Eknath Easwaran

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Eknath Easwaran (December 17, 1910Template:Snd October 26, 1999) was an Indian-born spiritual teacher, author and translator and interpreter of Indian religious texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads.

Easwaran was a professor of English literature at the University of Nagpur in India when he came to the United States in 1959 on the Fulbright Program at the University of Minnesota before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley. In 1961, Easwaran founded the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation, based in northern California.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1968 Easwaran established Nilgiri Press.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nilgiri Press has published over thirty books that he authored.

Easwaran was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, whom he met when he was a young man.<ref>Gandhi's influence on Easwaran is described by Easwaran or others in a variety of publications, including Gandhi the Man (e.g., p. 6, 1978 edition), The Making of a Teacher (e.g., p. 160, 1989 edition), and The Compassionate Universe (Template:ISBN, see chapter 1; chapters 2-8 are structured using Gandhi's "Seven Social Sins"). See also the biography of Easwaran posted at his publisher's website (accessed 1 September 2017).</ref> Easwaran developed a method of meditation Template:Snd silent repetition in the mind of memorized inspirational passages from the world's major religious and spiritual traditions<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Snd which later came to be known as Passage Meditation.

His teachings inspired some of his students to create the 1976 vegetarian cookbook Laurel's Kitchen.

BiographyTemplate:AnchorEdit

Eknath Easwaran was born in 1910 in a village in Kerala, India.<ref name="jones06">Template:Cite book "Easwaran was born on December 17, 1910, into an ancient matrilineal family in Kerala, India" (p. 143)</ref> Eknath is his surname, Easwaran his given name.<ref name="clarifyname">However, after he came to the United States, "Easwaran" generally functioned as his last name (analogous to a surname) for authorship credits and other public activities.</ref> Brought up by his mother, and by his maternal grandmother whom he honored as his spiritual teacher, he was schooled in his native village until the age of sixteen, when he went to attend St. Thomas College, Thrissur, a Catholic college fifty miles away. He graduated at the University of Nagpur in English and law.<ref name="flinders89">Template:Cite book Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN, Template:OCLC</ref>Template:Rp He served as Chair of the Department of English at University of Nagpur.<ref>"Eknath Easwaran- Meditation Teacher and Writer (1910 -1999)". berkeleyplaques.org. Retrieved 22 March 2023.</ref> Prior to arriving in the United States, he had a family with two children.

In 1959, he came to the United States as a Fulbright scholar.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web

File:EE teaching.jpg

Eknath Easwaran teaching what is thought to be the first credit course on meditation offered at a major university in the U.S. at U.C. Berkeley in 1968

From 1960–1961 Easwaran gave talks on the Indian scriptures in the San Francisco Bay Area.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He met his American wife Christine at one of these talks. Easwaran founded the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation in 1961. He went back to India in 1962 to fulfill the terms of the Fulbright,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> returning to the Bay Area in 1965 to continue his teaching. In 1968 he was invited by a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, to teach on a Religious Studies course entitled The Theory and Practice of Meditation – the first in the country offering credits.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1970 he founded Ramagiri Ashram as a community of dedicated followers in Marin County.<ref name="flinders89"/>

He set up a publishing activity, Nilgiri Press, which printed his first book Gandhi The Man, telling the story of Gandhi as a spiritual as well as a political leader.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His first major work was his 3-volume commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, the first volume of which was printed in 1975 and the last in 1984. His book Meditation on the program of meditation and allied disciplines that he developed first appeared in 1978.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

By 2018, Easwaran's methods of spiritual practice had been the focus of two major scientific research programs that had produced thirty refereed research reports.<ref name=oman18>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Published worksTemplate:AnchorEdit

Template:Eknath EaswaranEaswaran's written works may be grouped into several major categories—primarily books, but also articles in newspapers and other periodicals. Most of his books have been reviewed by spiritually oriented publications or websites, or by nationally known media such as The New Yorker,<ref name="mmm84mckibben">Bill McKibben (September 24, 1984). "Notes and Comment" (in "The Talk of the Town"; discusses Easwaran's A Man to Match His Mountains, a biography of Abdul Ghaffar Khan). The New Yorker, pp. 39–40. "A straightforward yet devoted biography ... By his example, [Khan] asks what we ourselves, as individuals made from the same stuff as he, are doing to shape history" (pp. 39–40).</ref> or the New York Post.<ref name="mckibben89">Bill McKibben (May 21, 1989). "A guru who offers no guarantees: Easwaran teaches a practical method of self-mastery." New York Post, pp. 4–5. Review of Gandhi the Man, A Man to Match His Mountains, Meditation, The Mantram Handbook, and Conquest of Mind.</ref>

