I can say without any hesitation that this book is the book closest to my heart. When asked the common question, ‘which is your favorite book’, most people who want to give an honest answer would be mildly taken aback and also perhaps irritated as they go mentally over the books they have loved, which are all possibly ‘favorite books’ in different ways.

But in this, I have an advantage over most people in that I can say straight out, ‘this (the present book) is my favorite book’.

This has always been a book that has always had a deep influence on me. I would keep the book beside me, on my bedside, and from time to time open at any page randomly and read a few passages. The simplicity of the message always got to me without fail. For a few moments at least, I would be transported from my world of hectic work and money to a world where all this did not matter, where only the love of god mattered and where to love god and be immersed in Him were not a philosophy to be discussed but something which was entirely real and a way of life.

Ramakrishna is the living proof that men even in this world, men who are not historical legends but who are almost within our reach in time, can still ‘touch’ God, have mystical experience of oneness with God.

Ramakrishna's religion was love, love of god. It seemed almost immaterial to him which God it was. He deliberately set out to explore different religions and by turns worshipped Jesus and also in the Islamic way. He found the mystical experience through all religions and thus was able to declare them true. Moreover, he experienced oneness not just with the dualistic Gods of different religions but also the Absolute of Advaita. His words therefore spring from a deep well of wisdom, and they resonate with a clearness and lucidity which will touch the hearts of all. His simple words

M (Mahendra Gupta) was a lay devotee, that is, a householder devotee. But there is almost nothing about him in the book, it is all about the Master. It is rare for anyone to be able to efface himself so completely and bring to life the subject only. The translation is excellent, although the English translations of Bengali songs can be awkward at times, but this rather adds to the enchanted nature of the book.

Going through the book for writing this review, I rediscovered once more the earthy humor, the simple examples and fables, the wisdom of each and every word of this Master. This is a book that I would recommend to everyone who is searching for a genuine word of a man of God. This is the word from such a man, not someone lost in history but someone comparatively recent. I can give my word that if you have an open heart and mind, these are words that will touch you deeply. ( )