Journey Of A Master

For over forty years Swami Chinmayananda was one of the leading interpreters and teachers of the Hindu philosophical system of Advaita Vedanta, which establishes with exact logic the identity of the self (Atman) with the infinite (Brahman). Through a variety of institutions and methods particularly the jñāna yajñas, rituals of truth, he worked to rejuvenate Hinduism by making hitherto inaccessible insights of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad - gita available to masses. Thereby, he was instrumental in bringing the wisdom of the Hindu heritage to everyone, regardless of caste, creed, gender, religion or nationality. This is the first biography of Swami Chinmayananda and retraces his journey from his childhood in Kerala, through his carefree college days and rebellion against British imperialism, then his spiritual tutelage under Swami Shivananda and Swami Tapovanam. An account is given detailing the growth of a worldwide movement under his guidance. Included are conversations with him on different subjects that demonstrate his sharp intellect, deep wisdom and quick wit. He is undoubtedly one of the outstanding and influential figures in the modern history of India.

Marguerite Jalving, is a person with both feet on the ground. With her high heels and elegant style, she stands with her strong temperament, firm in her opinions. She gives vent to spontaneous anger as well as enthusiasm and sometimes less humble thoughts to the Master, when she thinks, He goes too far. At the same time, she feels the deepest affection and humble surrender for the divine, which is this book’s paradox. You will find the book both humorous and deeply devotional; a picture of a human being’s dialogue with the divine, with its dreams and heavenly visions. Illustrated with the master’s artwork via Jalving.

SRI M WAS BORN in Trivandrum Kerala in 1949. At the age of nine he had a strange encounter in the backyard of his house. Under the jackfruit tree he saw a matted-haired yogi. The yogi blessed him saying 'you will get to know our connection in time' and walked away. After this incident the mind of the young boy, born of Deccani Muslim parents, turned towards Vedanta and the great Indian tradition of yoga that led to deep contemplation. Meeting many known and unknown sages and yogis as if by design, Sri M at the age of 19 left home and went off to the Himalayas. There, at the Vyasa Guha beyond Badrinath, he met the great yogi Sri Maheshwaranath Babaji belonging to the Nath sampradaya. As an apprentice to this great being, his mind underwent a profound transformation. Travelling with this bare-footed yogi, he had many wonderful experiences. A detailed account of his almost unbelievable experiences from childhood to the present can be found in Sri M's autobiography, Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: A yogi's Autobiography. On the instructions of his master, he returned to the plains and lived incognito for a long time. Meanwhile, he got married and has two children who are themselves grownup and married now. Sri M wears no grand robes, has no special hair style, is often found wearing jeans and T-shirt or dhothi and white shirt. He lives in Madanapalle, travels around the world conducting retreats and giving talks on yoga, Upanishads, Sufi teachings - in short, inner core of the religious traditions of most religions including the Jewish, the Christian, Buddhist and so on. He calls himself a practising yogi. Sri M heads the Satsang Foundation which runs the Satsang Vidyalaya - a free school for the underprivileged and an IIC-ICSC boarding school called Peepal Grove School, a rural school in a remote village 20 kms from Madanapalle and a Swasthya Kendra - a free medical service for the poor. The Satsang Foundation has recently initiated the MYTHRI programme involving large scale re-forestation and is in the process of setting up a modern hospital to cater to the needy on the outskirts of Bangalore.

The inspiring, instructive, and ultimately triumphant memoir of a man who used hard work and a Master Plan to turn a life sentence into a second chance. Growing up in a tough Washington, D.C., neighborhood, Chris Wilson was so afraid for his life he wouldn't leave the house without a gun. One night, defending himself, he killed a man. At eighteen, he was sentenced to life in prison with no hope of parole. But what should have been the end of his story became the beginning. Deciding to make something of his life, Chris embarked on a journey of self-improvement--reading, working out, learning languages, even starting a business. He wrote his Master Plan: a list of all he expected to accomplish or acquire. He worked his plan every day for years, and in his mid-thirties he did the impossible: he convinced a judge to reduce his sentence and became a free man. Today Chris is a successful social entrepreneur who employs returning citizens; a mentor; and a public speaker. He is the embodiment of second chances, and this is his unforgettable story.

My life story