Kathamrita Project
We are currently working on a new English translation of one of modern spirituality’s most unique and influential texts, the Bengali Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita, Mahendranath Gupta’s five-volume account of his meetings and conversations with Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. This translation aims to follow as close as possible the content, structure, styles and moods of the original text, and will eventually include a numbered sentence system, making it possible to cross-reference between the English translation and the original Bengali text, as well as a transliteration scheme in Roman text, for those unable read Bengali. Work on the first volume is nearing completion.
Below are some excerpts, as well as a link to videos of readings done at Kali Mandir.
Kathamrita Excerpts
"The Door is Open"
Let us go, brother, once again to have his darshan. That great soul, that child who knows nothing other than his Mother, who has taken on a body and come for our sake—he will tell us what we must do to solve the problems of this hard life! He will tell the sannyasins, he will tell the householders! The door is open! He is waiting at Kali’s home in Dakshineswar. Let us go, let us go; let us see him...
"The Child"
“Gradually evening settled in. Whether upon the bosom of the ocean, where the blue shadows of the infinite expanse have fallen, or within the deep forest, or atop the mountain peak that touches the sky, or along the banks of the wind-rippled river, or out in the field that stretches beyond the horizon, the humble person's mood underwent a change, without any effort. This Sun, who had...
"Dance, Mother!"
Sri Ramakrishna is dancing, mad with divine love. As he dances, he is entering into samadhi. He stands there, in that state of samadhi, body motionless, eyes fixed, a smile upon his face, his hand on the shoulder of a beloved bhakta. And then, as the mood ends, he dances like a mad elephant! Regaining outer consciousness, he is improvising a song:...
"Be Joyful!"
“It was evening. Sri Ramakrishna offered incense in his room. He is saluting the deities, reciting the bija mantra and singing the Name. Outside the room there is extraordinary beauty! It is the seventh day of the waxing moon in the month of Kartik. Over here, the temple is smiling in stainless moonlight, while over here the bosom of the Bhagirathi is trembling gently, like the bosom of a sleeping baby....
Videos of Swami Ambikananda Reading from New Translation
Click Button below to view entire YouTube Playlist