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Autobiography of a Sadhu: An Angrez among Naga Babas
This is an unprecedented telling of one man’s sacred initiation & training - a must-read for any serious seeker.
You become immersed in an ancient world of sadhus and rishis, surrounded by an astral gallery of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, as Baba Rampuri’s profound and often witty storytelling narrates his extraordinary life among Naga Babas going back almost half a century.
During Maha Kumbh Mela in 1971, on the banks of the Ganga, he becomes the first foreigner initiated into the arcane & sometimes dangerous world of India’s most ancient and secretive order of sadhus, the Naga Babas. He is drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed.
But, it is not how you might imagine it to be. The young man from a renowned surgeon’s family in Beverly Hills, California, has no idea what he is in for.
Because, in his spiritual practice & quest for identity through the stories, symbols and rituals that form the basis of Hindu culture, he discovers there is opposition to him being a foreigner, an outsider.
There is a wager between two old sadhus: can Rampuri overcome this challenge? One of the sadhus dies a mysterious death.
Few of us would have the stamina or the faith to follow a guru who has renounced everything including clothing and who speaks the language of the birds. Rampuri’s openness to possibilities and willingness to be taught allow him to experience mysterious and magical events for himself. In his captivating autobiography, he draws back the veil and lets less dedicated readers peek into aspects of traditional Hindu culture that few outsiders have ever seen.
Stories of Hanuman and Shiva are intertwined with Rampuri’s spiritual journey. Often babas appear to be innocuously crazy, wise beyond measure, or both. Rampuri flows with all these things and personalities with a sense of self-effacing humor yet insightful commentary as he reveals teachings he received & describes his transformation.
Deepak Chopra, author of "The Book of Secrets": “This book will entertain and enlighten you. A bold journey that explores the true intersections of Eastern and Western thought.”
Krishna Das, singer of "Kirtan Wallah": “Baba Rampuri’s search has carried him into the very depths of one of the great ancient wisdom lineages of India. He has gone where very few Westerners have gone.”
Vamadeva Shastri, author of "Universal Hinduism, Towards a New Vision of Sanatana Dharma": "Autobiography of a Sadhu" is bound to challenge your view of reality and the spiritual life. It is not just the story of a personal quest but of a journey beyond the Western civilization mind-set to the India of the yogis, where the limitations of both our cultural ideas and our egos are continually exposed. An adventure into a different kind of reality.”
Baba Rampuri, author of AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SADHU, is a foremost authority on Naga Babas, a member of Juna Akhara for the last 46 years, and a Shri Mahant within the order.
A flamboyant storyteller, a commentator on oral tradition, sacred speech, & higher consciousness, Baba is an American expatriate, the first foreigner initiated into India's most ancient order of yogis. He lives in India since 1970, where he practices & teaches the Sanatan Dharma, conducts sacred ceremonies, & hosts camps at Kumbh Melas as well as workshops & retreats.
You become immersed in an ancient world of sadhus and rishis, surrounded by an astral gallery of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, as Baba Rampuri’s profound and often witty storytelling narrates his extraordinary life among Naga Babas going back almost half a century.
During Maha Kumbh Mela in 1971, on the banks of the Ganga, he becomes the first foreigner initiated into the arcane & sometimes dangerous world of India’s most ancient and secretive order of sadhus, the Naga Babas. He is drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed.
But, it is not how you might imagine it to be. The young man from a renowned surgeon’s family in Beverly Hills, California, has no idea what he is in for.
Because, in his spiritual practice & quest for identity through the stories, symbols and rituals that form the basis of Hindu culture, he discovers there is opposition to him being a foreigner, an outsider.
There is a wager between two old sadhus: can Rampuri overcome this challenge? One of the sadhus dies a mysterious death.
Few of us would have the stamina or the faith to follow a guru who has renounced everything including clothing and who speaks the language of the birds. Rampuri’s openness to possibilities and willingness to be taught allow him to experience mysterious and magical events for himself. In his captivating autobiography, he draws back the veil and lets less dedicated readers peek into aspects of traditional Hindu culture that few outsiders have ever seen.
