Ramana has often been described as ‘an incarnation of Advaita’. As one passes the philosophically relevant portions of Ramana’s life and teachings through the lens of Advaita, they will be seen to be in perfect accordance with the essence of Advaita’s philosophical teachings. What is all the more astonishing is that Ramana’s teachings emerged spontaneously as the fruit of his sudden Great Awakening and only subsequently, almost by accident, did he learn of the ancient Upanisadic and Advaitic teachings. This book is an attempt to view, to see the life and teachings of Bhagavad Sri Ramana Maharsi through the lend of the philosophical system (darsana) known as Advaita Vedanta. Not only does the word ‘darsan’ mean ‘being in the presence’ of a Sage or deity, but it is also the nearest equivalent Sanskrit word for ‘philosophy’. John Grimes is a renowned scholar of Advaita Vedanta, who has studied and taught both in India and America.