Film-Book-Project

FILM
BLUEPRINTS FOR AWAKENING
Wisdom of the Masters

"This is a brilliant film, packed full of invaluable spiritual advice. It serves as a vivid introduction to the spiritual wisdom of India."

Alan Jacobs
President Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK

Premananda is a devotee of Sri Ramana Maharshi, a former pupil of Papaji, and is now, himself, a respected spiritual teacher in the West.

Some years ago he was inspired to make a film of his visits to the leading Indian spiritual Masters of to-day. The result is that after eight years of filming, directing, editing, and arranging for its production, he has produced a glorious film.

The film will be of particular interest to those seeking an authentic spiritual Master whose teaching is based on the ancient traditions of Indian spirituality, the Upanishads and of course the teachings of that recent supreme guru, Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi.

The film is carefully organised. Sixteen Masters were asked the same twelve pertinent questions (questions which often perplex earnest seekers) arising out of Ramana Maharshi's teaching. The film carefully edits from the complete interviews the various Masters' answers to the questions in their order, so the film is thematic, and acts on the viewer like a wonderful Satsang with illustrious teachers.

The film contains scenes of exceptional natural beauty and captures the magic and light of India. There is some superb music and the film is punctuated with rare archival film footage of Ramana Maharshi, which is included with the gracious permission of Ramanasramam.

The film should be accompanied by Premananda's book Blueprints for Awakening which gives the full interview texts and biographies of the Masters.

This is a brilliant film, packed full of invaluable spiritual advice and content. It serves as a vivid introduction to the spiritual wisdom of India, and will definitely help Western devotees searching for the essential Truths which point to Self-realisation. Premananda is to be congratulated on his achievement.

Alan Jacobs
President Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK

Film-Book-Project

BOOK
BLUEPRINTS FOR AWAKENING

"This is arguably the best and finest introduction to the hallowed teaching of Advaita Vedanta that has ever appeared. A marvellous collection of authentic Sage wisdom-teaching, perfectly designed to give the correct pointers to Self-realisation for today's seekers after essential Truth."

Alan Jacobs
President Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK

This is arguably the best and finest introduction to the hallowed teaching of Advaita Vedanta that has ever appeared. Sixteen enlightened Indian Masters are skilfully interviewed by the gifted Western Advaita teacher Premananda. He asks each chosen Sage the same twelve pertinent questions, which penetrate straight to the core, examining the vexed questions of 'What Is Enlightenment?' and 'How does one reach that exalted state?' Fortunately for the reader the great Masters selected are Indian, deeply steeped in their country's magnificent Advaitic tradition, a tradition which has blessed India and has been her great gift to humanity since the days of the ancient Rishis.

The Masters who Premananda painstakingly interviewed and filmed over several years, read like a roll call of the renowned modern Masters of non-dual wisdom. This finely printed and beautifully designed book is lavishly illustrated with striking portraits of all the Sages who are interviewed.

The book commences with Sri Hans Maharaj who opens this grand Satsang with a clear message of refined spirituality, peace and love. He stresses the need for ardent determination to probe inwards to the centre of one's being, so as to find one's own Truth behind the veil of accumulated tendencies.

Then there is the aged, highly respected and wise Sri Ajja from Karnataka who emphasises the great efficacy of Self-enquiry.

Next, we move on to Mumbai, home of that eloquent pupil of Nisargaddata Maharaj, Ramesh Balsekar, who fundamentally attacks the mistaken notion of 'personal doership' out of compassion for the thousands of seekers and devotees who knock at his ever - open door.

Then there is Sri Brahmam, who can often be found sitting in the Jubillee Hall at Ramanasramam. He stresses the need for finding inner peace before the serious sadhana (spiritual practice) of Self-enquiry can commence.

Then comes Swami Dayananda, perhaps the most traditional of modern Indian Masters. He is steeped in the wisdom of the Vedas and Upanishads and teaches the time tested, traditional approach to this whole question of 'Awakening'.

Also from Tiruvannamalai is that great soul, the eloquent Sri V. Ganesan, grand nephew of Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, whose teaching he has scrupulously followed and practised since his youth.

He is followed by D.B. Gangolli, author of many important books on Vedanta, and once the senior sports writer for the Times of India! He masterfully teaches the way of the householder.

Then we have Kiran, a former industrialist, a pupil of Osho, and admirer of the late, radical teacher U.G.Krishnamurti.

