Author: V.Amalan Stanley

This book is a garland deftly strung together with carefully handpicked blossoms of the koans from the valleys of Zen tradi-tion, and the extraordinary flowers mind-fully gathered from the hills of self-enquiry propounded by Ramana Maharishi. Its intention: liberation of all human beings from their habitual attachment to non-self and inducing the recognition in all of the abiding presence of the all-pervading Self.

It is a rare and fascinating effort, trying to present the parallels found between the Zen koans and the teachings and life of Ramana Maharishi, believed to be an Advaitic.

As is well known, Zen does not focus on doctrines; it is an experiential path. Ramana Maharishi too never preached specific doc-trines but only answered the questions of seekers, prompting them towards self-enquiry.

This book insightfully speaks about the teachings of Ramana Maharishi, showing how they naturally connect with the teach-ings of other great masters, including the Buddha, and seeks to induce the readers' curiosity to experience the surprising reso-nance between the two. It is an accomplish-ment of a sincere seeker of wisdom, demonstrating how the two seemingly dif-ferent schools of thought, Buddhist and Vedantic, when studied together, shed light on the subtle process of self-realization. It's written with enormous caution that it should not turn out to be a comparative academic thesis; but to rather seek genuinely to invoke a deep sense of astonishment in its readers. regarding how often these profound experi-ences of self-realization can be as natural, spontaneous and even so similar to all realized souls, in spite of their diversity of concepts, methods and means.