India Books

This book is worth its price for the introduction alone. The author recounts political history of India's Kerala state through the many waves of European trade and reveals a larger historical context for European history that is invariably missing from all so-called World History classes taught at U.S. universities. The auther is herself a descendant of the players in the history she recounts.
A worthwhile investment for any Indian American under the age of 45.

Reviewed by Tammy Petty Conrad for Reader Views (12/07)

What a delicious read! I have a wonderful collection of cookbooks and the ones I enjoy most are the ones that read like novels. They include stories about the food and people who make the dishes. Even if I never get around to cooking anything included, I appreciate the flavors and tales behind the delicacies shared. This is one of those books.

The author, a native Indian from Kerala in the southwestern part of the country, shares her background and her family's recipes in such a loving way. She includes not only recipes, but the traditions, history and memories that go with them. I learned about the variety of food in her country and the diversity of recipes available in different regions. I also discovered some interesting historical facts. Having lived in the United Kingdom previously, it was fun to learn how some of the dishes arrived there from India and how they were modified for British palates. Interestingly, the Mulligatawny soup found in London started out much differently in India as molagu thanni!

I took many notes as I read about the author's childhood and the dishes she remembered most. Paayasam, a type of banana pudding made with plantains and coconut milk, grabbed my attention. Now I know what to do with the plantains I always see at the grocery store looking a bit lonely! This is a vegetarian book, but that is no reason for meat lovers to disregard it. The variety of dishes is amazing.

The author says that "The skill of a traditional cook depends on his or her ability to judge taste with the eyes and nose." Traditionally you are not allowed to taste a dish while making it. I can't imagine not taking at least one small taste before serving something to my guests. Or being so attuned to your cooking that you would automatically know by the smell or sight whether it needed adjusting.

The author is also aware that anytime you try a new cuisine you need to take the time to learn about the ingredients and what they are used for, even how you can find them or what you can substitute for them if needed. Chapter Two goes through not only ingredients, but cooking methods and utensils required. At the end of the book, she includes an internet resource list for those who live in areas without available ingredients. She talks about the magic of spices and says that "Understanding spices is the cornerstone of the art of Indian cooking...." One thing I hadn't thought about was howmuch the flavor of spices can vary from brand to brand and depending on where they are grown. She gives us permission to make adjustments based on our own palates and understands that cooking is a personal venture.

There are so many wonderful recipes to choose from. Mathan Puzukku, pumpkin and red beans with coconut and curry leaves, is a thick curry I can't wait to try. Anything with coconut grabs my attention like Varuthupperi Kootaan, or fried plantains in coconut yogurt sauce. There is a whole chapter just on puddings. The recipe index is quite helpful as are the menu suggestions.

All that's left for me to do is make a list and go the new Indian grocery store that just opened in my neighborhood. With "Grains, Greens, and Grated Coconuts," I will have an adventure in my kitchen and who knows, maybe it will lead me to travel to India and try the dishes firsthand someday.

Very nicely written, lots of historical data connected to the food of the region which was entirely new to me. Enjoyable reading and interesting recipes. Since I do like Indian Food, my hope is to try some of the recipes when time allows.

This is a really remarkable book, self-published and free of hype. There are no glitzy photographs of the food, which is a shame because I'll bet it's beautiful, but there is a pithy history of Kerala and then there are the recipes. They are exquisite, and the vibrant flavors of the food are conveyed by the author's enthusiastic descriptions. I'm not a vegetarian, but could live meatlessly and lusciously for weeks on these recipes. For vegetarians, this is a bonanza. The recipes range from relatively simple to complex, but none of them seem undoable in an American kitchen. The author has lived in America for a while, so she is familiar with the equipment and ingredients available here, and makes this cuisine approachable for us. Her notes are thorough and engaging, and well worth a read even if you don't plan to make that particular dish. If you have any interest in Indian cooking, or even if you don't want to cook it but enjoy reading about it, this is the best book on Indian cuisine that I've seen in a long time.