Next comes Nannagaru, who has a large following in Andhra Pradesh. He is a devotee of Ramana Maharshi, and now , thanks to his Master's grace , exhibits the amazing power of that silence which can evoke a sense of the real Self in the fortunate recipient of his grace.

The first woman Master in this book, is the youthful Swamini Pramananda, a gifted pupil of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. She also teaches the well tested, traditional approach to this whole question.

A new and radiant face on the scene is the gracious Rhada Ma, who occasionally gives satsang in Tiruvannamalai where she has several devotees studying in her Advaita Monastery.

Then we have Samdarshi from Kanpur, whose Master was Osho. He teaches a Seven Steps to Enlightenment Programme.

Next in this inspiring galaxy of spiritual Masters comes Swami Satchidananda, a pupil of the celebrated Swami Ramdas, the Sage of unconditional love, who now runs his former Master's ashram.

A third feminine guru is the venerable Ma Souris, who, like her father, was an earnest devotee of Ramana Maharshi. Her teaching can be found in her book A Memory .

Next we have an interview with Swami Suddhananda, a pupil of the esteemed Swami Chinmayananda, also a world traveller teaching his Master's pure Advaita Vedanta.

Finally there is the venerated Thuli Baba, a pupil of his father Sri Gurudev .

The twelve questions that Premanda asked these Masters were skillfully designed to unfold and explain the teachings of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi as set out in his original, seminal essays Who Am I? and Self-Enquiry . The full text of the invaluable Who Am I? essay, is given at the close of this book. Ramana Maharshi has probably been, more than anyone else, responsible for the Advaita renaissance now sweeping India and the Western world.

This book is a marvellous collection of authentic Sage wisdom-teaching, perfectly designed to give the correct pointers to Self-realisation for today's seekers after essential Truth. Premananda, himself a gifted teacher of Advaita, is to be congratulated on his dedicated work in interviewing these great Sages so capably, and eliciting from them the fruit of their practical experience. This book is strongly recommended as a superb introduction for all those who find themselves drawn to this great inner quest, to their True Nature, who they really, really are! These interviews have been collated into a brilliant ninety minute DVD film, Blueprints for Awakening - Wisdom of the Masters. It is packed full of invaluable spiritual advice and it serves as a vivid introduction to the spiritual wisdom of India. As an added bonus the book also contains a delightful DVD sampler for this film and introduces a website where you can view each of the sixteen Masters answering the twelve questions: www.blueprintsforawakening.org

Alan Jacobs
President Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK

Film-Book-Project

PROJECT
BLUEPRINTS FOR AWAKENING

February 1, 2009

Dear Sri Premananda

It is indeed a pleasure and an elevating experience to read the book and view the  DVD of Blueprints for Awakening. The choice of the title itself shows the deep thinking that has gone into the project. Both the productions are simply fabulous and unbeatable.  

It is a great service to Sri Ramana devotees, who can hear these masters speak. Any Sri Ramana devotee should like to possess them, if he could afford.

A very high level of professionalism has gone into their production.

Posterity will always feel beholden to you.

Devotees at our Kendram what to know the price in Indian rupees and whether they could get these items in India by placing an order, if they are not able to go through the website.

Best regards,                       
Prof. Laxmi Narain  

(author of Face to Face with Ramana)

Dear Premanandaji,

Just wanted to tell you that I loved the Blueprints for Awakening book. Reading the interviews is a wonderful complement, yet it is clear that the presence of those who speak which gives juice and texture to the message really comes through in the videos, that is what is important, it brings the message alive. It is the closest thing to a live darshan. Also, for the discerning eye, so much can be revealed. The film was awesome as well as the interviews on the website which I got to watch here. Surely you could get a great review in the Mountain Path magazine, the readership there could really appreciate it, as well, as it clarifies so much for devotees of Bhagavan! 

I also checked out your website and watched some of the short clips of the Masters, this is also fantastic, that you put this up!  It is really important that videos of Sages be available to all seekers, finders, and lovers of Truth. I will watch more when I have more time, and recommend the site, book, and DVD to many. It is an excellent job!! Good work.

Sw. Satchidananda was a real jewel.  On my first trip to Anandashram in 1982 I met him, he was running the office, and even then he was a being of purity and Light. At that time, Mataji Krishnabai was alive, she had a huge impact on me, she had so much light I would often be in tears as the benediction she carried would pour through every cell of my being. Later on, after Mataji Krishnabai passed away, and I visited Anandashram, It was clear that Pujya Swamiji too carried the blessings and grace that came through Mataji and Papa Ramdas.

Love and Total Liberation NOW!!!,
Krishna