It has been two weeks
since I finished reading this book. What an extraordinary reading experience it
has been. It is an incredible story of a seeker who eventually becomes a
revered seer.
The blurb gives a quick
idea of what readers should expect from the book.
“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 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.”
Can you imagine a desire for spiritual knowledge in a person so
strong that he could hitchhike from Europe to India with almost no money? Sound
incredulous, right? Those were exactly my thoughts when I came to know about
the way Richard (later known as Radhanath Swami) reached India.
The year in 1970 and the author, then only 19 years old flies
to Europe with friends. He is a Jewish American who lives in Chicago with his
family. At that time, he is immersed in the hippy culture, but something is
constantly nagging him. While he is in Europe with friends, he suddenly has a
strong urge to satiate his spiritual quest. With practically no money in his pocket,
he travels from London to some popular European destinations like Amsterdam,
Florence, Athens, etc., and finally Crete where he decides he must visit India.
Since, he has no money for a ship ticket or for airfare; he decides to
hitchhike to India via Turkey. His journey is filled with various encounters
and experiences that will make you wonder about the person’s determination.
So determined Richard was about his quest that he kept on
moving towards his goal with conviction and determination. I am totally in awe
for him and his life story.
The book gives you some of the very important lessons about
life. It is an inspiring and enlightening story that could help many seekers
like him in their quest.
I received this book from Jaico publishers in exchange for an
unbiased review.
This book was originally published by Mandala Publishing in
the United States in the year 2010. It was first published in India by Jaico in
2013.
About the Author:
Radhanath Swami was
born in Chicago in 1950. In his teens he set out to wander the world on a
spiritual quest, eventually discovering yoga path of devotion.
He presently travels in
Asia, Europe and America teaching devotional wisdom but can often be found at
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 - community development, massive food distribution to
indigent children, missionary hospitals, eco-friendly farms, schools, ashrams
and emergency relief programs.
Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!
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