Book description
'I found that I had begun to take a great liking for the man . . .
Oddly, this did not grow out of any feeling of veneration . . . for that
would have implied my being overawed and somewhat fearful in the
presence of someone vastly superior. Rather, my feelings grew
spontaneously and from the very depths of my heart. I simply revelled in
the man's company.'-Mahendra Nath Dutta (Swami Vivekananda's brother) on
Ramakrishna Press reports in the 1870s Calcutta marvelled at the way
'highly educated', 'civilized' and 'reasoning' men, like Mahendra Nath
Dutta, were drawn to the 'ill clad', 'illiterate', 'friendless' and
'unpolished' Ramakrishna. The progressive press, which had first brought
Ramakrishna to public attention, scoffed at his use of 'vulgar' speech,
while acknowledging its effectiveness in religious communication.
Despite these critiques, Ramakrishna came to occupy an important place
in the cultural life of late-nineteenth-century Bengal. Amiya P. Sen's
lucid introductions and fluent translations of the interactions between
Ramakrishna and his followers in His Words make for an engaging and
illuminating account of Ramakrishna's teachings. Compiled from a variety
of contemporary and near-contemporary sources, this book brings out the
dramatic simplicity of Ramakrishna's incisive commentaries on profound
religious ideas. See also by Amiya Sen Ramakrishna Paramahamsa: The
Sadhaka of Dakshineswar
