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The
Eternal Companion: Life and Teachings of Swami Brahmananda
-- by Swami Yatiswarananda & Swami Prabhavananda
Swami Brahmananda was considered by Sri Ramakrishna as his spiritual
son and was next only to Swami Vivekananda in importance to any serious
follower of Sri Ramakrishna. He possessed what Vivekananda called "a treasure-house
of spirituality", and Swami Vivekananda endearingly gave him the title
of Raja or King as a result, which epithet has remained as a mark of address
to that great soul.
Swami Brahmananda was the first President of the Ramakrishna Order and
beacon-light of inspiration to all during the infancy of the Ramakrishna
Movement. "Follow some spiritual discipline for at least three years, and
then, if you find you have made no tangible progress, you may come back
and slap my face!" With these startling words, Swami Brahmananda
used to urge devotees, lukewarm in their practice, to serious and intense
spiritual striving and living. This is truly an inspiring book; his life
and teachings continue to inspire earnest people to new heights of spirituality.
The first part of this book contains Swami Brahmananda’s biography, and
the second part, his teachings.
Here is a very brief version of the life. |
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For Seekers of God: Spiritual talks of Swami Shivananda (link??)
Swami Shivananda was a monk of such sublime spiritual realizations
that Swami Vivekananda called him Mahapurush, the Great Soul, which is
the name by which he is addressed in the Order. He was the second president
of the Ramakrishna Order and a tremendous inspiration to innumerable devotees
who poured in to hear his loving and elevating words spoken to both monastics
and lay disciples. Truly a source of great inspiration.
Here is a very brief version of the life. |
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Spiritual
Treasures
-- by Swami Turiyananda
A collection of letters that are simple in expression and rich in wisdom
from one of the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, who lived for a while in
the United States helping Swami Vivekananda with his work. This impressive
collection of Swami Turiyananda's letters is an invaluable treasury of
the wisdom of a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. Sri Ramakrishna brought
out the message of reliance on the Lord's grace rather than on one's own
self-effort to bear deeply in his heart and his letters are therefore replete
with the message bearing that import. That along with his burning spirit
of renunciation leave an indelible impression on everyone. As with all
of Sri Ramakrishna's gems, Hari Maharaj as he is endearingly referred to,
teaches us not to be impatient in the spiritual path and to bear with the
raging struggles with fortitude. His fortitude and the control he could
exercise over his body are astonishing. |
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The
Apostles of Sri Ramakrishna
-- by the late Swami Gambhirananda, a former President of the Order.
A book that attempts to grasp within 401 pp. the life and message
of 16 of the monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, shows that each one
of them was a gigantic spiritual personality—superb in character, unique
in achievement and an asset to humanity. One realizes as to what a great
gardener Sri Ramakrishna is and what a boquet of flowers he maintained
in each one of them, every flower giving out it's own unique fragrance
and glory; what a great jeweller the great Master is, and how he collected
the best gems and jewels to leave behind a precious ornament as a legacy
to the world.
Here are very brief versions of their lives. |
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