A Short Life Of The Holy Mother

In the pages of this book published by Advaita Ashrama, a Publication house of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India, will be found the story of a life which was lived so silently and unostentatiously that its very simplicity was bewildering. Yet the depth of its richness seemed unfathomable even to those who were universally respected for their spiritual greatness. Indeed such a life defies analysis, and it is much more difficult to portray it. Even if we fail to comprehend the greatness of this Great Wonder fully, still will not even a partial glimpse of it bring us infinite good? Thus this attempt to portray the life of Sri Sarada Devi, the spiritual consort or Sri Ramakrishna, in short.

The life and message of Swami Vivekananda are a source of great inspiration to many in their individual as well as collective life. The present short biography published by Advaita Ashrama, a Publication House of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, is intended to meet the needs of those who have neither the time nor the opportunity to read bigger works about the Swami. A versatile genius as the great Swami was, and many-sided as were his activities, it is idle to hope that a complete picture of his wonderful life could be given in such a small compass. Here an attempt is made to give only a glimpse of this great personality so that people may become interested to know more about him.

This book is a compilation of the teachings of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi collected from various sources. The teachings, grouped under suitable headings, present a clear, detailed guidance for spiritual living leading to God-realisation. The teachings, issuing forth from her own holy life, will help the readers derive inspiration, guidance and solace and help them progress in their spiritual lives.

Sri Ramakrishna's life is a life of spirituality in practice, a sublime sonnet with a singular note of God consciousness, a summary of all that the scriptures of the world have to say, and even much more. To contain such a boundless life and personality within a few pages is certainly as audacious a task as to attempt to contain the ocean in a pot. Yet this book published by Advaita Ashrama, a Publication House of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, humbly attempts to portray his life and personality in a clear and candid style.

ABOUT M. According to the Yugantar, one of the two pillars of Neo-Vedanta is the mighty, lionic Swami Vivekananda and the other, M., the humble, quiet, wise and illumined proclaimer singing day and night the glory of the Godman, Sri Ramakrishna. About him Sri Ramakrishna said, "With these very eyes, I saw you among the singers of Sri Chaitanya's sankirtana... You belong to the ever-perfect class... You are my own, of the same substance as father and son... You trade in the Jewellery of the Spirit... Ma! illumine him. Otherwise how will he illumine others. Except for me he knows nothing." Swami Vivekananda wrote to him, "You have hit Ramakrishna in the right point... (he) is with you evidently." Sri Ma Sarada Devi wrote to M., "When I heard you (read the Kathamrita) I felt those were His very words." Christopher Isherwood said of M., "The ideas and ideals Sri Ramakrishna taught to the house-holder found their embodiment in M." ABOUT THE BOOK The author has freely drawn on the Kathamrita, Sri Ma Darshan (M., the Apostle and the Evangelist), Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, Ramakrishna & his Disciples and on some articles which have appeared from time to time in the Prabuddha Bharata and the Vedantal Kesari in compiling this short life. Sri Ma Trust brought out A Short Life of M., in 1977. The present edition is a somewhat enlarged and corrected version of the same. The Trust has also brought out a bigger book on M. and the Kathamrita under the title, 'Life of M. and Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathmrita.'

This classic work of research published by Advaita Ashrama, a Publication centre of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India, brings under a single volume around 600 persons inspired by the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna and his disciples. Notable personalities whose connection with the Vedanta Movement in the West is delineated include Aldous Huxley, Arnold Toynbee, Albert Einstein, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Carl Jung, Mark Twain, J D Salinger and Joseph Campbell among others. For the scholars it is a mine of information presented precisely, and for the devotees of Ramakrishna, it is an inspiring account of western admiration for Ramakrishna and his disciples. (Pdf version).

In these days of terrible erosion in human values, when man is guided by the deadly materialistic view of himself and the world, the role of this book is like that of a beacon light which awakens him to a new value system. Jesus had said, ‘love thy neighbours as thyself’, but why? In these pages the readers get the answer to this question. The practice of ethics and morality when based merely on religious precepts leaves the modern man with the seed of doubt in his heart as he fails to understand the rationality, behind them. Ethics need to be founded on the rock of rationality which alone can help the modern man to make them a part of his life whole-heartedly. This wonderful collection from the Works of Swami Vivekananda precisely fulfills this role.