India Books

"Touched by Fire" is a book about the ongoing journey of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait. It is filled with deep wisdom about spiritual truths and the common pitfalls a devotee makes on the road towards the divine. In this wonderful book, the author tells the reader his own shortcomings and imperfections about his character. It takes a great man to admit his faults in public and this shows us that the author has reached an advanced stage of spiritual development. This gives the 'ordinary' reader hope in the spiritual path.

This book is also filled with tales of miracles performed by certain yogis. For example, the author writes about a yogi walking on water. However, these miracles are spiritually useless and it only feeds the ego. There are numerous examples of this and each of them has a lesson to tell to the reader. Highly recommended for spiritual seekers worldwide!

TOUCHED BY FIRE: "The Ongoing Journey of a Spiritual Seeker" By Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Ph.D, is a book that will touch readers deeply. The author is the Spiritual Director of the Himalayan Institute in Pennsylvania and the author of other books. The autobiography of Pandit's spiritual journey from his humble childhood in India as the son of a Brahmin spiritual leader to the royalty that were displaced when the British left India. Pandit's father went from living as one of the most revered members of the palace to living in a hovel and barely able to feed his family. From a young age Pandit had deep yearning of his sould which drove him to do everything necessary to gain the highest level of spiritual and University education possible, even though no one from his humble village had ever gone higher than fifth grade. Through many trials Pandit experienced the Divine providing what he needed when he needed it, and his teachers always appeared when the student was ready.His walk is a journey of faith and deep soul searching while he learns to find God not out in the world but within and he experiences the One Divine within himself and learns to see the Divine in every living being. This is a beautiful and inspiring book, and no matter what your religious faith, you'll find yourself learning that God is One, no matter by what name or in what place you worship Him/Her. This humble Hindu teacher has marvelous lessons to teach muslims, Christians, Jews and other faiths: The way to access our individual relationship with the Supreme Being is to learn the disciplines of meditation and faithful daily practice and discipline in personal actions: always humble, and never taking money or boosting ego from the spiritual experiences. One of the most deeply moving books I have read.

This biography gives deep insight into a life that started literally in another world (rural village India) and continues in the modern West. Pandit Tigunait has shared amazing stories and lessons from his own experience that has powerful implications for our own seeking and growth. The amazing thing is that he is still so young and begs one to wonder what will come next from this great soul. A most remarkable read that is at once humble and great.

Touched by Fire: The Ongoing Journey of a Spiritual Seeker chronicles the biographical journey of a man from his birthplace in an ancient village in India to his present-day service as the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute located in northeastern Pennsylvania. Touched by Fire is neither a "how-to" guide to achieving spiritual enlightenment nor a summon to any specific religious faith, but rather one man's journey across years of study, the struggle to master emotions, and the guidance of providence in finding his destiny. A message of hope and universal brotherhood rests within this inspirational life story.

I was blessed to be able to attend Eckhart's first ever long retreat in India, in Rishikesh, nestled in the Himalayan foothills. We came from all over the world and needless to say it was a transformational experience. On the last day the retreat was opened to the public for an afternoon session and I wondered what he could say that we had not all ready heard. It was an amazing, brilliant summation of the entire week and I felt like we were in the presence of the Krishnamurti of our time. Drink of this wisdom and enjoy.

Of the many offerings from the brilliant Eckhart Tolle, this retreat series will stand among his classic-best. The reasons are threefold. First, the decision for its locale in India renders it an eye-opening experience for many in the Western Hemisphere who have never entered into this profoundly deep spiritual setting - the filming here is exquisite. Second, because Eckhart Tolle held this retreat not that long after the debut of his best-seller, The Power of Now, his enthusiasm is absolutely contagious along with his willingness to tackle some tough questions from the audience. Third, the scope of subjects explored really covers virtually everything (and more) he has addressed in other Audio CD compilations over the years. Overall, simply outstanding and worth every penny!

I watch all these six DVDs of Eckhart for the past one week. His voice is superb and the way of his expression is wonderful. I can say the truth is always truth whether its western expression or eastern expression. He speaks about non-duality of spirit and duality of mind that is form is exactly matches with the ADVAITHA VEDANTHA of ADI SANKARACHARYA. The language may be changed due to time and space. But he speaks the same thing. It causes the soothing effect on your ears(SENSES) and mind. No doubt it awakens your inner spirit.
The location of this retreat is wonderful. India is the land of spirituality and the banks of holy river GANGA is the great place that have selected.
He tries very much to please and grab the attention and focus of the audience with simple language. The abstract concepts like death, ego, happiness and many more were described in a simple manner.
I do believe these set of dvds are my life time purchase. And I strongly believe that continuous listening to them will bring me peace of mind and stillness in behavior.
I strongly suggest every spiritual aspirant of world to have this set with them.
He is a great spiritual teacher with eastern thought in the western world.
May holy spirit give him more strength to work in bringing world peace and unity among spirituality.