Stories of Hanuman and Shiva are intertwined with Rampuri’s spiritual journey. Often babas appear to be innocuously crazy, wise beyond measure, or both. Rampuri flows with all these things and personalities with a sense of self-effacing humor yet insightful commentary as he reveals teachings he received & describes his transformation.
Deepak Chopra, author of "The Book of Secrets": “This book will entertain and enlighten you. A bold journey that explores the true intersections of Eastern and Western thought.”
Krishna Das, singer of "Kirtan Wallah": “Baba Rampuri’s search has carried him into the very depths of one of the great ancient wisdom lineages of India. He has gone where very few Westerners have gone.”
Vamadeva Shastri, author of "Universal Hinduism, Towards a New Vision of Sanatana Dharma": "Autobiography of a Sadhu" is bound to challenge your view of reality and the spiritual life. It is not just the story of a personal quest but of a journey beyond the Western civilization mind-set to the India of the yogis, where the limitations of both our cultural ideas and our egos are continually exposed. An adventure into a different kind of reality.”
Baba Rampuri, author of AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SADHU, is a foremost authority on Naga Babas, a member of Juna Akhara for the last 46 years, and a Shri Mahant within the order.
A flamboyant storyteller, a commentator on oral tradition, sacred speech, & higher consciousness, Baba is an American expatriate, the first foreigner initiated into India's most ancient order of yogis. He lives in India since 1970, where he practices & teaches the Sanatan Dharma, conducts sacred ceremonies, & hosts camps at Kumbh Melas as well as workshops & retreats.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2005
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May 31, 2010
Magic happens where worlds meet, as Baba Rampuri is fond of saying in his masterful book. Deepak Chopra wrote: "This book will entertain and enlighten you. A bold journey that explores the true intersections of Eastern and Western thought." I found this to be true as I felt a connection with the Yoga Tradition as I have never had before. Baba Rampuri talks about his travels in India, making pilgrimages to a 'crossing point between worlds', the hidden entrances to these other worlds, the meaning of 'darshan' the beholding, achieving immortality, the alchemical contribution to the world, expanding one's vocabulary, Hindu scriptures and words such as 'karma' and 'nirvana' and their relevance to the experience of living, Indian culture and the oral tradition of naga babas, the 'yogi shamans', the search for new meanings, Indian cannabis use, gurus and their communication of self-knowledge, the distortion of Hinduism by India's colonizers, the "book of the world," the Mother Goddess and her fruits spread across the world, the uncluttered mind of the yogi, his connection with the Goddess, and Amrita the Elixir of Immortality.
As an American teenager, fuelled by the naïve exuberance of the Sixties, Rampuri is “pulled” deep into India, into an ancient order of yogis, where he is initiated and eventually possessed by a master shaman, a baba. But the spiritual path isn’t quite what the young Rampuri expected, as the tantric murder of his guru presents a riddle to the young man that he must solve, requiring an inner journey of self-discovery, in order to know who he really is.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Yoga, India, Spirituality, Self Knowledge, and Esoteric Knowledge. But that aside, for any reader of good literature, it's a great adventure story that leaves the reader anxious for his next book!
As an American teenager, fuelled by the naïve exuberance of the Sixties, Rampuri is “pulled” deep into India, into an ancient order of yogis, where he is initiated and eventually possessed by a master shaman, a baba. But the spiritual path isn’t quite what the young Rampuri expected, as the tantric murder of his guru presents a riddle to the young man that he must solve, requiring an inner journey of self-discovery, in order to know who he really is.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Yoga, India, Spirituality, Self Knowledge, and Esoteric Knowledge. But that aside, for any reader of good literature, it's a great adventure story that leaves the reader anxious for his next book!
April 2, 2013
Auto. of a S. is the author's narrative of his life as a sadhu, a Hindu mendicant Seeker and he is one of the many counter culture Westerners who went to India in the 60s and 70s for spiritual guidance, but for whom such experiences there were not a passing phase, but the beginning of a life long calling. Rampuri narrates and describes his life under his Guru, his subsequent wanderings through India and his encounters with other gurus, and often the ways in which their spiritual development endowed them with powers (siddhis) that can only be described as miraculous.
