Ananda Devi

A harrowing account of the hidden violent reality of life in her native country by the figurehead of Mauritian literature.

Eve Out of Her Ruins

This lush but disquieting novel of post-9/11 London is a masterful dissection of racism, aging, and the perturbing nature of desire.

The Living Days

A wild, bomb-throwing teenage revenge plot that skewers the cults of consumerism and the body beautiful.

Ananda Devi's protagonist is tormented at school because of her weight, and haunted by the sister whom her father believes she devoured in the womb. This, she thinks, is how he accounts for her enormous she is not one but two.

Her father is gleefully devoted and plies her with increasingly indulgent feasts; at school her fellow students and even teachers seek to humiliate her with an almost demonic insistence; in the midst of all this she struggles to see who she is beyond the world’s perceptions of her and her size.

When she gets an unexpected, heady taste of the other pleasures of the body, she briefly feels the radiant possibility of another kind of life. But the great eye of the mob turns on her once more and she devises one drastic, final, self-destroying way to turn the tables on her persecutors and the whole unjust world.

In Hungering, Devi deploys keenly lyrical prose to stage a revenge plot with dark humor that tears apart the hypocrisies around how we talk about bodies, women, beauty, obsession, and consumption, and how society consumes, obsesses over, and vilifies the Other.

All Flesh: A Novel 

Jeffrey Zuckerman

Eva dalle sue rovine

“If I had only one word to define this book, it would be aliveness—a synonym, plausibly, in Ananda Devi's idiolect, for freedom. Everything—from the Night in the title, to skin, to mud, to a green sari, to sound, to Time itself—is alive. Translated with calm dexterity and breathtaking attention by Kazim Ali, this is a collection that held my body—eyes and heart and brain—in its jaws from beginning till end.” — Karthika Nair

Ananda Devi's poetry singes and sings of the body electric, bound by the complex, colonial island politics of Mauritius and yet boundless like the waters that surround it. This book of harsh lyric and enigmatic and erotic prose, takes on a second life in Kazim Ali's sensitive translation.

When the Night Agrees to Speak to Me

Zielone sari

Eva ur spillrorna

Ramaji

The revised expanded 2019 2nd edition features 400+ teacher LOCs (double) and new relevant teacher case studies. As "finishers," Ramaji and Ananda Devi want to get you to LOC 1000 (Self-realization) quickly and easily. "1000" is the complete guide to LOCs (Levels of Consciousness) and the revolutionary new Map of Awakening. It answers the common question "How can I tell if a teacher is enlightened?" A list of the LOCs of more than 400 contemporary non-duality and Advaita teachers is included. Curious about how enlightened Mooji or Byron Katie or Jeff Foster are? Now you can find out. It's all answered by their LOCs. Ramaji and Ananda also provide a list of LOCs for more than 101 famous spiritual personalities such as Jesus, Buddha, Papaji, Osho, Pope Francis and Mother Theresa. 1000 explains how to evaluate teachers by knowing what stage of enlightenment they are at. It accounts for the misconduct of teachers who otherwise appear to be enlightened persons."1000" is a unique breakthrough book that explains in simple terms the complete spiritual path from beginning to end. Students of meditation, prayer, enlightenment, non-duality, Advaita, yoga, Eastern religion and other spiritual disciplines will find it most illuminating.Serious students of Self-inquiry and Ramana Maharshi will find Ramaji's revelatory experiences of Amrita Nadi and starving the I-thought illuminating. Dedicated devotees of Nisargadatta Maharj and "I Am That" will enjoy new insights into Nisargadatta's distinction between Brahman ("universal consciousness") and Parabrahman ("the Absolute").Entries from Ramaji's spiritual journals highlight the book. Ramaji never intended for his private diaries to be made public. In order to make "1000" as helpful and powerful as possible, he decided to leave no secrets hidden. All is exposed in the hope that it might help to clear up confusion for the earnest sincere seeker or established spiritual teacher. Ramaji and Ananda Devi have been able to assist many seekers via the RASA transmission in support of non-dual awakening. They document some of the RASA recipients who have stabilized in non-duality and successfully attained enlightenment after receiving RASA in person or online. Ramaji gives an overview of the lower levels of consciousness (LOC 30 through LOC 499). He explains the emergence of pure spirituality (as opposed to conventional religion) at LOC 500 through LOC 559. He describes advanced seeker stages (LOC 560 through LOC 589) ready to leap into non-duality.Ramaji covers the non-dual stages in considerable depth. The new non-dual sage goes from local space spontaneity (LOC 600s) to cosmic or universal consciousness (LOC 700s) to divine unknowing (LOC 800s) to, for a few, the hesitant hermit (LOC 900s). Then the sage arrives at and stabilizes in the Self or Absolute (LOC 1000).Ramaji offers case studies, quotes and in-depth research to show how each major non-dual stage is different from the others. He does all he can to describe the nature and experience of the Absolute, helped by quotes from Meister Eckhart, Francis Lucille and Karl Renz. There has never been a book like "1000" before. If you are on the spiritual path in any way, this is a book that you simply cannot be without. Ramaji also points you to his website where you can listen for free to high-energy music he has programmed to support your enlightenment.The complete Map of Awakening with Levels of Consciousness and a condensed Map are included. Complementing the Map of Awakening are studies of 7 traditional spiritual maps of awakening: the Seven Valleys of Sufism, the Five Ranks of Tozan, the 10 Zen Oxherding Pictures, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, Stages of Advaita Vedanta, the Major Arcana of the Tarot and the Hero's Journey."1000" is a spirited, candid and passionately comprehensive major work. One of their students jokingly referred to "1000" as the "Bible 2.0." You will want YOUR copy of "1000" by Ramaji and Ananda Devi to accompany you on your path!

