By Swami Tapasyananda. 4 vol set. Published by: Sri Ramakrishna Math
The simplest and easiest spiritual path is said to be that of Bhakti, or devotion to God. More than any other spiritual exercise, reading of the Bhagavata is said to develop the feelings of devotion. The Bhagavata is the story of the various sporting incarnations of the Supreme embodied as various Divine Aspects and Personalities. It is also the stories of the Sages, Saints, and devotees who played their part in the divine dramas. This is a beautiful and prosaic translation of the classic Bhagavata into English with the original Sanskrit verses included.
By Sri Sathya Sai Baba (single volume)
This book contains the essence of the classic Bhagavata stories retold authoritatively by Sathya Sai Baba. Sai Baba adds the descriptive subtitle - The Story of God and his Devotees. The stories of the Bhagavata are thrilling and confer both bliss and wisdom. This is a very readable and understandable version of Bhagavata and more concise than the four volume set above.
Order this book by telephone from Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust - 714 669 0522 (and ask for a catalog)
Bhagavad Gita - The Song of God
Translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood. Publisher, Mentor Books.
It is said all the wisdom of the Vedas is contained in the short narrative of the Bhagavad Gita. The words of the Avatar Krishna are captured here in a conversation with the hero, Arjuna, just as they were spoken 3500 years ago. Every page is packed with insights. This is an excellent book to learn of the nature of Avatars and Divine Reality.
By Sathya Sai Baba. Published by Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust.
One of the stated missions of Sathya Sai Baba is to restore the importance of the Vedic wisdom to India and the world. Accordingly over a period of years he has rewritten the classic teachings from his clear perspective. This is the purified version of the Bhagavad Gita (Geetha) gifted by Sai Ram.
Order this book by telephone from Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust - 714 669 0522 (and ask for a catalog)
Ramakrishna
Life of Sri Ramakrishna
By the Advaita Ashrama (India), Publisher same. Available from Vedanta Society and some bookstores - see below. The life of Sri Ramakrishna is a great inspiration to anyone on the spiritual path. In his own short life he moved through all the stages from devotee to enlightened Master. He took on many spiritual paths and worshiped all forms of the Divine, including Divine Mother, Christ, the Avatars Rama and Krishna, and even the Formless Absolute itself in the Advaitha (not-two) state of mergence. The charismatic personality of Ramakrishna shines in the pages of his story. Reading of this confers a wide understanding of Eastern spiritual concepts while giving the reader a great deal of enjoyment.
M. U. Hatengdi, Publisher Rudra Press. Available at most bookstores. Mr. Hatengdi was a devotee of Nityananda from the early days at the Ganeshpuri Ashram. He wrote of the life of Nityananda from well authenticated incidents recorded by his many devotees. This book brings almost everything that is known of Nityananda under one cover. To read this book, one can't help feeling a subtle connection develop with the omniscient being that was the Master. There are many truly amazing incidents from the life of Nityananda, only a small portion of which appear on the CosmicHarmony web site. A moving and inspiring book.
Swami Muktananda, Publisher SYDA Foundation
Muktananda was one of Nityananda's most well known disciples. Nityananda blessed Muktananda's practice of Siddha Yoga and sent him off to meditate. This book is the fascinating account of Muktananda's encounter with Nityananda and his subsequent visions and meditation states as his Kundalini Shakti was aroused and pierced through the various chakra centers, conferring ever higher states of consciousness. This is a very good book for anyone interested in the Kundalini energy, or the female energy of the universe known as Shakti or Shaktipat. The name Muktananda means Bliss of Liberation.
Swami Muktananda, A Siddha Yoga Publication (the SYDA Foundation)
This book contains a collection of Swami Muktananda's written and spoken accounts, stories and memories on the great Siddha that was his Guru, Nityananda. His accounts are conversational in tone and vivid in evoking images of the incidents that formed the relationship of the sadhaka that was the young Muktananda, and the God-realized Avadhut Nityananda, who took birth as a fully enlightened being. Muktananda gives the reader a look at his own struggles with ego and how Nityananda dealt with them, crushing his obstacles one by one and then initiating his worthy disciple into an intense path of meditation and mantra yoga until Muktananda experienced his own union of the Shiva and Shakti within, finally attaining the nirvikalpa state of enlightenment. The power of both the great Guru and enlightened disciple shines through every word of this book.
Conversations with Swami Mutananda: The Early Years
Swami Muktananda, A Siddha Yoga Publication (the SYDA Foundation)
As a young Sadhak, Muktananda traveled all over India seeking out every Saint and holy man he could find. He read all the scriptures of ancient Bharath to try to absorb their wisdom and reach enlightenment. His memory was phenomenal and in this book, he punctuates his conversations with quotations from literature and stories taken from historic and contemporary saints. These conversations occurred between 1962 and 1966 and were recorded by his chief disciple, Dada. Muktananda speaks about his experiences of enlightenment, the mysteries of the hidden work carried on by Siddhas such as Nityananda, other realms of consciousness, the nature of Shakti and Shaktipat, Avatars, Kundalini, karma, rebirth, UFOs and the nature of the universe, and many diverse and interesting topics.
