[.ca] Living with the Himalayan Masters (ISBN 0893891568)

Swami Rama's early years:
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.

Enjoyable and Provocative:
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.

Surprisingly true and open. One of the most honest books...:
I have owned this book for a long time but hesitated to read it because of the catching title. This is not quite what it is about... It is about Rama`s path in spirituality and there is a lot for every person who searches whatever their path may be. Very open, quite critical of false spirituality, totally aware of the possible mistakes on the road and of the traps set up by pride. I love the simple yet beautiful writing. It is not true that all the sages presented in the book are said to be enlightened. Quite the contrary. But there is a certain humility and great love for people that allows Swami Rama to describe their mistakes without scorn or hate. Also interesting insights on all the major religions. VERY ENLIGHTENING.

Fun Read:
Book describes Himalayan lifestyle of some great Yogi's. It was very interesting and easy to read. Some of his stories of what the amazing yogi's did is difficult to comprehend. It only leads to greater mystery and motivation for those on the path. Don't be discouraged to purchase if your on the path.

A masterpiece of a great master:
A very good book; an inspiring autobiography of a real spiritual master of our times. It can be considered a light book....There is not deep philosophy inside, suitable for everyone interested in yoga philosophy.