The Journey Home Book - Autobiography of an American Swami
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R ADHANATH Swami was born in Chicago in 1950. In his teens he set out to wander the world on a spiritual quest where he eventually discovered the yoga path of devotion. He presently travels in Asia, Europe, and America teaching devotional wisdom but can often be found with his community in Mumbai. People who know Radhanath Swami speak of his dedication to bringing others closer to God. Almost in the same breath they speak of his lightness, simplicity, and sense of humor. Visitors and friends are inspired by his unassuming nature and natural unwillingness to take credit for the works he inspires— developing communities, massive food distribution to indigent children, missionary hospitals, eco-friendly farms, schools, ashrams, and emergency relief programs. “He seems to see life as a continuous blessing of God’s grace,” one admirer said, “and yet he never loses his humanness. His accessibility leaves people feeling that with a little sincere effort, they too will find the path to inner peace and God realization.” W ITHIN THIS extraordinary memoir, Radhanath Swami weaves a colorful tapestry of adventure, mysticism, and love. Readers follow Richard Slavin from the suburbs of Chicago to the caves of the Himalayas as he transforms from young seeker to renowned spiritual guide. The Journey Home is an intimate account of the steps to self-awareness and also a penetrating glimpse into the heart of mystic traditions and the challenges that all souls must face on the road to inner harmony and a union with the Divine. Through near-death encounters, appren- ticeships with advanced yogis, and years of travel along the pilgrim’s path, Radhanath Swami eventually reaches the inner sanctum of India’s mystic culture and finds the love he has been seeking. It is a tale told with rare candor, immersing the reader in a journey that is at once engaging, humorous, and heartwarming. US $16.95 spirituality/memoir Published by Mandala Publishing 3160 Kerner Blvd. Unit 108, San Rafael, CA 94901 800.688.2218 • Fax: 415.526.1394 www.mandalapublishing.com Printed in India by Palace Press International www.palacepress.com Autobiography of an American Swami The Journey Home Mystic yogis, gurus, and an epic quest through spiritual India Radhanath S wami www.radhanathswami.com Radhanath Swami Autobiography of an American Swami The Journey Home ISBN: 978-1-60109-056-0 • US $16.95 “A stunning story worth reading. Radhanath Swami’s journey from the external to the internal world is awe-inspiring. His determination as an ardent seeker of truth is clear, for at last he savored seeing the soul face-to-face. The Journey Home is the story of a seeker who became a seer. May many be inspired to experience what he has experienced.” —B. K. S. Iyengar, author Iyengar Yoga: Wisdom & Practice “It is a great joy to know that a saint like Radhanath Swami is now sharing his precious memories with the world through this long- awaited book. Having had the privilege to know [him] closely, I have no doubt that future generations will find these reminiscences fascinating and inspirational.” —Arvind N. Mafatlal, industrialist “A sensitive, comprehensive, intuitive, and inspiring book delving into one’s soul and spirituality. His extensive commitment to achieve what he wanted to, how he learned his belief in reliance to God, and of hope are all written with utmost affection and in pure honesty by the author.” —Yash Birla, industrialist “What is remarkable about this book is its transparent honesty . . . one marvels at Radhanath Swami’s fearless description of his failings and short comings, fears, and anxieties as he went about from place to place looking for the ultimate purpose of life. . . . In every chapter there is a glimpse of the great souls which have influenced his thinking. . . . is book is a must read for all spiritual seekers . . .” —N. Vaghul, Chairman, ICICI Bank SadhuPaperbackCover_v2.indd 1 8/17/09 11:12:34 AM
description
Summary of “Journey Home” The Journey Home is a spiritual memoir—the real-life, autobiographical account of an exceptional countercultural youth who leaves America in search of himself. Trying desperately to access the continent within, he sets out first for Europe, visiting cathedrals, holy places, and hippie hotspots. Western religious ideals and the models who exemplify them are his first natural guideposts and ports of call. He is open, nonsectarian and, most of all, earnest.With little more than a seeker’s heart and a blues harmonica, he leaves few avenues unexamined, as his overland journey takes him through the Middle East and beyond. Ultimately, he arrives in India by the end of 1970, where he finds himself living the life of a wandering sadhu, a mendicant, with little money and fewer resources. His travels lead him in many directions, both geographically and philosophically, and the reader watches him age with the wisdom of centuries. In a few months, his young world is augmented by experience and realization. We accompany him into a magical land of yoga, meditation, and soul-stirring revelations. At various points in his journey, he meets deformed lepers and frightening Naga Babas, contemplative Buddhists and mystic yogis—even old friends from the West and angelic devotees. Through the author’s personal encounters, the reader is introduced to many of the prominent yogis, monks, and gurus of the era—Shivananda, Swami Rama, Satchitananda, Chidananda, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Ananda Mayi Ma, Neem Karoli Baba, Muktananda, even the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa—either directly or through their legends and teachings. We meet many nameless luminaries as well, and those whose names, if not for Radhanath Swami, wewould have never heard. Our blossoming seeker meditates under the original Bodhi Tree—the Buddha himself meditated and achieved enlightenment here!