Buying Books

The Internet is an excellent resource for buying books on Advaita simply because bookstores that stock these books are so difficult to find unless you live in India . You will be fortunate indeed if you happen to have such a store within easy access of your home. Buying off the Internet using a credit card is very easy and, providing that the web site has a secure facility, also very safe.

Large organisations such as Amazon are excellent in that they have huge stocks and a very efficient service. Prices are also often lower than you will find elsewhere. Because Advaita is such a specialist subject however, and many books are printed without ISBN by small Ashrams, you will not always find the books listed. In this case it is often necessary to buy direct from the publisher.

UK and Europe

Printsasia is an on-line bookshop, which supplies many, reasonably priced, Advaita-related books that are otherwise difficult to obtain outside India. Shipping is also free in the UK. The website provides a good search facility, although the only information supplied on each book is a large cover-image, together with full title and author. There is, however, a live help facility if you need more information.

Watkins Books is the bookshop that I visit whenever I travel to London in the UK. It has a large section downstairs devoted to Advaita, both traditional and modern.

Non-Duality Press publishes books in the categories of satsang and neo-Advaita and, more recently, Direct Path.

It is also worth trying a general outlet such as Amazon first since many popular books from even relatively obscure publishers are quite likely to be stocked. Use the Search Box provided below to check availability:

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InnerQuest in Paris, France sell videos, DVDs, CDs and books on non-dual teachings. There are numerous ones by Ramana Maharshi and the elusive 'Atma Darshan' and 'Atma Nirvritti' by Atmananda Krishna Menon.

Music: This does not quite fit in this section but I cannot think of anywhere else to put it. If you are interested in Indian music, there are very few specialist shops where this may be purchased. There is, however, one in Leicester in the UK and on-line purchases may be made and mailed world-wide. Sonarupa sells CDs. DVDs and books on all aspects of Indian music. Their website is excellent, having a comprehensive index and full details, with color photographs, of all items.

US

Printsasia is an on-line bookshop, which supplies many, reasonably priced, Advaita-related books that are otherwise difficult to obtain outside India. Shipping is also free in the US at the time of writing. The website provides a good search facility, although the only information supplied on each book is a large cover-image, together with full title and author. There is, however, a live help facility if you need more information.

Chimaya Publications are able to supply all the books by Swami Chinamyananda that are currently in print.

Arsha Vidya Gurukulam already has a link on the Organisations page but must have another mention here since it is the principal (sometimes only) source for the excellent books by Swami Dayananda.

Inner Directions publish a number of  books, videos and audiotapes on non-duality. Books and DVDs are principally of Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta and Tony Parsons…

Nataraj Books at Springfield, Virginia have an extensive collection of books from India (over 5,000 titles) on various subjects, including some that are difficult to obtain elsewhere. There is a facility to order online.

The Vedanta Press of Southern California has a huge selection and on-line ordering providing that you live in the US.

Black Dot Publications publishes the books of Chuck Hillig - reviews and endorsements of his work by large numbers of respected authorities.

Sentient Publications publishes all of the works of Wei Wu Wei and Steven Harrison amongst others.

It is also worth trying a general outlet such as Amazon first since many popular books from even relatively obscure publishers are quite likely to be stocked. Use the Search Box provided below to check availability:

Search by keywords:

India

Vedicbooks.net has a huge collection of books and an excellent website to sell them on-line. Purchases may be made in $ or £ and paid for by credit card or, for maximum convenience, versatility and safety by Paypal. Since books are very much cheaper in India and often only available there, this is an easy way to buy. As of Jan. 2008, shipping costs are fixed at $5.95 per book for airmail delivery in 10 - 21 days to Europe and the US. I will be adding links to buy there, where approriate, for those books which I recommend.

Vedams Books are good for buying books on Vedanta (or anything else to do with India). There is a detailed description of nearly every book so you can check whether it sounds like what you are looking for before you order.

Zen Publications of Pune and Mumbai, India publish the works of Ramesh Balsekar and stock most of his works together with a number of others. There is no on-line ordering facility, however.

Motilal Banarsidass publishes many books on Advaita, both traditional and modern and it is surprisingly cheap to buy these for export to the UK or US, much cheaper than buying the equivalent books from your local bookstore. They have a detailed on-line catalogue and you can purchase books using credit cards. Instead of doing this on-line, you print out a form, fill in the details and fax this. Alternatively the form is emailed after completion.

Sundeep Prakashan also publishes a wide range of material relating to India, including a good selection of books on Advaita. Books may be purchased on line via credit cards and prices are quoted in US $.

Samata Books publish the complete works of Shankara as well as his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.

Indian Books Centre - Publishers of Indological Books. Books may be ordered on-line but there are, as yet, no credit card facilities.

Exotic India sell everything related to Indian art - paintings, sculptures. jewelry, beads and textiles - but they also hold a huge stock of books on Philosophy (over 1000 titles). There are full details of each book; prices are quoted in your currency and include air-mail postage. You can pay by Paypal as well as credit cards and the service is excellent.

Saujanya Books have a large number of relevant books with prices, including airmail, in US $ and payment by Visa or Mastercard.

D. K. Agencies (P) Ltd. sell a very wide variety of books on many subjects. Searching for 'philosophy' and 'religion' gave around 400 books. The site is secure and credit cards may be used, though the link is not encrytpted. Prices can be accessed in $, £ or €.

Eastern Book Corporation also sell books on many different subjects (with around 800 on aspects of Hinduism). Books are sold at the Indian cover price, which makes them substantially cheaper than many Indian exporters. Credit cards are accepted.

Biblia Impex was started in 1963 by the founder Shri Sita Ram Goel, a noted scholar and writer. They export Indological publications, as well as books and periodicals based on every major religion and philosophical belief, to all over the world.

Bagchee is a site devoted predominantly to Indian books (art, architecture, biographies, literature), as well as wooden handicrafts, music CDs and DVDs. Credit cards accepted.

Baalaji Books is an online bookstore, specialising in titles ranging from Ayurveda, Buddhism and Cosmology to Indian Literature, Religion & Spirituality, and Yoga.

Infibeam is a site offering a vast array of Indian products, including e-books and magazines, movies and music, electronics and computers, home and lifestyle, and gifts (including a section devoted to mangoes!). Paypal and credit cards accepted.

Some books published by Ashrams can only be purchased from them directly and, in the case of some books, this is very worthwhile (see Recommended Reading). The Advaita Ashrama is one such example, publishing such books as Swami Nikhilananda's translation of the Mandukya Upanishad. Sri Ramakrishna Math is another specialist publisher, of the recommended Upadesha Sahasri by Shankara, for example.