In addition, a large number of Easwaran's recorded talks have been published in video and audio formats.<ref name="eetapes" />

TranslationsTemplate:AnchorEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Easwaran's translations of the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the Dhammapada (see article) have been critically acclaimed. Religion scholar Huston Smith is cited by the publisher as writing: "No one in modern times is more qualifiedTemplate:Snd no, make that 'as qualified'Template:Snd to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless."<ref name="smithq">Huston Smith, quoted on back cover and on page 383 of Eknath Easwaran (2007). [ The Upanishads] (2nd, rev. ed.). Tomales, CA: Nilgiri Press. Template:ISBN</ref> In Buddhism: A Concise Introduction<ref>Huston Smith and Philip Novak (2003). Buddhism: A Concise Introduction San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco. Template:ISBN (p. 222: "Our favorite translation is Eknath Easwaran's The Dhammapada. His Indian heritage, literary gifts, and spiritual sensibilities (which have given us excellent translations of Hinduism's Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita) here produce a sublime rendering of the words of the Buddha. Verse after verse shimmers with quiet, confident authority. A bonus is the sparkling 70-page introduction to the Buddha's life and teachings that precedes the translation.")</ref> Smith and his coauthor Philip Novak wrote that "Our favorite translation is Eknath Easwaran's The Dhammapada. His Indian heritage, literary gifts, and spiritual sensibilities... here produce a sublime rendering of the words of the Buddha. Verse after verse shimmers with quiet, confident authority. A bonus is the sparkling 70-page introduction to the Buddha's life and teachings."Template:Citation needed

Since 2009, Easwaran's three translations "have each been the best-selling translations of these scriptures in the USA."<ref name=oman18/>Template:Rp In the US in 2016, each of Easwaran's translations outsold the second best-selling translation in its category "by more than 3:1",<ref name=oman18/>Template:Rp and the second editions have together sold more than 470,000 copies.Template:Citation needed

CommentariesTemplate:AnchorEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Essence of the Upanishads, originally entitled Dialogue with death: The spiritual psychology of the Katha Upanishad, explains how the Katha Upanishad embraces the key ideas of Indian spirituality within the context of a powerful mythic questTemplate:Snd the story of a young hero who ventures into the land of death in search of immortality. "Essence of the Upanishads is a westerner's guide to this vitally important Indian text and its modern relevance to the Indian mindset and spirituality."<ref>Midwest Book Review Aug-09 http://www.midwestbookreview.com/wbw/aug_09.htm</ref>

In Essence of the Bhagavad Gita, Easwaran places the Gita's teachings in a modern context and comments on the Gita's view of the nature of reality, the illusion of separateness, the search for identity, the meaning of yoga, and how to heal the unconscious. The book views the key message of the Gita as how to resolve our conflicts and live in harmony with the deep unity of life, through the practice of meditation and spiritual disciplines.Template:Citation needed<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In Essence of the Dhammapada, Easwaran comments on the Dhammapada, sayings attributed to the Buddha himself, presenting it as a guide that gives straightforward teachings about spiritual perseverance, progress, and enlightenment.Template:Citation needed<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Books on meditationTemplate:AnchorEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} His book Passage Meditation (original title Meditation) describes the Eight Point Program that Easwaran developed, while his book Conquest of Mind goes further into the practice of these disciplines in daily life. Timeless Wisdom is a companion book to Passage Meditation and contains passages for meditation drawn from across the world's spiritual traditions. His book Mantram Handbook: a practical guide to choosing your mantram and calming your mind addresses The Mantram, the second point in the program.Template:Citation needed

His book Strength in the Storm<ref>Spirituality and Practice, review of Strength in the Storm http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=10113</ref> is an introduction to The Mantram, containing many stories and practical examples to help the reader learn how to harness the inner resources for dealing with challenges in daily living. His book Take Your Time<ref>Spirituality and Practice, review of Take Your Time</ref> explores "Slowing Down" and "One-Pointed Attention" in daily lives. Renewal<ref name="carrigan1996"> "Easwaran is one [of] the most powerful Hindu teachers lecturing and writing in America ... this book is meant to be a companion for the difficult but joyous interior work of spiritual transformation that is at the heart of his teachings", wrote Publishers Weekly in a review of the original edition: Henry Carrigan (1996). "Your life is your message: Finding harmony with yourself, others, and the earth." Publishers Weekly, v243 n29, p69.

