April/May 2006
Empty
Envelopes for Empty Promises
Steve Bhaerman
Restoring
the Public Trust
Bill Moyers
Nonviolence:
The Link Between Spiritual Development and Social Change
David Kupfer
One
Roof at a Time
Bill McKibben
If
Not Now, When?
Jody Woodruff
Recent
Research Shows Organic Foods Safer for Children
Stephen Leahy
Shop
Smart and Save the Planet
Annie Hoy
What's
in Your Pantry
Mary Shaw
Playing
the Quantum Field
Brenda Anderson
Autobiography
of a Blue-Eyed Yogi
Reviewed by Rachel Bendat
Living
With the Himalayan Masters
Reviewed by Rachel Bendat
The
Oneness Movement
Cate Montana
Book
Reviews
John Darling
Cosmic
Calendar
Salina Rain
Living
with the Himalayan Masters
Swami Rama
The Himalayan Institute Press
1978 & 1999; 456 pages, $18.95
While Rampuri takes you on an intimate journey through the thrilling inner landscape of his renunciation, Swami Rama guides you on a splendid tour of the spiritual sages who live in the mountains of northern India. Either book could be read first, as the two books complement each other nicely.
In Living with the Himalayan Masters, Swami Rama (1925-1996) describes his upbringing with his master in the Himalayan cave monasteries. Like Rampuri, he explains the guru-disciple relationship and the path of renunciation, and Swami Rama also gives information about the path of action as well as the seven systems of Indian philosophy and the six main yoga paths to enlightenment.
Swami Rama offers his teachings with such a personal tone that at times I felt as if he was whispering the stories right in my ear. He highlights the Himalayan masters’ messages of timeless wisdom in a light-hearted way, so that these deep and perplexing truths become palatable for the Western reader.
Swami Rama writes simply about the ancient Vedic scriptures that he studied with countless sages. He tells stories of the many miraculous feats that he witnessed, while at the same time continually reiterating his firm conviction that powers such as levitation have nothing to do with the true spiritual path—which, according to the Himalayan masters, has to do with disciplining one’s thoughts, speech, and actions, purifying one’s mind and ego, and then expanding one’s consciousness to unify it with the cosmic consciousness. Swami Rama points to love as the religion of the universe. He writes:
“The love I received from the sages is like the perennial snows which form the silvery glaciers of the Himalayas and then melt into thousands of streams. When love became the lord of my life, I became quite fearless and traveled from one cave to another, crossing streams and mountain passes surrounded by snow-blanketed peaks. In all conditions I was cheerful, searching for the hidden sages who preferred to remain unknown. Every breath of my life was enriched with spiritual experiences …”
Throughout his life—as a curious child, then as a rebellious teenager, and later as a humble teacher—Swami Rama continually searched for the highest truths. He wrote in great detail about the basic principles of the spiritual path: non-attachment, fearlessness, inner strength, cheerfulness, and selfless service.
After studying throughout Europe and teaching in Japan, he came to the United States in 1969 and founded the Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy in Honesdale, Pennsylvania (www.himalayaninstitute.org). He aspired to create a bridge between the ancient teachings of the East and the modern scientific approaches of the West.
Swami Rama often told his students, “My job is to introduce you to the teacher within.” He taught skills for integrating spirituality with the external life, so that his students could learn to live in the world, yet above it. Of great importance to him was cultivating an awareness of the deeper Reality that exists within and without.
According to Swami Rama, “The purpose of this message is to awaken the divine flame that resides in the reservoir of every human being. This flame, when perfectly kindled by spiritual discipline, mounts higher and higher into the vast light of truth.”
Reading Swami Rama’s words really touched and softened my heart. I could read Living with the Himalayan Masters again and again. Full of wisdom and good cheer, this book will take you on an amazing journey.
Reviewed by
Rachel Bendat, an Ashland, Oregon writer, certified postpartum doula, and
mama of two wonderful boys, Zachariah and Gabriel.
