Book The Journey Home Written by Radhanath Swami
“Fact is Stranger than Fiction”, if you have any doubt about this saying, then read this Book. I read many Fictions and Adventures– From Charles Dickens, Jane Austin, Jonathan swift, Sir Arthur Canon Dial , Agatha Christie, Prem Chand, Dharamvir Bharti, Vimal Mitra etc but this book is really stranger. I think , every body from a spiritual seeker to mere lover of adventurous reading will enjoy it.
This is a story of the Richard Slavin , a teenage American boy, who started his journey of some spiritual quest in 1970, almost penniless from the suburb of Chicago.
During this Journey from 1970 to 1971, he travelled through Europe,Greece,Turkey,Iran, Afganistan, Pakistan , Nepal and finally to India. Author introduced the readers with many mystic gurus and sadhus , he met. In his spiritual quest , he did every thing – Vipsayan Meditation, Zen Meditation, Meditation in Himalayan Caves, Met Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Swami Muktanana, Swami Ram, Maa Ananad Mai, to Name a few. Finally in 1973, author accepted A C Bhaktivedant Swami, The Founder of ISKCON, as his Guru. But the good thing is that he has not criticised any other Yogi/Saint or Path and has Honestly appreciated them for their sincerity and accepted them as guides in his Journey Home.
There are several incidences, where the Author was almost near death. In author words –
“ Last night, I though, our death seemed sealed, but we struggled and took an unimaginable risk to escape. It was possible because we had hope. Hope in the divine can empower a human being to overcome unimaginable obstacles “
Most of events described in the book is of 1970-71, so why the author has written the book after almost 40 years ?
While reading the book, I was thinking that any person having such experiences, must be very reluctant to write them for general Masses. The answer to this enigma was found at the end of the book – One of the author’s friends, who was aware about his quest, was on the death bed. He took the promise from him to write it saying that – “ It is not your story. It is a tale about how God led a young boy onto an amazing journey to seek the inner secrets that lie within all of us. Don’t be miserly.”
Actually we should not consider this just as another Great Autobiography- Read it, Enjoy it and Forget it. I think this book can give inspiration and hope to all spiritual seekers irrespective of their path and gave a very important instruction – “ A real spiritual person will never take any one Cheaply. He will accept others for what they are, despite differences.”
Author is not just the author, he is well known for his social works as well like Mid-day Meal program in Mumbai for government schools, hospitals with spiritual backing, eco –friendly farms etc.
In this age of Internet, Everybody from Lord Rama, Lord Jesus, Narayan Mooorty, Abdul Kalam , Mahatma Gandhi, Bill Gates have been vilified. So was the author. But the reader must read the book , see his work , dedication and sincerity and then decide.
