The Theory and Practice of Meditation

One of the greatest adepts, teachers, writers, and humanitarians of the 20th century, Swami Rama (1925–1996) is the founder of the Himalayan Institute. Born in northern India, he was raised from early childhood by the Himalayan sage, Bengali Baba. Under the guidance of his master, he traveled from monastery to monastery and studied with a variety of Himalayan saints and sages, including his grandmaster, who was living in a remote region of Tibet.

In addition to this intense spiritual training, Swami Rama received higher education in both India and Europe. From 1949 to 1952, he held the prestigious position of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham in South India. Thereafter, he returned to his master to receive further training at his cave monastery, and finally, in 1969, came to the United States, where he founded the Himalayan Institute.

His best-known work, Living with the Himalayan Masters, reveals the many facets of this singular adept and demonstrates his embodiment of the living tradition of the East.

Rudolph Ballentine, MD, is a pioneer of the holistic health movement and graduate of the Duke University School of Medicine. He is the director of the Center for Holistic Medicine, which offers integrative approaches to treatment such as psychotherapy, homeopathy, ayurveda, yoga, meditation, and applied kinesiology. Dr. Ballentine also served as the president of the Himalayan Institute for 12 years and as the director of its Combined Therapy Department for 18 years. He is the author of several books, including Radical Healing and the classic Diet and Nutrition.