DATHA PRASAD

Eckhart Tolle is one of the most amazing spiritual teachers alive today. This DVD-set contains 6 DVD's. Each disc contains 2 lectures of about 1,5 hour in length. The DVD is kicked off with some views of the river Ganges and views of nature accompanied by beautiful shots of nature. The picture quality is excellent. The sound quality is pretty good as well; with a minor setback on one disk (Tolle uses the interference to remind us that "all structures are unstable").
The talks Tolle gives are truly amazing. Deep wisdom and enlightening humour go hand in hand. Not only do you get the core of his teachings and many accompanying details, Tolle has the magic capability of transferring his state of Presence to the listener. So, these DVD's are both lectures and meditation sessions. Seen this way, you can view them many times and although the information has settled in, you will still be able to experience Presence. It is clear that the words spoken by Tolle come from his inner state. He sometimes pauses, closes his eyes, sits completely still for some time and then continues his lecture.
I wouldn't recommend buying each and every CD and DVD by Eckhart Tolle. If you have a couple you'll have all the information you need. I would, however, recommend making sure that "Touching The Eternal" is one of the items you do buy.

This book has some great basic indian recipes. however, i found alot of the curries to taste the same and use almost all of the same ingredients. I wish that there was a little more variety in the types of curry they put in this book!

This was my first purchase of an Indian cookbook. The recipies are very easy to follow, take very little time to make and taste great. The red kidney bean curry is especially good. The introduction gives great basic information on Indian spices and tips for cooking. The book has given me confidence to try more involved Indian cooking. You cannot go wrong with this book if you are a beginner to the art of Indian cooking.

I found this book was excellent! Very easy to follow, user friendly and lead to delicious results! If you want to impress your friends with a authentic curry, try this book!

I LOVE this book. I had bought a different Indian cookbook previously which took way too much time to prepare and cook the recipes. In this book I didn't find that at all. AND they give many of the recipes that you would eat at Indian restaurants, including the desserts. They also note what side items would go with each dish. Everything is well explained for someone who knows nothing about Indian cooking.

India has always been on my wish list of places to go and this is the year for me! I have bought several guidebooks and THIS travel CD is definitely the way to go. Not only was it full of detailed pictures and descriptions of Agra's vast history and architecture, but it was so much more than I ever expected. The travel tips, useful words, phrases, and FAQ were an added bonus. What really brought things to life was the video. The video flowed so smoothly with the musical sound, giving it a local flair. It really made me feel like my trip is much closer to reality than I ever imagined.

I have been to India several times on company business and have had the opportunity to see the Taj Mahal, up close. So I was very skeptical about this book when I ordered it. However, I loved the video and pictures. It reminded me of the time I was there and I noticed a lot of artistic details that escaped me during my short visit. I was able to share my experience with friends and collegues to show them exactly where I went. And I did not even have to lug around a 10 lb camcorder to do it.

The developers of this CD have gone to a lot of trouble to build the platform for their presentation. Frankly, I think that the pictures, the videos and the soulful music would have been phenom by itself. Navigation is great and the historical/travel info useful. It has been a great addition to my travel books collection. I am so enticed by the video and the pictures that I am planning my next trip to see 'Taj Mahal' with another girlfriend, this October! Very exciting.

I am planning to visit India later this year and a friend of mine couldn't stop raving about these CDs and recommended that I buy them before my trip. Hats off to the developers of this product. The video, pictures and exotic Indian music in the background just enthralled my girlfriend and I. The best part is that now we know exactly which places to see and what to do during our trip. I am looking forward to the New Delhi CD to be released. Totally worth it!

This is the second CD I have purchased from this company and I am amazed with the quality products they produce. As a "self proclaimed" history buff I have learned so much about Jaipur in so little time. The CD was full of interesting facts about the history of Jaipur and its forts, palaces, and surrounded buildings. From the water palace, to the palace of winds, to the mirror palace, to the many forts, to the resevoir with buried treasure, exploring Jaipur is a history buffs dream. The CD also highlights the detailed artwork that went into building such elaborate palaces. That alone is worth seeing this video. Also of interest was the influence of astronomy and the building of huge time instruments and seeing the local craftmen at work.