Having just read Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi, I was worried about redundancy, but thankfully, while many of his experiences with various Seekers were similar to Yogananda's, Rampuri's Autobiography of a Sadhu is told from the viewpoint of a Westerner and possibly because of this, his choice of words and his relatively less emotionally charged prose made such encounters easier to digest. Whether you believe what you read in his narratives or not, he writes well and tells his story on a level that seems very natural even though so many such encounters are laced with supernatural elements that Ramapuri, like so many other Indian mystics, offer without any explanation. While that can be difficult to difficult to digest sometimes, it can be, at least for me, inspiring.
Having just read Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi, I was worried about redundancy, but thankfully, while many of his experiences with various Seekers were similar to Yogananda's, Rampuri's Autobiography of a Sadhu is told from the viewpoint of a Westerner and possibly because of this, his choice of words and his relatively less emotionally charged prose made such encounters easier to digest. Whether you believe what you read in his narratives or not, he writes well and tells his story on a level that seems very natural even though so many such encounters are laced with supernatural elements that Ramapuri, like so many other Indian mystics, offer without any explanation. While that can be difficult to difficult to digest sometimes, it can be, at least for me, inspiring.
August 25, 2020
A wonderful read, Baba Rampuri describes the journey of an 'Angrezi' Sadhu into the realm of the mystics. I feel the book aims to instill a sense of curiosity in the readers mind and should not be looked upon as a factual guide to the Hindu view of life.
However, the wonderful way in which the story is narrated makes it a must read for everyone including Indians. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis given to the the cyclic nature of time in the Indian discourse. It might seem hypocritical that we try to understand an oral culture by reading a book.
Moreover, a comparison to existing texts on the Indic discource is not fair since the motives are varied.
Highly recommended both, for the style of writing and the content.
However, the wonderful way in which the story is narrated makes it a must read for everyone including Indians. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis given to the the cyclic nature of time in the Indian discourse. It might seem hypocritical that we try to understand an oral culture by reading a book.
Moreover, a comparison to existing texts on the Indic discource is not fair since the motives are varied.
Highly recommended both, for the style of writing and the content.
September 9, 2011
I loved this book. Key points, it gave a great insight into the world of the Sadhus 1. 2. Speaking with animals? Learning the language of crows? That's awesome, how many of us have forgotten about that? 3. Key point, why he became a sadhu, to read the world as a book, to see auras and nonphysical energies, to tap into the knowledge of the plants, to live in the world in a way that is much more in tune with christ, buddha, etc. life becomes a real story, not a routine. 4. Point four, insight into the traditions of christianity and buddhism. Sadhus have been around for 7,000 years, it's a natural outcroping of earths organic spirituality. To understand the sadhus, you will understand buddha more, you will understand christ more, you will know what is real in those religions and what is false more.
For example, the feeding of the masses, this happens with sadhus too, similar in the bible, recieving knowledge and vision, happens in buddhist scriptures, happens with the sadhus. 5. Largest gathering on earth is the gathering of sadhus, the kuhmb mela, this is happening NOW, it's not the olympics, it's not the world cup, it's the kumbh mela.
For example, the feeding of the masses, this happens with sadhus too, similar in the bible, recieving knowledge and vision, happens in buddhist scriptures, happens with the sadhus. 5. Largest gathering on earth is the gathering of sadhus, the kuhmb mela, this is happening NOW, it's not the olympics, it's not the world cup, it's the kumbh mela.
April 26, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book and found it light to read. I also acknowledge that others may find it hard to read. Of the 229 pages there were two pages that particularly piqued my interest and these contained the discussions around the number of nadis in the human body. From my personal point of view I would have loved some more depth around nadis.
This book is a great tool in illustrating the web of illusions that we tend to create for ourselves. An example given is of an enlightened soul that crosses our path. Depending on our level of awareness, often the new teachings that are given may be gridded back into old belief frameworks and translated so that they can be understood. By doing this we ultimately undermine the essence of the teaching. This book is about letting go, and not just on the mental or physical level. It goes a lot deeper than that and I feel that this is what Rampuri is hinting at in more than one occasion in this excellent book. It is a book that almost requires one to read it without expectations, and by doing do so you become part of the narrative life of the author.