Swami Muktananda, A Siddha Yoga Publication (the SYDA Foundation)
Many things are confusing to the disciple on the path of liberation. There are many paths, competing religions and sects, and seemingly contradictory teachings. Swami Muktananda sheds light on the various paths leading towards liberation. He deals with the paths of knowledge, meditation, devotion, and his own path of attainment, Siddha Yoga. He speaks from his own experience on the use of mantra, the essence of mantra, and the process of using the mantra to attain high states of awareness. Throughout, he recommends no preference for any particular path or religion but only emphasizes that the nature of each individual seeker itself determines the best path for the individual. He clarifies the choices and shows how each path contains elements of the other paths and in the end, all converge and produce the same result. The writings are alive with stories of historic sages, quotations from past masters, and relevant short passages from the well known Eastern Classics.
By Hemadpant, translated by N. Gunaji. Published by Shirdi Sansthan, India.
The word Satcharita means story of. It is difficult to cultivate attachment to the abstract Formless Absolute but it is easy to get attached to an embodiment of the Divine such as Shirdi Sai Baba. If we think of him, we automatically draw his attention to us. In life, he said again and again that he always looks out for his devotees and that he is always with us. Such powerful Avatars continue the link with their devotees even after leaving the physical body. If this book is read one story per day, the aspirant can maintain an inner link with Shirdi Sai Baba, whose presence survives beyond the grave. This is an inspiring and powerful bouquet of Shirdi Sai's Leelas collected by his many devotees. Sai Baba had a huge impact on thousands of people and either set them firmly on the spiritual path or took them to their final destination. He is believed to be an incarnation of the Shiva (Father, Atma) aspect of God.
By Antonio Rigopoulos. Published by State University of New York Press, Albany.
This is a scholarly but thorough presentation of just about everything known about Shirdi Sai Baba. It was originally a doctoral thesis which the author then expanded on and published after uncovering further material. Much of the writings about Shirdi Sai Baba are out of print and generally unavailable and this book taps into that rich resource and presents the stories in a sequential format. This is a very good source for anyone wanting more detail than is given in the Satcharita.
By Phyllis Krystal Published by Aura Books, Los Angeles
In the latter part of her life, Phyllis Krystal heard about and sought out Sathya Sai Baba as the teacher she had been searching for in her 20 year spiritual quest. She had met with many other leading lights in India and elsewhere but when she came into the presence of Sai Baba she knew she had reached her spiritual home. This is her personal and very moving story of her various encounters with Sai Baba and the many events which led her to feel he was always with her, guiding her life. Highly recommended.
By Howard Murphet Published by Samuel Weiser, York Beach, Maine
Before meeting Sai Baba, Howard Murphet was already an established writer with a large following. He had written about Madame Blavatsky who initiated the Theosophical movement and the Trans-Himalayan Adepts otherwise known as the White Brotherhood. In his travels, he sought out men reputed to be holy or wise and met with them seeking in flesh and blood super-men of the caliber of the great Adepts he had written of earlier. His meetings inevitably ended in disappointment until he heard of a man named Sai Baba who was reputed to be able to create small objects with a wave of his hand. In a first meeting with Howard Murphet and his wife, Sai Baba materialized sacred ash with his hands and gave them to the wife as a cure along with advice on the state of her health which he seemed to have extensive knowledge of. Man of Miracles details the many visits Howard Murphet made and his meetings with and stories of the devotees of Sai Baba who's lives had been touched and changed by him. There are many well documented and fascinating stories of these miraculous interventions as well as background information and a summary of the Sai teachings. This book has launched many people on a journey towards Sai Baba.
By Samuel Sandweiss Published by Birth Day Publishing company, San Diego, CA
A skeptical psychiatrist joined friends (against his better judgment) on a journey to Puttaparthi India to see the Holy Man, Sai Baba, about whom he had heard so much. He went to understand the phenomenon of a "man" with miraculous and mystical powers; to either confirm or deny the mystery. The meeting unraveled the pattern of his existence and forever changed the direction of his life and those of his circle of family and friends. This is an excellent introductory book and covers the field of Sai stories, facts, powers, and pronouncements.
These are the collected discourses of Sathya Sai Baba compiled by the devotee and translator N. Kasturi over the years. Published by the Sri Sathya Sai books and Publications Trust.
In 1953, at the age of 27, Sai Baba made his first public speech to his devotees. "I have been all these days generally giving individual advice and answers to individual questions. This speech is a new experience for you. I am addressing a gathering today. For me it is not new. I have addressed large gatherings before, though not in this Appearance (Avatar). The one purpose of the re-education of Man persists, whatever the yuga (age) or the era."