—and studies with masters and saints.Each experience inches him closer to his goal. We witness, with him, the burning of dead bodies in Benares and fascinating pilgrimages to ancient cities (and inner worlds) where life takes on new meaning, high in the Himalayas, Tibet, and in holylands innumerable. He lives in caves, deep in forests, under trees, and moves throughout the subcontinent with a thirst for “the truth” that is rarely seen—anywhere. The book is replete with touching, heartwarming (and sometimes heart-rending) episodes—like when he rejects the advances of a beautiful woman for the sake of his quest, or when he feelingly and with tears bids his harp goodbye, throwing it, once and for all, in the River Ganges, or when he meets his eternal guru. All such scenes are recreated for the reader with deep emotion and storytelling expertise. Both descriptive writing and perceptive analysis are plentiful in this book, making it a precious gem that will enrich the reader with its shining brilliance.The meeting with his eternal guru is, in many ways, the most pivotal episode in the book. It was on this momentous occasion that all he had learned would suddenly gel for him. The Indian print of Lord Krishna our young seeker had carried with him for numerous months, uncontrollably attracted to it, now had personality, definition—it was the Supreme Lord as evoked in the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. This sacred chant, too, was something he had carried around for many moons, having mystically received it through the grace of the Ganges River. But now, by his guru’s grace, he was able to connect the form with the mantra, the Godhead with His spiritual sound vibration. It all came together, like the three rivers—the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the Sarasvati—in Prayaga. Still, his quest continued, even after meeting his master, just so he could be sure that he had left no stones unturned. But it was in his master’s eyes that he found his home. It was in the master’s teaching, mission, disciples, love. Home, too, was in Vrindavan, Lord Krishna’s holy playground, which embodied all of the
Transcript of The Journey Home Book - Autobiography of an American Swami
R a d h a n a t h Swami was born
in Chicago in 1950. In his teens he set out to wander the world on a spiritual quest where he eventually discovered the yoga path of devotion. he
presently travels in asia, Europe, and america teaching devotional wisdom but can often be found with his community in Mumbai.
People who know Radhanath Swami speak of his dedication to bringing others closer to God. almost in the same breath they speak of his lightness, simplicity, and sense of humor. Visitors and friends are inspired by his unassuming nature and natural unwillingness to take credit for the works he inspires—developing communities, massive food distribution to indigent children, missionary hospitals, eco-friendly farms, schools, ashrams, and emergency relief programs. “he seems to see life as a continuous blessing of God’s grace,” one admirer said, “and yet he never loses his humanness. his accessibility leaves people feeling that with a little sincere effort, they too will find the path to inner peace and God realization.”
W IthIn thIS extraordinary memoir, Radhanath Swami weaves a colorful
tapestry of adventure, mysticism, and love. Readers follow Richard Slavin from the suburbs of Chicago to the caves of the himalayas as he transforms from young seeker to renowned spiritual guide. The Journey Home is an intimate account of the steps to self-awareness and also a penetrating glimpse into the heart of mystic traditions and the challenges that all souls must face on the road to inner harmony and a union with the divine.
through near-death encounters, appren-ticeships with advanced yogis, and years of travel along the pilgrim’s path, Radhanath Swami eventually reaches the inner sanctum of India’s mystic culture and finds the love he has been seeking. It is a tale told with rare candor, immersing the reader in a journey that is at once engaging, humorous, and heartwarming.
US $16.95 spirituality/memoir
Published by Mandala Publishing3160 Kerner Blvd. Unit 108, San Rafael, CA 94901
800.688.2218 • Fax: 415.526.1394www.mandalapublishing.com
Printed in India by Palace Press International
www.palacepress.com
autobiography of an american Swami
The Journey HomeMystic yogis, gurus, and an epic quest through spiritual India
Radhanath Swami
www.radhanathswami.com
Radhanath S
wam
i a
utobio
graphy of an a
merican
Swam
iThe Journey H
ome
ISBN: 978-1-60109-056-0 • US $16.95
“a stunning story worth reading. Radhanath Swami’s journey from the external to the internal world is awe-inspiring. his determination as an ardent seeker of truth is clear, for at last he savored seeing the soul face-to-face. The Journey Home
is the story of a seeker who became a seer. May many be inspired to experience what he has experienced.”
—B. K. S. Iyengar, authorIyengar Yoga: Wisdom & Practice
“It is a great joy to know that a saint like Radhanath Swami is now sharing his precious memories with the world through this long-
awaited book. having had the privilege to know [him] closely, I have no doubt that future generations will find these
reminiscences fascinating and inspirational.”—arvind n. Mafatlal, industrialist
“a sensitive, comprehensive, intuitive, and inspiring book delving into one’s soul and spirituality. his extensive commitment to achieve what he wanted to, how he learned his belief in reliance to God, and of hope are all written with utmost
affection and in pure honesty by the author.”—Yash Birla, industrialist
“What is remarkable about this book is its transparent honesty . . . one marvels at Radhanath Swami’s fearless description of his failings and short comings, fears, and anxieties as he went about from place to place looking for the ultimate purpose of life. . . . In every chapter
there is a glimpse of the great souls which have influenced his thinking. . . . This book is a must read for all spiritual seekers . . .”
—n. Vaghul, Chairman, ICICI Bank
SadhuPaperbackCover_v2.indd 1 8/17/09 11:12:34 AM