6/27/2007
Grains, Greens and
Grated Coconuts:
Recipes and Remembrances of a
Vegetarian Legacy
By Ammini Ramachandran
Foreward by Suvir Saran
Reviewed by Marty Martindale
It seems, the best cuisine in India is never found in restaurants, but in private homes where treasured recipes are used along with priceless experience and wisdom.
This book is based on the household cooking of Kerala in India and its many vegetarian marvels. The country of India is vast and complex, and Kerala is home to several key spices including the practically universal black pepper. The ancient spice trade caused
Kerala to became a very sought-after destination for millions. With each visitor came new plants and trees in exchange for their treasured spices. In the book, Ramachandran devotes forty pages to the vast number of visiting groups and their contributions the region over many years.
Next is carefully detailed information on their spices, herbs and vegetables, also the importance of rices in their diet. Following these, she explains cooking procedures and unique utensils.
Here are short descriptions of recipes in the book you might wish to try first:
* Varutha Erisseri -- Green Plantains in Toasted Coconut and Cumin Sauce: Basically this is a dish of stewed plantains, chili powder, turmeric powder, freshly grated coconut, vegetable oil and cumin seeds. The sauce is made from oil, mustard seeds, more chili and curry leaves. Served over rice.
* Tomato Pachadi - Tomatoes in a Fresh Coconut and Yogurt Sauce: Tomatoes, turmeric powder, grated coconut, green chilies and yogurt. For a garnish, combine vegetable oil, mustard seed, a fried chili, curry leaves and brown sugar.
* Vishu Kanji - Rice Soup with Coconut Milk: This simple dish is made from two kinds of rice, frozen lima beans and coconut milk.
* Maanga Chammanthi - Fresh Mango Chutney: Combine mangoes, grated coconut and green chilies in a blender.
Grains, Greens and Grated Coconuts is not a book about a cuisine you will cook quickly, for it demands study and practice. However if you are willing to spend time and feel at home with new combinations, you will get closer each time you work with it. Possibilities for some new taste combinations are definitely reachable and offer an exciting prospect!
For supplemental information, the author recommends these sites:
PEPPERTRAIL
INDIAN HOME COOKING
AMERICAN MASALA
You can reach Marty Martindale at: FOOD SITE OF THE DAY

I came across a brief introduction to Shanti Devi in "The Idiots Guide to Hinduism". The story fascinated me and given I was eager to learn more about her past and present lives, I bought the book and couldn't wait to read it! Reincarnation is a concept which have been exposed to me but I've never come across a story as legit and real as Shanti Devi's experience! The facts gathered are amazing! One needs no scientific evidence to accept the fact that this case is legit, genuine... real! The author did a terrific job composing details, outlining details from her present life and past memories, as well as delving into other religions such as Christianity and explaining more about it, such as how it reincarnation was once accepted. This is a must read book for any individual interested in reading an initial true story about reincarnation and learning a little more about Hinduisim in comparison with other religions!

This is an excellent book. The details of Shanti Devi's life are told quite convincingly. The last part of the book could have actually have been left out as far as I was concerned, because it was just the author's opinions. The factual accounts of Shati Devi's life would have been enough. Her story is remarkable, and is probably still the best documentation about the validity of the concept of reincarnation.

Since friends know I'm interested in yoga and meditation, they often ask if I believe in reincarnation. I advise them to read I Have Lived Before by award winning Swedish journalist Sture Lonnerstrand, and make up their own minds.
If you only read one book on reincarnation, this should be the one. Shanti Devi's story is the most thoroughly researched case of reincarnation in modern India. The details of this account will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about the nature of the soul.
Don't miss this book; it's a mind blower.

Having grown up in Delhi, we had heard of the unbelievable story of Shanti Devi Mathur from my father and other relatives who grew up at that time in the same neighborhood in old Delhi.

There has never been any doubt about the absolutely truth of the story in minds of anyone growing up in old Delhi at that time. The facts in the book are completely in line with what I have always heard from family. These facts may be hard to accept for many, but do yourself a favor and read the book.....it's 100% true!

According to many investigators Near-Death Experiences suggest at least the probability of life after death. In this respect, they are connected to other experiences that do so, such as memories of a previous life.
One of the most famous early cases in this field concerns the Indian girl Shanti Devi. In the 1930s she spontaneously claimed to have been Lugdi Devi, the wife of Kedar Nath Chaubey from Mathura. This woman had died while giving birth at the young age of 23.
The numerous details that Shanti mentioned about her previous incarnation were verified as meticulously as possible by Indian researchers. Many of them concluded that the statements and behaviours shown by Shanti Devi could not be explained by mainstream scientific theories.
One of the first westerners that thoroughly investigated the case was the Swedish author Sture Lönnerstrand. He travelled to India as a skeptic and became convinced by the facts he discovered there. His book Shanti Devi, en berättelse om reinkarnation is a moving, easily accessible biography, illustrated with photographs of Shanti and other persons involved. It is very positive that this English translation was finally issued in 1998.
At a later age, Shanti Devi told Lönnerstrand what she could recall of her death as Lugdi. She still remembered that she consciously observed how a physician, a nurse, her husband and her mother had jointly decided that her body should be immediately transferred to Mathura to be burnt there. Ultimately she entered a spiritual world of Light and from there she finally returned to earth.
This book by Sture Lönnerstrand fulfills the important function of spreading reliable information about a typical, classic case of memories of a past incarnation. Scholarly reincarnation research is not an artifical 'invention' of Ian Stevenson, but it studies a natural phenomenon of all ages and regions.

Appachana does an excellent job of bringing India to life in these stories. Her ear for dialouge is so acute that I could literally hear the characters talking, thinking, etc. If you like literary short stories, these are wonderful.

This book of short stories is absolutely excellent. The main theme is the compromises that we make to continue to live in within society's standards. They are everyday scenarios taking place in India or Canada. There is a strong feminist slant in this collection, which is definitely refreshing from the other more traditional stories that I've read. However, there is a price for being liberated, especially in India. The two Sharmaji stories are quite entertaining and the issue of expectations becoming inflating as a result of an unionized environment definitely isn't unique to India. I'm looking forward to reading Ms. Appachana's other book.

