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Walking with a Himalayan Master
An American's Odyssey
Hardcover  978-0-936663-36-4: $24.95
Paperback 978-0-936663-37-1: $19.95

By Justin O'Brien (Swami Jaidev Bharati)

USA Book News Awards:
Biography (finalist); Multicultural Non-Fiction (finalist)

New edition with more photos and new chapter!

Hardcover, 455 pages, 48 photos.

This is the American Autobiography of a Yogi. The superb, exciting, powerful story of one man's struggle and joy in following one of the greatest Himalayan Yogis of the century. "A remarkable new autobiography, not to be missed!" - Rite of Passage. Hardcover.

A skeptical American scholar reluctantly meets a great Himalayan master and a new vista emerges for this century!

Going where few have ever ventured, we resonate with O'Brien as he zig-zags through a personal quest for the ultimate; prodded by a great saint, yogi, and scientist who called the Himalayas his home.

This book offers the exciting, powerful, and delightful story of the extraordinary yogi, Swami Rama, and the author's candid revelations of his own real spiritual odyssey.

Drawing on five diaries and the recollection of countless conversations, O'Brien vividly shares his first person autobiographical account with a second main character, Swami Rama - O'Brien's revered teacher and friend. The reader is invited to join the master and disciple as they walk shoulder to shoulder from their earliest acquaintance at a retreat in 1972 to the construction of teaching centers in the United States, India, and Nepal, to the final days in 1996 of one of the greatest yogis of the past century - Swami Rama of the Himalayas - and beyond until O'Brien renounces all to live the life of a yogic swami.

Asked by his beloved teacher and dear friend to write a book about their relationship, the 450-page chronicle of O'Brien is offered as a rare gift to all students of yoga and as a personal invitation for understanding and insight for those just beginning their spiritual quest.

Readers will learn that yoga is not a religion but a science of life that opens resources not by faith, but by enriching the body, mind and spirit. From the extraordinary yogi who brought together East and West in his teachings of medicine and spiritual growth, they will learn how to more fully experience life. They will be mystified as were the scientists at the prestigious Menninger Clinic by the sage's control over his mind and body. And they will be delighted by O'Brien's sense of humor and lucid descriptions which keep the work within human perspective.


"This riveting book gives us a glimpse into the life and teaching of one of this century's truly extraordinary yoga masters and also shows that authentic discipleship is possible in the West." -Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D.

"In Walking with a Himalayan Master Dr. Justin O'Brien exhibits the real relationship of a sincere disciple to a great guru." -Sri Swami Satchidananda

"A Bengali proverb says, 'There are hundreds and thousands of gurus, but to find a real disciple is truly rare.' Dr. O'Brien's account of how he became a disciple is a great contribution for spiritual seekers." -Shree Maa

"In this timely book Dr. O'Brien generously describes his personal, transformative experiences with his guru and provides readers an intimate view of Swami Rama's unique personality as well as the breadth and depth of his mission-oriented life." -Roy Eugene Davis

"I value your contribution to making Swami Rama's teachings better known to the public. He was trained in the arduous and austere discipline of the Himalayan yogis. His prowess in the yogi body controlled by the will gave him notoriety amongst researchers in mind-body biofeedback." -Pir Vilayat Khan

"Swami Rama...championed the ability to inspire people with the straight and simple truth. He served his students as a master..." -Yogi Bhajan

"Swami Rama was an 'Old Soul', a rare giant, a masterful guru which Dr. O'Brien's book reveals masterfully. It communicates the inner process by which the guru-disciple relationship is established. It is rare that one has the opportunity to glimpse into this sacred journey by a soul who has studied for decades at the feet of a Himalayan Master...It makes this book a must for all who are interested in the spiritual path, whether a beginning student or an advanced disciple." -Goswami Kriyananda

"What is it like to live in the entourage of a great saint? What is it like to be a disciple of this teacher? What is it like to follow in his footsteps? This splendid spiritual memoir addresses just such questions. This book is a delightful experience of anyone longing for a glimpse into the life of a true spiritual master." -Publisher's Weekly.

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