Ramana Maharshi is an outstanding example of how someone, who desires to realize the Truth, can realize the Self even without the assistance of an external teacher. Because, the teacher, or true revealer of the Truth, resides always within at the center of our Being. 
However, if a Self-realized Being is present, the presence alone is sufficient to assist any serious seeker in his quest and assure success. This is possible because pure Awareness is now able to express without the previous restrictions of the mind (ego).

Ramana Maharshi was born in 1879 as Venkataraman Iyer in the village of Tiruchuli in South India. At the age of twelve, his father Sundaram Iyer died and Ramana went to live with his uncle Subba Iyer in Madurai. 
His classmates remember that Ramana was strong and intelligent.

Ramana's life took a drastic turn when he was about sixteen years of age. A powerful fear of dying suddenly attacked Ramana but instead of running away, which he thought was no option, he decided to face this fear and investigate. Imitating a corpse, Ramana laid down and distanced himself from body and mind, pretending to be as dead as possible. Ramana entered the condition of silent Beingness and from thereon knew himself as pure Awareness. All fear of death had vanished once and for all. 

After this event, Ramana Maharshi had lost all interest in continuing a normal life. Feeling a strong attraction to the Holy Hill Arunachala, Ramana moved there and soon people who met him sought his advice on many matters. The most important questions centered around how others could follow where seekers felt Ramana must have gone himself. 

In answering their concerns, Ramana Maharshi recommended the concentration on "I"
or the meditation on "who am I?" as a shortcut to the realization of the Self.

    The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi       http://www.ramana-maharshi.org/

For an ordinary human being to "review" the words of a strange being liberated from so many of the basic premises that govern the existence of almost every human, may be a travesty. But I feel a need to point to the originality, directness and purity of the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, teachings that are etched in a realm beyond the shifting phases of a life. Ramana made no concessions to marketing or popular tastes and stands far removed from what we know as new age spirituality and quick solutions. He had no need to be worshipped and diverted his followers` emotional tactics, but left simple guidelines that can be used as a reminder of the inner core of our being, a source to return to, again and again, through the years. I dare see the person who has ever regretted buying this volume, lovingly compiled by an editor and a publisher with respect and understanding for the man, his life and his message. Read and understand, slowly, gradually, like a gold digger who shifts sand day by day, and once in a long while finds the nuggets that make all the experience, effort and labor worthwhile. 

Synopsis 
This volume contains actual conversations with those who sought the spiritual guidance of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, covering the whole religious and spiritual field from basic theories about God and the nature of man, to advice about the conduct of our daily lives.

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