Ram Das Batchelder - Rising in Love: My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now, with Amma, the Hugging Saint

Rising in Love is one of the best books Ive ever read about spiritual growth and Ive read hundreds over the last thirty-five years. With candor and honesty Ram Das has woven an uplifting tale full of excitement, adventure and spiritual truths. This is a must read for all dedicated seekers of Enlightenment.

Ted Zeff, Ph.D., author of The Highly Sensitive Persons Survival Guide, Searching For God and other books

This book is amazing. I laughed, I cried, I didnt want it to end. My only regret? There is not another page! More, more, more!

Robyne Conway, Founder and CEO of The Brave Foundation

With rare honesty and a delightful sense of humor, Ram Das portrays the amazing experiences hes had and the miracles hes witnessed, as well as the gut-wrenching personal struggles hes been through. The result is an exciting ride to the heights and depths of the spiritual seekers path. This book gives us a delicious taste of how wide our hearts can open when we meet a great soul like Amma.

Matias Flury, author of Spiritual Experiments and The Secret Power of Yoga Adityam

Rising in Love is definitely the most honest autobiography I have ever read. With a rare sense of humor, Ram Das undresses himself for the reader, while sharing his journey of self-acceptance and surrender to his Guru and Divine Self. This is a spiritual classic!

Paula Bande, author of Yogapilates, Tantra Eterno, and Anotoma Tantrica

I started reading Rising in Love at 11:30 pm and found myself going for a one-hour nap before heading out to work at 8:00 am! I found it to be extremely honest, full of wisdom, persistence, surrender and humility a rare combination of traits, and highly effective in a book! And so much humor I laughed out loud many times! This book is a great mission of love that I feel will touch the very souls of all who read it.

Hector Rivera, lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the band No Matter What!

Ever wondered what makes a person give up everything, move to India and follow a guru? This book lovingly and thoroughly answers that question, making the choice of a life of ascetic devotion entirely understandable and yes, even relatable. With fresh, self-deprecating humor, Ram Das Batchelder unwinds the fascinating story of his own lifelong spiritual journey. Recounting the tales of his very high highs and alarmingly low lows, he writes with appealing candor and a complete lack of self-pity. Although parts of his story are quite unusual and very harrowing indeed, he looks back on them gently, with wisdom and generosity toward all parties involved. With divine grace and a magnificent teacher, this man has managed to achieve something few can lay claim to: against all odds, he moves not only from insanity to sanity, as the world would describe these termsno mean feat in itselfbut takes significant steps beyond ordinary sanity, getting a very long way down the road toward the true Sanity of Self-Realization. Were privileged to go on that journey with him, via the pages of this book. Its a wild ride, and definitely one worth taking.

Carrie Triffet, author of Long Time No See and The Enlightenment Project

Rising in Love is many things a tribute to the authors guru, Amma, for her world-wide spiritual and humanitarian presence, a lively and accurate first-hand account of Hindu mysticism, and most of all, an autobiography of a fierce and passionate drive for God-Realization. With refreshing candor, zany descriptions, and wonderfully self-depreciating humor and holding nothing back! Ram Das describes his youthful roller-coaster ride that had me repeatedly fearing that the book would not end well. His journey is one of power and ecstasy, inflation and self-deception, enlightened realization and ultimate breakthroughs. Ram Das is a born mystic willing to give whatever it takes to come home. This book is both fun and awe-inspiring, taking the reader deep into the authors search for divine love. I kept thinking this must have been a challenging book to write, revealing as it does the 10,000 steps through burning coals and heavenly delights, leading ever deeper into the divine mystery. I ended with great admiration and respect for Ram Das gift of language and of himself. In the end, you will be neither bored nor disappointed with this autobiography, mirroring as it will your own spiritual journey.

John C. Robinson, Ph.D., D.Min., author of The Three Secrets of Aging and other books

Hold on to your seats, folks, as you journey with Ram Das on a captivating roller coaster joy ride towards Enlightenment! This book is witty, intelligent and very exciting a real page-turner, I must say! The author is courageously transparent with his experiences and had me totally captivated from start to finish. His is a universal truth any spiritual aspirant can relate to.

Rev. Jayanti Iamonico, interfaith minister

This is my favorite kind of book. It follows a determined seekers search for Truth up down around and around again only to see that the path leads to Self with no distance to travel a lesson for all of us to discover in our own way and our own time. Thank you, Ram Das Batchelder, for your words, your perseverance and your courage. You show us it can be done with heart and with guts. With your book, you become a newly found friend for all of us to know, forever there to cheer us on as we too follow a fearless trail to the Absolute. Yes indeed, salutations to Amma, the Hugging Saint!

Elizabeth Griffin, author of Loves Calling: A Journey to Self

In this brave and intimate autobiography, Ram Das shares his journey to the realization that divine Grace shines in every experience. Since his path has been full of ups and downs, it makes for very entertaining reading. Anyone seeking Self-Realization, or just a glimpse into modern ashram life, will surely resonate and benefit. I loved it!

Johanna Sarjas, freelance journalist and Press Representative of M.A. Mission, Finland

To declare Rising in Love to be an amazing compilation of light and love would be to minimize the empowerment one gains from Ram Das wisdom and spiritual sensitivity. No stone of personal distraction is left unturned by the authors deft writing and keen story-telling ability. His devotion to Amma is stunningly beautiful, as are the many descriptions of how deeply and profoundly this living saint reaches into his innate being, helping him to see how he (as well as we) sabotage our own spiritual journey. I highly commend this amazing display of most accessible and sensitive writinghis compelling prose and poetic sensitivitywhich also serves as a guide to our very own spiritual fulfillment. And his commitment to exercise resources gained from sale of the book to an orphanage in India only adds to his spiritual authenticity. Do dive in, stay with Ram Das to the end, and you are sure to feel the ultimate invitation to celebrate your very own, innate spiritual Wholeness. He has opened the door wide for us. In his own way, he dares us to be on our way.

Dr. Jim Young, author of Aware in a World Asleep, Living an Extraordinary Life in an Ordinary World, As If From God, and other books