(republished in 2009 as Renewal)</ref><ref>Spirituality and Practice, review of Renewal http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=19302</ref> is a pocket book of short readings on themes such as loving relationships, raising children, living simply, and aging wisely; Patience, the second in the pocket book series, shows how to cultivate PatienceTemplate:Snd "the ornament of the brave"Template:Snd at any age. Other (older) books describe various aspects of leading a spiritual life: Climbing the Blue Mountain, Compassionate Universe, and Undiscovered Country.Template:Citation needed

Daily readers and referenceTemplate:AnchorEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} God Makes the Rivers to Flow<ref>Spirituality and Practice review of God Makes the Rivers to Flow http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=5807</ref> is an anthology of writings from the sacred literature of the world, selected by Easwaran as useful for meditation. A larger (and earlier) version of Timeless Wisdom, it contains dozens of passages from diverse traditions, and identifies passages for particular stages in life, such as caregiving, families with small children, death and dying, grief and loss, and for building positive qualities such as patience, courage, devotion to God, and putting others first. Words to Live By<ref>Spirituality and Practice review of Words to Live Byhttp://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=15735</ref> is a set of daily readings with Easwaran's commentary on applying the reading to daily life.Template:Citation needed

The Bhagavad Gita for Daily LivingTemplate:AnchorEdit

The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living is a manual for living a spiritual life, comprising a verse-by-verse commentary on India's timeless scripture the Bhagavad Gita. The work is in three volumes, published in 1975, 1979 and 1984 respectively, in hardcover and later also in paperback. When the first paperbacks were published the volumes were given new subtitles: the End of Sorrow;<ref>Spirituality and Practice, review of End of Sorrow, http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=1122</ref> Like a Thousand Suns;<ref>Spirituality and Practice, review of Like a Thousand Suns, http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=1123</ref> and To Love is To Know Me.<ref>Spirituality and Practice, review of To Love is To Know Me, http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=1124</ref>

In 2020 the three-volume set was reissued as a second edition, and as a single-volume ebook.Template:Citation needed

In Volume 1 (the first six chapters of the Gita) Easwaran explains how readers can begin to transform themselves, even as householders engaged in busy lives. In Volume 2 (the next six chapters) Easwaran addresses the seeming divide between scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom, and explains how the concept of the unity of life can help people in all their relationships. In Volume 3 (the final six chapters) he makes the connection between the Self within and the Reality underlying all creation – and how to make a difference to heal the environment and establish peace in the world.Template:Citation needed

Spiritual biographiesTemplate:AnchorEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Gandhi the Man<ref>Spirituality and Practice, review of Gandhi the Man http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/books.php?id=5135</ref> traces how Mohandas Gandhi transformed himself into one of the world's great spiritual leaders.

Nonviolent Soldier of Islam is the life story of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a Pathan (or Pushtun) of Afghanistan and a devout Muslim, who raised the first nonviolent army in history to gain Indian independence from British colonial rule. This book was favorably discussed in The New Yorker.<ref name="mmm84mckibben" /> The book also inspired<ref>India Journal Nov 7, 2008 http://www.indiajournal.com/pages/event.php?id=5057 Template:Dead link</ref> filmmaker and writer T.C. McLuhan, daughter of Canadian media theorist Marshall McLuhan, to make the film The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, a Torch for Peace, which won the 2009 Black Pearl Award for Best Documentary Film.<ref>Black Pearl Award http://www.meiff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MEIFF-09-Black-Pearl-Awards_Final.pdf Template:Dead link</ref>

Commentaries on Christian literatureTemplate:AnchorEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Original Goodness is a commentary on the Beatitudes. Love Never Faileth is a commentary on the writings of St Francis, St Paul, St Augustine, and Mother Teresa. Seeing with the Eyes of Love is a commentary on The Imitation of Christ.

