A d v a i t a    a t    K o v a l a m   -   E d i t o r' s    N o t e   

First, to define the title of the book:
Advaita Non-dualism; no otherness; the doctrine of monism which contends that only Consciousness has existence and all phenomenal existence is illusion.

Kovalam Beach
The site in Kerala State, South India, where Ramesh has held seminars of about ten days in length, occurring sometime during February, March or April, in the years 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994 and 1995.

A few weeks ago a letter was received from Heiner Siegelmann, the one primarily responsible for instituting and making arrangements for the Kovalam seminars. The last seminar had been in 1995 because the site at which they had been convening was to become unavailable. And there was no expectation that there would ever be anymore seminars. But Heiner's letter indicated that there was a possibility that the Rockholm Hotel at Kovalam Beach might become available again, and if that should happen, he asked if it would be possible to assemble some pertinent reading material to be printed for distribution to the participants.
The idea was so appealing that work an the booklet began immediately as a sort of experiment to see what might develop. Within a few days came an intention to finish this project regardless of whether or not there would be another seminar.

The result is something of a documented history of the Kovalam Seminars. There are modes of documentation: letters; notes; and books. Each mode is the topic of a chapter.

Opinions of those who have attended the Kovalam seminars have often characterized them as being beneficial spiritually, psychologically, and even physiologically, as well as being just downright enjoyable.
The Kovalam Seminars were certainly a very remarkable phenomenon, through which the Guru was able to bring to many eager seekers the most important message of life: