Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi

Ramana Maharshi Books in English

The Aham Sphurana Seriesfrom Open Sky Press

Aham Sphurana – A Glimpse of Self Realisation [Volume 1]

Fascinating dialogues and stories of Ramana Maharshi recorded by Sri Gajapathi Aiyyer in the summer 1936, at Ramana Ashram.

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Vichara – Self Enquiry, Who am I? [Volume 2]

Vichara offers a fresh and focused exploration of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi’s most profound teaching: Self-enquiry.

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Sharanagathi – Surrender, Letting go. [Volume 3]

Sharanagathi explores Bhagavan’s direct and powerful path of dissolving the ego through surrender.

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All Books about Sri Ramana Maharshi

Ramana Maharshi Biography

“Just drop all seeking, turn your attention inward, and sacrifice your mind to the One Self radiating in the Heart of your very being.”– Sri Ramana Maharshi

1879 Dec 30Born in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu, South India, as Venkataraman

1896 JulySpiritual Awakening aged sixteen

1896 SeptArrived at Arunachala aged sixteen

1897 FebMoved to Gurumurtham

1898Moved to Virupaksha Cave aged twenty

1902Gave first recorded teaching Who Am I? aged twenty-two

1906–07Recovered his speech

1907Given the name Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

1916Mother arrived to live at Virupaksha Cave

1916Moved to Skanda Ashram age thirty-seven

1922Mother died and later Bhagavan moved down the hill

1920sBhagavan rewrote and published Who Am I?

1920sSimple bamboo ashram buildings constructed

1927–1942Stone ashram buildings constructed

1930sPaul Brunton visited

1940sNew granite Hall built in front of Mother’s Shrine

1949Cancer appeared on Bhagavan’s arm

1950 April 14Moved very ill to live in the Samadhi Room. Bhagavan passed away at 8.47pm

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“Arunachala! You root out the ego of those who meditate on you in the heart. Oh Arunachala!”– Sri Ramana Maharshi

Arunachala Drawing by Ramana Maharshi

Arunachala

Arunachala Mountain is one of five holy places dedicated to Shiva in South India. Sri Ramana Ashram is situated at its foothills. According to the legend Brahma and Vishnu were arguing over which one of them was superior. To settle the dispute Shiva entered and used his awesome powers to manifest as a column of light which then turned into the form of Arunachala. Ramana Maharshi said that whereas other holy places such as Varanasi and Rishikesh are important abodes of Shiva, Arunachala Mountain is Shiva himself. It is a place that provides true self-knowledge (jnana) and because this is not wanted by many people Arunachala remains relatively unknown. To those who truly seek knowledge of the Self, this mountain will always make itself known through one way or the other. Every year in January, John David offers an intensive Retreat at the feet of the holy hill.

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The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi

Self Enquiry: Bringing the Mind Back to the Self

Self-Enquiry is in the words of Ramana Maharshi “the most sacred of sacred.” It is indeed a radical spiritual method. Ramana has explained why this practice is singularly effective: “What is essential in any sadhana [spiritual practice] is to try to bring back the running mind and fix it on one thing only. Why then should it not be brought back and fixed in Self-attention? That alone is Self-Enquiry. That is all that is to be done!” This question of “Who am I?” comes from a space of deep Stillness, and is also nurtured from the same silence which sometimes spontaneously appear in our mind and in our being. In this way there can occur an instant inner recognition of who we really are.

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“The only useful purpose of the present birth is to turn within and realize the Self”– Sri Ramana Maharshi

Sri Ramana Maharshi’s Teachings on Surrender

Surrender is the companion pillar of Self-enquiry. Volume 3 of the Aham Sphurana series, Sharanagati, turns to absolute surrender as Bhagavan taught it in 1936. Partial letting-go ripens into effortless trust. Grace becomes active when resistance ceases. “Give up everything and keep quiet” is lived amid work, family and karma: the mind is yielded into the Heart, and what remains is Silence.