As I read Ms. Appachana's work, I was constantly reminded of how things were and still are back home. For me, there was no drowning myself in fiction - the characters were real enough to touch and smell (surely every Indian is aware of a Sharmaji!). There was no unnecessary drama - no unchartered territory to explore - no special messages to convey. Such genuine depiction of character and events, free of frivolous mentions, stands dignified in its own accord.

There are not enough words to express the excellence of this book. I have read many books by Indian authors, but not one of them has depicted life as vidvidly and honestly as this author. Her stories speak of the lives of the common person, the hypocracies, the trajedies, the compromises made just to continue living. She even gets the dialect right when portraying different characters and their form of speech. Anyone who is South Asian can relate to the experiences of her characters, and for everyone else, this is life in South Asia.

Appachana does a wonderful job of getting her points across without being preachy. The stories touch on many issues, mainly of gender inequality, but also of class, caste, and other social issues. She shows these issues through the eyes of her wonderfully portrayed charactors very effectively. Although her writing style is excellent, I found it a little flowery for my personal taste. Many of the stories were extremely moving, some even left me in tears. This book is definately worth reading, whether or not you know anything about India.

When I bought India, Mirror of Truth, I only knew this was a book written by a Westerner, who was sent by his Guru to teach meditation in India. The idea sounded extremely ridiculous by itself, and I was very eager to read the book. Well, the book proved to exceed my expectations in all ways. It is full of the author's very fine and subtle insights; it shows the country by the eyes of a person who is not at all indifferent, neither to the huge spiritual heritage, nor to the future of this great nation. Speaking in terms of Indian philosophy itself, the book shows the unity of Rishi, Devata, and Chandas - The Seer, the object of seeing, and the process of cognition, and how they intertwine with each other all the time, as the teacher is student himself, and this is all just one whole thing. The author's sublime perceptions of the Divine are a red thread that goes throughout the book. This book is an exceptionally inspiring reading for anyone seeking fine spiritual insights and wishing to visit India together with the author, in his heart.

As another western teacher of meditation, reading Steve's experiences held my attention on both the level of a "would be" pilgrim to India myself and more deeply on the level of Spiritual clarity as an aspirant of Enlightenment.

Dr. Briggs' descriptions of his own subtle awareness of the Divine, lifts the heart of every meditator and/or seeker of Truth. His gift of identifying the most precious value associated with the Indian culture should be an inspiration to the entire world.

He certainly nullifies the Rudyard Kipling quote "Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat;But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,When two strong men stand face to face,tho' they come from the ends of the earth!"

Whether the reader is interested in travel as an Indian pilgrimage, or a seeker of the ancient Truth as revealed by the inmost celestial experience, "India, Mirror of Truth" delivers.

When I moved to India in 1997 to work with Steve Briggs, Will Fox and the other monks mentioned in Steve's book, my initial experience with India was that of culture shock. Tim Jones informed me that most people take about 6 months of dealing with Indians and Indian way of life before they get a handle on how things are done. What I found is that for the Westerner, India is a multi-layered mystery. It is structured much like a lotus blossom, with layer after layer of traditions and customs, that are radically different from those of the West. It has now been 2 and a half years since I moved back to the USA, and reading Steve's book puts me right back into India. It has the feel of the place.

Each of the stories about the people and the places rings true. Somehow Steve has managed to bridge the cultural gap with stories that are engaging, funny, and poignant yet accurate.

India is a country of contrasts. The devastatingly poor, the incredibly rich; the natural, spontaneous and happy villagers, the hard-bitten, cynical residents of the cities; pompous, arrogant, mean-spirited government babus, the kind and generous people who accept strangers into their homes and treat them as family. Those who revere the timeless traditions of their ancient culture; and those who have lost their way in globalization and mass merchandizing. Those caught in material pursuit; the sanyasins and sadhus who have renounced it all in pursuit of the divine. Steve's book tells the stories of all these diverse groups intermingling to make up a rich fabric of one billion people. And he tells the stories so well that his book is a page-turner.

For me the best part of his superb book are his descriptions of experiences of the divine. People everywhere have heard of being in The Zone, they have read stories of saints, they have heard about inner experiences of self-realization, but it is all so far away for them. Yet something draws them to wonder what it must be like when the swirl of thoughts and agendas ceases. Steve unfolds amazing experiences of transcending the relative mess, taking a dip in the cool serene silence and having the inner dimensions open to reveal a taste of the divine. He manages to give the reader vicarious experiences of spontaneous right action, of thought and action supported by Nature, of divine personages revealing themselves in all their celestial glory in deep meditative experiences, of seemingly chance encounters that were predestined by actions taken lifetimes earlier.

It is a glorious book. Anyone who is curious about mystical experiences of enlightenment would get a lot out of Steve's book. Anyone who has been to India and wants to sort out why things there are the way they are will find this book illuminating. Anyone who is curious about other cultures will discover the perspective of a ageless civilization that is very different from their own. Anyone who wants a very good read that has adventure, strong characters, swift moving plot and is entertaining through out should read this book.

