truth to the great source of virtue and blessing which is Anandamayi Ma.

$19.95

Paperback

What is Self: A Study of the Spiritual Journey in Terms of Consciousness

Bernadette Roberts

The latest hot non-duality book, written by a former cloistered nun. She writes from the Christian perspective and gives a nice balance to previous titles on this subject that tend to emphasis Eastern shadowing. Her views on the inherent differences between Eastern and Western views are very thought provoking. Her previous book, Experience of No Self, has been a constant seller at our store.

Review by Tony Kainauskas

About the Author

Bernadette Roberts is one of the most extraordinary contemplatives of our time. The child of a devout Catholic family, Roberts' contemplative experiences began at an early age. At fifteen, they began to fit into a frame of reference within her Christian tradition. Ten years of seclusion in a monastery followed, during which Bernadette realized an abiding state of oneness with God. According to the Christian mystical tradition, this egoless, unitive state is as far as one can progress in this life.

$15.95

Paperback

Transcending the Levels of Consciousness

David R Hawkins

Transcending the Levels of Consciousness, explores the ego's expressions and inherent limitations and gives detailed explanations and instructions on how to transcend them. It expands the understanding of the levels of consciousness, as presented in the now widely known Map of Consciousness. This book focuses on the individual, and studies the experiential, subjective blocks to the advancement of consciousness that leads to progressive spiritual awareness and on to higher levels of consciousness—preparatory to advanced states, such as Enlightenment itself. By analyzing the various obstacles and levels to be transcended, certain principles that support spiritual evolution are self-revealing. This book is a practical manual rather than a comprehensive analysis.

$12.95

Paperback

A Brief Tour of Higher Consciousness: A Cosmic Book on the Mechanics of Creation

Itzhak Bentov

A Brief Tour of Higher Consciousness, by Itzhak Bentov is the best (and most fun) introduction to the modern idea of Enlightenment combined with quantum physics that I have ever come across. And I have been swimming in these "Enlightenment" waters for over 35 years now.

This is the same Itzhak Bentov who, on his last plane ride, as he was boarding the plane, realized that no one on the plane had an aura and he knew that they were all destined to crash. He got on the plane anyway because he knew it was time to move on to greater things. Please just treat this as a rumor.

This little book of 113 pages is light, fun, profound, and mathematical. The author relates the ultimate meaning of the Universe with both the Hebrew and Sanskrit alphabets. Every single one of you should own this book, or at least read it. I especially like the chapter about the Devas because it so closely parallels my own experience.

The subtitle of this tome is also revealing: "A Cosmic Book on the Mechanics of Creation." Wonderful.

Review by Michael Laughrin

About the Author

Itzhak Bentov was a mechanical engineer who combined a brilliant mind for mechanisms and structures with a lifelong interest in meditation, to describe quantum physics and the advanced states of higher awareness in ways easily grasped by readers.

$12.95

Paperback

Stalking the Wild Pendulum: On the Mechanics of Consciousness

Itzhak Bentov

In his exciting and original view of the universe, Itzhak Bentov has provided a new perspective on human consciousness and its limitless possibilities. Widely known and loved for his delightful humor and imagination, Bentov explains the familiar world of phenomena with perceptions that are as lucid as they are thrilling. He gives us a provocative picture of ourselves in an expanded, conscious, holistic universe.

About the Author

Itzhak Bentov was a mechanical engineer who combined a brilliant mind for mechanisms and structures with a lifelong interest in meditation to describe quantum physics and the advanced states of higher awareness in ways easily grasped by readers.

$17.95

Paperback

The Book of One

Dennis Waite

Although the author, Dennis Waite, lays no claim to being a sage or realized, he has written the best single book about advaita that I have ever read. This book is quite remarkable in that it is both brief (only about 200 pages) and at the same time totally comprehensive. Although it is easy to read and understand, it is very profound. Amazingly, I would highly recommend this book to both the most devoted student of advaita and to someone who knows little or nothing about the subject.