When I ordered this CD, I was not sure if it would add anything to the travel guide I bought earlier. I was extremely pleased that I did, because not only does it give all the travel related info on shopping, transportation, phrases etc., but also the incredible quality of video and photos actually made me realize how incredible these palaces are and I can't wait to go there. Plus viewing these places on my computer helped me decide on which points of interest to focus my time there. The alluring background music completes the illusion, and I was able to print all the info including color pictures that I will take with me on my trip and later add to my scrapbook. I would recommend this CD to anyone looking to learn more about India or visting the exotic/mystic city of Jaipur.

I am planning to visit India later this year and a friend of mine couldn't stop raving about these CDs and recommended that I buy them before my trip. Hats off to the developers of this product. The video, pictures and exotic Indian music in the background just enthralled my girlfriend and I. The best part is that now we know exactly which places to see and what to do during our trip. I am looking forward to the New Delhi CD to be released. Totally worth it!

The cover says it all in terms of rich and bright colors. The pictures are incredible and the film-roll photo viwer is really fun to play with. Travel info on the CD will be very useful for my trip to India and I was able to print everything to take with me. Although the CD has a list of hotels, restaurants, etc. but I wish that they had a list of preferred travel service providers who I could call to book sighseeing tours with and get a good deal. Also, I have an older B&W printer, so was unable to print pictures. Interactive map is really cool too.

I can't say enough good things about this wonderful, exciting book. It has everything in it: vivid descriptions of horrid conditions, cuddly rats, snakes named Mona Lisa, very insightful passages about Buddhist teaching presented in a non-dogmatic way, linguistic trivia and examples, and of course extremely vibrant human characters. You might think that if Tsar, the Bosnia ex-monk who is constantly playing chess, fighting, making love and planning to escape India, is the central character, and he is, that the author couldn't paint others in as realistic a light. And yet he does. Vinnie, the crazy 70-year-old German who pisses on the floor of the kitchen and whose feet are oderiferous in the extreme, comes across in full living technicolor. But surprisingly, the author paints himself as a real human in no-less detail, which was really really neat. I almost feel as if I know him. I certain feel as if he and I share the same common human traits of desire for englightenment, and everything baser. But it is more than that. The book's details and word painting are just staggering. Excellent job! I wish I could read Bulgarian in order to enjoy your other books. You (Mr. Grozni) are one superb author!!!!

While the author of "Turtle Feet" is a very talented writer, (when he is describing the beauty of his surroundings, he sometimes verges on the poetic) in this book, he spends way, way too much time detailing the exploits of his manic, foul-mouthed, Bosnian, ex-Monk friend, Tsar. Grozni's religious/spiritual experiences as a novice monk take a back seat to Tsar's theatrics.

People in India - like people everywhere - all share certain human traits. You get a bunch of young men living together in a community (even a Tibetan Buddhist community) and there are going to be some there with bad tempers, some with mental problems, some who swear like sailors, some who love to talk about sex, and some who use drugs. Maybe the author thought it was important to let us know this. But there is so much more that he could have shared with us - things unique to his life in India - that he did not.

While the book offers a glimpse into a far-off world, it left me wishing the author had "waxed poetic" on more occasions and spent less time on his friend's passport/housing/woman troubles.

I finished Turtle Feet last night before bed, and I dreamt all night about one of the characters--the eccentric, ribald, rebellious and loveable alcoholic womanizing Bosnian ex-monk called Tsar. I never expected that this book would make me laugh so hard and dream so vividly. I chose the book because I was curious to know what could make a handsome, gifted young man with so much musical talent--who had only just managed to get out of Bulgaria to the States--decide to give up everything and enter a Tibetan monastery. I didn't expect that Grozni's monastic world would be so down to earth, filled with so many quirky, damaged, endearing, curious, intriguing, and truly sympathetic characters. I had not expected to encounter sexually frustrated monks, nuns on the verge of nervous breakdowns, weary adventurers plagued by loneliness and longing, competitive chess players brawling over matches, and most interesting to me--people who struggle, as I do, with the question of whether they have chosen the right path. Is what they are committed to meaningful and worthwhile, or of it is just another farce, another man-made construction in this absurd world? This was a great book! Moving, enlightening and damn funny. It is definitely a must read if you are interested in Tibet and monks and spirituality... For me though, I loved it because it gave me a clever, irreverent, sometimes hilarious insider's peek behind the curtain into a secret world--a world that I had no idea was scandalous as often as it is spiritual and serene.

