Writing at a distance of nearly 40 years from the earlier 'Christopher', Isherwood has succeeded in evoking a comically harassed figure in a tragic decade.

This classic work of research published by Advaita Ashrama, a Publication centre of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India, brings under a single volume around 600 persons inspired by the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna and his disciples. Notable personalities whose connection with the Vedanta Movement in the West is delineated include Aldous Huxley, Arnold Toynbee, Albert Einstein, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Carl Jung, Mark Twain, J D Salinger and Joseph Campbell among others. For the scholars it is a mine of information presented precisely, and for the devotees of Ramakrishna, it is an inspiring account of western admiration for Ramakrishna and his disciples. (Pdf version).

Excerpt: This is the story of a phenomenon. I will begin by calling him simply that, rather than 'holy man', 'mystic', or 'saint', all emotive words with mixed associations which may attract some readers, repel others. A phenomenon is always a fact, an object of experience. That is how I shall try to approach Ramakrishna... I only ask you to approach Ramakrishna with the same open-minded curiosity you might feel for any highly unusual human being. Christopher Isherwood unfolds a fantastic story with a calm finesse...

A biography of Ramakrishna, who spent most of his adult life meditating and teaching in a temple on the banks of the Ganges near Calcutta. During his lifetime he was known to relatively few people but his disciples carried his message to the United States and Europe at the turn of the century.

This is the authoritative source biography of Ramakrishna (1836-1886) based on interviews with those who knew him. It is also an interpreted description of the entire range of Ramakrishna?s spiritual disciplines and experiences, explained as much as possible in terms of reason and common empirical experience, with reference to Hindu scriptures and spiritual traditions, western philosophy, Hindu psychology, and Western religious tradition. The setting is Northeast India from 1775 to 1836. Topics include: Avatar; evolution of concept and purpose of: Bhavas (spiritual moods): Bhavamukha (mental state dwelling between the Absolute and the Relative): Brahmo Samaj: Cosmic Mind: Creation and Evolution; Brahman as efficient cause: God; various concepts and spiritual attitudes towards: Guru: India; its spiritual and religious beliefs compared to other countries: Kali Temple at Dakshineswar: Nondual Reality (Advaita): Ramakrishna?s life; worship of Divine Mother; realization of God in Hindu and non-Hindu religions; marriage; disciples: Samadhi: Tantra and Vaishnava Sects; history and methods of worship: Vedanta; main schools and basis in mystic experience: Vivekananda (Narendranath Datta): Yoga.

This is an enlarged edition of our earlier publication, the Apostles of Sri Ramakrishna. The book contains the life and teachings of the sixteen monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Brief life sketches of some of the lay disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, both men and women, have also been added. Compiled and Edited by Swami Gambhirananda and published by Advaita Ashrama, a publication house of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India, readers will find in this work invaluable guidance and instructions for enriching their spiritual life, as well as plenty of much needed inspiration.

Excerpt: "This is the story of a phenomenon. I will begin by calling him simply that, rather than `holy man', `mystic', or `saint'; all emotive words with mixed associations which may attract some readers, repel others."