Newspapers and other periodicalsTemplate:AnchorEdit

In the 1980s and 1990s, Easwaran published a variety of commentaries on public events in prominent periodicals, especially The Christian Science Monitor,<ref name="csm1980shirer">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Eknath Easwaran (February 11, 1985). Revisiting the RajTemplate:Snd an Indian perspective. The Christian Science Monitor, p. 18.</ref><ref>Eknath Easwaran (June 12, 1985). Mohandas K. Gandhi in South Africa. The Christian Science Monitor, p. 15.</ref><ref>Eknath Easwaran (November 13, 1985). India and Pakistan: time to encourage trust. The Christian Science Monitor, p. 17.</ref><ref>Eknath Easwaran (September 17, 1986). Young people, idealismTemplate:Snd and drugs. The Christian Science Monitor, p. 14.</ref><ref>Eknath Easwaran (December 10, 1988). Gandhi's lesson for the Philippines. The Christian Science Monitor, p. 19.</ref><ref>Eknath Easwaran (August 27, 1990). Find a Peaceful Solution, in the Name of Islam. The Christian Science Monitor, p. 19.</ref><ref>Eknath Easwaran (November 14, 1990). Nehru's Lesson From Gandhi. The Christian Science Monitor, p. 16.</ref><ref>Eknath Easwaran (April 11, 1991). The Dignity of Ancient Culture. The Christian Science Monitor, p. 16.</ref><ref>Eknath Easwaran (April 17, 2002). An Island of Calm in a Sea of Hostility. The Christian Science Monitor, p. 18.</ref> and also in The New York Times,<ref name="wwgt1998">Eknath Easwaran (May 21, 1998). "What Would Gandhi Think?" The New York Times, accessed Nov. 11, 2009. This commentary was republished later that week in Dawn (Pakistan), "What would Gandhi think of N-tests", May 22; in The Hindu (India), "Don't imitate the Western folly", May 26; and in the International Herald Tribune, What would Gandhi think?, May 21.</ref><ref name="nythowhelp98">Template:Cite news</ref> elsewhere in the US,<ref>Eknath Easwaran (January 26, 1991). Gandhi's Message of Nonviolence. San Francisco Chronicle.</ref> and internationally.<ref name="wwgt1998" /> He also wrote numerous commentaries that appeared in the Little Lamp (1961–1995), and in Blue Mountain (1990–present), quarterly journals published by the meditation center that he founded.<ref>Several articles that Easwaran published in the Little Lamp ({{#if:0460-1297|Template:Catalog lookup link{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}|Template:Error-small}}, LCCN: 83641607 sn 80000451) appeared later in revised form in his books; most copies of Blue Mountain (LCCN sf92093327) that appeared after 2000 can be downloaded from the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation website. Although primarily quarterly, each of these journals appeared at times on other schedules.</ref> In the 1960s, Easwaran published articles in other spiritual journals, such as the Mountain Path, published by Sri Ramana Maharshi's ashram.<ref name="candle1964">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="mangoe1968">Template:Cite journal</ref> Before coming to the US in 1959, Easwaran contributed short stories and other writings to literary anthologies,<ref name="wigmore58">Eknath Easwaran (1958), "The Postmaster" (pp. 39–42). In Template:Cite book</ref> and to magazines such as The Illustrated Weekly of India.<ref name="iwoi56">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Video and audioEdit

Many of Easwaran's recorded talks have been published in video and audio formats.<ref name="eetapes">See "Easwaran on Video" (42 DVDs listed) and "Easwaran on Audio" (The publisher states "We recorded his talks over several decades")</ref><ref name="dlapub" />

