Swami: Encounters with Modern Mystics

Doug Boyd

Mysterious men with beards who chant and speak of elliptical truths—the popular images of swamis have fascinated us for centuries. But what are they really like? In Swami, Doug Boyd portrays these "masters of self" as he has personally experienced them. Their teachings, astonishing mental powers, and very human personalities are explored with enthusiasm, humor, respect, and penetrating curiosity.

Boyd spent several months as the personal assistant to raja yogi Swami Rama, during a series of psycho-physiological tests at the Menninger Foundation in Kansas. He witnessed Swami Rama's ability to alter his heartbeat and body temperature at will. As Swami Rama’s companion, Boyd gained vital insights into his philosophy and personality as a Himalayan master and benevolent being.

In this book Boyd also talks about his expedition into the rock caves, ashrams, and university labs of India. This pilgrimage results in fascinating portraits of the swamis, babas, and yogis Boyd encountered. The book also provides a heartfelt look at how East and West can better understand each other, and how we can achieve self-mastery and happiness in our lives.

About the Author

Doug Boyd is the founding director of the Cross-Cultural Studies Program in Tuscon, Arizona, and the author of the critically acclaimed Rolling Thunder, and Swami. He has lectured nationally on his experiences with mystics and teachers of different traditions.

Reviews

"Intriguing...rich with detail."
--New York Times

"One of the most interesting and moving books I've read on the subject."
--Colin Wilson

"From the laboratory to the ashrams of India...Swami dispels many of the myths of both science and mysticism with clarity and wisdom.
--Kenneth Pelletier, PhD

Product Details

Publisher: Himalayan Institute
Copyright: 1995
ISBN: 978-0-89389-142-8
Paperback
330 pages
6" x 9"

Yoga Philosophy / Spirituality

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