I have recently read this excellent book on Steve's travels in India. I did not expect the book to be as good as it is - it starts slowly and builds 'forcing' me to stay up late to read just a little more. I found my self in tears several times for the book is more than just about a complex diverse culture and country but a spiritual odyssey that is captivating and reminding me of my own journey in life. Having spent a little time in India enlivened the book even more as it is a country and experience one can only have be visiting there. I found it to be a very provocative book in that it brings one back to his own self - and to that I thank Steve for this marvelous read.

Steve Briggs was a fellow tennis professional in the late seventies shortly before he first traveled to India. It does not surprise me how well written his recollections of his seven year pilgrimage to India is, for he discovers the soul and spirit of the Indian people, the heart of their culture, and their tradition of knowledge which continue to be of timely importance for those who find the game of life so fascinating and enjoyable.

As an educator/instructor, and now as a writer, Steve is perfectly capable of guiding his students/readers on a journey that will satisfy the timeless thirst for the most important discovery of all - the awakening to one's Self and living a life of value, enlightenment, and service to humanity.

"India: Mirror Of Truth," is a composite view the author shares with his reader on his journey through a country that is home to the world's most ancient wisdom and mature family values, while uncovering the very personal ambitions that were accomplished by Steve's own search for knowledge of that illumination.

I feel this book is a must read for anyone who has ever had the desire to take the trip of a life time to a country whose magnificence is a reflection of it's inner spirit which is available to all seekers looking for truth! His book is an absolute mirror of the heart, heroic character, and noble reflections of a man whose experience demands that he write another book, the sooner, the better.

The KEY TO PARADISE is the story of Diane, a French aristocrat surgeon who of course, has blue blood in her veins, but who above all, possesses the nobleness of the heart.

I love this book because I realize that the tragedy that strikes the heroine could happen to anyone and I became aware of the ravages of irradiation. The sinking of the Poseidon reminds me the Kursk, the Russian atomic submarine that is inexorably going to contaminate the Baren Sea.

I was very touched by the letter Diane wrote to her family during her trip to India, in which she decided to adopt an abandoned child because her irradiated body would never give birth again.

The story of her electoral campaign is a fantastic succession of colorful anecdotes and a humorous satire of macho politicians. I am fascinated by her platform which is an eloquent and moving cry from the heart.

I was also deeply moved by the drama of the young Iranian soldiers and by the extraordinary story of King Omar.

The KEY TO PARADISE is a wonderful tapestry of Occidental and Oriental societies woven in a dazzling style.

This novel is truly fascinating and I could not put the book down until the end. The writing is so beautiful that you would like to meet such a cultured author who arouses your curiosity.

CRITIQUE OF "THE KEY TO PARADISE", BY CHRISTIANE DES SAGETTES.

As the translator of "The Key to Paradise" by Christiane des Sagettes, I would like to express the great pleasure I had to translate her fiction into English. The breath of her vocabulary impresses me a lot and her style recalls in me the fascination I encountered reading exotic adventure fictions in my youth.

The story develops on a background of contemporary events that concern us all. Protagonists and dialogs are superbly painted.

"The Key to Paradise", that makes us travel all over the world, is the occasion for Christiane des Sagettes and through the character of Diana, the heroine, to present her very own platform as she actually, herself, entered the 1981 presidential campaign in France, as a pacifist and defender of women's equal rights.

Her platform reveals, on the one hand, an infinitely touching plea against the destructive and murderous insanity of men and, on the other, an urgent prayer for the union of women beyond borders --the name of the association she created in France in real life; women who, according to her views, are the only ones to be able to offer the children of the world peace and happiness, that men have been unable to accomplish in the course of centuries. With much humour and realism, the account of her electoral campaign shows us the hardship and opposition that women face in the political world.

Christiane des Sagettes is very well-acquainted with the Middle East and its customs and gives us a lively account of its exotic sites, full of passion and accuracy. The shattering episode during which Iranian children-soldiers are lead to march in mine-field, to open the road for the regular army during the Iran-Irak war, has been verified by Western military sources. King Omar's personality is beautifully depicted and ends the fiction with a touch of hope in the future.

With great anticipation, I am awaiting the announcement of a second fiction by Christiane des Sagettes to translate it with the same pleasure as "The key to Paradise".

Jacques M. Poletti, Ph.D. Emeritus, French Dept., UCLA

CHER

"The Key to Paradise" is a powerful and thought-provoking tale filled with insightful political, social and religious commentary of our modern age, all brilliantly interwoven in eloquent prose by Christiane des Sagettes. The heroine, a strong-willed French surgeon, suffers a terrible tragedy from the effects of radioactive pollution. Dissatisfied with her government's lack of action to ban nuclear power, she creates her own political platform and runs for office in France under the banner of "Women without Borders." She urges people to realize that "all inhabitants of the planet share a genetic pool common to our species." This gripping story moves from her elegant chateau in the French countryside to the slums of Calcutta and into the fanatical world of revolutionary Iran, where the heroine, working on a humanitarian rescue operation alongside a team from "Doctors Without Borders" is kidnapped and tortured. It was there that she learns of the teaching of the Baha'i faith and a new world is opened to her. Anyone who is passionate about the ideal of present and future generations living together in peace in a nuclear-free world should read this fascinating book.

