In 1980, before the internet and the rise of yoga tourism, Rishikesh was a quiet, dusty little town. I was passing through it when I heard from a fellow traveller that a Vedanta course was about to start at the local ashram.
The course was intended for the free education of young Indians, but it sounded interesting and the sadhu who was organising it kindly allowed me to join.
For the next 6 months I lived and studied ancient Vedic philosophy in Shivananda Ashram with about 20 Indian students. Living in the ashram was a magical experience and I became a very enthusiastic spiritual seeker.
After the course I had many questions and arranged a few private meetings with the modest and knowledgeable Swami Brahmananda. During one meeting he tipped me off about Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, an enlightened man who was highly regarded in the ashram as being the very embodiment of Vedanta.
He lent me a book of Nisargadat’s direct and unpretentious talks. Nisargadat was now in his 80s and lived in Bombay, so I quickly travelled down to visit him.
Spiritual enquiry
Stumbling into it
Some extras
Disclaimer