While this book is solid and rigorous, like an academic treatise, it is also vibrant and alive with a teaching that many, including myself, believe to be the most profound attempt of man to take the unfathomable, the unspeakable, and the inexplicable and put it into words.

This book is simple and profound, and combines the eternal wisdom of an ageless teaching with modern insights and discoveries made by modern man and leading edge scientists.

The Book of One is, as the title suggests, flat out the best articulation of advaita I have come across so far. As an added bonus, the references to other books and definitive lists of internet sites make this a must have book for any serious student.

Review by Len Oppenheim.

$29.95

Hardcover

His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: A Living Saint for the New Millennium

Helena & Roland Olson

Stories of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's first visit to the US.

This a revised version of Hermit in the House.

$21.95

Paperback

Timeless in Time: Sri Ramana Maharshi

A.R. Natarajan

A divine addition to one’s spiritual library. It contains many splendid color photographs of Ramana Maharshi from his earliest years to his last days. The text contains many sayings and lectures of Ramana as well as talks by his disciples and western admirers. This is most highly recommended.

$22.00

Paperback

Beloved Babaji

Devdasji

The author brings out the life and teachings of Babaji the immortal avatar. Using anecdotes Devdasji describes the various forms Babaji has taken as different avatars of Lord Shiva. This book also explains Babaji’s relations with other such avatars and preachers from different religions and regions and brings out the oneness of all religious leaders who are nothing but the incarnations of the Supreme Being.

$9.95

Paperback

Life and Teachings of Sri Anandamayi Ma

Dr. Alexander Lipski

That which Ma Anadamayi lived was not that which we know in worldly life, where pleasure and pain, hope, regret and disllusionment, attraction and repulsion follow on each other's heels, born one of another, but which was deeply rooted in the Absolute, beyond the dualities of good and evil of I and not-I, of pleasant and unpleasant, because its unshakable base is Love and Wisdom.

$16.95

Paperback

Women of Power & Grace: Nine Astonishing, Inspiring Luminaries of Our Time

Timothy Conway

The deeds miracles and teachings of these nine will be an inspiration to those who seek the deepest most powerful forms of spirituality. the book includes many of their teachings in their own words with special emphasis on the women of India who teach the sublime nondual Vedanta philosophy-one of the greatest philosophical achievements in the history of human thought. The stories of these spiritual champions of the highest order will excite the reader with the possibility of his or her own direct God-Realization the fullness of Divine Love Bliss Peace Freedom and Power.

$15.95

Paperback

The Himalayan Masters: A Living Tradition

Pandit Rajmani Tigunait

The author of this book, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, is the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute, and hand picked successor to Swami Rama. Pundit Tigunait has authored a number of books and provides spiritual guidance. He holds two doctorates and he has access to a vast range of spiritual wisdom.

This book is a marvelous compilation of stories about eight great Vedic sages spanning thousands of years. What I found most compelling about this book is the simplicity of style by which Pandit Tigunait has succeeded in bringing lofty philosophical concepts home to the reader in a most engrossing and entertaining manner.

Each of eight different sages has a chapter devoted to him. Some of the most famous include Vashishta, Dattateya, and Shankaracharya. Each chapter is a lesson in and of itself and the book is thematically joined.

I would say that one who purchases and reads this book would get more than his or her money’s worth just from the chapter on Shankaracharya.

This is fine little book that I look forward to re-reading many times in the coming years.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$19.95

Paperback

This House is on Fire: The Life of Shri Dhyanyogi

Shri Anandi Ma

A half dozen times or more every year I am fortunate enough to discover a book that I enjoy so much and find so compelling that I really can’t wait to review and recommend it. This House is on Fire falls into that category.

I must admit that I am drawn towards reading biographies or autobiographies of saints and/or seekers of truth or self-realization, so a book like this has somewhat of an easy time in trying to please me. However, often I am disappointed by either the life described or by the poor quality of writing. This book suffers from neither of these faults.

Shri Dhyanyogi left his body in 1992 at the ripe old age of 114. Before he departed he touched the lives of thousands, and appears to have been universally loved by all who knew him. The text and photos in this new spiritual classic make me very jealous of those who were fortunate enough to enjoy his presence and the Shaktipat he delivered.