Original Teachings from 1936

Open a teaching here, or on its own page.

Extracts from the Aham Sphurana Series

Rooting Out the Ego and Persevering on the Path Danger of Emptiness [shunyastithi] BE As You Are Ripe Souls Attain Jnana How we Sabotage Vichara Am I doing Vichara Correctly? Sex and the Self Complete Cessation of Mental Activity The Secret of Jnana is Bhakti Essential Extracts from the Manuscript A Former Classmate Visiting Bhagavan Mrs Piggot’s Diary A Dialogue with a Mature Visiter Schopenhauer and Renunciation A Small Wise Boy The Juggler How shall we kill the mind? Sri Gajapathi Aiyyer Ashram Report Trust in God Reference Books and Translation Love Is Letters to Bhagavan 40th Anniversary Event Vishwanatha Aiyyer and the Monkey Obstacles which Hinder Realisation of the Self. Sri Gajapathi Healed and Attacked A Dog and A Monkey Mrs. Piggot Introduces the Ashram And Bhagavan’s Meetings in 1934 A Typical Western Visitor’s In-Depth Dialogue with Bhagavan The Aghori Sadhu Life Story Mr. Evans-Wentz’s Visit The Play Around Bhagavan Libelling Bhagavan The Heart Non-Doing Sri Gajapathi Aiyyer, Author of Aham Spraruna The Aghori’s Death and Liberation Kaushika An Incident between Bhagavan and the Ashram Manager Ramana Maharshi on Jesus Teachings Surrender Renunciation Only the Self, No God Illusion and the Body The Count Unrealise the not-Self Jaws of the Tiger Samadhi Realise the Self Gossip Destiny I have a body Consciousness J.Krishnamurti’s, Dissolution of the Order of the Star What is the Purpose of Life? Guru’s Grace The Answer is to Enquire,”Who Am I” Vichara, Self Enquiry Meditation Day by Day with a Jnani Commentaries on Bhagavan's Teachings

Commentaries on Bhagavan’s Teachings

Interviews with Indian and Western Masters on Bhagavan’s teachings

Radha Ma Kiran Ajja Swami Dayananda Ganesan Swamini Pramananda Ramesh Balsekar Sri Nannagaru Brahmam Thuli Baba Samdarshi Swami Satchidananda D. B. Gangolli Ma Souris Swami Suddhananda Hans Raj Maharaj Tony Parsons Deva Premal & Miten Dolano Francis Lucille Padma & Torsten John David Karl Renz Rupert Spira Christopher Titmuss Michael Barnett Mooji Om C. Parkin Krishna Das Andrew Cohen Gangaji Isaac Shapiro Ganga Mira Usha

John David’s Connection to Ramana Maharshi

“Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi came into my life quietly, imperceptibly, through a photograph twenty years ago, and has become a central inspiration in my life. Thank you for the exemplary life you led and for the simplicity and clarity with which you guide us. The question “Who am I?” has provided a golden key to all who wish to know their essential nature.” – John David

Sri Ramana Maharshi was the teacher of John David’s Indian teacher Papaji. So, it is natural that John David considers Ramana his own root teacher. For 20 years he has conducted a January retreat near Arunachala mountain, and it has been an excellent way to continuously revitalise his heartfelt connection to Ramana. John David finds Self-Enquiry to be the most direct way of giving spiritual seekers a spontaneous glimpse of the True Self. During retreats John David often dedicates a whole day to intense practice of Self-Enquiry. Participants sit together face to face and ask each other “Who are you?”. Over time that all conceptual answers to the question falls away and a monumental silence permeates the entire room.

More about John David

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Photos of Sri Ramana Maharshi

Visit the Gallery with rare Photos of Bhagavan.

Ramana Maharshi Photos

In Reverence and Gratitude to the Great Saint of Arunachala

A vivid Biography of Ramana Maharshi, by David Godman and John David.