This book is a great tool in illustrating the web of illusions that we tend to create for ourselves. An example given is of an enlightened soul that crosses our path. Depending on our level of awareness, often the new teachings that are given may be gridded back into old belief frameworks and translated so that they can be understood. By doing this we ultimately undermine the essence of the teaching. This book is about letting go, and not just on the mental or physical level. It goes a lot deeper than that and I feel that this is what Rampuri is hinting at in more than one occasion in this excellent book. It is a book that almost requires one to read it without expectations, and by doing do so you become part of the narrative life of the author.
November 22, 2017
I bought this book on Amazon.in.
I adored this book, and that should not be a surprise. I am almost surely prejudiced, being a Hindu.
The book is about an American who, in his quest for a better spiritual existence, finds himself in India. He is soon anointed a Hindu Sadhu, an ascetic. As he travels the material world wearing the garb of a Sadhu, a loin cloth, he also travels the spiritual world.
It is mildly surprising that a white-skinned American from a reasonably well off family should feel the urge to find better things. It is mildly surprising that the white man should find his slot in Hinduism.
And as a Hindu, I find it astonishing that Hinduism not only accepts him, but anoints him a Sadhu, something that only those born Hindu can aspire to. And not just those born Hindus, those born Brahmin (the highest caste) Hindus!
The tale, drily told with very subtle humor, held me rapt all through, and the ending is surprising because it is not yet an ending at all.
Sometime soon, I trust I will run into Sadhu Baba Rampuri reborn as a sequel.
I adored this book, and that should not be a surprise. I am almost surely prejudiced, being a Hindu.
The book is about an American who, in his quest for a better spiritual existence, finds himself in India. He is soon anointed a Hindu Sadhu, an ascetic. As he travels the material world wearing the garb of a Sadhu, a loin cloth, he also travels the spiritual world.
It is mildly surprising that a white-skinned American from a reasonably well off family should feel the urge to find better things. It is mildly surprising that the white man should find his slot in Hinduism.
And as a Hindu, I find it astonishing that Hinduism not only accepts him, but anoints him a Sadhu, something that only those born Hindu can aspire to. And not just those born Hindus, those born Brahmin (the highest caste) Hindus!
The tale, drily told with very subtle humor, held me rapt all through, and the ending is surprising because it is not yet an ending at all.
Sometime soon, I trust I will run into Sadhu Baba Rampuri reborn as a sequel.
July 25, 2012
I could not put this book down once it got rolling. An excellent view of Indian mysticism from an American perspective. He has a slight flavor of Don Juan and Carlos Casteneda, as it shows how an American view is so limited to the unlimited world of the spirit.
In this book, Ram Puri takes us through his initiations into becoming a Baba, and what it means for a Master/Disciple lineage to be passed down. He devotion to his guru is reminiscent of Paramahansa Yogananda from his autobiography.
This is a must-read for anyone who is looking into an Indian path of spiritualism. His is one of Bhakti, devotional service, and also of complete renounciation - but he learns that it much more than just abandoning things of physcial attachment.
I really enjoyed it!
In this book, Ram Puri takes us through his initiations into becoming a Baba, and what it means for a Master/Disciple lineage to be passed down. He devotion to his guru is reminiscent of Paramahansa Yogananda from his autobiography.
This is a must-read for anyone who is looking into an Indian path of spiritualism. His is one of Bhakti, devotional service, and also of complete renounciation - but he learns that it much more than just abandoning things of physcial attachment.
I really enjoyed it!
