Paul Brunton was a British traveler who was more interested in philosophy and meaning of life. This obsession for finding the deeper meaning to life beyond the apparent made him travel across the world and ultimately to India. Paul Brunton encountered numerous yogis, mystics, babas, magicians, gurus, philosophers…but none could satisfy his thirst for knowledge.

It was a mystical meeting with the great sage Ramana Maharshi in the South Indian temple town of Tiruvannamalai that he ultimately found his spiritual master.

Paul brings to life the India of his time very vividly - through his amazing description of his interactions with various personalities. It is a great source of knowledge of India given Paul traverses the entire length and breadth of India. Paul also exposes the multiple Babas who attained great fame but were quite hollow in their spiritual progress.

The pinnacle of Paul's experience is when he meets Ramana Maharshi! The description is mind blowing for its beauty and breathtaking in reading about his experience in the silence.

Paul describes his encounter with the sage very beautifully.

I glance there for a moment and perceive a seated figure upon a long white divan, but it suffices to tell me that here indeed is the Maharishee. The sage remains perfectly still, motionless, undisturbed at our arrival. I surrender myself to the steadily deepening sense of restfulness until two hours have passed.

When the sage comes out of the meditative state, he slowly moves and fixes his gaze on Paul Brunton. Someone prods Paul to ask his questions…

But in those lustrous eyes which are gently staring at me, I read another question, albeit unspoken.

"Can it be - is it possible - that you are still tormented with distracting doubts when you have now glimpsed the deep mental peace which you - and all men - may attain?"

The peace overwhelms me. I turn to the guide and answer:

"No. There is nothing I care to ask now. Another time".

The book is remarkable in detailing Paul's experience and interactions with the sage. It seems the now famous aphorism "Who am I?" was made popular by Paul.

This book is a must read just to immerse in the great joy that Paul felt when he met the sage and his subsequent interactions!