1 of 1 copy available
Within 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, apprenticeships 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.
Praise for The Journey Home
"Here is an inspiring chapter of "our story" of spiritual pilgrimage to the East. It shows the inner journey of awakening in a fascinating and spellbinding way." —Ram Dass, author, Be Here Now
"He tells his story with remarkable honest—the temptations of the 1970s, his doubts, hopes, and disappointments, the culture shock, and the friendships found and lost . . . Add a zest of danger, suspense, and surprise, and Radhanath Swami's story is a deep, genuine memoir that reads like a novel." —Brigitte Sion, assistant professor of Religious Studies, New York University
-
Creators
-
Publisher
-
Release date
March 16, 2021 -
Formats
-
Kindle Book
-
OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781608879854
- File size: 26884 KB
-
EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781608879854
- File size: 27444 KB
-
-
Languages
- English
-
Reviews
-
Starred review from August 1, 2012
An American swami recounts the days he spent wandering through India in the 1960s in search of his true identity. Swami grew up near Chicago during the '50s as Richie Slavin, a middle-class Jewish kid. In his teens, he discovers the '60s counterculture, takes part in civil rights demonstrations, grows his hair long, smokes pot and takes LSD. His best friend, Gary, invites him to Europe for three months during summer vacation after attending his first year at Miami Dade College. The author leaps at the chance; it's the power of destiny calling. Swami tells the absorbing tale of his travels through Europe and his many adventures and wanderings through India. The intriguing coming-of-age story follows Swami on his spiritual search as he encounters saints, gurus and holy people. He meets Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama and stays with the fearsome Naga Babas, who, the author says, float in midair. He becomes a sadhu, a mendicant beggar, who goes from cave to temple to ashram in a ceaseless quest to find his true teacher. Most yogis he encounters want to be accepted as his master, but time after time he refuses, for he has a special fate. Swami is a simple, ingenuous narrator, and he tells a straightforward tale adorned by brief descriptive passages that convey the magic and mystery of India during the early '70s. The author spices his narrative with intriguing stories that will not only amuse readers, but also convey his deeper yearnings and uncertainties: Is God personal or impersonal? What is the role of meditation, humility and service in spiritual life? A straightforward, engaging spiritual quest and life adventure.COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
-