Several dozen of Easwaran's talks have been published as video DVDs, and now as downloadable MP4s as a free subscription from the Blue Mountain Center.<ref name="eetapes" /><ref name="dvdexamples">Examples of talks by Easwaran published as videos include Kabir: Stages of Desire (containing talks "Desire: Our Real Wealth" and "Meeting the Beloved"), Breaking Chains (containing talks "Breaking Chains" and "Fetters and Freedom").</ref> Before publication as DVDs, videos of Easwaran's talks were first released in VHS videotape format.<ref name="eevideo">Examples of talks published as VHS include Saint Francis: becoming an instrument of peace (2002, on the Prayer of St. Francis and its use in meditation) (68 minutes)</ref> Some talks are published in downloadable audio/MP3 formats.<ref name="dlapub">Downloadable MP3 talks include 50 talks in the "Thomas à Kempis Series", 9 "Individual talks", and 5 sets of talks or readings by Easwaran in "Following Series", as well as Easwaran (2008), "Following the Teachings of the Upanishads" Template:ASIN (178 minutes); Easwaran (2008), "Following the Way of the Buddha" Template:ASIN (172 minutes).</ref> Instructions for meditation by Easwaran have been published in audio form as CDs.<ref name="cdpub">Meditation (2004, instructions in Easwaran's meditation program), CDs. Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN, Template:OCLC Template:OCLC</ref> Some of Easwaran's talks were earlier published as cassette tapes<ref name="casettes">See Worldcat listings. Examples of talks published as cassette tapes are Gandhi: a personal encounter (1984, describing Easwaran's visit to Gandhi's ashram, 66 mins) Template:OCLC (Petaluma, CA: Nilgiri Press) and The Tree of Life (1975, commenting on ch. 15 of the Bhagavad Gita) Template:OCLC (Berkeley, CA: Blue Mountain Center of Meditation).</ref> or LP records.<ref name="lprecords">Issued as an LP record was a 1969 commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (chs. 2, 12), Template:OCLC (publisher: Sadhana Records).</ref> Magazines have reviewed some of Easwaran's published talks, both audio<ref name="plummer06">John Plummer (2006) Untitled [review of Meditation: A Complete Audio Guide, by Eknath Easwaran]. Quest. {{#if:1040-533X|Template:Catalog lookup link{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}{{#if:Template:Trim|{{#ifeq:Template:Yesno-no|yes|Template:Main other|{{#invoke:check isxn|check_issn|Template:Trim|error=Template:Error-small Template:Main other}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}|Template:Error-small}} (accessed 19 January 2013)</ref><ref name="vaughan95">Template:Cite journal See article God Makes the Rivers to Flow. These audio cassettes by Easwaran (1995): Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN Template:OCLC</ref> and video,<ref name="smith02">Template:Cite journal The video by Easwaran (2002): Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN, Template:OCLC Template:ASIN</ref> since the 1990s.

Several of Easwaran's written works, including Essence of the Upanishads, Passage Meditation, The Bhagavad Gita, The Dhammapada and Gandhi the Man, have been published as audio books, as voice-recorded by the British actor Paul Bazely,<ref name="bazelyread">Audiobooks by Easwaran that are read by Paul Bazely include The Bhagavad Gita (2015, unabridged) Template:ASIN (8 hours 54 minutes); The Dhammapada (2016, abridged) Template:ASIN (4 hours 22 minutes); Passage MeditationTemplate:Snd A Complete Spiritual Practice (2016, unabridged) Template:ASIN (8 hours 15 minutes); Essence of the Upanishads (2017, unabridged) Template:ASIN (8 hours 41 minutes); Strength in the Storm (2009, abridged) Template:ASIN (51 minutes); Gandhi the Man (2009, abridged) Template:ASIN (137 minutes); Climbing the Blue Mountain (2009, abridged) Template:ASIN (68 minutes); Renewal (2009, unabridged) Template:ASIN (83 minutes) (all published by: Nilgiri Press)</ref> and also the philosopher Jacob Needleman.<ref name="needleman-upanishad">Easwaran's (1987 original publication) translation of the Upanishads, abridged, read by Jacob Needleman. The Upanishads [Audiobook on Cassette]. San Bruno, CA: Audio Literature, 1999. Template:ISBN, Template:OCLC (ca. 3 hours)</ref>

Eight-point programEdit

Easwaran's program for spiritual growth consists of eight points, and is described comprehensively in his book Passage Meditation Template:Snd A Complete Spiritual Practice (originally published in 1978 as Meditation). Each point has a dedicated chapter:<ref>Passage Meditation: The Basics (bmcm.org)</ref>

Meditation on a Passage: Silent repetition upon memorized inspirational passages from one of the world's great religions. Practiced for one-half hour each morning.
The Mantram: silent repetition of a mantram, holy name or hallowed phrase from one of the world's great religions.
Slowing Down: set priorities to reduce stress and hurry.
One-Pointed Attention: give full concentration to whatever matter is currently at hand.
Training the Senses: enjoy simple pleasures in order to avoid craving for unhealthy excess.
Putting Others First: denounce selfishness and cultivating altruism.
Spiritual Companionship: practice meditation in the company of others.
Reading the Mystics: draw inspiration from the writings of the scriptures of all religions.