Dhyanyogi is an authentic master and saint. Everything in this book rings true and thus it is very enlivening to the reader. The fact that this is pretty much a contemporary story and is so well-documented adds tremendous value to this reader.

I doubt that this will ever attain the popularity of everyone’s all-time favorite story of a Yogi, Autobiography of a Yogi , but I think all those who enjoyed the story of Yogananda have a treat in store if they will read this book.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$17.95

Paperback

Devotional Nonduality: Discovery of the Presence of God

David R. Hawkins

“This, the sixth book in a progressive series by the author, finalizes and further clarifies the true nature and core of the condition termed Enlightenment. Although it draws on consciousness research for explanation and contextualization, it is primarily an instruction manual for the serious spiritual devotee and reveals information that is known only by those who have transcended the ego to reach Divine Realization. This is the inner route from the self to the Self, and the descriptions of the progressive states are devoted to the reader’s own Illumination. The subjective states of the mystic have been of great interest but historically never have been clarified to the degree presented in this semi-autobiographical account that also provides the means by which to identify their rare occurrence and thus describe the core characteristics of Spiritual Truth. Devoid of ecclesiastical doctrine or religious belief systems, the pristine essence of all spiritual Truth is revealed in its purity with unprecedented clarity.”

$19.95

Hardcover

A Thousand Names of Joy: Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are

Byron Katie

The latest book by Byron Katie, explores the ancient wisdom of the Tao Te Ching. She analyzes different sections of this ancient text from the point of view of one who is an actual embodiment of the knowledge. Each chapter is Byron’s personal experience of the different verses.

“This is a portrait of a woman who is imperturbably joyous, whether she is dancing with her infant granddaughter or finds that her house has been emptied out by burglars, whether she stands before a man about to kill her or embarks on the adventure of walking to the kitchen, whether she learns she is going blind, flunks a “How Good a Lover are you” test or is diagnosed with cancer. With her stories of total ease in all circumstances, Katie’s does more that describe the awakened mind, she lets you feel it, in action. And she shows you how that mind is yours as well.”

A wonderfully inspiring book.

20% off hardcover price

$10.00

Paperback

Namarupa

Various Authors

We don’t usually recommend magazines, but Tony sent me Namarupa, a unique publication with articles about India, its masters, and its teachings, along with many fantastic photos. I would highly recommend this issue (Number 6) for its excellent interviews and articles about Nisargadatta. There was a fabulous interview conducted by Claudia Turnbull, who many in the Fairfield community would know. She interviewed Naga Baba Rampuri. I think the interview is superb, and after you read it you may wish to read his book, Baba: Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Yogi. This is a book I found most fascinating and reviewed here a number of months ago.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$21.95

Paperback

Aghora: At the Left Hand of God

Robert E. Svoboda

A classic all time best seller Aghora :At the Left Hand of God is a view of the left path of Tantra. The story of a Hindu Shaman.. a trickster that teaches with sharp dark truths interspersed with humour. The story is fascinating ..the path for the very few. This is one of 21st Century’s all time best sellers.. If you are looking for spirituality from unlikely places this book is one you should not overlook. This explains the tantric path in great detail .. more so then you may even wish to know., showing how the typical western view of Tantra is over simplified and homogenized.

$29.95

Spiral Bound

Maharishi on God, Devatas, Religion

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Part of the series of books imported from Croatia, this one is transcriptions of old lectures

Imported from Croatia

$18.95

Paperback

The Only Way to Live

Ramesh Balsekar

Ramesh Balsekar has written about 30 books, and he gives daily Satsang in his apartment in Mumbai. His guru was Nisargadatta . Ramesh Balsekar is considered one of the leading teachers in the tradition of Advaita (non-duality). That is a huge amount of teaching and a prodigious amount of intellectual output for a man who has basically taught that becoming a sage or gaining what he calls “The Ultimate Knowledge” is a product of fate or grace rather than something that can be taught or attained through effort or discipline. In essence this paradox is very similar to the paradox of Lao-tzu, who begins the Tao Te Ching by saying that the “Tao that can spoken is not the true Tao” and then follows that up with verses and pages all about the Tao.

