Meditation Books

• 137 pages US paperback

"This book is a collection of notes on the value of meditative practices. It is common sense rendered with good humor.
Through these selections, even the casual reader will be better able to appreciate the vitality of a tradition that has produced both saints and scholars."

-Books West Magazine

See God with Open Eyes is a meditation on Sri Ramakrishna by Swami Chetanananda, a senior monk with the Ramakrishna Order. This book is a must-have for seekers of Truth; devotees of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, and Sri Sarada Devi; and students of Vedanta and Bhakti traditions alike. Swami Chetanananda breaks down important concepts about Sri Ramakrishna as an avatar and also explains Hindu concepts such as categorizations of the Vedas in an easy-to-understand manner that is so characteristic of his writing. All of his books are highly recommended. We carry his most popular titles in our Inspiring Books collection.

From the publishers: "This title raises several questions: Does God have a form? Can we see God as we see other objects and beings in this world? Can we hear or touch God? Ramakrishna answered these questions with his words and through his life — and many of those answers are collected in this book.

"When God takes a human form, we want to see how that avatar lives, acts, talks, walks, laughs, cries, eats, and sleeps like other human beings. This book depicts how lovers of God can establish and deepen their relationship with Ramakrishna through prayer and meditation, and that strong bond makes them feel safe and secure."

Be Here Now compiles in words the journey of Ram Dass through his academic career and his spiritual path to greatness. It describes one man’s transformation upon his acceptance of the principles of Yoga and gives a modern restatement of the importance of the spiritual side of man’s nature. Illustrated.

In March 1961, Professor Richard Alpert – later renamed Ram Dass – held appointments in four departments at Harvard University. He published books, drove a Mercedes and regularly vacationed in the Caribbean. By most societal standards, he had achieved great success... And yet he couldn’t escape the feeling that something was missing. After several interesting LSD experiments later, he set out on his spiritual journey.

Alpert headed to India where his guru renamed him Baba Ram Dass – “servant of God.” He was introduced to mindful breathing exercises, hatha yoga, and Eastern philosophy. If he found himself reminiscing or planning, he was reminded to “Be Here Now.” He started upon the path of enlightenment and has been journeying along with it ever since.

With over 150 pages of metaphysical illustrations, practical advice on how to implement a yogic regiment, and a chapter dedicated to quotes and book recommendations, Be Here Now is sure to enrich your emotional, physical, and spiritual life.

Swami Brahmananda was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and the first president of the Ramakrishna order. Sri Ramakrishna regarded him as his spiritual son.

Spiritual teachings and selected letters of Swami Brahmananda.

• Indian paperback, 303 pages 81-7505-408-5

The translator writes:

When I first joined the monastery of the Ramakrishna Order, I used to ask many spiritual questions of senior monks who were disciples of Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Brahmananda, or Swami Shivananda. On one occasion, a monastic disciple of Swami Brahmananda told me: “Read Dharma-prasange Swami Brahmananda (Spiritual Teachings of Swami Brahmananda); then you will not have to ask spiritual questions of anybody.” Truly speaking, that book became my spiritual guide…

This is a large heavy book with everything you could need for studying the Bhagavad Gita.

Translated by Swami Chidbhavananda

• 1,000 pages, large Indian hardback

For Sanskrit students, this book is popular since it includes Devanagri text, transliterated Sanskrit, comprehensive breakdown of compound words, word-by-word meanings, English translation, and commentary from Sri Ramakrishna's teachings.

The publishers in India have kept this book very inexpensive for many years, but note that the production quality, though good, is not the same as books from the west. Some of the books have covers with a wrinkled lamination, or the cover may be a little bent. Nonetheless, the books are well worth inclusion in the libraries of students of Sanskrit and the Bhagavad Gita.