July 3, 2014
big expectations from a great and catchy topic. very dissapointed, very superficial. one of the worst reading experiences ever. have finished almost all of it thought, when googled for rampuri... maybe I am wrong but web page, fb profile, twitter profile, three ashrams, international lectures, two children and smoking pot isn't what comes to my mind when talking about asceticism. oh, btw, scroll down, mr.rampuri even has a goodreads profile and rated his own book with 5*. asceticism or marketing?
also, the czech translation is so incredibly poor, the language is here and there even hard to understand
also, the czech translation is so incredibly poor, the language is here and there even hard to understand
June 13, 2014
This book takes you into the life of a young american fascinated by Indian mysticism and journeys to India to become a renunciate. He takes us into what it is to become a baba, and the initial resistance he faces by his fellow renunciates for being a foreigner. Events are well narrated without any exaggeration and you feel as if you are in the authors shoes.He talks about his gurus,chelas,juna akhara , mystical teachings ,tradition of guru shishya parampara, Kumbmela,etc. All together its a fascinating read for everyone and specially for spiritual enthusiasts.
Thanks Rampuriji.
Thanks Rampuriji.
March 13, 2017
Gives different dimension to spirituality and Indian Sadhus, I am thrilled reading this. To me it looked more like a fiction than a real story mostly because of the mentioned superpowers of baba(s) like talking to crows or amazing power of padukas (flip-flops).
Rampuri baba has a website and a ashram in India that amazes me even further. Overall a very good narrative of sadhus and deep dives in their life styles which is very secretive to normal people and is always a thrill to know details.
Rampuri baba has a website and a ashram in India that amazes me even further. Overall a very good narrative of sadhus and deep dives in their life styles which is very secretive to normal people and is always a thrill to know details.
November 3, 2019
Surprisingly, turned out to be a page turner. Baba Rampuri's book is a breezy account of an American teenager who travelled to India during the 60's and stayed back. On the way, he became a naga sadhu and created this amazing, superbly readable account, which provides insights into the lives of Naga sadhus, their initiation, their day to day existence, their politics and so on. Takes you into another world and throws in some philosophy too. I found it worthwhile.
December 31, 2019
A dive into your own self
The book as a piece of literature is simple enough. And yet, like some of the core aspects (won't reveal too much), it is about what you decide to read and take away. As an Indian, read to understand a huge part of your history (irrespective of religion). As someone who seeks to understand India, read it to gain greater perspective. And sit up with your back straight always!
The book as a piece of literature is simple enough. And yet, like some of the core aspects (won't reveal too much), it is about what you decide to read and take away. As an Indian, read to understand a huge part of your history (irrespective of religion). As someone who seeks to understand India, read it to gain greater perspective. And sit up with your back straight always!
May 31, 2017
An awesome account of Being a baba from an American in search of understanding. Baba Rampuri has explained many concepts of Sanatan Dharma, as simply as possible. His journey from an "Angrez" to Baba has been tough, intriguing, and captivating. His duel with his western self is an insight for everyone in modern world. I understood sanatan dharm more from this account.
Har Har Mahadev!!!
Har Har Mahadev!!!
July 8, 2012
Disappointing. This man had an opportunity to tell us of the day to day lives of babas, tell us about great happenings in detail, and he absolutely glossed over everything. A shame.
November 24, 2016
The end is the beginning! Om Namo Narayanan!
August 30, 2017
Very subjective rating, since I was in India in 1975 and met an Australian and an American, the latter whom was the disciple of a baba.
We were not alone, since we had, being invited by the American, joined his baba and a few dozen other sadhus that were staying in a temporary tent camp in some field in the middle of nowhere.
The meeting was meant for the inauguration of a tiny temple a few miles outside of a village.
This special occasion lasted for about a week, where I shared a tent, the brahmin food, the river bathing etc. with these sadhus - something I'll never forget.
There was also one baba everybody there referred to as "godman".
I was only 17 and didn't quite know what to think about the whole happening, but realized it would probably be a once in a lifetime experience.
Baba Rampuri's book showed me some insights with his story, about the sadhus' way of life, that I was unaware of.
Completely unexpected, his story also had some fascinating turns and cliff-hangers, which I couldn't ignore, but had to read more about immediately.
It was a pleasure to read.
PS
Adi Shankaracharya was mentioned a few times, placing him 2.500 years back in history, while in fact nowadays it is more widely assumed that he lived in the 8th or 9th century AD.
Nitpicking ;-) and not important in the context of this book.
