The Seven Sages

This is a new edition of an independent Middle English version of an enormously popular story collection, found in almost all European languages. This version was previously edited by Thomas Wright in 1845, but is not otherwise available. The new edition presents a corrected text with full introduction and commentary. The Seven Sages is the first framed story in English, and was known to Chaucer and Gower, among others.

Many world legends suggest that at any given time, seven sages walk the Earth, tasked with the responsibility to anchor wisdom on behalf of humanity. Each one stands as the personification of a different rung of human consciousness. Together, they represent humanitys innate ability to save itselfor doom itself. Earthwhisperer knows the secrets of the Earth, its pleasures, and its pains. Lila understands the nature and workings of sacred pleasure. Solomon has learned how to wield both moral and ethical power. Philomel has captured the art of immaculate loving and heartfelt joy. Dattatreya lives out his version of crazy wisdom with his innovative family. Marianina is fey, with a vast and accurate perspective on the human soul and its cosmic context. Horus is a human sun, the indicator of human destiny, well above normal human consciousness. At this time, the sages have the profound challenge to help humanity reclaim balance, compassion, and hopewhen these qualities seem lost forever. Through a whirling cascade of shifts in perception, can the sages inspire each person to embrace his or her unique brand of wisdom in time?

A scintillating collection from one of our most original minds Eminent philosopher, professor and public intellectual, Ramchandra Gandhi (1937–2007) was regarded as a sage in his lifetime. This book brings together some of his long essays and hitherto unpublished talks and writings on themes ranging from non-violence and karma to svaraj, brahmacharya and modern Indian spirituality, that are contextualized in an introduction by close disciple A. Raghuramaraju. Bridging the moral, religious and social, the book offers many original insights: on how Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi’s catholic vision of religion annihilated exclusivism; the manner in which Gandhi’s martyrdom broke the prevailing power of evil and violence worldwide; how going beyond celibacy, brahmacharya is a joyous renunciation of sex; and on svaraj being ‘a struggle for the kingdom of self and autonomy’, not mere political independence. Brilliantly argued and inspiring, The Seven Sages brings Ramchandra Gandhi’s ideas to a new audience, beyond his admirers.