The Levels of Consciousness and a Map of the Stages of Awakening for Spiritual Seekers and Teachers

1000

Eve out of Her Ruins is a heartbreaking look at the dark corners of the island nation of Mauritius that tourists never see, and a poignant exploration of lives at the margins of society. Published in the UK for the first time, this celebrated novel won the 2006 Prix des cinq continents de la Francophonie.

A poetic, autobiographical collection from famed Mauritian writer Ananda Devi, engaging with loneliness, desire, violence, and aging. “I’m sick of biting off and chewing this dust, of scratching with my thin claws, searching for some chunk of literary gold to hell with all the disarrayed images of our homelands reflections of our particular misery.” From eminent Mauritian writer Ananda Devi, a collection that transgresses genre lines with poetic, autobiographical flow. The pieces herein address the resonance of personal memories and regrets, the political world, and sexuality. In light of the complexity of human identity, Devi emphasizes the importance of each word chosen, speaking directly to the reader and asking them to “peel back my skin. Unclothe me of myself.”

Achille Mbembe

Alain Mabanckou

Jean-Marie Blas de Roblès

Juan Goytisolo

Jean Rouaud

Abdourahman A. Waberi

Collectifs

Valérie Zenatti

Azouz Begag

Wilfried N'Sondé

Philippe Forest

Pascal Blanchard

Leïla Sebbar

Michel Le Bris

Yves Laplace

Jean-Marie Laclavetine

Ahmed Kalouaz

François Bégaudeau

Kebir Mustapha Ammi

Anna Moï

«En 2007, nous avions fait paraître aux Éditions Gallimard un ouvrage collectif intitulé Pour une littérature-monde, où nous rappelions que la littérature n'était pas compressible à l'intérieur de frontières. Ce livre, par son écho, a contribué à faire évoluer notre perception d'une littérature de langue française outrepassant les limites de l'Hexagone. Le débat continue, sous des déguisements parfois inattendus. En cette année où l'on veut célébrer le cinquantième anniversaire des indépendances africaines, voilà que le débat, en France, se replie frileusement sur les contours d'une "indentité nationale". Chaque être est un millefeuille, autrement dit un livre composite, qui ne peut se réduire à cette fiction identitaire nationale. "Je est un autre", lançait il y a longtemps un poète fameux. Et cela est encore plus vrai aujourd'hui, en une époque de fantastiques télescopages culturels, tandis que naît un monde nouveau où chacun, au carrefour d'identités multiples, se trouve mis en demeure d'inventer pour lui-même une "identité-monde". Les romanciers qui ont appris à composer avec toutes ces voix de l'intérieur, discordantes, foisonnantes, paralysantes, entraînantes, qui se moquent des langues et des frontières, ont évidemment leur mot – poétique – à dire.» Michel Le Bris et Jean Rouaud.

Je est un autre. Pour une identité-monde

Sylvia P.

"Brutal and entirely believable, a gorgeous and haunting depiction of London and the real lives and memories of those unseen within it." —Publishers Weekly “A magnificent gem.” —Jennifer Croft, translator of Flights A chance encounter on Portobello Road incites an unsettling, magnetic attraction between Mary, a seventy-five-year-old white British spinster, and Cub, a thirteen-year-old Jamaican boy from Brixton. Mary clings increasingly to phantoms as dementia overtakes her reality, latching on to Cub and channeling her remaining energy into their relationship. But their macabre romance comes to a horrific climax, as white supremacy, poverty, and class conflict explode on the streets of London. Through exquisite juxtaposition, Ananda Devi uses alluring prose to confront the tensions of an increasingly nationalistic metropolis, and to examine the queasy nature of desire muddled with power.

