As a child growing up in the Hollywood Hills during the 1950s, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson thought it was perfectly normal that a guru named Paul Brunton lived with his family and dictated everything about their daily rituals, from their diet to their travel plans to his parents' sex life. But in this extraordinary memoir, Masson reflects on just how bizarre everything about his childhood was-especially the relationship between his father and the elusive, eminent mystic he revered (and supported) for years. Writing with candor and charm, Masson describes how his father became convinced that Paul Brunton-P.B. to his familiars-was a living God who would fill his life with enlightenment and wonder. As the Masson family's personal guru, Brunton freely discussed his life on other planets, laid down strict rules on fasting and meditation, and warned them all of the imminence of World War III. For years, young Jeffrey was as ardent a disciple as his father-but with the onset of adolescence, he staged a dramatic revolt against this domestic deity and everything he stood for. Filled with absurdist humor and intimate confessions, My Father's Guru is the spellbinding coming-of-age story of one of our most brilliant writers. REVIEWS "An uncompromising yet compassionate book . . . A coming-of-age memoir unlike any other." -The Toronto Star "AN EXTRAORDINARY CAUTIONARY TALE .... about the enduring human impulse to imbue charismatic individuals with superhuman attributes." -San Francisco Chronicle "Told with a mixture of humor and compassion. . . . Throughout this confessional book a grown man tells of an unusual, even weird childhood and the blind submission that consumed his family's life." -ROBERT COLES The New York Times Book Review "My Father's Guru is an interesting account of a warped upbringing made fascinating by the insight it provides into Masson's adult life. He makes no excuses: in initially revering Freud and other authority figures, Masson realizes he was seeking new and better gurus that Brunton-and was fated to reject them pitilessly when they showed themselves, like Brunton, to be merely human." -Los Angeles Times Book Review "Beneath the guru-bashing, the book is Masson's poignant and loving indictment of his parents, worth reading for his psychological portrait of coming-of-age disillusionment." -Seattle Weekly

About the Book: This book is author's first attempt to write in the darkest phase of bereavement when her guru suddenly passed away. She was not prepared for the loss and grieved endlessly. The lockdown kept her confined to home. With nothing to do and nowhere to go, she started to read books on life and philosophy extensively. Out of which she found solace in the teachings of the Bhagvadgita, OSHO philosophy and Rumi and Khalil poetry. She realized there is so much grief in the world and she was not the only one suffering. She started to heal slowly and got inspired to write about her own experiences while using appropriate quotes from my recent learning to emphasize my thoughts. “The deeper that sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain.” About the Author: From being a young aspiring executive in the Corporate world to managing home, children and finances; two precious decades of live passed away in multi-tasking to build the future of Ramani Rao's family in the city of the pearls. With her children settled, she started to slow down and do things she had waited for long. Travelling was her top priority. By a twist of fate, she landed in the Tourism sector where a spiritual life awaited her, the seven years that passed in travel and transformation are the best years of her life. "loka samastha sukhino bhavantu " (Let the entire world be happy)

A spiritual walk, while wondrous, tantalizing, and mystical, can also be grueling and traumatic. It tests us beyond our limits, and we do not organize its itinerary For Carla Mancari, walking through walls and traveling miles in states of heightened awareness were easy feats. But when her quest required her to plumb the depths of total despair, only the grace of God allowed her to go on. In When Jesus Is the Guru, Carla shares the pitfalls she encountered along her journey, as well as the mystical experiences, realizations, and triumphs. Travel with her as she learns to relate to Jesus's personal humanity. As you do, you may find yourself reconnecting with your own Christian roots, where Holy Scripture becomes the living word it is purported to be. About the Author Teacher and spiritual guide Carla Mancari had her first transcendent experience in 1973 while visiting a shrine in Lourdes. She immediately resigned from her position as a counseling psychologist and began her spiritual quest. Carla traveled all over the world, studying with Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu masters. Carla's spiritual truth-seeking ultimately brought her into an ongoing, intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She has taught Christ-Centered Spiritual Principles and silent prayer for over thirty-five years. Carla is the author of Walking on the Grass: A White Woman in a Black World. She co-authored The Lessons: How to Understand Spiritual Principles, Spiritual Activities, and Rising Emotions; Concordance; and Best-Kept Secret.

In this tell-all autobiography, Sri M writes about his fascinating journey as a young man from the southern coast of India to the mystical Himalayan Mountains. At the age of nineteen and a half, he felt an irresistible urge to go to the Himalayas in quest for his great Master. He finally met his Master at the Vyasa Cave, beyond the Badrinath shrine. After spending three and half years with his Master, wandering freely across the length and breadth of the Himalayan ranges, he was instructed to go back to live in the plains and lead a normal life. He started working for a living, fulfilled his social commitments and prepared himself to teach others all that he had learned and experienced. This book reveals the spiritual journey of a young lad from Kerala, who by his sincerity and dedication evolved into a living yogi. Sri M shares his knowledge of the Upanishads and spiritual insights born out of first hand experiences in his autobiography. Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master will make for an engaging and riveting read for those interested in the life and teachings of Sri M.