We were not alone, since we had, being invited by the American, joined his baba and a few dozen other sadhus that were staying in a temporary tent camp in some field in the middle of nowhere.
The meeting was meant for the inauguration of a tiny temple a few miles outside of a village.
This special occasion lasted for about a week, where I shared a tent, the brahmin food, the river bathing etc. with these sadhus - something I'll never forget.
There was also one baba everybody there referred to as "godman".
I was only 17 and didn't quite know what to think about the whole happening, but realized it would probably be a once in a lifetime experience.
Baba Rampuri's book showed me some insights with his story, about the sadhus' way of life, that I was unaware of.
Completely unexpected, his story also had some fascinating turns and cliff-hangers, which I couldn't ignore, but had to read more about immediately.
It was a pleasure to read.
PS
Adi Shankaracharya was mentioned a few times, placing him 2.500 years back in history, while in fact nowadays it is more widely assumed that he lived in the 8th or 9th century AD.
Nitpicking ;-) and not important in the context of this book.
February 1, 2019
There's a lot of superstitious, unsubstantiated claims here, which is a shame, because the Sadhu philosophy is fascinating in its own regard without the need for supernatural supplementation. The Sadhu philosophy mostly gets buried under the rug here in favor of building faux-mysticism.
I would have strongly preferred an anthropological perspective untainted by the lens of American new-age nonsense. If you like to collect crystals and bathe in essential oils then this is the book for you, otherwise you'd do better to check out Sadhus: Going Beyond the Dreadlocks by Patrick Levy.
I would have strongly preferred an anthropological perspective untainted by the lens of American new-age nonsense. If you like to collect crystals and bathe in essential oils then this is the book for you, otherwise you'd do better to check out Sadhus: Going Beyond the Dreadlocks by Patrick Levy.
February 1, 2024
A very entertaining story. It proceeds at a brisk pace and is never boring. Full of anecdotes about the more esoteric aspects of certain Hindu traditions.
When I was in Varanasi, the temple next to my hotel was large, beautiful and quite powerful. It was the famous Juna Akhara temple at Hanuman Ghat on the Ganges, though I only realized its significance after I had returned to the US. The author is a member of that sect and it was during my of research the temple that i came across the author's name and realized he written this book about the traditions I had witnessed.
When I was in Varanasi, the temple next to my hotel was large, beautiful and quite powerful. It was the famous Juna Akhara temple at Hanuman Ghat on the Ganges, though I only realized its significance after I had returned to the US. The author is a member of that sect and it was during my of research the temple that i came across the author's name and realized he written this book about the traditions I had witnessed.
August 28, 2021
Very interesting and entertaining book, it's no masterpiece, but it shows you a bit of the culture that you will not be able to penetrate as a non-Indian.
I respect Baba Rampuri's drive and devotion to his path, a very small percentage of people would persevere trough what he did.
I respect Baba Rampuri's drive and devotion to his path, a very small percentage of people would persevere trough what he did.
June 17, 2017
I learned a lot about the crazy world of Indian Sadhus - and it is crazy.
February 13, 2019
A beautiful story of the path of a westerner weaving himself into the culture of the Naga Babas
January 8, 2021
Nothing interesting or enlighteing. I found it pretty boring and cliched.
August 8, 2024
Brilliant! It’s the most mesmerising memoir. This is my ‘go to’ book .
November 7, 2007
Rampuri grew up in a moderately affluent Beverly Hill's household and like many well off Americans felt something was lacking. This was also the time when America was experiencing a strong counter-cultural element. Rampuri, the American, decided instead of just being a hippie or preaching free love he wanted the real authentic experience. The only way to get this was to travel to perhaps the most sacred and spiritual land the world has ever known. India.
After arriving in India, Rampuri wanders a bit till he finds his guru Hari Puri Baba. Hari Puri decides to try and initiate Rampuri into the strongly traditional mystical order of yogis. In other words, Rampuri would become a true sadhu. However, during the book there are some obstacles to this initiation. One is that despite other sadhus supposedly being spiritually evolved they tend to be judgmental to a foreigner. Some of these sadhus cannot stand the thought of an American yogi or sadhu. A whole plot of contention and animosity develops between Rampuri's guru and another spiritual guru. This strong tension is what makes this book read somewhat like a story. Elements of evil and suspense linger till the end of the book.