This book is a lively and fascinating novel full of suspense, beauty, travel, human values and emotions with an international impact. With refined descriptions, it's pleasant reading shifts us into a sensorial universe.

Indeed, beyond this gripping story, the author Christiane des Sagettes, through her heroine Diane de la Roseraie, addresses with an honest lucidity the major world problems which have threatened and are still theateneing our planet and humanity. The most frightening one is probably the behavior of men who hold the keys to power and the right of life and death on humanity and its environment.

Diane de la Roseraie holds also a key which can open the door to hell or paradise for us and the next generations. It will depend on our choices as men or women. "The key to paradise" is an hymn to tolerance and ethics in every domain : human, religious, politic, economic and scientific. Diane de la Roseraie makes us realize that moral values will determine our future.

This book, which may seem a fiction, is completely realistic. With an incomparable talent, Christiane des Sagettes depicts a paradoxal context in which cohabit "crimes against humanity" and "simple moments of true hapiness", "resignation" and "hope".

The wealth of this book brings back to life in our sclerosed society the universal message of peace. Furthermore, "The key to paradise" is an enriching travel around the world as well as inside each one of us.

It is a difficult read, no doubt, but this is one book which each and every educated person must read; doesn't matter if it takes a lifetime. If one reads three pages a day, it'll take one year to finish the book; that is the kind of patience the book demands, but it's worth it and extremely rewarding. Logistics overcome, comes the barrier of prejudice; several of them: India, Hindu, Ashram, Philosophy, Spirituality, New-Age etc. But what is needed is an absolutely open mind and the book becomes a pure Life's User Manual.

The book itself is a Univeresity that breathes universality. During the course of reading, one gets attuned to many related areas and ideas by way of allusions and comparisions. It also solves progressively one's long-held doubts and discords. Besides, in whichever profession one is, it helps to improve on the practical aspects. Further, the poetic beauty of the text enhances the sheer pleasure of reading even while the insights gained expands one's sense of mundane existence. Two other booklets, "The Mother" and "The Mind of Light" or "The Supramental Manifestation upon Earth" are essential supplements, lest one's understanding of the author is prone to be lopsided.

Rating this book is like rating god for his creation-a joke of first order. This book is an eternal book, its language ancient, contemporary, futuristic and transcendant. the only way one can approach this book is in quiet contemplation and deep introspection. every thought, doubt and question that might have crossed the minds of humankind is addressed, explained. understanding this book is the puny first step. it needs to realised, acted, lived and revisited. that would be rare human who does not find this book has changed his/her life. one feels like annihilating oneself to greatness of this being.

This book is the greatest achievement of Mankind!It is the greatest philosophical book ever written and in the best English Language ever written too.It is the Ultimate culmination of a 3,000 year Indian Philosophic Thought.

Sri Aurobindo examines deeper than anybody ever did the Human Condition and treats with the utmost profundity,clarity,linguistic beauty,logical acuity,originality and imagination all the major questions of Life:Why is there something rather than nothing,what is the meaning of life,why are we here,where did we come from,what is our relationship to the ultimate ground of Being,what is the function of ignorance,suffering,pain,what is the Nature of the Ultimate Being.He surpasses Shankara,incorporating in his philosophy the Tantric idea of the meaningfulness and purposefulness of the Becoming,as well as all central elements of Buddhist Philosophy.In relating all these to modern man (Western and Eastern) and connecting everything together through the most plastic,expressive,exquisite language ever written,he achieves the Ultimate Synthesis of all philosophical and spiritual thought of Mankind.

Although one needs to become accustomed to his unique language and expression ,as well as to spend initially some time in understanding the way he uses certain terms (some of his own creation,so that the Inexpressible could at least be hinted at),this initial investment of time will more than reward the serious reader in the end.

Some,with whom I agree,suggest that one start reading the book from the chapter "The evolution of the spiritual man"(Book 2,chapter 24) and,after moving on to read the next two chapters too,to go back and start reading it from the beginning.These last chapters give an overview of his philosophy and are written in an easier language.

