This book is the compilation of classes given by Swami Tyagishananda, an erudite scholar monk of the Ramakrishna Order, during the years 1945-50. The verses are given in Devanagari script followed by English translation and insightful comments. The author quotes (in Sanskrit) extensively from the philosophical schools and commentaries of Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, Madhva, Vallabha, the Vedas, Upanishad, Puranas, as well as from works of western philosophers and scriptures of various other religions. But throughout the text, he interprets his views in accord with the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.
They alone live whose lives are in the whole universe, and the more we concentrate our lives on limited things, the faster we go towards death. Those moments alone we live when our lives are in the universe, in others; and living this little life is death, simply death, and that is why the fear of death comes.
-Swami Vivekananda