One of Ramesh’s earliest works, Pointers , conveyed his approach which is that while no one can be taught and no one can learn to become a sage, it is possible that certain “pointers” may be useful in the process. Over the last 20 years or so, Ramesh’s teachings have slowly been evolving towards a more pragmatic or practical approach. The Only Way to Live , his latest book, is, as the title implies, more of a practical manual than a philosophical text.

Ramesh’s basic teaching, which he claims is the same as that taught by the Buddha, is that while deeds are done and things happen, there is no personal doer. In other words only God, or “Source”, or “Consciousness” is moving this whole happening we call life. Therefore, since we are merely products of our nature (genes) and our nurture we have no reason to be proud or guilty or sinful. He claims that if this “ultimate understanding” is realized on a very deep and fundamental level, beyond the level of a “concept” then one can be a sage and live life in peace, harmony, and fulfillment.

The Only Way to Live is a book that could be very helpful in attaining this wisdom. Additionally there is very practical and useful insight into love, relationships, religion, values and many more topics of utmost importance. I have read about 20 of his books, attended Satsang in Mumbai, watched numerous videos of him, and listened to countless CD’s. As a thinker, philosopher, and observer of human nature and psychology I think Ramesh Balsekar is right up there with Kant, Bertram Russell, Freud and all of the best of breed. Since this is definitely one of his best books, and since it incorporates his most current thinking, I very highly recommend this book.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$21.95

Paperback

Spiritual Warfare

Jed McKenna

Jed’s books are not for everyone... But those who enjoy his unmystical look at mysticism, as well as his irreverent look at enlightenment will enjoy this, his final? book. Jed’s words can stir up quite a bit of mud in one’s psyche so be forewarned. The latest book deals with several characters: One dealing in an honest, unflinching way for the truth and others who, though they may feel they own “IT,” are really under the delusion of Maya. Jed feels that most of what modern day seekers are seeking is not true enlightenment, but instead a ride in a dream world amusement park. Read his latest and decide for yourself.

$22.95

Paperback

The Essential Sri Anandamayi Ma: Life and Teachings of a 20th Century Indian Saint

Alexander Lipski

One of the most beautiful books on the great saint.

This Illustrated Edition features

125 color & sepia photos and illustrations
A concise and sensitive biography written by an American scholar and admirer
Edited selections from Anandamyi Ma’s teachings, previously unpublished outside of India

Through her teachings and the example of her life, Anandamayi Ma has inspired millions of individuals of diverse faiths and circumstances—from Prime Ministers, artists, and industrialists to shopkeepers, beggars and monks including Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Jawarharlal Nehru, Former Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the Queen Mother of Greece, and the Former President of India, Ragendra Prasad. Without a doubt, Anandamayi Ma is one of the most beloved 20th century saints within her native India, and across the globe. Beautifully illustrated with over 100 color & sepia photos and illustrations, the present book includes a concise and sensitive biography of Anandamayi Ma with important selections from her oral teachings.

$14.95

Paperback

Rock Your World with Divine Mother: Bringing the Sacred Power of the Divine Mother into Our Lives

Sondra Ray

The Divine Mother is known by many names and takes many forms. In Christianity, she is the Virgin Mary. In China, she is universally loved as the goddess of compassion, Quan Yin. In Hawaii, Pele, the goddess of fire, manifests in the form of a woman near the volcanoes. In India, she is embodied by Kali, Lakshmi, Tara, and other goddesses.

The fusion of feminine qualities from all religions and traditions, the Divine Mother can be a nurturing presence and a powerful guide along your individual spiritual path. Through stories, prayers, and teachings, Sondra Ray enthusiastically escorts you into the profound reawakening of the sacred feminine in the hearts and minds of seekers throughout the world.

