David Godman’s Be As You Are peels back layers of myth around Ramana Maharshi’s teachings, making them feel refreshingly down-to-earth. Common mix-ups often cast self-enquiry as a cryptic, guru-only practice hidden behind ritual and hierarchy. Godman tackles these head-on by presenting Maharshi’s own words—no frills, no mystic smoke and mirrors—so readers get the teaching straight from the horse’s mouth.

One big myth: self-enquiry requires elaborate disciplines or renouncing the world. In fact, Maharshi emphasized looking inward with the simple question “Who am I?” during everyday moments—waiting in traffic or brewing morning tea. Godman highlights stories of city-dwelling seekers who found peace without chopping off worldly ties, proving that enlightenment isn’t some distant mountain peak but the ground beneath one’s feet.

Another misconception is that silence meant aloofness. By weaving in dialogues with visitors, the book shows that Maharshi’s quietude was a powerful teaching tool, an invitation into awareness beyond words. Godman’s clear commentary turns apparent “silence” into a living presence, dismantling the idea of the guru as a remote, unapproachable oracle.

Ritual and dogma often get tangled with Maharshi’s name, but Be As You Are makes it crystal that his focus remained laser-sharp on self-realization, not on pujas or mantras. The book’s sidebars and contextual notes map out how certain devotional practices, while valuable to some, were never the heart of his message.

In today’s mindfulness-app craze, it’s easy to reduce nonduality to catchy soundbites. Godman’s careful curation reminds readers that Maharshi’s teaching stays evergreen—timeless wisdom unfazed by trends. By dispelling these misconceptions, the book opens up a straight path to the Self, proving that true simplicity often hides at the core of even the most profound truths.