"THE LIFE DIVINE" is itself one of the most pure EMBODIMENTS of the DIVINE

This is a difficult book to read. Let us be under no illusions about that. It is verbose, repetitive and massive in its scope: tackling virtually the entire gamut of issues that philosophy traditionally deals with. But by the time you have finished reading the book (it took me three months to finish)it would have transformed the way you live your life. You may not agree with Aurobindo, and in fact, he probably does not want you to blindly agree with him, he would much rather that you think things out for yourself; but one thing that he certainly does is to question the 'commonsense' view of the world: the view of the world that we build up using bits of unexamined,untested, received, 'truths'. Take just one such 'truth': We believe--or at least we have done so ever since Descartes--that Matter and Consciousness are two separate things. Aurobindo puts forward the suggestion that the two are actually one and the same entity, only they are in different states being: somewhat like Ice and Steam being different states of water. If we concede that matter may be a form of consciousness, only in an inert state, all sorts of consequences would follow: especially with regard to our attitudes towards the environment.
As I had said earlier, the scope of the book is massive. Its three parts can be roughly divided into Ontology (where he discusses the Nature of the Cosmos), Epistemology (where he discusses the nature of Knowledge (&Ignorance), and the problem of Evil--which he attributes to Ignorance: a consequence of Ahamkara or ego-centricism) and finally, in the last part, he provides a broad, general direction for living our lives in accordance with our revised view of the world (Ethics). However, the book is not tightly structured (If you are looking for a book like Wittgenstein's Tractatus you will find yourself truly frustrated) it is loose, repetitive, and disjointed. Possibly because it was originally written as a series of essays and published monthly in a magazine called the Arya (between 1914 to 1919). He must have had to repeat himself because his original audience would have forgotten a point that he would have made five years ago. But the cumulative effect of the repetitions is that his ideas have a tendency to gradually seep in and sink into your mind, rather than strike you as a sort of brilliant epiphany.
Aurobindo's philosphy is ultimately rooted in ancient Hindu Vedic thought. In the course of the book, Aurobindo tackles Marx, Darwin, Nietzche, Freud, Hegel, Feurbach, (plus a whole range of European philosophers) and his idea is to adapt their philosophy to the 'Truth' as expressed by the Seers of the ancient Vedas. Does he succeed in doing so? I don't know. That is for professional philosophers to decide. For me, the book has been a revelation, the scales have dropped from my eyes: I see things differently now. Hopefully, I will continue to do so for a while before the snares of living in a modern city finally engulf me once again. Haven't they said that we can't stand to face the truth for too long?

There are very few great spiritual classics that each century produces. The Life Divine is one of these great spiritual classics, one of the key spiritual studies of the twentieth center, perhaps of all time. There are few great mystics and enlightened masters who are able to express themselves in extensive philosophy and profound poetry. Sri Aurobindo was one of these, and the Life Divine is probably his magnum opus.
The Life Divine is no mere call to a life of piety, asceticism or outward religious fervor. It is a call to bring the Divine as a force of higher consciousness into all that we are and do, both individually and as a species. The Life Divine unfolds a panoramic exploration of consciousness from the Absolute (Brahman), to the Cosmic Creator (Ishvara), to the individual soul (Jivatman), and all the realms of existence, manifest and unmanifest, known and unknown. There are few books that cover such an expanse and with such depth, direct knowledge and clarity. For those who want to widen their horizons and extend their awareness into the realms of higher consciousness, there is perhaps no other book that is as complete, comprehensive and challenging. Reading it requires both concentration and meditation of a very high order, but brings great riches of inner insight in return.
As someone who has studied the main religious traditions of the world, and has written extensively on the traditions of India, this book has remained with me as life time companion. I recommend it to all those who are looking at the spiritual life as a quest for a higher consciousness and grace that can transform all that we do. One can continue to delve into the book for new wisdom and insight year after year. The Life Divine teaches us in depth about the great spiritual traditions of India, Veda, Vedanta, Samkhya, Yoga, Tantra and Buddhism, but from a view of practice and realization, and a seeking for the universal truth behind all these great teachings.
Most notably, the Life Divine outlines the spiritual purpose of the soul and of our human lives. It charts a way to a future in which we can go beyond our current mentality of ego and strife to a world of Divine peace, bliss and knowledge. It charts the transformation of our species from a confused adolescence to the maturity of wisdom and grace. Sri Aurobindo shows how the Divine Shakti can descend into our minds and lift us to a higher level of intelligence as our natural state of existence. The book is perhaps the best study of the spiritual evolution of humanity, the evolution of consciousness in man and nature, which is available.

I admit that I am always intrigued by the reworking of fairy tales for adults since the layered nuance and the symbolism of fairy tales are as important to adult psychological development as they are to that of children. Robin McKinley's work in this area stands out for me (including her adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast", called "Beauty.") Therefore, I was delighted to discover Mary Lennox and hope that "My Lord Beast" is not her sole attempt at the genre.

In this instance, the setting and time frame Lennox chooses (19th century England) allow for some social commentary that is as applicable to the 21st century as it is to that era. The characters are nicely developed and considerably more real than the norm for romances (and fairy tales, for that matter). The addition of some understated elements from "Bluebeard" add to the richness of the characters and the plot. Without giving away too much, it can be said that Lennox has added some intriguing twists to the original characters from "Beauty and the Beast" and adds two (the "Indian" Ram Dass, and Lord Beast's cousin). Both choices work well.

If you would like a good read for the beach, a vacation, a plane ride, or an evening in front of the fire, this is a good choice.