Ray describes her pilgrimages to holy places where she has sought the divine feminine, from the revered Baca Valley in Colorado to the Himalayan foothills. Her reflections on Amma (the hugging saint), Mother Teresa, Mary Magdalene, and other Divine Mothers, as well as men like Shastriji and Babaji, who embrace the feminine aspect of divinity, provide insight and inspiration as well as suggestions for worship and renewal. Ray's delightful and awe-inspiring adventures, coupled with insightful teachings and prayers, show how embracing the Divine Mother can help attract more love, abundance, clarity, and wisdom into your life. In Rock Your World with the Divine Mother, Ray demonstrates that the Divine Mother's presence is essential for both inner peace and peace in the world.”

$14.95

Paperback

The Mystique of Enlightenment

U.G. Krishnamurti

If you enjoy Jed McKenna’s books you might also enjoy reading U.G. Krishnamurti’s: The Mystique of Enlightenment . If I had to guess I would say that Krishnamurti’s book had a major Influence on Jed... Jed even recommends this book. The author uses some of the same in your face techniques that Jed is famous for. The Mystique of Enlightenment is very over the edge stuff.. Not your ordinary tale of blissful enlightenment. Krishnamurti’s description of his dying and rebirth is fascinating. His meeting with Ramana Maharshi and the question he asks and the answer he receives sets the tone for the whole book. Part memoir and part spiritual travelogue.. it is written with biting humor and, as Jed’s books do, destroys many of the myths of the true spiritual path.

Review by Tony Kainauskas

$24.95

Hardcover

The End of Your World

Adyashanti

In my opinion, Adyashanti’s book is a cut above the rest of the modern day advaitists' writings, and seems to signify the next stage of the awakening process that people are moving into. I’m finding in sitting with people as a guide these days that many are no longer concerned with merely awakening - that shift has occurred -but are more interested in the process AFTER the awakening has occurred but BEFORE they are resting in the Self completely. The book is explicitly written for them, although anyone in any stage might enjoy it.

Adyashanti clearly distinguishes between awakening and enlightenment - which he calls non-abiding awareness and abiding awareness. This has been a source of some confusion for many on the path. He also speaks to the many pitfalls on the road such as ego inflation after awakening—the ME that sometimes survives the wake up and thinks it’s enlightened—as well as the traps of this ME, such as getting stuck in emptiness or meaninglessness along the way. He speaks with ruthless honesty and openness about his own process and its subtle machinations which are personal, but yet universal, in their manifestation. Not much has been written about the after-the-fact, subtle process of deconditioning and dissolution that continues on sometimes for years, so this is clearly addressing that need.

I loved this book and applaud Adya’s wisdom and love in sharing it. I never met him but after having read hundreds, if not thousands of books in this area over a 40 year period, and having been through all that he speaks of, I really resonate with his writing. I can honestly say, he’s one being I’d like to meet someday to thank him for his clarity.

Review by Jill Spangler

$19.00

Paperback

Enlightenment Is Not What You Think

Wayne Liquorman

For those who consider themselves spiritual seekers, I am thrilled and excited to recommend Enlightenment Is Not What You Think, by Wayne Liquorman. Liquorman has been recognized as a sage by his guru, Ramesh Balskar. Balsekar, in turn, was passed the baton by Sri Nisargadatta. These three are considered by many to be the best modern-day exponents of the Advaita Philosophy. Advaita literally translates as “not two”. Liquorman does a wonderful job of explaining why this translation is so much more descriptive and meaningful then the commonly used “non-dual”.

I have had the privilege of spending time with Ramesh Balskar in India, and with Wayne here in the good old USA. I have found their writings and their oral teachings to be exceptional, in a class by themselves when it comes to helping me to be pointed in a direction to grasp what they sometimes call “The Ultimate Understanding”. I am super enthusiastic about this book and rank it right up there among the best books I have ever read about the nature of “spiritual seeking” and the myths that have grown up in the seeking community.

