Yoga, enlightenment and perfect -- of his holiness Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal.
Excerpts from the introduction: "This book extensively deals with Acharyal's spiritual practices right up to their culmination ... Acharyal recounted to me the full details of His divine sport of practising spiritual disciplines and attaining enlightenment and jivanmukti ... I have reproduced as faithfully as I could the various conversaitons during which my revered Guru did so."
God Lived with Them
God lived with them -- Life stories of sixteen monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Chetanananda.
Excerpts from the back cover reviews: "God lived with them shows how Sri Ramakrishna affected those who knew him best, and how he inspired them to dedicate their whole lives to his message and mission. We learn how these fascinating figures grew as individual persons, each finding his own way to be true to Sri Ramakrishna's heritage, doing their work in India and the West."
Meditation and Spiritual Life
Meditation and Spiritual Life by Swami Yatiswarananda.
Excerpts from the back cover: "This book, a compilation of class-talks given by the author to groups of earnest spiritual aspirants ... is a practical manual of spiritual life with special emphasis on meditation ... It is specially intended for those who sincerely practice prayer, japa and meditation, and are eager to attain some spiritual fulfilment."
Aghora
Aghora -- at the left hand of God. Robert E. Svoboda.
Excerpts from the introduction: "This is the story of the Aghori Vimalananda ... the true Aghori cannot be recognized by any external sign or mark ... some of the events described in this book may well offend the reader's sensitivities. Part of this was Vimalananda's intention. He wanted Western holier-than-thou renunciates to know that "filth and orgies in the graveyard" (as one American once described Aghora) can be as conducive to spiritual advancement as can asanas, pranayama, and other "purer" disciplines ... He never tired of telling us, "Don't take anything I say as gospel truth. I am human, I make mistakes. Test on yourselves what I've told you. Try it out, experience it, and then you will know whether or not I'm telling you the truth. When you examine a gem you must evaluate it from all its facets before you can decide on its value." Here then is Vimalananda, for your evaluation."
Other interesting books
Purna Vidya
Purna Vidya -- a vision of Hindu dharma. Swamini Pramananda Saraswati, Sri Dhira Chaitanya.
Excerpts from the introduction: "Purna Vidya, a Vedic Heritage Teaching Program, is a twelve year teaching program designed specifically to teach children Vedic culture and heritage ... This book is an abridged version of Purna Vidya, in a form suitable for adult reading. Purna vidya provides an insight into the Hindu way of life."
Contents: Values, Isvara, Religious disciplines, Form and spirit of Vedic culture, Worship and festivals, Places of pilgrimage, Rivers of India, Saints, Hindu mathas, The teaching tradition of India, Women in Vedic culture, Unique aspects of Hindu dharma, The Hindu samskaras, Human developmen, Vedic and modern influences, Psychological growth and spiritual seeking, The fourteen-fold Vedic knowledge, The Vedas as a means of knolwedge, The six vedangas, The four Upavedas, Other literary works.
The Beautiful Tree
The Beautiful Tree -- indigenous Indian education in the eighteenth century. Dharmapal.
Excerpts from the introduction: "A major part of the documents reproduced in this book pertain to the Madras Presidency Indigenous Education Survey ... Many scholars must have come across the detailed material in the Madras Presidency District Records, as well as the Presidency Revenue Records ... for some unexplained reasons this material seems to have escaped academic attention. The Beautiful Tree ... is the continuation of an effort to comprehend ... the reality of the India of this period: its society, its infra-structure, its manners and institutions, their strengths and weaknesses."
Supreme Knowledge
The Supreme Knowledge -- revealed through vidyas in the upanishads. Swami Brahmananda.
Excerpts from the introduction: "The Upanishadic Vidyas are meditations which act as correctives to this outlook of life, leading to the ultimate goal of Self-realisation ... Sri Swami Brahmananda Maharaj ... expounds 101 important vidyas culled from the twelve major Upanishads."
Contents: 101 Meditations from the Isavasya, Kena, Katha, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka, Svetasvatara and Kaushitaki Upanishads
