Swami Akhandananda As We Saw Him

Swami Akhandananda was one of the sixteen monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. He was one of the pillars of the Ramakrishna Movement’s service activities. He practised till the very end of his life his Master’s call: Worship jiva as Shiva. This book reminisces the inspiring saga of that adventurous monk who was wholeheartedly dedicated to the tireless service of God in man. Published by Advaita Ashrama, a publication house of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India.

This book is a collection of precious reminiscences of Swami Ramakrishnananda, who was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and who pioneered the Ramakrishna movement in southern India. Along with the reminiscences recorded by both monks and lay devotees, the book contains a short biographical sketch of Swami Ramakrishnananda, reports and descriptions of his mahasamadhi, Swami Vivekananda’s letters to the Swami, and appendices containing the accounts of his influences in various places and people. The articles in this book are mainly drawn from the Bengali work Ramakrishnanander Smriti Mala, Tar Patro O Rachanasangraha and from the archives of the monthlies The Vedanta Kesari, Prabuddha Bharata, Vedanta for East and West, and Brahmavadin. This book will help the readers to comprehend Swami Ramakrishnananda’s distinct, grand and saintly personality.

Swami Brahmananda, regarded as the spiritual son by Sri Ramakrishna, was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and the first president of the Ramakrishna Order. This book is a compilation of the personal accounts of monastic and lay members who intimately knew Swami Brahmananda and had many occasions to closely observe his daily life and day-to-day dealings. These reminiscences record the charm of his unassuming personality, the silent influence of his deep spirituality, his practical hints for living a spiritual life, and his keen sense of humour and insights into human mind. An unpublished letter and a couple of speeches of Swami Brahmananda and some remarkable articles on his life and precepts are included in this book. The impressive volume is interspersed with valuable illustrations. This book will be of immense help and inspiration to all spiritual seekers.

Swami Adbhutananda was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. Although he never underwent any formal education, he was a perfect knower of God and a personification of simplicity, straightforwardness and spirituality. This book is a translation of the original Bengali Sri Sri Latu Maharajer Smritikatha written by Chandrashekar Chattopadhyay. It is a charming account of Adbhutananada’s association with Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and other disciples. It also provides intimate glimpses of his austere life, devotion to God, dispassion towards the world, and intense spiritual practices.

THE MASTER AS I SAW HIM by SISTER NIVEDITA - Delve into the intimate portrayal of Swami Vivekananda through the eyes of Sister Nivedita in "THE MASTER AS I SAW HIM." Nivedita's personal experiences and deep connection with Swamiji illuminate his life, teachings, and the profound impact he had on the world. This book is a tribute to the spiritual luminary who continues to inspire and guide seekers on their spiritual journeys.

This book presents the inspiring memoirs of Swami Akhandananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and the third president of the Ramakrishna Order. It is an English translation of the Bengali work, Smriti-Katha, written by the great Swami. The book is divided into three chapters—the first one dealing with the story of his transformation under his Master’s guidance; the second one dealing with his experiences during his adventurous wanderings in India and Tibet and his gradual transformation into a zealous worker for the cause of the poor and the afflicted; and the final one dealing with the story of his pioneering relief activities in the famine affected villages. A letter from Swami Vivekananda that motivated Akhandananda to carry on the relief activities is given in the appendix. The book is full of thrilling encounters and narratives and will help the readers draw inspiration from his fearless life

The Master as I Saw Him, is a book famous for its chronicling of intensespiritual experiences from the life of Swami Vivekananda, as noted by his disciple—Sister Nivedita. The book is written in an easy to read fashion, such that any chapter can be opened and read without losing any continuity. Nevertheless, it has still been assigned an intermediate rating, mainly because the text pre-supposes a familiarity with Swami Vivekananda, India, her religious traditions and historical customs, which new readers having no prior basis may find difficult to understand. It is important to remember that this book was written over a 100 years ago, and so it presents a view of India of the past - a country tremendously weakened by its deeply entrenched social and religious prejudices such as the caste system, eating of food cooked at the hands of Brahmins only, child-marriage and the low status accorded to women, especially widows.