Are you tired of reading Buddhist books about serene, serious, saffron robed monks sitting on cushions mediatating on the nature of emptiness? Then it's time for 'Turtle Feet' a raucous look at what Buddhist life is really like.

Author Grozni, a Bulgarian music prodigy studying jazz piano at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, decides to chuck it all and go to India in order to learn the meaning of life. He travels to Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama in exile and thousands of Tibetan refugees from Communist China. There Grozni becomes a monk newly named Lodro Chosang.

The streets of Dharamsala are teeming with life as thousands converge there from all over the world to study the dharma and perhaps get a glimpse of the Dalai Lama. Grozni's account of his life of poverty there is vivid and his assortment of friends fascinating. Grozni lives with a Bosnian war refugee with no passport named, Tsar. Tsar is an ex-monk, having violated one of the Buddhist precepts and having had sex with a beautiful Israeli girl. Other members of the household include Mona Lisa, a huge green snake, a plethora of rats (one named Thomas Edison) and various other wild life large and small.

While Grozni studies at the nearby monastery with an emotionally abusive Geshe (Geshe being the Ph.d of the monk world), attempting to memorize sacred texts and master advanced debating techniques worthy of samurai warriors, Tsar carouses, plays chess for hours, smokes dope and ruminates about how to get out of India with no passport.

Years go by, friends come and go and Grozni learns that to understand something clearly one must give it up. His Buddhist journey is wry and wise.

These are charming tales. It adds poignancy to the story of the author in Spy Princess.

The "Twenty Jataka Tales" is a great book to read out loud to kids. I read several of these stories to my students at my elementary school recently. Because the heroes of these stories are different from those in most literature, books and television shows, they definitely caught the students' interest. The kids of today are not often exposed to stories that are NOT resolved with violence or by dominance of will or physical might. Since the stories were resolved through acts of compassion and lovingkindness, they stood out in contrast to most of the images and ideas children are accustomed to in modern culture. I was pleased to offer the children some new ways to view ourselves and others. The book is full of non-violent means to resolving conflict that benefit all parties in the stories. These are the stories that Buddha told to children during his own lifetime. These stories will plant seeds that may lead these children toward more thoughtful, empathetic ways to view themselves and others. They also provide alternative means for approaching disagreements, misunderstandings, and conflict in their own lives.

Princess Noor Inayat Khan was a World War II heroine. A "spy" who could not tell a lie. As a SOE radio operator in occupied France, she gave her life in the fight for the liberation of her adopted homeland. As the daughter of a Sufi teacher, these tales reflect her view of life and from which one can see the foundation for the philosophies that shaped her life and martyred death. The stories are retold so to be easily read and/or understood by children, but the lessons they teach are for adults as well. The lessons taught are universal in application.

Gentle tales of/from Buddha. Mostly tales of animal kindness and you have no idea it is Buddha. Anyone could read them to children with no problems - OK, as long as their parents allow them to hear stories about talking, caring, feeling animals. The morals are more for you to determine; you are not hit over the head with them.

This book is wonderful! The Pakistani movie Umrao Jan Ada (starring Rani) is also wonderful although slightly different. A new telenovel had been produced by a private pakistani channel which pretty much follows the book. If you want to but a new copy of the book try www.786books.com (for either the English or Urdu edition).

A courtesans life told as no other than Ruswa could tell it. He uses the very flower of the urdu language to his advantage. It is the passion, pleasue and glory of mughal India and her incomparable courtesans.

This book brings the times of that era gone by, to vivid life...
The scenarios, the lifestyle, the little things like a poetry recital in moonlight is so revealing...so realistic...it opens up that time period to modern eyes, which can't fail to appreciate it. What i particularly liked other than the story itself, was the intro to ruswa...it gives insights into his motivations/inspirations...and you can then fully understand the story and how far to actually take it as fact...The translated poetry is pleasure itself...and it's a very touching book, especially the start...It pulled at me in a mysterious way, evoking strong feelings of something akin to bittersweetness..some dusty memories...my grandmother brought up (almost) in that time period told me stories of how it used to be and this is a leap back to those stories/memories...It's a great book...which will pull you in.

