Radhanath Swami - The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami

The Journey Home is a rare and intimate view on the initiation and process of becoming a swami through the fire of Bhakti and the extraordinary scared landscape of India. An inspiring journey for all.

S HIVA R EA , AUTHOR , YOGA WAVE

Here is an inspiring chapter of our story of spiritual pilgrimage to the East. It shows the inner journey of awakening in a fascinating and spellbinding way.

R AM D ASS , AUTHOR , BE HERE NOW

Radhanaths account invites baby-boomers to look a little deeper into how we found, lost, kept, gave away, and were given (back) the faithhow we managed to find the 1960s a time of grace and wonder. For this invitation, we can all be grateful to Swami Radhanath.

F RANCIS X. C LOONEY , S.J.,

P ROFESSOR OF C OMPARATIVE T HEOLOGY , H ARVARD D IVINITY S CHOOL

Radhanaths Swamis spiritual memoir is a model of modesty and candidness. He tells his story with remarkable honestythe temptations of the 1970s, his doubts, hopes, and disappointments, the culture shock, and the friendships found and lost... Add a zest of danger, suspense, and surprise, and Radhanath Swamis story is a deep, genuine memoir that reads like a novel... Other readers will be moved by Radhanath Swamis spiritual saga and will find echoes of their own quest in his journey.

B RIGITTE S ION , A SSISTANT P ROFESSOR OF R ELIGIOUS S TUDIES , N EW Y ORK U NIVERSITY

Books like The Journey Home provide us with a profound opportunity to enter into presenceto have satsang with spiritual seekers, saints, and holy beings through reading about their lives. This can cause a transformation of our whole being because we become like the company we keep.

S HARON G ANNON ,

AUTHOR , J IVAMUKTI Y OGA AND Y OGA AND V EGETARIANISM

From Malibu to Mumbai, Radhanaths search for enlightenment is a quest that you will never forget.

N ORMAN J EWISON ,

D IRECTOR AND P RODUCER , F IDDLER ON THE R OOF , I N THE H EAT OF THE N IGHT , AND T HE H URRICANE

A sensitive, comprehensive, intuitive, and inspiring book, delving into ones soul and spirituality. His extensive commitment to achieve what he wanted to, how he learned his belief in reliance to God, and of hope are all written with utmost affection and in pure honesty by the author.

Y ASH B IRLA , I NDUSTRIALIST

A generational journey to the East by one who found the real goal of all seeking, The Journey Home is one of the most remarkable and intimate portrayals of the life and adventure of an American swami, providing the reader the opportunity for a similar transformation.

D AVID F RAWLEY ,

AUTHOR , Y OGA : T HE G REATER T RADITION AND Y OGA AND A YURVEDA

It is a great joy to know that a saint like Radhanath Swami is now sharing his precious memories with the world through this long-awaited book. Having had the privilege to know him closely, I have no doubt that future generations will find these reminiscences fascinating and inspirational.

A RVIND N. M AFATLAL , INDUSTRIALIST

What is remarkable about this book is its transparent honesty... one marvels at Radhanath Swamis fearless description of his failings and shortcomings, fears, and anxieties as he went about from place to place looking for the ultimate purpose of life. In every chapter there is a glimpse of the great souls that have influences his thinking... This book is a must-read for all spiritual seekers.

N. V AGHUL , C HAIRMAN , ICICI B ANK

The Journey Home is a stunning story worth reading. Radhanath Swamis journey from the external to the internal world is awe-inspiring. His quest to reach the spiritual kingdom of India is an unbelievable episode. His determination as an ardent seeker of truth is clear, for at last he savored seeing the soul face-to-face. I respect my friend Radhanath Swami for pursuing a pilgrimage where he experienced unity in diversitypart and parcel of India cultureand met various spiritual leads as he gained knowledge of Adhyaatma Vidya (Knowledge of the Soul). The Journey Home is the story of a seeker who became a seer. May many be inspired to experience what he has experienced.

B. K. S. I YENGAR , AUTHOR , Y OGA : W ISDOM & P RACTICE

This tale will reveal the love of God, which is dormant within everyones heart. The reader is given a chance to change his life in the same way as the author.

P EJAWAR S WAMI , P ONTIFF OF M ADHVA S AMSTA

The Journey Home is an incredible account of tremendous determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Radhanath Swami has a gift of observing the smallest detail, and his amazing memory is able to recollect experiences occuring almost forty years ago. A must-read.

H RISHIKESH M AFATLAL , I NDUSTRIALIST

The Journey Home is a spellbinding autobiographical narrative, permeated with the devotion and determination of Richard Slavin (aka Radhanath Swami) as he embarks on a courageous journey in search of the ultimate truths of life. It gives endearing glimpses into the kaleidoscope of Indian spirituality. An invaluable guidebook for all who are seeking the path home.

P ADMASHREE D R . V IJAY B HATKAR ,

I NDIAN S CIENTIST , D EVELOPER OF THE P ARAM S UPERCOMPUTER

This wonderful book shows how purity of heart can overcome all obstacles on the Spiritual Path. It sings to us of holding on to our dream of Real Love until it becomes Reality. Come take this journey with Radhanath Swami!

K RISHNA D AS , K IRTAN S INGER

Radhanath Swamis life history is an inspirational road map for an ordinary person. [His] profound vision, intellectual power, strong determination, and extraordinary personality is embedded in each page of the book.

V ENUGOPAL N. D HOOT ,

C HAIRMAN , V IDEACON GROUP OF COMPANIES

What is particularly remarkable about Radhanath Swamis The Journey Home is the striking detail of his descriptions of his daily existence on the spiritual path... All of this is set forth in an elegantly clear [language] that completely avoids ambiguity.

C HARLES S. J. W HITE , P H .D.,

P ROFESSOR E MERITUS , A MERICAN U NIVERSITY , W ASHINGTON , D.C.

This book is a profound story of Radhanath Swamis journey from the material world of temptation, attachment, and several difficulties to the innermost innocent spiritual awakening. One should learn from Swamijis life story about the depth of dedication, conviction, and total commitment to the inner search of truth. His whole life flows like a river from mountain to valley, from jungles to cities, till it merges into the ocean, where all running, flowing comes to an end with the inner silence and bliss. This book is a powerful guide for all those who wish to have spiritual awakening and exploration of inner truth.

D R . V ASANT L AD ,

A UTHOR AND F OUNDER OF THE A YURVEDIC I NSTITUTE , A LBUQUERQUE N EW M EXICO .

I greatly enjoyed The Journey Home . It shows how a man of great spiritual energy can start his adult life as a typical young rock n roller and open his heart, mind, and soul to great adventures and very great learning. The journey of Radhanath Swami is an inspiring and humanly touching one. Throughout this book the reader never loses the impression that he is one of us. Unlike other holy men, he is not posturing as one step removed. He is teaching us because he remembers how to be one of us. That is why the book is touchingbecause he himself has remained within close touching distance. We feel it is possible to take this journey.

S TEPHEN C HAN , P ROFESSOR OF I NTERNATIONAL R ELATIONS , L ONDON U NIVERSITY S CHOOL OF O RIENTAL AND A FRICAN S TUDIES

Shri Radhanath Maharajas The Journey Home is like reading a modern-day rendering of stories that we find in exalted spiritual texts such as the Shrimad Bhagavatam. Truly, an opportunity to imbibe the accounts of Gods lovers is the fruit of our spiritual endeavors!