During Rampuri's spiritual discipleship he learns many things. He learns languages like Hindi and Sanskrit and also traditional yogic practices dealing with herbs, medicines, and just a whole different way of looking at the world in general.
For the most part I enjoyed the book minus a few rough areas. One problem is that a lot of the terminology is not very clear. You can, of course, understand many things from context but if a person had no previous exposure to Hinduism or its beliefs they would probably have trouble deciphering some of the text. There is no glossary at the back of the book to help with this problem either. Another problem I had is that sometimes the book seemed to wander a bit without any sense of direction. Lastly, the biggest problem I had was that this book was too brief. I was hoping for something more rich and in-depth. At only a little over two hundred pages Rampuri has only revealed very limited aspects of his experience to make them entertaining to the reader. He admits to having thousands of pages of notes so why skimp? Despite these few drawbacks I believe most people interested in the spiritual side of things (especially concerning Eastern traditions) will enjoy the book.
After arriving in India, Rampuri wanders a bit till he finds his guru Hari Puri Baba. Hari Puri decides to try and initiate Rampuri into the strongly traditional mystical order of yogis. In other words, Rampuri would become a true sadhu. However, during the book there are some obstacles to this initiation. One is that despite other sadhus supposedly being spiritually evolved they tend to be judgmental to a foreigner. Some of these sadhus cannot stand the thought of an American yogi or sadhu. A whole plot of contention and animosity develops between Rampuri's guru and another spiritual guru. This strong tension is what makes this book read somewhat like a story. Elements of evil and suspense linger till the end of the book.
During Rampuri's spiritual discipleship he learns many things. He learns languages like Hindi and Sanskrit and also traditional yogic practices dealing with herbs, medicines, and just a whole different way of looking at the world in general.
For the most part I enjoyed the book minus a few rough areas. One problem is that a lot of the terminology is not very clear. You can, of course, understand many things from context but if a person had no previous exposure to Hinduism or its beliefs they would probably have trouble deciphering some of the text. There is no glossary at the back of the book to help with this problem either. Another problem I had is that sometimes the book seemed to wander a bit without any sense of direction. Lastly, the biggest problem I had was that this book was too brief. I was hoping for something more rich and in-depth. At only a little over two hundred pages Rampuri has only revealed very limited aspects of his experience to make them entertaining to the reader. He admits to having thousands of pages of notes so why skimp? Despite these few drawbacks I believe most people interested in the spiritual side of things (especially concerning Eastern traditions) will enjoy the book.
February 12, 2017
This is an amazing book I would say. A book or rather a biography of this nature would be expected to be filled up of a lots and lots of philosophical concepts and exchanges. However, this book is more of the author's life told in the humorous way. The philosophical aspects are covered in just the right dose so as not to bore the reader. The book also opens up the otherwise not commonly known world of 'Babas'. Baba Rampuri has written this book in a way as if he is telling a fiction and not a personalized account.
October 1, 2008
interesting account of a guy from california who really got into deep Hindu spiritualities over the course of many decades.
What makes this book especially meaningful to me is the personal connections I've had around this gentleman.
In November of 1971 I showed up in Ram Lila ground India, a festival site on the border of Old and New Delhi. I was traveling with a large group of westerners, part of a cult-like following of the 13 year old perfect master, guru maharaji. I was sick as a dog, a sickness I had contracted a few days before in England.
A few days after arrival, coming out of my illness, I was talking with a few folks. One was this western guy with long hair, beard and traditional indian dress. This guy at the time went by the name Sita Ram. Now he goes by Rampuri. I was put off some by his appearance. What particularly interested me was his mention of Ram Dass.
Sita Ram said that Ram Dass was in India, staying at Connaugt Circus in New Delhi. I asked Sita Ram if he knew specifically where Ram Dass was staying and he gave me Ram Dass' address. I went directly to visit Ram Dass, an event that was deeply significant for me.
