Sri Ramakrishna (1836-86) is regarded by his followers as an incarnation of God and he attracted a number of disciples, the best known in the West being Swami Vivekananda. Information about Ramakrishna's close disciples, who formed a monastic order after his death, has been available for some time, but little has been known about his close "householder" disciples, who continued to live as members of society performing their normal worldly duties while committing themselves to a deeply spiritual life. In 28 short biographies the author looks at Ramakrishna's principal lay disciples and shows how they exemplified various facets of their master's teaching. Moreover, this book presents a more complete picture of Ramakrishna himself, including many new stories about his life.

They Lived with God

Chetanananda

Shepheard-Walwyn (Publishers) Ltd

The 45 short chapters in the book offer the reader an opportunity to experience a different understanding of what love really is.

Open Heart Open Mind: Practical Lessons in Loving Your LIfe

Religion & Spirituality

Rudra Press

How did Ramakrishna s aptitude for inner experience translate into the lives of the ordinary man and women he inspired? The 31 devotees in THEY LIVED WITH GOD had to face addiction, abusive husbands, disobedient children, indifferent or hostile relatives, bereavements, and spiritual doubts and misgivings. Particular attention is paid to the way they faced death. Their failures and triumphs are entertaining, practical examples for anyone seeking to work and live with an awareness of God s abiding presence. The revised second edition has been enlarged to include three new biographies; Bhavanath Chattopadhyay, Narendra Nath Mitra, and Tejchandra Mitra.

They Lived with God: Life Stories of Some Devotees of Sri Ramakrishna

Vedanta Society of St. Louis

Ramakrishna (1836-1886) was one of the most influential spiritual masters of modern India. He entered the highest mystical states as easily as other men step through a door, and described his extraordinary experiences with an innocent eloquence that brought spiritually to life for millions around the globe. How to Live with God transports us into Ramakrishna s world with lucidity and breathtaking detail. Sitting alongside his closest disciples, we witness the master s spiritual ecstasy, his astonishing insights, his humor, and his practical advice for common people yearning to know God. Swami Chetanananda peals away time and space to introduce us to this god-intoxicated mystic as a living presence. How to establish a relationship with God, how to love God, and how to live with God are the themes of this book. Much of the information is translated into English for the first time.

How to Live with God: In the Company of Ramakrishna

Girish Chandra Ghosh: A Bohemian Devotee of Sri Ramakrishna

Girish Chandra Ghosh (1844 1912) was the father of Bengali theatre, Calcutta s own Goethe, as brilliant and prolific as Shakespeare. A massively successful playwright, composer, actor and director, he virtually single-handedly created the modern performing arts in northeastern India. But that s just a small part of his story. On 21 September 1884, a priest from the nearby Kali temple arrived at Girish s Star Theatre to watch his play, Chaitanya Lila. It was Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, one of the greatest saints of the nineteenth century. The meeting of these two giants one a star of the stage, the other a star of spirit would prove portentous. At the feet of the spiritual master, Girish would claim his most celebrated role, as Ramakrishna s beloved and exuberantly unconventional devotee. I am a sinner, Girish told Ramakrishna frankly when the two met; he was a drunkard and a debauchee, but never a hypocrite. Their remarkable relationship is a classic story of redemption, as Ramakrishna s unconditional acceptance and gentle guidance transformed Girish from a committed atheist into a passionate lover of God. Girish Ghosh s genius was rooted in his pervasive experience of death. He lost his parents early in life, and at various times most of his siblings, both his wives, and even some of his young children. Unrelenting tragedy drove the famous writer to alcoholism, but also gave depth and power to his enormous body of work. Ramakrishna helped Girish see beyond his personal tragedies into the beauty and subtle purpose of the Divine Mother s will. Ramakrishna s part in the history of religions is well known: he modeled religious tolerance and respect for all traditions during his life; after his death, his disciple Swami Vivekananda was among the first to bring the wisdom of yoga and Vedanta to the West. Few of his Western admirers realize however, that Ramakrishna was and remains even today the patron saint of the stage in his native Bengal, a testament to his enduring impact on Girish Ghosh and the artists and actors of India. Swami Chetanananda s authoritative biography provides a fascinating introduction to Ramakrishna s most colourful and least orthodox devotee. Details of numerous encounters between master and disciple have been preserved; we actually see Ramakrishna teaching and reshaping this difficult student. Chetanananda also describes Girish Ghosh s contributions to the development of modern Bengali theatre and summarizes some of his most influential plays, revealing Ramakrishna s direct influence. The sparkling arts and vibrant spirituality of nineteenth century Calcutta at that time a cultural centre of British India comes to life in this vivid portrait of that magical era. The readers are grateful to Swami Chetanananda for preparing this exhaustively documented account of Girish Chandra Ghosh for the English-speaking world. Till now Ghosh has remained a charming and intriguing shadow figure to those of us who do not read Bengali. Now at last this brilliant artist and humanitarian will receive the worldwide attention he has always deserved. This is an important book for everyone who has been touched by the extraordinary life of Ramakrishna, and for anyone who wonders if a sinner truly can become a saint

Product Description This pictorial biography celebrates Vivekananda s 150th birth anniversary and his universal message of Vedanta. He reiterated the great Vedantic truth unity in diversity. People, languages, cultures, customs, and religious beliefs may differ, but human consciousness, human nature, and the aspiration for freedom are always the same. Vivekananda called for the acceptance of universal truths common to all humanity; he called for the spiritual awakening of the world. His ability to communicate spiritual ideas in a practical, straightforward way has always appealed to Western minds; his universal message has enriched the spiritual lives of countless Westerners. Vivekananda: East Meets West is an excellent survey of Vivekananda s life and teachings and his encounter with many distinguished Western savants; it reveals where the eastern and western cultures and religions can find a common ground to live in harmony and derive benefit from each other; and finally it provides what the West needs badly today pure spirituality devoid of narrowness and bigotry, commercialism and politics. About the Author Swami Chetanananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order, India. Before coming to the United States he worked in the editorial and publication departments of Advaita Ashrama in Mayavati, Himalayas, and also at its Calcutta branch. He served as an assistant minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California from 1971 to 1978 before taking his present position as the minister of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis.

Vivekananda: East Meets West (a Pictorial Biography)

This Book narrates in great detail the attraction held by Sri Ramakrishna over lay disciples by the power and depth of his spirituality. It is interesting to note that these lay disciples even after Swami Ramakrishna's death continued to live the same transformed lives. They accepted him as as a Divine Incarnation, as God manifest in human form. This Books presents a more complete picture of Ramakrishna himself, including many new stories about life which have never been recorded in English.

They Lived With God: Life Stories Of Some Devotees of Sri Ramakrishna

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Chetanananda. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Chetanananda

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Chetanananda. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

They Lived with God

Open Heart Open Mind: Practical Lessons in Loving Your LIfe

They Lived with God: Life Stories of Some Devotees of Sri Ramakrishna

They Lived with God: Life Stories of Some Devotees of Sri Ramakrishna

How to Live with God: In the Company of Ramakrishna

Girish Chandra Ghosh: A Bohemian Devotee of Sri Ramakrishna

Girish Chandra Ghosh: A Bohemian Devotee of Sri Ramakrishna

Vivekananda: East Meets West (a Pictorial Biography)

They Lived With God: Life Stories Of Some Devotees of Sri Ramakrishna