This book is a highly regarded biography of the 19th-century Indian mystic Sri Ramakrishna and his close circle of devotees.Isherwood uniquely blends the deep devotion of a practicing Vedantist with the scientific objectivity of an investigator, presenting Ramakrishna as an extraordinary "phenomenon" rather than just a mythological saint. Backed by senior monks of the Ramakrishna Order, Isherwood utilized direct translations of primary texts (Sri Ramakrishna Lilaprasanga and Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita) that were unavailable to earlier Western biographers. Written in an engaging, simple style, it captures Ramakrishna's intense spiritual experiences and his pivotal role in shaping modern spiritual thought.

To hear the author discuss his subject directly, you can watch this archival Christopher Isherwood Lecture on Ramakrishna, which offers a unique firsthand look into how he approached the mystic's life