After a Master's degree in Physics from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), I dived straight into a a world of utter materialism for nineteen plus years working in information technology. Ran the corporate rat race by day, dabbled in comfort zone spirituality by night. Engineer by trade, Analytical by mind, Wanderer by heart, Lost as a soul. I had my separate material and spiritual worlds. Neatly compartmentalized and entered as per convenience. That was until I met my spiritual Master, Mohanji and started travelling with Him. A journey of five years and counting that shook my foundations. The worlds collided, went topsy-turvy, and spun out of control. Join me in my walk with a Master on the road less traveled, expecting the unexpected, and making sense of the nonsense.

The Author Karin Vastola is one of the rare Western Spiritual Seekers who has experienced “The Tenth Gate Opening’” and its profound effects on the mind, body and spiritual heightening characteristic of the Kundalini phenomenon. The lessons presented in the book are easy to follow. They come from firsthand experiences and with simplicity of the approach, the reader moves towards enlightenment in unexpected ways. The connection with “The Tenth Guru of The Sikh Religion is a rare phenomenon.

This perennial best-seller by a distinguished educator assembles 36 mental and physical exercises for taming the natural drifting of the mind. Newly designed edition of a practical manual for success.

Did you ever wonder if Jesus had a bestie? How did average girl Joanna Rajendran have such a backstage pass to magical Guru Tao Porchon-Lynch? This intergenerational spiritual journey shows how the philosophies of the World's Oldest Yoga Teacher shaped two women generations apart. From trauma to triumphs and everything in between, these friends experience their respective worlds guided by the inspiring lessons first learned and then passed on by Tao. In addition to teaching for over 70 years, Tao was an activist, an actress, a model, a producer and a writer. Later in life, she was on the Panel for Peace with His Holiness The Dalai Lama, collaborated with Tony Robbins and was considered by Deepak Chopra to be his yoga teacher. Joanna watched in awe as Tao inspired transformation in everyone she encountered and at the end realized that her own may have been the biggest. Joanna Rajendran met Tao when she was only 17. Drawn to Tao's light, she studied under, trained with and assisted her for the next 26 years. This unlikely friendship impacted every aspect of Joanna's life. Joanna's relatability makes the philosophies of the Guru accessible for this and future generations. She currently lives on the beach with her husband and their kids: Natasha Tao and River Vail.

The story of one man’s journey from his youth in suburban Chicago to an adult in spiritual India and a world of mystics, yogis, and gurus. Within this extraordinary memoir, Radhanath Swami weaves a colorful tapestry of adventure, mysticism, and love. Readers follow Richard Slavin from the suburbs of Chicago to the caves of the Himalayas as he transforms from young seeker to renowned spiritual guide. The Journey Home is an intimate account of the steps to self-awareness and also a penetrating glimpse into the heart of mystic traditions and the challenges that all souls must face on the road to inner harmony and a union with the Divine. Through near-death encounters, apprenticeships with advanced yogis, and years of travel along the pilgrim’s path, Radhanath Swami eventually reaches the inner sanctum of India’s mystic culture and finds the love he has been seeking. It is a tale told with rare candor, immersing the reader in a journey that is at once engaging, humorous, and heartwarming. Praise for The Journey Home “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.” —Ram Dass, author, Be Here Now “He tells his story with remarkable honest—the 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 Swami’s story is a deep, genuine memoir that reads like a novel.” —Brigitte Sion, assistant professor of Religious Studies, New York University

The spiritual journey is perhaps the most personal experience of our lives—but does that mean we have to go it alone? With The Guru Question, award-winning author Mariana Caplan brings you a unique and much-needed guide for deciding whether you need a dedicated mentor to help illuminate your path to awakening—and if so, how to navigate the deep complexities of the guru-disciple relationship. For those seeking a teacher worthy of their trust and devotion, or anyone who has been frustrated by their experiences with a spiritual teacher, Caplan offers a candid, practical, and daringly personal examination of the student-teacher dynamic, including: Are you ready to be a student? If and when you should consider making a commitment to a spiritual teacher The path of the conscious learner—how to retain your power and autonomy while accepting a mentor's authority Tips for the wounded seeker—the valuable lessons we learn from our encounters with false teachers Spiritual scandals and predatory gurus—guidance for avoiding the inherent pitfalls in the student-teacher relationship How to recognize the inner light of divinity as it manifests in the imperfect human guise of your teacher—and yourself In a time when a distrust of authority has been proven to be a healthy trait, we tend to be justifiably suspicious of those who present themselves as gurus and spiritual masters. Drawing upon her knowledge as both a scholar of mysticism and lifelong practitioner of spiritual traditions, Mariana Caplan helps readers develop the discernment that is crucial when seeking an authentic teacher—and reveals the immeasurable rewards that can come from having a trustworthy guide on the spiritual path.