We are happy to announce the publication of Swami Nirmalananda’s newest book: The Eternal Wisdom of Anandamayi Ma—Guidance for Spiritual Seekers on the Path to Realization: A Commentary on Words of Sri Anandamayi Ma.
It is available at Amazon.com as an ebook and as a paperback. The kindle version is only 99¢ this week.
Swami Nirmalananda says the following about the book in its Foreward:
This is a book I never thought I would write. Though I have written several commentaries on various sacred texts, I could not have imagined myself becoming so bold as to comment on the words of the Infinite–for Sri Sri Anandamayi Ma was the Infinite Absolute in manifestation.
Anandamayi Ma–Sri Nirmala Sundari Devi Bhattacharya–was born in the latter part of the nineteenth century in rural Bengal, but became renowned through the world among students of Hindu Dharma–especially through Paramhansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi. In India Ma most certainly became the most widely known spiritual figure, both through personal contact with aspirants throughout India through Her constant travelling and through publications of the Anandamayi Sangha, an association of devotees dedicated to spreading Ma’s divine teachings. To many people Ma was a perfected being, and to very many others She was considered an avatara, literally an incarnation of the Supreme Consciousness: Parabrahman Itself.
Having read about Ma in Yogananda’s autobiography and various publications of the Anandamayi Sangha, I went to India at the end of 1962 and met Her and travelled with Her. Throughout the following nineteen years until her departure from this world I went several times to do the same. During the last fifteen years of Ma’s earthly manifestation our Atma Jyoti Ashram in America was under Her direct supervision. (She even told me how to set up our ashram kitchen.)
Someone once asked Ma, “Who are you?” and She simply answered “Purna Brahma Narayana,” indicating that She was a manifestation of the Absolute Being, Parabrahman. This was evident to me through experiences of Ma’s being and blessing when I was in America, and even more so when I met Her in India.
Several books were written about Ma in Bengali and Hindi, but little was produced in English. Eventually Matri Vani, a small collection of quotations from Ma’s correspondence with various persons was printed in English. Later, a book of Ma’s discourses, Words of Sri Anandamayi Ma, was printed in English. This is a commentary on that book.
What Early Readers Say:
- “[Swamiji] has managed to enliven Ma’s teaching with an ease and comfort which makes for an engaging and delightful read. Open to practically any page and you will be offered a glimpse into the mind of the Infinite Absolute itself. I certainly feel that I did.” ~Russ Thomas
- “A present-day equivalent to the writing of the Gospels and preserving of the teachings of Jesus. This is more than commentary: This is the witnessing of a living process.” ~Robert Arconti
- “’Philosophy is theory, and religion is practice’ (Swami Abhedananda). This book is filled with both; Anandamayi Ma’s teachings of Vedanta and Swami Nirmalananda’s emphasis on sadhana, spiritual practice of japa and meditation.” ~Stanley Wroblewski
Visit Amazon.com to get your copy of The Eternal Wisdom of Anandamayi Ma for only 99¢ this week.
