Born in Indianapolis in 1936, John Schlenck graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1957. He served for many years on the musical staff of the Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey Dance Schools. As music director of the Vedanta Society of New York since 1961, Schlenck has composed many songs and a number a larger choral works with Vedantic and other spiritual texts from the world’s great traditions. While grounded in the Western classical tradition, Schlenck’s compositions sometimes incorporate elements of Indian music. His instrumental works include three symphonies, a clarinet concerto, and numerous chamber and solo compositions. RAMAKRISHNA: A PROPHET FOR OUR TIME A 2-CD oratorio in 19 movements celebrating the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886). He was the first person to demonstrate by his life that God can be directly experienced through all religious paths. Having realized God through Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, he taught and lived a spirituality which was both intense and liberal. Divinity could be experienced in this life provided one yearned intensely for it. "The story of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's life is a story of religion in practice. His life enables us to see God face to face." - Mahatma Gandhi "Ramakrishna's teachings on the essential unity of the great religions comprise Hinduism's finest voice on this topic." - Huston Smith "Ramakrishna was a rare combination of individuality and universality, personality and impersonality. His word and example have been echoed in the hearts of Western men and women. His soul animates modern India." - Romain Rolland "This is the story of a phenomenon." (Ramakrishna and His Disciples.) - Christopher Isherwood