VegetarianismEdit

Easwaran was a lifelong vegetarian.<ref>"Eating in Freedom, Training the Mind". Eknath Easwaran’s Blue Mountain Journal. Retrieved 22 March 2023.</ref>

Students of Easwaran, including Carol Lee Flinders, inspired in part by his teachings about compassion and stewardship for the environment, published the highly influential vegetarian cookbook, Laurel's Kitchen (1976), which had a strong impact on the natural foods movement within the American counterculture.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=stir>Megan J. Elias (2008). Stir it up: home economics in American culture. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press. Template:ISBN. (NB: Laurel's Kitchen is discussed in pp. 152-160)</ref> A second edition, The New Laurel's Kitchen, was published in 1986.

The book has sold over a million copies.<ref>It was later republished in revised form as The New Laurel's Kitchen (1986).The back cover of the 1986 edition states "over a million copies sold" (see link [1]).</ref> Laurel's Kitchen contained extensive nutritional information from a scientific point of view.<ref name="LKbook">Laurel Robertson, Carol Flinders, & Brian Ruppenthal (1986). The new Laurel's kitchen. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press. Template:ISBN. The 1986 edition is dedicated to "our teacher, Eknath Easwaran" (p. 13), and the back cover states "over a million copies sold" (see link [2]). In an introduction to the 1986 edition, Flinders wrote of "the collection of friends who helped produce Laurel's Kitchen ten years ago", that "we share a commitment to meditation" (p. 20).</ref>

Other influenceTemplate:AnchorEdit

A variety of influences of Easwaran's life and work have been documented.

Easwaran's teachings or practices have sometimes been taught as part of traditional college courses,<ref name=flinders10>Template:Cite book</ref> or as tools for self-management by health professionals.<ref name=pothier19>Template:Cite news</ref>

Outside of the US, Easwaran's life and teachings were profiled, along with those of a variety of other spiritual teachers, in a book published in India entitled Meditation Masters and their Insights.<ref name="isbn9788171087037"> Luis S. R. Vas (2009), Meditation Masters and their Insights. Mumbai, India: Better Yourself Books. Template:ISBN. [3] (Easwaran is profiled in chapter 25, pp. 185–195; others profiled include Ramana Maharshi, Thich Nhat Hanh, D. T. Suzuki, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and Thomas Keating)</ref>

Easwaran's words have been included in collections of wisdom teachings, such as ones recently published by Chang (2006)<ref name="5millenia"> Larry Chang (Ed.) (2006), Wisdom for the soul: Five millennia of prescriptions for spiritual healing. Washington, DC: Gnosophia Publishers. Template:ISBN (NB: Easwaran's words are quoted on pp. 100, 160, 235, 279, 316, 485, 515, 548)</ref> and Parachin (2011).<ref name="parachin11">Chapter 11, "Eknath Easwaran: Inter-religious mystic" (pp. 110–119), in Template:Cite book</ref> Quotations from Easwaran's translations have been used many times by both scholarly and popular writers.<ref>A scholarly example is: Kelly James Clark (2000). Readings in the philosophy of religion Template:ISBN (see pp. 363–371) </ref><ref>A scholarly example is: Ramnath Narayanswamy (2008). Why is spirituality integral to management education? My experience of integrating management and spirituality. Journal of Human Values, v14 n2, pp115-128. {{#invoke:doi|main}} </ref><ref>A popular example is: Gayle Clayton (2004). Transformative Meditation: Personal & Group Practice to Access Realms of Consciousness Llewellyn Worldwide Template:ISBN </ref> Easwaran's other writings have also been quoted by various types of authors, including writers of novels and short stories,<ref name="johnson"> Charles Johnson (2002), Afterword (pp. 229–242) in John Whalen-Bridge & Gary Storhoff, The Emergence of Buddhist American Literature. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. Template:ISBN.</ref> popular spirituality,<ref> Elizabeth Lesser (1999). The Seeker's Guide Random House/Villard. Template:ISBN (p. 346)</ref> and articles on management theory.<ref> Lillas M. Brown (2001). Leading leadership development in universities: A personal story. Journal of Management Inquiry, v10 n4, pp. 312–323. DOI: 1056492601104005 </ref> Psychiatrist Aaron Beck and his colleagues quoted from Easwaran's commentary on the Katha Upanishad.<ref name="beckku"> Aaron T. Beck, Gary Emery, & Ruth. L. Greenberg (2005). Anxiety Disorders and Phobias: A Cognitive Perspective (15th anniv. ed.). New York: Basic Books. Template:ISBN ("E. Easwaran uses the metaphor of channels in the brain to describe how a person's major concern develops ... Patients respond well to this metaphor," p. 293)</ref> The NAPRA ReView wrote that "The volume of [Easwaran's] work and the quality of his discourse suggest a man who has had a profound impact on the spiritual lives of many."<ref name="napra97">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Easwaran's method of passage meditation was followed by the poet Robert Lax.<ref name="harford06">Template:Cite book Template:ISBN</ref>Template:Rp Near the end of his life, Lax's only reading each day was from Easwaran's book Words to Live By.<ref name="harford06" />Template:Rp