Lord Breme (Aubrey Drelincorte) is a man tortured by a memory that he can't remember. On a trip to India in 1842, Aubrey found out that his lovely wife Susannah had been having a long time secret affair with his cousin and heir apparent Rupert Hindley. Aubrey was devastated by the news and aimed to confront the pair. Though he remembers nothing of this incident, Aubrey was told that he shot and killed Susannah and was then himself mauled by a tiger. Sure that he had killed his wife, injured, and suffering from malaria, Aubrey fled back to England.

Lilias Merrit is the youngest daughter of a merchant. Lilias' sister Pamela had recently wed Squire John Trevell for a sizeable dowry. Now the girls' father has arranged a marriage between Lilias and Richard Landham, a good looking wealthy man with an unattractive personality. In an effort to flee from Richard's grips, Lilias petitions Lord Breme for help.

My Lord Beast is a historical romance with a well developed storyline. The author has done a very good job at seamlessly interweaving historical relevant issues and cultural norms into a timeless love story that can be both enjoyed and appreciated by the modern reader. Thus, the romance portion of this book seems a natural extension of the events of the story rather than the complete point of the entire book.

As romance books go, this 1 is both literate & charming. Mixing -Beauty & the Beast-, -Rebecca-, &-Kim- [at the very least], Lennox creates many charming people in this tale of a man mauled by a tiger & the pretty maid who rescues him when he returns from India. From their first meeting, Lord Aubrey is captivated by Miss Lilas Merrit, a non-traditional Englishwoman w/non-traditional beauty. Forced to marry & breed an heir, he quickly discovers the charm of her musicial, Gypsy-loving free spirit.

Nothing outstanding, but i *did* enjoy identifying the sources!

Reviewed by Rebecka Vigus for Reader Views (3/06)


Step back in time to England where arranged marriages were often marriages of convenience. We are first introduced to Audrey Drelincourte, Earl of Breme, arriving home from India to save his reputation, his family home and to wed and produce an heir. Is he the beast everyone believes him to be?

Then we meet Lilias Merritt, feisty, outspoken second daughter of impoverished merchant Geoffrey Merritt. Lilias flees her father's home to avoid an arranged marriage to Richard Landham. In her escape she runs to the gypsies who plant her on the doorstep of Breme and directly in the path of Lord Breme himself.

Read along and see how the two clash and strike out against the feelings that pull them toward their destiny.

Having his carriage stopped on the road, Lord Breme listened to his man, Ram Dass carry on a conversation with a lady on horseback. As the carriage started again he commented, "Rather cheeky assassin." His thoughts stayed with Miss Merritt as he wondered about a woman "who went out on a winter eve with no groom, when a gentlewoman would have taken a carriage and an abigail. But she spoke like a lady and had just taken to task the owner of a coach and four with a gold crest emblazoned on it." Even ill, Audrey could find amusement in that.

Arriving at Breme, Lilias proposes to be a nurse the ailing master of the house. Only to be told, "I don't need a well-bred nurse-companion." With hopes of sanctuary here dashed, Lilias wonders what will become of her.

Although Lord Breme relents and keeps her on, their relationship is rocky and built on distrust. She wonders about the rumors, and he is there to stop the flow of rumors.

Did Lord Breme kill his wife? Can he clear his name? Can he remember what happened that fateful night? Will he be able to marry and produce an heir, and save his home? How does Lilias fit into all of this? Does she avoid marriage to Landham? Can she earn the trust of the lord of the manor?

All this and much more will be found in this book. Mary Lennox gives you very believable characters. Her sense of the times is uncanny. England's ton can make or break a person and she uses this knowledge to further the plot. It was a delightful read.

I loved this gothic-style interpretation of the beauty and the beast story. Lilias doesn't consider herself a beauty, nor does she consider Aubrey a beast. Lilias is strong and works hard to help herself and the man she loves. I hope Ram Dass has his own follow-up story.

Devamrita Swami has immersed himself in this search for the lost history of ancient civilization after he graduated from Yale in 1972.

This work must be counted as one of the greatest I have ever come across. Even a cynic would find this book highly entertaining.

This book cites so many interesting and unexplainable phenomena that one wonders how much we really know about our ancient civilizations. Even if you have narrow-minded views about our ancient history and life in general as of today this book is an eye-opener.

And there is a ocean full of bibliography attached to each chapter which makes it more the interesting to justify each and every claim of the author.

As the name suggests the book is not biased to Vedic Studies but takes the Vedic Perspective to explain some of the concepts which we are still grappling with.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Really superb overview of many astounding ancient facts. Unlike many more popular writers, author avoids the pitfall of speculation and interpretation. The Egypt section could be considered a definitive answer to the question how the pyramids and other giant structures were built.

It is a very well researched book, which highlights the Vedic thoughts without the Macaulian filter.

It was interesting to see the concepts, which I took for granted, being explained this way. Frankly there was nothing new for me. But I had learned these through stories that tell you "what" but not "why".

After reading this book, I realised the power of story telling and the effect that "Mahabharata" has on our pschyche.

