Tam very happy that "Roar of the Ganges" is finally being reprinted. It has been unavailable for several years and many people have inquired about it.
This book was originally written as my humble attempt to present the teachings of Vedanta in a compelling and accessible manner. Instead of writing a heavy, philosophical treatise few would enjoy, I attempted to weave the central teachings of Vedanta into an interesting story the story of a young American who immersed himself in ancient Hindu traditions and was profoundly transformed. That story, of course, is my story.
Telling my personal story also gave me the opportunity to share insights gleaned from experiences throughout my life, especially during my spiritual journey from its muddled beginnings in the late 1970's up to my initiation as a sannyasi, Hindu monk, in 1993. I included other insights about sannyasa and life in the ashrams of Rishikesh for those unique individuals totally committed to a spiritual lifestyle.
The original manuscript for this book was written in 1994. I was a very different person then, lacking the maturity that time gradually bestows. I would not write this kind of book today. Nevertheless, it is being reprinted with only minor revisions because, in spite of its shortcomings, this book offers a rare view of spiritual life as well as the profound wisdom of ancient rishis.
Because the manuscript was written years ago, some of this book's references are out of date. In those days Mumbai was still Bombay and Chennai was still Madras. Also, this book was originally written with Western-born readers in mind. I hope those of you who were raised in India will not mind the descriptions of day-to-day life in Rishikesh and elsewhere.
It was a pleasure to reread and revise this book. I enjoyed revisiting events surrounding my initiation as a sannyasi and finding so much of what I had learned incorporated into these pages. I hope you will find valuable insights and personal meaning in the experiences and Vedantic teachings shared in this book.
Naked, I stood in the Ganges frigid waters as dark clouds shrouding the Himalayas unleashed their fury. Gusts of wind ripped the pre-dawn sky and stung my skin with needles of rain. But I was oblivious to the elements. I could only sense the tremendous consequence of this moment.
I had not eaten or slept since yesterday morning when three Hindu priests arrived to guide me through hours of preparatory rituals. I had spent the entire night intoning mantras and tending a sacrificial fire. After its hungry tongues of flame consumed my final oblations of ghee. I marched to the river and immersed myself in its sacred waters as a final act of purification.
Now the preparations were complete. Time itself stood frozen, bearing witness as I recited ancient Sanskrit vows by which I renounced everything, giving up my former life forever. The Ganges roared in approval.
Previously, I enjoyed a six-figure income from computer consulting and lived in a beautiful California home overlooking the Pacific Ocean. And now, after years of rigorous training in meditation, Sanskrit and the canonical scriptures of Hinduism, I was ordained a monk in India's most traditional monastic order. As dramatic as it may seem, this transformation was neither sudden nor unexpected. It was the inexorable result of a spiritual journey, a journey of inquiry and of discovery.
My spiritual quest had led me in two directions. First, it led me within to explore inner dimensions of my own being. There, I encountered hidden fears, self-doubt. selfishness, ego aspects of myself I had always been reluctant to face. These subtle adversaries might see in an seemed like hideous, distorted reflections one amusement park's house of mirrors. I learned to embrace these inner demons and bring them along on my journey so they could be healed. Eventually, I was led to discover a deeper dimension of myself, a realm overflowing with love, gratitude, and joy. I felt as if I had arrived at a verdant mountain retreat after driving for days through urban sprawl and scorched prairies.
The other aspect of my journey, the outer dimension, led me around the hemisphere to the subcontinent of India. I found its spiritual landscape inhabited by a bewildering mosaic of people. I met learned scholars in remote hermitages who taught disciples devoted to unraveling the mysteries of life. I visited cave-dwelling yogis who passed their days exploring the depths of meditation. I listened to Brahmin priests chant Sanskrit mantras in temples where their ancestors had worshiped for generations. I walked alongside saffron-robed monks who wandered the countryside living on alms.
I learned that these men and women are part of a spiritual subculture that is anything but monolithic. Their lifestyles span the extremes, from uncompromising asceticism to lavish urbanity. Some dress in elegant robes, some in rags, some roam the Himalayas sky-clad, clothed only with the four directions as it is said, their naked bodies smeared with sacred ash. They belong to numerous sects and lineages or follow paths of their own creation, rejecting all traditions. I should not have been surprised to learn that their spiritual practices are as diverse as their frequently eccentric personalities.
I found that the members of this spiritual subculture occupy a vast ideological landscape. They themselves often say, "We seek one Truth, but follow many paths. We believe in one God, but worship God in many forms." So it is inevitable that they espouse a broad range of philosophies, religious beliefs, and spiritual teachings.
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