New Hampshire State Representative Latha Mangipudi reported having given then-Senator Barack Obama a copy of Easwaran's book Gandhi the Man in December 2006.<ref name=nikam16>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Mangipudi (2016) stated that "First time I met him [Obama] was as a Senator in December of 2006. When he came to New Hampshire, I gave him a book with a personal note wishing him success. The title of the book was 'Gandhi the Man: The Story of His Transformation' by Eknath Easwaran. In February of 2007, he came to one of the State Senator's home for a house party where I was also invited as he was my friend. Obama looked at me and said, 'Aren't you the woman who gave me the Gandhi book?'"</ref>

Easwaran has been listed in reference works on spiritual and religious leaders.<ref name="jones06" /><ref>J. Gordon Melton, Religious leaders of America: a biographical guide to founders and leaders of religious bodies, churches, and spiritual groups in North America (1999, 2nd ed.), Template:ISBN, p. 174.</ref><ref>James R. Lewis, The encyclopedia of cults, sects, and new religions (1998), Template:ISBN, p. 84.</ref>

In his survey of commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita, Nadkarni described Easwaran as "respected worldwide as one of the most profound writers and orators on religion and spirituality".<ref name=nadkarni17>Template:Cite book Template:ISBN (ebook), Template:ISBN (gbook 'about' listing)</ref>

BibliographyTemplate:AnchorEdit

Easwaran's books, initially written in English, have also been translated into more than 20 other languages, and published in non-US editions by indigenous (non-US) publishers. Languages in which his books are currently in print include Bahasa Indonesian, Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovenian, Spanish, and Telugu. His books have also been translated into Chinese (PRC).<ref name="gandhichina">Lynn Garrett (January 12, 1998). Gandhi in China. Publishers Weekly, v245 n2, p30. "Nilgiri Press... was surprised to receive an e-mail in September from the Sichuan Copyright Agency in the People's Republic of China, expressing interest in publishing a Chinese edition of its Gandhi the Man (especially since relations between China and India have not always been the best) ... the book will be released in China on January 30" (p. 30).</ref>

