Book Review : Sri Ramana Maharshi’s stories for children

This is a very short book of interesting stories from Ramana Maharshi’s life filled with timeless wisdom that can be imbibed in everyday life. Stories are power medium to impact education and wisdom to wider sections of the society. When these stories or anecdotes are from our daily life, our surroundings and simple situations, it becomes enriching & enlightening. The book is a collection of 24 such priceless anecdotes from Maharshi’s life.

Some of the lessons from the book:

Be aware of the difference between need and greed. Use only that much which is required.
Live in harmony with our surroundings / nature especially animals and trees
Equanimity - Accept praise and criticism equally
Stop giving too much importance to self
Guru shows the way - Responsibility lies on the self
One shouldn’t accept everything that is given, just because someone is giving it
What is important is how much love & trust is in the gift
Talent should be known to others through work - Definitely a slap on my face for what I did 2 days back
Poverty depends on mental state - Some are richer than others & some poorer

There are couple of statements that have left a deep impact on me:

“Are we going to hit the tress with sticks as a reward for the fruits it bears for us?”
“A small gift filled with love is worth more than gold”
“Who is a true monk: Man or Monkey?”

Though the book mentions that this is meant for children, I am sure the elder generation would deeply benefit from the wisdom of this book. The translation of the book is masterful and the illustrations are top notch. On a personal note, I am happy to read a book that has translation and illustrations from friends known through social media.

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!!

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