Death of a Guru

Death of a Guru: A Remarkable True Story of One Man's Search for Truth

I am glad that this memorable, eye-opening autobiography remains in print (it was originally published in 1977). It reads fresh and relevant, like it could have been written today. Born into a Hindu family, marked for great things within his religion, young Rabi Maharaj faced tragedy in the loss of his father. His father’s level of religious accomplishment is constantly held up to him as an example to be praised and followed. Following his father’s death, for all practical purposes, he is soon abandoned by his mother so that she can pursue her own religious path while Rabi is left in the care of a household consisting of extended family. Though longing for the love of his mother and grieving the loss of his father (who never actually spoke to him as he lived in a constant meditative state), Rabi throws himself into the pursuit of Hindu studies and religious practices and achieves knowledge and proficiency in them. All the while, he is bothered by a nagging thought: God is separate from and transcends his creation. Rabi thoughts are, “Why, that contradicts my Hindu belief that ‘god is in all.’ Unthinkable!” Strange, supernatural ‘attacks’ and occurrences leave him bewildered as he wonders why all of his acts of devotion have left him vulnerable to attacks by his ‘gods.’ Though able to attain ‘peace’ while in deep meditation, some difficult family relations, an explosive temper, and a substance addiction leave him swinging on a pendulum between hope and despair. All the while, deceptive experiences he has while engaged in yoga and meditation vie to reinforce the belief that Hinduism is ‘true.’ You will have to read this page-turner for yourself to see how God works to rescue this young man from the ‘vain conversation’ he had received by tradition from his fathers (1 Peter 1:18). His book includes a special warning to those who think that yoga can be divorced from its Hindu roots and purposes: No part of Yoga can be separated from the philosophy behind it. Please read this book and share it with others. This book will equip, enlighten, and challenge all who read it.