"Intimacy with the Infinite" is the candid spiritual autobiography of contemporary spiritual teacher Ananda Devi. It reads like a novel, yet if offers unique powerful life-changing insights. Unlike most authors writing on non-duality or enlightenment, Ananda focuses on the truth about life after a genuine deep spiritual awakening.The events that followed soon after her awakening changed her life beyond recognition. The telling of these dramatic events, predicted in dreams, is interspersed with the insights that she gleaned from this remarkable transformation of her life. While most awakened authors concentrate on their journey to enlightenment, Ananda emphasizes its massive impact and the radical personal and life changes that take place post-awakening.The shocks and surprises that awaited Ananda post-awakening included meeting and falling in love with her Twin Flame life partner Ramaji who is 23 years her senior, getting divorced, giving up her multimillion dollar inheritance and going no contact with her wealthy parents and brother."Intimacy with the Infinite" is the only book that explores in depth the heroic challenges, unsolved mysteries and long-held secrets of the post-awakening journey and its ineffable fulfillment. Hard-won spiritual knowledge that can only be gained by fearlessly living this profound death and rebirth process ─ symbolized by the transformation of caterpillar to butterfly ─ are strewn like shining gems throughout the text.Ananda Devi speaks with her heart from her own direct knowing and realization. She awakened spontaneously without a teacher. Her teachings are not influenced by any source or tradition. She aligns with Zen as the path she likes the most, but her interest in Zen came after her awakening.Enlightenment is not what you think it is. You will not arrive at your goal floating in the clouds above human. Instead, you will be more human, more vulnerable and more authentic than ever before. At long last you are being true to yourself... and you will know it!Well-known spiritual teacher Adyashanti said "Enlightenment is a destructive process." You will not find more compelling proof of Adyashanti's cautionary counsel than Intimacy with the Infinite by Ananda Devi.The extraordinary changes in both her inner life and her outer world demonstrate that once you have fully embraced truth, everything else will inevitably fall away for good and forever. It is not enough to realize the truth. You must live it!

The Truth about Life After Awakening

Intimacy with the Infinite

Ananda Nirsimloo-Anenden

roman

Ève de ses décombres

Au Nord de l’Inde, dans une ville pauvre de l'Uttar Pradesh, se trouve La Ruelle où travaillent les prostituées. Y vivent Gowri, Kavita, Bholi, ainsi que Veena, et Chinti, sa fille de dix ans. Si Veena ne parvient pas à l'aimer, les femmes du quartier l'ont prise sous leur aile, surtout Sadhana. Elle ne se prostitue pas et habite à l’écart, dans une maison qu’occupent les hijras, ces femmes que la société craint et rejette parce qu’elles sont nées dans des corps d’hommes. Ayant changé de sexe et devenue Guru dans sa communauté, Sadhana veille sur Chinti. Leurs destins se renversent le jour où l’un des clients de Veena, Shivnath, un swami, un homme de Dieu qui dans son temple aime se faire aduler, tombe amoureux de Chinti et la kidnappe. Persuadé d’avoir trouvé la fille de Kali capable de le rendre divin, il l’emmène en pèlerinage à Bénarès. Comment se douterait-il que sur ses pas, deux représentantes des castes les plus basses, une pute et une hijra, Veena et Sadhana, sont parties pour retrouver Chinti, et le tuer ? Des bas-fonds de l’Inde où les couleurs des saris trempent dans la misère à sa capitale spirituelle, Ananda Devi nous entraîne dans un roman haletant et riche pour fouiller, à sa manière, les questions brûlantes de notre époque : la place des femmes et des transsexuels, le règne des hommes et la sororité ; les folies de la foi, la pédophilie ; la religion, la colère et l’amour. Avec son style incisif et poétique, elle brise le silence des dieux pour faire entendre et résonner le cri de guerre des femmes – le rire des déesses.

Le rire des déesses

" N'oubliez pas mon île. Fétu de canne au duvet rose, vêtue de sucre et de jasmin, n'oubliez pas son visage d'enfant puni derrière les esprits clos, ses mains meurtries au bris du jour. Ses pieds coincés dans les failles de son passé. " " Tu es une effraction dans l'absence de mes nuits. Approche. Tends ton envie. Que je l'enroule autour de mes lèvres en un jus amer et putrescible. Tes yeux me songent et m'évertuent, me dégringolent d'impatience. Au bout, chute, cassure, fractures et contusions, hématomes comblés de nos corps, je m'en fous. Je suis celle que tu rouages. " Les serments se délitent. C'est l'instant du froid martyr. Toi tu ne l'entends pas. Je suis écarquillée de désirs. Perçois-tu autre chose ? " Ainsi Ananda Devi nous raconte-t-elle une histoire sensuelle, obsédante, cruelle : celle d'un lieu et d'un corps.

Le long désir

Avril 2004, New Delhi. L'Inde est en pleine campagne électorale. Sonia Gandhi - l'Italienne, l'étrangère - deviendra-t-elle le prochain Premier ministre ?... Mais pour Subhadra, cinquante-deux ans, une femme ordinaire, la préoccupation est autre : fera-t-elle ce pèlerinage de renoncement des femmes ménopausées que lui propose sa belle-mère pour marquer la fin de sa féminité ? Ou cédera-t-elle au contraire à la mystérieuse séduction de l'ombre qui la suit depuis un mois dans les rues de Delhi ? Cet étrange chassé-croisé amoureux lui offre enfin ce que personne ne lui a jamais donné : son propre corps...

Ananda Devi

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