Here, in Wayne’s own words is the essence of the unique approach of this book:

“I am very pleased to have my new book, Enlightenment Is Not What You Think, coming out this month. If it is at all successful in dispelling some of the myths about Enlightenment, I will be gratified. In the Living Teaching it is recognized that seeking Truth is infinitely more valuable than finding it. The search is alive and vibrant. Once you think you have found it, the resulting knowledge is dead. Knowledge is acquired. Truth is revealed. The nature of this revelation is an absence rather than a thing that is to be gained. Of course, it is impossible to describe an absence...we can only describe something that has properties. The impossibility of the task of describing Enlightenment, combined with the insatiable thirst on the part of the seeker to know what it is, has produced an incredible array of pointers. The inevitable fate of such pointers is that people hear them as descriptions and then take them to be Truths in and of themselves.”

This book is so full of wisdom that I find I can only read about 4 or 5 pages at a sitting. I love this book like I love desert. It is powerful, and explodes in my consciousness the way a great desert explodes my taste buds. It is so much fun to read and so stimulating it is almost obscene in its power and effect.

I could really go overboard in recommending this book. I really hope everyone will read it. If each of you enjoys it ½ as much as I did you will be thrilled to have read it.

Review by Len Oppenheim

$14.95

Paperback

Jed McKenna's Notebook

Jed McKenna

Jed McKenna’s latest book, Jed McKenna’s Notebook has just been published. If you enjoyed his previous books, Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing - Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment, and Spiritual Warfare, you will enjoy this one. If you are not a fan, then this book will not make you one.

Filled with bonus material from his 3 previous books. Previously only available online.

$42.00

Paperback

Guru Dev Vol 1: Discourses of Guru Dev

Paul Mason

Translated from Hindi with notes, transcription of Devanagari text and transliteration of Sanskrit quotations.

352 pages and 38 illustrations.

$42.00

Guru Dev Vol 2: Biography of Guru Dev

Paul Mason

Biography of Guru Dev.

336 pages and 54 illustrations.

$42.00

Guru Dev Vol 3: Guru Dev as Presented by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Paul Mason

Transcripts of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi speaking about Guru Dev and about his philosophies, with additional complementary material; including transcripts and translations of the Acharya Vandana Puja and the 108 Names of Guru Dev.

336 pages and 35 illustrations.

$25.00

DVD

Guru Dev DVD

Paul Mason

Featuring specially digitally remastered film footage of Guru Dev, Shankaracharya Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, plus recordings of Guru Dev with onscreen translations. So now it is possible to view good quality film images of Guru Dev, and also to be able to listen to his discourse whilst tracking the specially prepared subtitled translation. "The closest thing to obtaining the darshan of Guru Dev." This is a must have for your personal library.

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$26.95

Paperback

I Am That

Nisargadatta Maharaj

$45.00

Paperback: 3 Volume Set

Nothing Ever Happened

David Godman

$21.95

Paperback

Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing

Jed McKenna

$14.50

Paperback

Surprised by Grace

Amber Terrell

$14.95

Paperback

As It Is

Tony Parsons

$16.00

Paperback

Duet of One

Ramesh Balsekar

$14.95

Paperback

Autobiography of a Spiritually Incorrect Mystic

Osho

$14.95

Paperback

The Ultimate Medicine, as Prescribed by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: Dialogues with a Realized Master

Edited by Robert Powell, Ph.D.

$16.95

Paperback

Pointers from Nisargadatta Maharaj

Ramesh Balsekar

$16.00

Paperback

Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi

Edited by David Godman

$26.95

Hardcover

Talks With Sri Ramana Maharshi

T. N.Venkataraman, Sri Ramanashram

$16.95

Paperback

Essential Teachings of Ramana Maharshi: A Visual Journey

Matthew Greenblatt

$16.95

Paperback

The Wisdom - Teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj: A Visual Journey

Matthew Greenblatt

$18.00

Paperback

What's Wrong with Right Now Unless You Think About It?

Bob Adamson

$15.00

Paperback

Loving What Is

Byron Katie

$21.95

Paperback

Secrets of Yoga

Osho

$35.00

Hardcover

The Book of Secrets

Osho

$14.95

Paperback

Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self-Knowledge

Arthur Osborne

$23.00

Paperback

Miracle of Love: Stories About Neem Karoli Baba

Ram Dass

$17.95

Paperback

Sai Baba Man of Miracles

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