Ever since that day, Sai Baba has been addressing gatherings from the few to the hundreds of thousands. He always speaks extemporaneously, without notes, and according to the listeners, often answers questions that form in their minds as he is speaking. He speaks to issues they are feeling in their hearts. He often makes some specific obscure reference that strikes a chord with a particular member of the audience so that the person knows beyond a doubt that Sai Baba is speaking directly to him and him alone.
There are now 24 volumes of collected discourses. Any one of them provides a daily treasure of wisdom and inspiration to the reader. The early volumes (especially Volume I) have many fascinating gems of revelation.
There are probably several hundred books now written about Sathya Sai Baba and dozens written by him. The first three mentioned above are good introductory books. There are many other fine and interesting books. To find out about others contact the Tustin Sathya Sai Book Center of America or the Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust. See below.
Tibet, Himalayan Region, Milarepa
Tibet's Great Yogi - Milarepa
By W. Y. Evans Wentz. Publisher Oxford Univ. Press.
This is a detailed and very interesting account of the life of the famous Tibetan Saint. The young and pure minded Milarepa was forced onto the dark path at an early age by his mother who was seeking vengeance for a grievous wrong committed on the family. He was sent away to learn sorcery and succeeded, much to his own horror, at destroying the family's enemies. Milarepa wanted nothing more to do with sorcery and eventually met his Guru, Marpa the Translator. He was put through a series of physically and emotionally brutal tasks by Marpa who knew that Milarepa must dissipate the evil Karma he had accumulated doing black magic. Milarepa suffered enormously and once cleansed, took to the path of austere meditation and after decades of hard effort, finally attained to ultimate enlightenment. This is the fascinating story of his life which took place in Tibet, about 950 years ago. Many caves in the Himalayas, including at Mt. Kailas itself, are known to have been visited and made holy by the presence of Milarepa. It is said that just to hear the name Milarepa confers a spiritual blessing.
By Lama Anagarika Govinda. Publisher Shambhala; Boulder, CO.
Anyone with an interest in Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism or Tibet itself owes it to themselves to read this rare and beautiful account of the author's travels through Tibet as it was before the Chinese invasion. Lama Anagarika Govinda undertook a pilgrimage to visit many sacred out of the way Tibetan temples and record the artwork there for posterity before the ravages of time (and subsequently the destruction by the Chinese invaders) could waste it. On his journey he describes the awe inspiring visions of the Tibetan countryside which he observed first hand as he traveled on foot over caravan routes across the sky-high passes, through immensely deep gorges, over frozen rivers, and even by sliding thousands of feet down sand chutes in the dry canyons of rarely seen regions. He visited abandoned monasteries where huge gold plated buddhas look down in silence, presiding in darkness over the statues and paintings of Tibetan Buddhist art forms. He describes in vivid detail his sacred journey around the fabled Mount Kailas, home of the Gods and central power point of the Earth. Most inspiring of all is the quest of the spirit, the finding of a Guru with whom he discovered a link transcending time, and the meditation inspired visions, revealing the spiritual truths and the great beings who preside over human unfoldment, judging us not but nudging us ever onward to higher vistas through their radiant emanations of love and wisdom.
The Vedanta Society of Southern California is an excellent source of many hard to find Eastern Classics (Bhagavad Gita, (Srimad) Bhagavata, Upanishads, etc) as well as books of Sri Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Holy Mother and other well known Indian saints.
1946 Vedanta Place. Hollywood, Calif. 90068
Most of the books by and about Sathya Sai Baba are available at the Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust in India at very low prices due to currency exchange rates. This includes the entire series covering Bhagavata, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana (Story of the Rama Avatar), Upanishad, etc as the Vahini series authored by Sai Baba himself. His talks and teachings are published as the Sathya Sai Speaks and the excellent Summer Showers series. Various books by devotees narrating their experiences are available here too. You can also subscribe to the monthy Sathya Sai Publicaion Sanathana Sarathi (The Eternal Charioteer) which publishes his discourses and devotee's writings.
The Publications Trust book list is very complete except for some books which are better obtained from commercial distributors. Although the prices are very low, shipping from India (even via airmail) is fairly slow. If you want the books faster, contact the Tustin Sathya Sai Book Center (below) or try some of the major book distributors or specialized spiritual bookstores.
For a list of publications, Write: Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust
Prashanti Nilayam, Anantapur District
Andhra Pradesh, India Pin 515134
Sathya Sai Book Center of America
Many of the same books handled by the Publications Trust (above) can also be purchased from the Tustin book center. Delivery will typically be much faster than ordering from India. Call to order or for a book list - 714 669 0522. Or write to them at: 305 West First St. Tustin, CA (U.S.A) 92780-3108
Books and Photos of Shirdi Sai Baba
Some of the books of Shirdi Sai Baba and some photographs of him are available from SaiBaba.org. In addition there are two organizations in India who sell them:
Executive Officer, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan
Shirdi, Tal - Kopargaon
Dist - Ahemednagar
Maharashtra, India
Sai Niketan,
804-B Dr. Ambedkar Road
Dadar, Mumbai - 400014, India