Umrao Jan Ada is perhaps one of the most enigmatic, and forgotten female figures in South Asian literature. To date, the question of her existence, her beauty, her scholarly abilities and her poetic gifts remain a mystery. The book is an account of Umrao's life, documented by a close friend and supposedly dictated by Umrao. While the novel offers no twists and turns shuttling the reader into a "what happens next?" frenzy, it is a remarkable and very effective attempt to capture the essense of what it meant to be a courtesan in royal india. The novel weaves Umrao's story with a delicate sprinkiling of poetry, royal societal dynamics, as well as an indepth glance at a long since forgotten profession. I highly reccommend this novel to any enthusiast of Royal India, Indian poetry, and South Asian studies in general. For poetry enthusiasts, and for those readers who are well versed in Urdu, the Urdu version of this book is remarkable.

This is a truly touching book about two women overcoming their pasts and loving each other. As a child, Macy has a crazy mother who runs away for a few days with the butcher whenever things get tough around the house. Macy and her first love, Maybelline discover their love for each other. Macy lives through the loss of her first love by living in her house and taking care of her while attending nursing school.
Dotty grows up in a house with her abusive father and horrid older twin brother and sister, Bell and Ray. Macy runs away after a fiery car crash involving her brother and sister on the day after her sixteenth birthday. She starts to work at the motel she stays at and meets Lila, a woman who sleeps off her peppermint schnapps and painkiller everyday, on the bus there. The two become friends of a sort, with Dotty looking after the ever-drugged Lila. At the amusement park nearby Lila is on a roller coaster car that is flung off the tracks into the sea, and drowns.
The two women meet while Dotty is painting the house Macy lives in, and falls off the ladder, shattering her hip. Macy the nurse helps her through her hospital stay, and moves into her house afterwards to help. They are forced to learn that their lives intertwine when Dotty's twin brother and sister come looking for her...
A very compelling read. I could'nt put it down, and I'm definitely looking forward to another from Amy Schutzer.

Macy and Dorothy are very different, yet very much alike. After Dorothy suffers a crippling accident the two embark on a journey that will involve them coming to grips with their pasts, in order to have a future. The writing is taunt, and the situations and characters evocative. However, there are lots of dark situations her, and more than a little violence,which leads me to believe this novel isn't for everyone.

When Dotty falls from a ladder, she is brought into the hospital where Macy works. Macy lives at the house Dotty was painting. Macy becomes Dotty's nurse after she leaves the hospital, and the two embark on a love affair. The past histories of both women creep back into their lives and threaten to destroy what's being born. Schutzer's circular and nonlinear story is full of potent writing and moving descriptions of the past pain and vivid silences both women have endured. And the surprise connection between Dotty and Macy is beautifully crafted. Schutzer's style reminded me a bit of Scott Heim, but not as dark. Any reader who's a fan of such emotionally charged works as Emma Donoghue's "Hood" and Alison Green's "Half-moon Scar" will adore this novel. This is one of my favorite novels of 2000!

This lyrical, beautifully wrought love story between two women, Dotty and Macy, kept me involved long after I'd read the last page. They are trying to make a true, meaningful connection for the first time in their lives, after escaping homes tainted by abuse, mental illness, and catastrophe. Macy (who has taken on the role of home nurse and lover, a role fraught with peril) feeds Dotty just a few too many pain pills. As the issues between Dotty and Macy come to a head, they confront their pasts. This was my favorite part of the novel, a lovely suspense fed not by "What comes next" but by "What happened? Who are these people?" To me, it's the difference between eating a homemade chocolate cake, where you savor every bit, and rushing through a Hostess cupcake because you're late for work. Their pasts unfold as unique mosaics combined with the perfect amount of the surreal. As they confront their pasts, they confront their issues in the present through a deep, almost Jungian exploration of their inner selves. The novel asks hard-to-answer questions. Can they possibly break the patterns they've established to form an equal partnership, make a true connection? But that question is the universal question--can we break free from our pasts?--and so I keep coming back to it, months after having finished the book. I strongly recommend this novel.

Love to look at pictures of this misterious culture and enjoy imagining their lives before the English arrival. Highly recommend it.

A truly enchanting book. After reading it I was on the Internet for hours, researching all the various people whose pictures were in it. Highly, highly recommended.

..from a surreal era of Indian history. It was a totally ostentatious and absolutely over the top lifestyle. The pockets of the sub-continent that were these states of princely India were to a degree remnants of the Mughal Empire. It truly must have been a painstaking process to put together all the photographs. But what a collection! Going through this book really takes you back in time, some superb rarely seen photographs. Some of the photographs are from private collections and national archives.

This is an extraordinary book, with fantastic pictures, some very famous, other belonging to princely familly collections, never seen before.Much better than most of the others on the same subject.

I highly recomend it for anyone interested on Imperial India and the maharajas