In the latter part of nineteenth century, when due to the effect of constant attacks of foreign cultures and ideology on the traditional Indian psyche Sri Ramakrishna was a waxing crescent in the sky of Indian spirituality. This was the time when educated youth in this country was heavily under the influence of Western education and culture. At such a crucial time, when every body was feeling proud in belittling everything related to Indian religion and culture, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhans marked his impression on the elite class of Bengal like Keshabchandra Sen, Devendranth Thakur, and Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar. His disciple Swami Vivekananda initiated the era of the glory of Indian spirituality. Even at this time Sri Ramakrishna is driving Indians towards the spirituality as a silent force in the form of hundreds of religious institutions and thousands monks from the tradition that was Initiated by his disciples.

There are several books on the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. One of them is "The gospel of Sri Ramakrishna". This book is an English translation from the Bengali memoir of his disciples. Original book was published in Bengali language in five volumes. Mr. Mahendranath Gupta wrote these memoirs under the pseudonym ‘M'. He was a physics teacher in a school of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar. He was an intimate disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. He used to come to Dakshineshwar and spent long stint of time with his Guru. He recorded his guru's all conversations with his disciples between the periods during March 1882 up to 24^th April 1886 in his diary. This record has the accuracy of stenographic documentation. At the same time it gives the vivid and intimate picture of the eventful and pious life of Sri Ramakrishna. Initially he was writing this conversation for his personal use only. When Girishchandra Ghosh asked for those diaries, he denied him. But after the death of his guru, he provided those diaries for publication and his chronicles were published as Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrit.

Main body of the book consists of the records from the personal diary of Mr. Mahendranath and there is appendix ‘A' that consists of the several conversations that took place in his absence. These are also the first hand account of the experiences of his brother disciples with their Guru. This work was translated in several languages. This English edition is the translation of its selected parts by Swami Nikhilanand with the lengthy and exhaustive introduction that includes the biography of Paramhans, short explanation of several system of Indian religious thought, introduction of the people who came in his contact during that period and other relevant topics. This introduction helps readers to understand the content that may be otherwise alien to the reader of this English edition.

The period that is covered in this book is the last phase of Sri Ramakrishna's life. This was the time when his all disciples had arrived to him. Middle aged householders and young boys- both were in his disciples. He taught them accordingly. He gave them instructions not only according to their worldly circumstances but also their inner mental, psychological and spiritual state. He always considered celibacy a highly virtuous and essential attribute for spiritual evolution. He conveyed his message in straight forward language without any intellectual baggage. He used to teach his disciples in informal ways - that used to be either simple lighthearted conversation or super sensuous internal communication. His path was the path of renunciation. Although he was a married man, his life was a burning example of renunciation. For his young disciples his message was crisp and clear. He always instructed them to steer clear from any object that leads to any type of worldly temptation. For his householder disciples, his life was to emulate. In this book, a reader, whether he is a householder or a monk, gets his doubts, faced during his spiritual journey, cleared. All this is reflected in his everyday conversation with his disciples given in this book. Prophetic words of Sri Ramakrishna contain the meaning in multiple layers. Every time when a reader rereads it, he finds new meanings behind master's words.

Like a true master Sri Ramakrishna was also adept in several paths of reaching to God. But he always considered himself a child of mother goddess. His path was the paths of Bhakti. While reading this book, one gets immersed in the ocean of devotion. He used to compare the devotee with a sword without sheath. He advocated the form of mother and child relationship between God and devotee. As a mother can not ignore the desperate call of her child, God can not ignore the true longing of his devotee.

Sri Ramakrishna was a simple man without any formal education. His speech was full of phrases and parables of native language. Though in these beautifully narrated dialogues of Paramhans and his disciples, references are purely rural Indian; it is very inspiring unanimously relevant due to its universal appeal and significance. Basically a Bhakt (follower of the path of devotion) saint, he had a first hand experience of several paths of sadhna. He conveyed the essence of all of them in his simple and direct language that appealed the listeners because of the truth behind those words. Although a few native words are given as it is to avoid misinterpretation, but glossary or foot notes are there. Though there is a repetition of stories and parables, yet it is least boring and very useful in reinforcing the message behind them in reader's mind.

Devotional songs are the integral part of Bhakti tradition of India. This book contains beautiful translation of mystic Bengali songs which he used to sing in the state of ecstasy.

One thing that makes this book very useful is the spiritual depth of writer's personality. Writer is himself virtuous and accomplished yogi. This helped him in explaining spiritual facts and references with deep understanding. He didn't use his real name as writer of the book and used a pseudonym. That shows his humility and indifference towards fame. His devotion for his Guru and fondness for his brother disciples becomes evident in this book. When we read the book, the reverence of the writer for his master pervades us infectiously.

In this age of integration among religions it is not easy to forget that less than a century and a half ago Ramakrishna was to first one ever to integrate them. If all the religions at one of their combined gatherings attempted to start taking all of their scriptures to task at once, maybe we would see an eventual end to the current crisis.