What makes this book especially meaningful to me is the personal connections I've had around this gentleman.
In November of 1971 I showed up in Ram Lila ground India, a festival site on the border of Old and New Delhi. I was traveling with a large group of westerners, part of a cult-like following of the 13 year old perfect master, guru maharaji. I was sick as a dog, a sickness I had contracted a few days before in England.
A few days after arrival, coming out of my illness, I was talking with a few folks. One was this western guy with long hair, beard and traditional indian dress. This guy at the time went by the name Sita Ram. Now he goes by Rampuri. I was put off some by his appearance. What particularly interested me was his mention of Ram Dass.
Sita Ram said that Ram Dass was in India, staying at Connaugt Circus in New Delhi. I asked Sita Ram if he knew specifically where Ram Dass was staying and he gave me Ram Dass' address. I went directly to visit Ram Dass, an event that was deeply significant for me.
May 16, 2017
I couldn't help but finish this book in 3 days. It is a wonderful account of a truth seeker into an unknown world. Surely, Rampuri baba has lived an adventure in those days. This book busted many myths I had about the world of Sadhus and Babas. As said in the foreword, the book reads like a fast-paced adventure. Baba rampuri explains how everything in this world is connected to each other in simple words. The whole book feels like a movie plot set in 1970's India. I expected the book to be on the same lines of "Autobiography of yogi" but its different in its own way. The ending of the book answers all the questions of readers with regard to the events surrounding his arrival to India, the death of his guru and the person who opposed his guru during Baba Rampuri's initiation. All in all, Its a nice read.
September 27, 2017
"Before the world comes into existence, there is only consciousness. Matter exists in potential, and is indistinguishable from consciousness".
"Through Amar Puri’s guidance, I visualized this as a calm mirrorlike lake, reflecting only itself, which he described as the Cosmic Mind. At this stage, everything is the Same. This is also the potential intellect in man, where discrimination will take place. A single drop, the primordial desire for identity and, therefore, separation, hits the mirror lake, causing ripples, and in this way identity or ego appears as movement, distinguishing it from its background of stillness. The Other is born, and the three qualities of nature, the gunas, excite the potential world, the Other, into manifestation".
--- Autobiography of a Sadhu (Rampuri), at Kindle location 3288-3291.
"Through Amar Puri’s guidance, I visualized this as a calm mirrorlike lake, reflecting only itself, which he described as the Cosmic Mind. At this stage, everything is the Same. This is also the potential intellect in man, where discrimination will take place. A single drop, the primordial desire for identity and, therefore, separation, hits the mirror lake, causing ripples, and in this way identity or ego appears as movement, distinguishing it from its background of stillness. The Other is born, and the three qualities of nature, the gunas, excite the potential world, the Other, into manifestation".
--- Autobiography of a Sadhu (Rampuri), at Kindle location 3288-3291.
January 25, 2008
I dropped everything to read Baba because it is so relevant to the work I'm doing right now — transcribing a book by my guru, who was a Naga Baba himself. I wasn't disappointed.
Ram Puri does a great job describing the culture of the Nagas, an ancient sect of monks in India, and his experience an outsider within the ranks. He is humble, wise, and not too didactic. In the context of the story, which I found continuously engaging, he gets across some very big ideas. I am very impressed by his commitment, perseverance, the depth of his reflection, and the understandings he draws from his unusual experience.
Ram Puri does a great job describing the culture of the Nagas, an ancient sect of monks in India, and his experience an outsider within the ranks. He is humble, wise, and not too didactic. In the context of the story, which I found continuously engaging, he gets across some very big ideas. I am very impressed by his commitment, perseverance, the depth of his reflection, and the understandings he draws from his unusual experience.
July 6, 2011
This record of a journey by a US-born man searching for truth and meaning was confusing yet enlightening. I don't agree that it reads like a "fast-paced adventure story' yet it maintained my interest in spite of the oft-confusing terminology and plethora of unusual names. For someone willing to suspend their personal belief system for awhile and read with curiosity and compassion, this is an interesting introduction to Hinduism from a practitioners perspective, albeit not the mainstream Indian.
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