Forthcoming Titles
Jesus
David Edmunds
Jesus of Nazareth's life on earth left a larger mark on Western history than that of any other man or woman. He lived 2000 years ago, he wrote nothing himself; in fact, everything we know "officially" about him is contained in about 100 often redundant and occasionally contradictory pages. He seems to have been on the record for only about three years of his life, from the age of 30 until he was killed at the age of 33. But what he taught in that brief span of time has pervaded Western thought for 2000 years - years that are measured throughout much of the world from the time of his birth, a date that chronologically divides Western history into two parts, Before and After.
About the Author: David Edmunds has degrees in Philosophy and Mathematics, and works as a computer scientist. He attends a Methodist church, and has taught classes in Christian thinking for six years, including Bible studies, studies of apocryphal early Christian writings, works by C. S. Lewis, and several studies of contemporary Christian authors. He lived in California for many years prior to returning home to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he lives with his two daughters.
Ramana Maharshi
Dr. S. Ram Mohan
Cultural and spiritual renaissance in modern India has its origin in the late 19th century. Towering among the great spiritual Masters was a resplendent figure at the foot of Arunachala Hills; one who, at the tender age of seventeen, had experienced Self-Realisation and who sang the song of Advaitam, living it to its full with undiluted purity. He taught the direct path that would lead aspirants to exist forever in the state of non-duality and showed how it could be of immense practicability to modern life. This inspiring figure was Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharishi - the sage of Arunachala.
Sri Ramana advised man to turn his mind inwards to seek the 'I' within. This is the direct method where the mind is used as a tool for self-enquiry or vichara, leading to its ultimate destruction. While the essence of Sri Ramana's teachings is directing the ego to its source, for those who find the method of enquiry difficult, he also advised the path of surrendering the ego totally to God or Guru.
In the words of Dr. C .G. Jung, the famed psychologist: "Sri Ramana is a true son of the Indian earth. He is genuine and, in addition to that, something quite phenomenal. What we find in the life and teachings of Sri Ramana is the purest of India; with its breath of world-liberated and liberating humanity." Shri Ramana's life on earth was an authentic validation of the possibility of eternal life while continuing to live in the world of phenomena. His life and teachings provide a path to peace and liberation of the entire world. This book is an attempt to present the message of Sri Ramana Maharashi to those in search of natural happiness and the Universal Self.
About the Author: Dr. S. Ram Mohan, IAS, has a Doctorate in Defence and Strategic Studies and Masters Degrees in Economics, Sanskrit, Tamil, and Business Administration. He is Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer to the Indian Railways, Govt. of India, as well as Consultant to Asian Development Bank in the areas of Finance, Budget and Information Management.
He is the Editor of Ramanodayam, a Tamil Journal devoted to philosophy and Vedanta, published by Ramana Kendram, Chennai, and Editorial Advisor to The Mountain Path, the English journal published by Sri Ramanashramam, Tiruvannamalai. He has written numerous articles and commentaries on Indian philosophy, and presented papers at national and international conferences. He has authored the Sanskrit Dance Drama Buddham Saranam Gachchami, which has been performed at various places in India.
Dr. Ram Mohan lives in Chennai, India.
Zarathustra
Firoza Punthakey Mistree
Zarathustra lived in the steppes to the east of the Caspian Sea, around 1500BC. Trained as a priest, he had a series of visions of God when he was thirty. He was mocked and attacked for his teachings, especially when he declared that all righteous people would go to heaven (as opposed to the prevailing belief that only the wealthy would enjoy a marvellous after-life). Zarathustra was the founder of the world's first prophetic religion and the first to preach monotheism.
About the Author: Firoza Punthakey Mistree works for Zoroastrian Studies Bombay, and has for several years been researching the oral history of the Zoroastrians of Yazd in Iran. She has travelled widely in Iran and her special interest is Yazdi costumes and textiles. Her current project involves an extensive documentation of the oral traditions of the Yazdi Zoroastrians.
She also teaches a structured course on Zoroastrianism to Parsi school children to extend their understanding of the religion and instill a sense of pride in their heritage. Her specialty is her ability to filter and disseminate religious information to children. She also conducts workshops on Zoroastrianism for children around the world. She is the editor of Ushta a newsletter published by Zororastrian Studies.
She has co-edited with Pheroza J. Godrej A Zoroastrian Tapestry: Art, Religion & Culture which is billed as the world’s largest visual encyclopedia on Zoroastrianism, with over 1200 illustrations depicting various aspects of the religion.
She is a recipient of the FEZANA Award for Humanitarian services.
Firoza is born in Karachi, Pakistan, and is married to internationally known scholar on Zoroastrianism Khojeste Mistree and they have 2 children.
The Dance of Transformation
Mandakini Trivedi
Indian dance interprets music and literature. Stretched in space and time, it is visual, aural and dynamic. It is also intricate because of the element of stylisation. Speech, prose and gesture, when stylised become song/music, poetry and dance respectively. Together they were called ‘sangita-traya’ in the classical tradition. They were interdependent idioms governed by similar aesthetic principles. All three are inherently stylised and dance, because it uses poetry and music contains the essence of stylisation.
For the author, Mandakini Trivedi, to dance is as natural as life itself. It is an unfolding in ‘time’ and ‘ space’, a play of ‘names’ (nama) and ‘forms’ (rupa) through movement. Significantly, in Sanskrit, the world is called ‘jagat’ or ‘born of movement’, for life is nothing but a movement, which is exactly what dance is. In this lushly illustrated book the author explores these themes further.
About the Author: Mandakini Trivedi is a highly trained
dancer in the classical southern Indian tradition of Mohini Attam. She
has also been a spiritual seeker and as a result of her spirtual practice,
she realised the amazing parallels between dance and the spiritual sadhana,
giving her a vision of dance as the ancient Masters must have practiced
it. Today, Mandakini is actively engaged in teaching, practicing, and
performing her art. She is the chair-person of Shaktiyogashrama Gurukulam
founded by Babaji, her spiritual guru. She is also the creative head of
Nateshvari, its dance wing.
Mandakini conducts Dance Awareness Programmes that highlight the aesthetic
and spiritual aspects of Indian dance traditions through Sabrang, an arts
education organisation that she runs in Mumbai. Meanwhile, she continues
to explore the deep connections between dance and scientific yogic techniques
under Shri Sharad Phatak.
She has written 'Anand Yoga - Conversations on Happiness', a compilation
of dialogues with her spiritual master on life and spiritual practices.
She has also written extensively in the leading newspapers in India.
Spiritual Insights: Suffering
Lata Jagtiani
This book is a compilation of the teachings of various masters on the subject of suffering. It provides a glimpse of the diverse religious traditions and their approach to resolving the human condition. Depending on their individual cultural and intellectual inclinations, readers would be able to find a way of dealing with suffering that suits their temperament the best. What emerges from the articles is that all masters have emphasised the need for basic human values to underpin modern life in order to deal with suffering at an individual and collective level.
About the Author: Lata Jagtiani is a Mumbai-based writer and teacher of creative writing.