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Polishing the Mirror  By  cover art

Polishing the Mirror

By: Ram Dass,Rameshwar Das
Narrated by: Ram Dass,Rameshwar Das
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Publisher's summary

Sometimes illumination occurs spontaneously or, as Ram Dass experienced, in a cosmic moment of the heart opening. More commonly, it happens when we remove the dust from the mirror of our spiritual heart with daily practice - to see beyond the illusion of our transient thoughts and emotions to the vast and luminous landscape of our true nature.

For five decades, Ram Dass has explored the depths of consciousness and love, and brought back insights as his service to others. With Polishing the Mirror, he gathers together his essential teachings for being and loving, here and now, in the eternal present. For those just starting on the path, this is a primer for living from the spiritual heart. For those already practicing it, is a reference point for daily life in the spirit.

In this audiobook, read by co-author Rameshwar Das, listeners will discover perennial wisdom, humor, teaching stories, and guidance into Ram Dass’s own spiritual practices, including:

  • Bhakti Yoga - devotion, opening our hearts to unconditional love
  • Practices for living, aging, dying, and embracing the natural flow of life
  • Karma Yoga - transformation through selfless service
  • Working with fear and suffering as a path to grace and freedom
  • Step-by-step guidance in devotional chant, meditation, mantra, and more

Polishing the Mirror is Ram Dass’s invitation to experience who we are and why we are here, and how to become beacons of unconditional love.

This unabridged audiobook includes four bonus tracks:

  • Pure Awareness - a guided meditation with Ram Dass
  • I Am Loving Awareness - a guided meditation with Ram Dass
  • An Introduction to Vipassana Meditation with Ram Dass
  • Sita Ram - kirtan chant music with Jai Uttal
©2014 Sounds True (P)2014 Sounds True

What listeners love about Polishing the Mirror

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a re-real

If you have already gone through books by Ram Dass, you will find that's this is basically a collection of all the Ram Dass stories read by someone else. the guy reading it starts of by saying that copying this book is bad karma, something Ram Dass would never say. nothing is bad karma, it's just karma. sporadic sound bites with baba in order to out his name as a co-narrator. this shows off as being for the money = not Ram Dass way AT all.

11 people found this helpful

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Great Content, Terrible Production

When this audiobook was being put together, someone clearly did not listen to it before they hit "publish." The end of Chapter Three cuts off in the middle of a story. Then, further in, we hear the whole thing again...finally hearing the end... but about a half an hour or more of other repeated material too. It's frankly a mess. And so sad, because Ram Dass' words are so good, and the narration is done well. My other beef with this is the meditations. There are L-O-N-G stretches of silence in the recorded meditations which, I understand, are appropriate for meditation but maybe not for an audiobook. Certainly, it makes driving and listening tough. It would have been smart to give the meditations their own chapters so that a driver could skip over them and return when at home. I really think that the publisher ruined some great material. Still, it is worth toughing out to get the good information.

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Loved this book!

Would you listen to Polishing the Mirror again? Why?

Yes - there's so much wisdom. The words, the meditations and music are wonderful!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ram Dass

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Wow!

What an illuminating and profound experience listening to someone who speaks about unconditional love and being here now.

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Sabiduría simple y amorosa

Ram Dass describe de manera sencilla y amorosa su manera de entender el camino espiritual, a sus más de 80 años tiene una manera clara de como es el camino a Dios

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A shared spiritual journey

This is a mine of spiritual guidance. Ram Das is a teacher who speaks from his experience and has has the ability to draw you into spheres of thought that open up the possibility of glimpsing beyond thought.

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a terrific very helpful book

I liked all of it very much. it does need, however, a decent table of contents (no titles, chapter numbers don't line up with book chapters). but narration is terrific.

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A great teacher never will be out of touch!

Ram Dass has shown me in 60th., as he is communicating with me in my 70th. I will listen to this book a few more times, I am sure of that!

1 person found this helpful

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Beautiful

I recommend this book to anyone that is looking to learn ways to bring a loving awareness to their lives and a mindset of inclusion, oneness and peace.

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Heart Warming & illuminating!

Each chapter has a captivating message to uplift, inspire and align your life with your soulful journey of the heart!

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  • Stuart
  • 02-09-17

Perfect if you have the environment and space

One of the things that drew me to Ram Dass was his effervescent smile. I learned his name while reading about Timothy Leary and their experiments with mushrooms and LSD.

