Two saints: speculations around and about Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Ramana Maharshi

Description

The life of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa 'enables us to see God face to face', Gandhiji wrote. Similarly, when someone in his circle was distraught, the Mahatma sent him to spend time at the Ashram of Ramana Maharshi. The Paramahamsa and the Maharshi have been among the greatest spiritual figures of India. The author probes their lives in the light of the breath-taking advances in neuroscience as well as psychology and sociology.;Their mesmeric power -- The real miracle -- 'O, the state in which I was...' -- A brief diversion -- Deities, celestial beings, ghosts -- 'The collyrium of love' -- 'A young sanyasin looking like me would emerge from my body and instruct me in all matters...' -- 'I suddenly felt my body carried up higher and higher...' -- Sangat and suggestibility -- Mind>brain>body>mind>brain>... -- 'A God-realised man behaves sometimes like a man man...' -- The self in the heart -- But what about consciousness? -- The penultimate proof? -- Is everything really unreal? -- Their pristine example.