The Bhagavad Gita (Translation and Introduction), 2007 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
The Dhammapada (Translation and Introduction), 2007 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Upanishads (Translation and Introduction), 2007 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
[[Passage Meditation|Passage meditationTemplate:Snd A complete spiritual practice: Train your mind and find a life that fulfills]] (see article), 2016 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN), a comprehensively revised edition of
- Passage Meditation: Bringing the Deep Wisdom of the Heart into Daily Life, 2008 (Template:ISBN), a republication of
- Meditation: Commonsense Directions for an Uncommon Life, 1978 (Template:ISBN) (also a 2nd edition, 1991)
Conquest of Mind: Take charge of your thoughts & reshape your life through meditation, 3rd ed. 2010 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living (Translation and Verse by Verse Commentary):
- First Edition (1975–1984):
- The End of Sorrow (The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Vol. 1), 1975, 1993 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
- Like a Thousand Suns (The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Vol. 2), 1979, 1993 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
- To Love Is to Know Me (Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Vol. 3), 1984, 1993 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
- Second Edition (2020):
- The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living Volume One (Chapters 1–6: The End of Sorrow), 2020 (paperback Template:ISBN, hardcover Template:ISBN)
- The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living Volume Two (Chapters 7–12: Like a Thousand Suns), 2020 (paperback Template:ISBN, hardcover Template:ISBN)
- The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living Volume Three (Chapters 13–18: To Love Is to Know Me), 2020 (paperback Template:ISBN, hardcover Template:ISBN)
- The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living Volumes 1–3, 2020 e-book (Template:ISBN)
Essence of the Bhagavad Gita: A Contemporary Guide to Yoga, Meditation and Indian Philosophy, 2011 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Essence of the Dhammapada: The Buddha's Call to Nirvana, 2013 (Template:ISBN)
Essence of the Upanishads: A Key to Indian Spirituality (see article), 2009 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN), originally published as:
- Dialogue With Death: A Journey Through Consciousness, 1992
God Makes the Rivers to Flow: An anthology of the world's sacred poetry & prose (see article), 2009 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN), a larger version of:
- Timeless Wisdom: Passages for meditation from the world's saints & sages (see article), 2008 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Climbing the Blue Mountain: A Guide for the Spiritual Journey, 1992, 2014 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN), previously published as:
- Supreme Ambition: Life's Goals and How to Reach It
Love Never Faileth: Commentaries on texts from St. Francis, St. Paul, St. Augustine & Mother Teresa, with introductions by Carol L. Flinders, 1993 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Seeing With the Eyes of Love: A Commentary on a text from the Imitation of Christ, 1993 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Original Goodness: A Commentary on the Beatitudes, 1996 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
The Undiscovered Country: Exploring the Promise of Death, 1996 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day, 1996 (Template:ISBN), reissued as Words to Live By: Short Readings of Daily Wisdom, 2010 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Gandhi the Man: How One Man Changed Himself to Change the World (see article), 2011 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Nonviolent Soldier of Islam: Badshah Khan, A Man to Match His Mountains (see article) (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN), previously published as
- A man to match his mountains: Badshah Khan, nonviolent soldier of Islam (1984)
A Higher Image, 2002
Love Alters Not, 2002
The Compassionate Universe, 1989, 1993 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Patience: A Little Book of Inner Strength, 2010 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Renewal: A Little Book of Courage and Hope, 2009 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN), a re-edited and republished version of:
- Your Life Is Your Message: Finding Harmony With Yourself, Others, and the Earth
Strength in the Storm: Transform Stress, Live in Balance and Find Peace of Mind, 2005, 2013 (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Take Your Time: The Wisdom of Slowing Down (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
The Constant Companion (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN), previously published as:
- Thousand Names of Vishnu
The Mantram Handbook (see article) (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN), previously issued as:
- The Unstruck Bell: Powerful New Strategies for Using a Mantram
A More Ardent Fire: From Everyday Love to Love of God (Template:ISBN), e-book: (Template:ISBN)
Kabir: Stages of Desire
Saint Francis: Becoming an Instrument of Peace
With My Love and Blessings: The Teaching Years, 1966–1999, in Photographs & His Own Words
The Monkey and the Mango: Stories of My Granny (Illustrated by Ilka Jerabek), 1996 (Template:ISBN)

From 2011, a number of Easwaran's books and articles were excerpted and republished as the series of short ebooks "Easwaran Inspirations":

How to Meditate, the instructions in meditation from Passage Meditation (Template:ISBN, Template:ASIN)
How to Understand Death, excerpted from "The Undiscovered Country" (Template:ISBN, Template:ASIN)
How to Find Happiness, based on two articles from Easwaran's Blue Mountain Journal(Template:ISBN, Template:ASIN)
Learning to Love Part 1 (Template:ISBN, Template:ASIN) and Learning to Love Part 2 (Template:ISBN, Template:ASIN), excerpted from a number of books
What is Karma, the chapter on Karma from Essence of the Dhammapada: The Buddha's Call to Nirvana (Template:ISBN, Template:ASIN)

Contributions to works by others include:

Template:Cite journal (contribution to edited volume)
Eknath Easwaran (1991). "Working for others [reprinted from the Little Lamp, vol. 22, no. 3, Autumn 1982]" (pp 72–84) in Template:Cite book
Eknath Easwaran (1996). Preface (pp. ix–x) to Template:Cite book Template:ISBN
Template:Cite book
Preface to The Essential Gandhi by Louis Fischer (2002, 2nd edition). New York: Vintage. (Template:ISBN)
Preface to In Quest of God: The Saga of an Extraordinary Pilgrimage by Swami Ramdas (2002, 2nd American edition). San Diego, CA: Blue Dove Foundation. (Template:ISBN)

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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