This scholarly book is now part of my reference library, even though all the writing that I do relate to technology.

What erudition!! I would not hesitate a second to buy such a book.

Devamrita Swami gives a complete overview of the many current ideas and vast ocean of information about ancient Vedic India. Search for Vedic India gives lots of mind-boggling information.

For example: The top blocks of the Egyptian pyramids weigh more than the ones on the bottom. For some reason the Egyptians used the heavier blocks on the top, where they would have been more difficult to place. The best theory to explain this is that that ancient culture could somehow levitate huge ton-sized stone blocks. Indeed, the 5000 year old Vedic India texts give similar accounts.

The book is very well written. It kept my interest like only a few rare other books do. I would recommend this book to anyone with even the slightest interest in history, anthropology, or ancient civilizations. Highly recommended.

Bolder minds are keen to discover the hidden achievements of the ancients. This curiosity will transform the way we
see ourselves and the universe. Were some ancient civilizations much more advanced than what we allow?

Particularly, India's Vedic texts challenge our pride and conceptions. The sages of India's lost past delighted in knowledge of the nonmaterial. But they testify that they also knew how to produce material benefits without industry. Dare
we consider that the subcontinent of India, thousands of years ago, was the center of the greatest spiritual wisdom and mystical technology that the Earth has seen?

The India of remote antiquity may surface as the greatest find in the new millennium. Searching for Vedic India reviews
the latest research from both mainstream and independent sources. Most importantly, it unfolds the ancient answers to the
modern riddles of consciousness, reincarnation, extraterrestrial contact, and spiritual dimensions beyond the laws of time and space.

Devamrita Swami is an author and researcher specializing in the history and knowledge of ancient India. Born in New York City, he began his immersion in India upon graduating from Yale University in 1972. Visiting India annually for almost three decades, he is an ordained sannyasi, or monk, of India's Vaishnava spiritual tradition. He is now based in Australia, from where he travels to every continent. His previous
book, Perfect Escape, is a contemporary commentary on a section of the spiritual text Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Being a young adult that is learning about Sikhi i have to say this book gave me alot of inspiration. Right through from photo's in the 19th century it truly amazed me. Honestly, fantastic! Recommended to anyone and everyone. I have already shown it to a friend and even they said wow you have such a rich history. Only this book could have told me the past which has been forgotten, as pictures say a thousand words..

Hopefully there are more books like this by the author..

This got to be the top coffee table book for any sikh households.

This one should belong in the library of all Sikhs and historians of the Indian Subcontinent.
A beautifully documented and illustrated piece of work.
Madra's incredible effort provides a unique insight as to why the British held the military prowess of the Sikhs in such high-regard.

this book took my breath away and made me feel blessed that i am a sikh as well and that i belong to such a wonderful faith. the pictures of the book are rare and extremely well presented, with the design of the book adding on to it's high rating that i give it points which fall way above the options. a great book for coming generations to revere and find inspiration and sikh pride from. buy it for your kids or for your grandchildren. they are the inheritors of this great tradition that the sikhs are today.

First of all I would say, God Bless S. Amandeep Singh Madra , who has done this great job for the coming sikh generation,the generation born in abroad and does not know about sikh's pride. Great God bless these two gentlemen for that they just clear the dust from the sikh braverly and showed the new generation by publishing this book, who ever forgott the sikhs culture and pride. I might order this book in large quantity to distribute in each gurudwara, this is Surinderpal Singh , USA

A book of enjoyable stories, that are as fun to read as they are thought stimulating. It is as many have said, easy to read bits and pieces of. I also found it great to reread.
Also a great book to share with young people I think, of many ages.

Doug and Sarat have been very successful in bringing out the true meaning behind these stories of the Indian saints. I think there is something in the book for everyone, but those who are spiritually inclined will especially find many gems of wisdom in its page. The stories and narration cater to the whole spectrum of individuals - from the intellectual to the devotional. Personally, I found the story "A Leap of Faith" most inspiring because it gives me an idea of the exalted mental and spiritual state of a devotee deeply in love with God. Excellent reading.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The format makes it easy to read. The stories are short in length so you can pick up the book and put it down without missing anything.

The stories are about Indian saints which makes it an interesting read. The stories are thought provoking and you get to see the better side of human nature. I would definetly reccomend this book.

Great book! This book is an elegant way of explaining the 26 divine qualities of a well-balanced individual. In this book, these qualities are explained through the stories of great people, who demonstrated these qualities in their own lives. Authors did a great job in bringing forth the true interpretation of these qualities. For example, the story "The Weaver, The Fakir, and The Pig", brings out the deeper meaning of "cleanness", not the commonly interpreted meaning that is concerned with external cleanness.
These stories are inspiring and encourage the reader to follow the good principles of life. A must read for adults and kids.

Wisdom's Blossoms is a fascinating return to life of the saints, characters and community life of ancient India, told in 26 short tales, each with a moral at the end, in the highly readable style of Aesop's Fables. I read it through in a single sitting and delightful is the mildest word I would use to endorse it to other Amazon[.com] readers.