Living with the Himalayan Masters: Spiritual Experiences of Swami Rama

Yogananda was the first yogi in modern times (we do not know for certain that there were no others) to live in the West. He came because his master sent him; so did Swami Rama. What I like about both is that they are blunt about their stubborn early years. I like the contrast between the two in that Yogananda came to remind Christians of their kriya, now lost within the church, whereas Rama represents a more static, traditional renunciate viewpoint of yoga meditation. Both methods are valid. I follow the kriya path as a householder, not a renunciate. One of the most valuable parts of Rama's book, keeping in mind he did not write it or endorse it, is his learning about various religions from the masters and mystics living in the caves of the Himalayas. This discourse alone about religions is worth the price of the book. I have numerous copies of this book, and it always finds another home. Truly magnificent contribution to the U.S. because it is needed. The U.S. is on decline because it does not have a firm base; in all fairness, India too is vulnerable. And that is why Yogananda and Rama were sent here to establish a base, a practice, a living meditation; a meditation in action, not one sitting in la la land.

I've read many books lately involving Eastern spirituality. This is one of the better titles, not so much because of the "miracles" described in the book, but because of the wisdom of Swami Rama. Some say there is no substitute for experience, and while that is true, knowledge is its complement, and here you will learn from someone who has something to teach. You should buy this book.

I've read this book twice, about a year apart. Each time I benefit. Swami Rama writes about his spiritual development, gained from not only his master, but from other adepts he visits. What he learns from each, he summarizes to the reader. What I gained from this book is ANYTHING is possible: returning from death, healing, precognition, teletransporting, you name it, it's here. Although God is given credit for everything, it's the mind that is God-realized that is necessary. I am reminded of the Autobiography of a Yogi, but I related to this book more easily. Maybe I have advanced a bit ...

This is a timeless classic by one of the most influential yoga masters of the 20th century. It transports you into the caves of the Himalayas and introduces you to the great adepts who live there. This is the real thing from a man whose whole life was an extraordinary spiritual adventure. One of the best books on spirituality ever!

Swami Rama is one of the overlooked great figures of our time. For twenty years I had the privledge of being one of his students. His indepth understanding of the human condition, his selfless service and his profound attainment of states higher consciousness was a wonder to behold. In this autobiography he relates in a humble way his encounters with his early teachers. Since he was raised in a cave monestary from the age of four his life was very different from our modern way of developing as a person. While some of the stories stretch our credability they all actually happened. I realize that many people have difficulty accepting other peoples experience, especially if it outside the range of their own limited life experience and challange our own fixed ideas. Swami Rama definitely challanges us about how the world is, in a very real way, but I find that challange refreshing and inspiring. His core experience, that the goal of human life is spiritual attainment and Self realization pulls us out of our small limited view of the world. It is one of the great spiritual classics. If I was stranded on a desert island with only three books this would be one of them.

I didn't want to put this book down. Partly because the experiences from Swami Rama's life are nearly beyond belief almost as if from the Arabian Nights stories. There are sages with extraordinary powers. But what I really like about this book is Swami Rama doesn't put these feats on a pedastal. He says they are remarkable, but he doesn't worship them. To him these beyond-belief feats show how versatile and ingenious humans can be on the spiritual side (instead of just the technological/scientific side). But Rama knows that these pursuits turn into distractions from the noble pursuit of self-knowledge, and knowledge of Reality. Few people on Earth have accumulated the spiritual wisdom that Rama did, yet instead of making me feel inferior, I felt inspired to put more of an effort to develop inner spirituality. You learn in the book that he wasn't born with the wisdom. He was foolish growing up, and his guru had to cut down his ego numerous times. But he persevered and never kept his eyes (Third Eye, intuition included) off his goal of self-realization. I was able to translate his extraordinary experiences to my own life, and I felt like the lessons he studied are lessons we all study through out different experiences. I enjoy gaining some understanding into the underlying order of existence. It's not all for naught. Also, he clarifies how scientific true spirituality is. It isn't some ambiguous undirected meditative prayer. And it isn't metaphorical, but a rigorous system of self-inquiry requiring discipline and dedication. With enough effort there will be real spiritual experiences that can be duplicated and attained consciously. Rama didn't say it's easy, just that anyone with enough dedication can make measurable progress.Lastly, Rama's points about people's lack of understanding about death is fascinating. Just about everyone has a fear of dying. Most are too young for it to be an immediate fear, but those who are near their deathbed from old age, accident, or disease know the mental anguish of isolation, of being forced from life. From the sages of the Himlayas, he learns how mastery of death is possible. The fact that Swami Rama passed peacefully into death without any fear is testament to his wisdom, and something we can all learn from considering the fire of death is something we all have to pass through.