Ram Dass, was a high achieving individual in his previous alias as Richard Alpert. Being financially, well off and highly regarded undoubtedly gives a person a vantage point with which to experiment.

For many of us however, Its hard being spiritual when it takes all your effort to be "you." However if you are able to get away from life's letdowns (so to speak) this book is a perfect start.

Written with vast experience Ram Dass has throughout the book stayed away from the esoteric, and emphasised the practical. I never once however felt patronized at all.

One thing that may be helpful to the reader with this audio book would be a vocabulary list to accompany it. As with a specialized technology, Buddhist practice has an efficient lexicon to focus the student. A whole new book perhaps?

Summary, I've done it again; chosen another book I've enjoyed immensely and learnt a lot from. I've got my vocabulary book ready and I'm about to add a few words to it.

All the best and thank you Ram Dass

9 people found this helpful

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  • Aheadspace
  • 02-09-16

Awakening from the heart

I love listening to the stories of Ram
Das & find the gentle way in which humour is used to bring a heightened awareness to both ageing & dying processes is sublime.

6 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 06-01-20

good meditation examples

enjoyable historic story of Ram Dass from his days as Richard. unique to audio book is the live recordings to lead and guide the meditations

3 people found this helpful

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  • Huskyaddict
  • 05-09-20

Inspiring

One of those books that might just change your life.
Have listened to this audio book multiple times and get something new from each listen.

3 people found this helpful

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  • Tiago Gomes
  • 10-13-22

Ram, Dass

Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Fantastic book. Highly recommended to everyone.

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  • danny cairns
  • 02-06-21

just what I needed!

The stresses of the pandemic have been getting a bit much for me lately and this book is exactly what I needed to listen to to help me regain a bit of clarity and help my mental state!

2 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 04-20-20

meditation and yoga explained.

loved it. interesting and explained in a simple way by ram dass. pure love.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Sorcha M
  • 09-05-18

Really honest, reflective and insightful

Ram Dass, reflects on his own misperceptions earlier in life humbly and helpfully. His lessons are really important to both seekers and those post awakening /enlightenment. I'm really glad I read this ahead of his earlier works. He's truly expanded into god and grace since then.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Sehreen
  • 07-14-22

amazing!

I loved this book. It really helped me understand myself, where I am in life and, where I need to be. It made me appreciate the life I have and the things I have. Highly recommended!!

1 person found this helpful

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  • Dora
  • 06-25-22

Love him!

Definitely a book to consume! (in every way possible!)
Imagine a world where everyone at least started what he is talking about. At least trying it. To reach the highest level of their own being. Why would anyone not want to get there. Like mental heaven.

1 person found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 05-02-17

Invaluable Resource

My third time listening through. I love everything about this text. It continues to influence my life on a profound level.

3 people found this helpful

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  • John
  • 09-24-22

A wonderfully touching and heartfelt book

This is a beautiful and wonderfully touching book illuminated through Rameshwar Das’ narration. Truly beautiful

1 person found this helpful

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  • Daddy Pig
  • 09-14-20

Brilliant, easy listen, greatly narrated

Written very well, very relateable, between the lines making it easy to understand, very well spoken narrator. thank you xx

1 person found this helpful

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  • Leanne Potter
  • 05-15-23

Great

Loved this. Written when he was in his eighties reflecting back. Loved the meditations and Kirtan
Definitely worth a read

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  • Anonymous User
  • 12-21-21

stunning

loved every moment, superbly written, a few laughs a long the way and epiphanies too

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  • Anonymous User
  • 07-26-21

Namaste

Wonderful spiritual guidance, will listen to this book many more times to help the words really resonate. Thank you, namaste 🙏🏼

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  • Anonymous User
  • 06-11-21

💕

I loved it, and I hope you you will too
great stories, an outstanding knowledge

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  • Anonymous User
  • 05-02-21

Beautiful teachings

totally loved it round us has such a beautiful way of delivering his work is experiences and depth of knowledge is profound and it is a real Joy to go along his journey with him.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 04-07-21

pretty boring

no point of ah ha or anything much from this one. this requires 15 words to be put up. how's that?

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  • Phil Botterill
  • 02-04-21

insightful and life changing

Brilliantly narrated, simple and enlightening content that was refreshing to my soul. Totally recommend this book to those who know in their hearts that there is more to be discovered.