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"Kalpa tree" is the wish-fulfilling tree in
Sanskrit, usually in the sense of spiritual
enlightenment. A beautiful song from The Gospel of
Sri Ramakrishna, excerpted below, identifies this
mythical Kalpa tree with Brahman, the Supreme Reality of
Vedanta philosophy. Ever perched on the Absolute, the
divine bird in our innermost heart is asked to sing its
celestial song of God-absorption. This mystical aspect
of the Kalpa tree inspired the name of Kalpa Tree Press.
Sing, O bird that nestles deep within my
heart,
Sing, O bird that sits on the Kalpa-tree
of Brahman,
Sing God's everlasting praise . .
.
Sing, O bird, "He alone is the Comfort of my
soul."
Sing, O bird, "He alone is my life's
enduring Joy."
O thou wondrous bird of my
life,
Sing aloud in my
heart.
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(Reprinted by permission of the
Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center, New York)
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Kalpa Tree Press was established in September of 2000
in order to publish Centred
in Truth: The Story of Swami Nitya-swarup-ananda (a
two-volume set with 1,128 pages and 131 illustrations) and to
offer it at a reasonable price. This monumental work gives
readers a dynamic view of Vedanta philosophy and its forceful
role in creating a truly humane world civilization. The global
vision of Vedanta—originally preached in the West by the great
Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament of Religions in 1893—was
Swami Nitya-swarup-ananda's lifelong crusade.
The success of Centred in Truth in India and the
United States prompted Sister Gargi (Marie Louise Burke), a
prominent author and monastic in the Vedanta movement, to work
with Kalpa Tree Press on several books she authored about
Swami Ashokananda, her own spiritual teacher. A Heart
Poured Out: A Story of Swami Ashokananda was published
in March 2003 and is now in its second printing; A
Disciple's Journal: In the Company of Swami
Ashokananda, Sister Gargi's account of her spiritual
training with Swami Ashokananda, will be released in October
2003.
Kalpa Tree Press will continue to publish works that
deserve to be called contemporary classics. Our publications
help readers understand how India's timeless philosophy can be
practiced on its highest and deepest levels in a contemporary
mode, and how Vedanta can spiritualize communal, as well as
personal, thought and endeavor. |
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