Bubby

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi’s life itself is Upadesa. His every action, His every movement was the eternal Upadesa — the Golden Silence. Though His written teachings are themselves standing monuments of Truth, yet, for those who could not have direct access to His teachings through the privilege of living with the Master — what is the next best recourse? The seeker if sincere and earnest to tread the direct path of Vichara as taught by Sri Ramana, will find it easier to attach himself to the older devotees who have lived with the Master and directly imbibed His words of nectar. Thus ...

On the day her first book came out—a new translation of Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross—Mirabai Starr’s daughter, Jenny, was killed in a car accident. “My spiritual life began the day my daughter died,” writes Mirabai. Even with decades of spiritual practice and a deep immersion in the greatest mystical texts, she found herself utterly unprepared for “my most powerful catalyst for transformation, my fiercest and most compassionate teacher.”

“Money should be used to help others.” “Attachment is the strongest block to realization.” “Love is the strongest medicine.” “All action is prayer.” “Whoever works for God, his work will be done by itself.” “Keep God in your heart like you keep money in the bank.” Neem Karoli Baba known to his followers as Maharaj-ji - was a Hindu guru, mystic and devotee of the Hindu lord Hanuman. Here is the essence of his remarkable life and teachings.

What would be the practical implications of caring more about others than about yourself? This is the radical theme of this extraordinary set of instructions, a training manual composed in the fourteenth century by the Buddhist hermit Ngulchu Thogme, here explained in detail by one of the great Tibetan Buddhist masters of the twentieth century, Dilgo Khyentse. In the Mahayana tradition, those who have the courage to undertake the profound change of attitude required to develop true compassion are called bodhisattvas.

Ricard has selected and translated some of the most profound and inspiring teachings from across these traditions. The selected teachings are taken from the sources of the traditions, including the Buddha himself, Nagarjuna, Guru Rinpoche, Atisha, Shantideva, and Asanga; from great masters of the past, including Thogme Zangpo, the Fifth Dalai Lama, Milarepa, Longchenpa, and Sakya Pandita; and from contemporary masters, including the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and Mingyur Rinpoche.