RADHANATH SWAMI

author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer

www.radhanathswami.co.uk
1
The Journey Home: Autobiography of
an American Swami
(Mandala Publishing, 2010)
How did Richard Slavin, born and raised in
the suburbs of Chicago, become Radhanath
Swamione of Indias most respected
spiritual leaders and a renowned master of
Hinduisms devotional yoga tradition? In
his aptly titled memoirs The Journey Home:
Autobiography of an American Swami,
Radhanath Swami tells the tale, weaving
together a colorful tapestry of adventure,
mysticism and love to share his extraordinary
story with grace and humility.
Readers follow the young Richard from his
suburban upbringing to his involvement
with the Civil Rights and counterculture
movements of the late 1960s and onwards to
a remarkable journey that finds the 19 year
old hitchhiking across three continents on a
spiritual quest. We learn of near-fatal run-ins
with drug smugglers and life-changing lessons
imparted by the reclusive cave-dwelling yogis
in the Himalayas. Perhaps most significantly,
we are gifted with the opportunity to witness
Radhanath Swamis transformation from
young seeker to sincere student and finally
to a spiritual guide and teacher in his own
right. The Journey Home is thus both an
intimate account of the steps one man took
to seek self-awareness and also a penetrating
glimpse into the challenges that all souls must face on the road to
inner harmony and union with the Divine. On one level, the Swamis story sheds light on devotional
Hinduisms mystic traditions; on another level, however, it speaks to a broader, more universal search for
meaning and truth.
In sharing his story with the world through The Journey Home, Radhanath Swami hopes that the lessons
he learned on his quest can help inspire others on their own spiritual journeys.
This isnt a book about me, he says, it is a story of how the Divine can work through any of us to
accomplish wonderful things.
More
RADHANATH SWAMI
author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer
www.radhanathswami.co.uk
2
Acclaim for
The Journey Home: Autobiography of
an American Swami
Here is an inspiring chapter of our story of spiritual pilgrimage to the East. It shows the inner journey
of awakening in a fascinating and spellbinding way.
(Ram Dass; Teacher and author, Be Here Now)
I respect my friend, Shri Radhanath Swamiji, who pursued his spiritual journey experiencing unity in
diversity which is a part and parcel of Indian culture culminating his journey from seeker to the state of
seer. I hope many who read, aspire to experience what Radhanath Swami experienced.
(B.K.S. Iyengar; Teacher and author, Light on Yoga)
We should imagine a kind of dialoguenot of religions or theologies this timebut of women and men of
different traditions who, upon reaching a certain age, tell their stories with a certain wisdom and humor
and in that way speak to one another across religious boundaries. In particular, Radhanaths account
invites us baby-boomersto look a little deeper into how we found, lost, kept, gave away, were given (back)
the faithhow we managed to find the 1960s a time of grace and wonder. For this invitation, we can all
be grateful to Swami Radhanath.
(Francis X. Clooney; Professor, Harvard Divinity School)
Books like The Journey Home provide us with a profound opportunity to enter into presenceto have
satsangwith spiritual seekers, saints, and holy beings through reading about their lives. This can cause a
transformation of our whole being because we become like the company we keep.
(Sharon Gannon; Co-Founder, Jiva Mukti Yoga method and school)
The Journey Home is a rare and intimate view into the initiation and process of becoming a swami
through the fire of Bhakti Yoga and the extraordinary sacred landscape of India. An inspiring journey
for all.
(Shiva Rea; Teacher, Prana Flow Yoga)
This book is a powerful guide for all those who wish to have the spiritual awakening and exploration of
inner truth.
(Dr. Vasant Lad; Founder, The Ayurvedic Institute)
A generational journey to the East by one who found the real goal of all seeking, The Journey Home is
one of the most remarkable and intimate portrayals of the life and adventure of an American Swami,
providing the reader the opportunity for a similar transformation.
(Dr. David Frawley; Director, American Institute of Vedic Studies)
RADHANATH SWAMI
author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer
www.radhanathswami.co.uk
3
Biography
A Bhakti Yoga practitioner for more than 40 years, Radhanath
Swami is one of todays most beloved and respected spiritual
teachers. He is a guide, community builder, activist, and
acclaimed author. Rooted in his study of ancient Indias mystic
devotional tradition, Radhanath Swamis message is as profound
as it is simple: by cultivating a rich inner life of self-awareness
and a genuine practice of service, we can become instruments of
compassion and agents of sustainable change in the world.
Born into a middle class Jewish family in Chicago, Radhanath
Swami (ne Richard Slavin) became an active participant in
the civil rights movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
He soon discovered, however, that social transformation begins
with personal change, and at the age of 19 he embarked on a
remarkable quest for meaning in life. This adventure, detailed in
his memoir The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American
Swami (Mandala Publishing, 2010), took him hitchhiking
across Europe and the Middle Eastthrough Turkey, Iran,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and finally to India. In India, studying
at the feet of some of the foremost spiritual teachers and yoga masters, he eventually reached the inner
sanctum of Indias mystic devotional tradition. Accepting this as his path, Radhanath Swami returned to
the West to share the gifts of wisdom that he had received.
Today, Radhanath Swami is the founder and coordinator of multiple spiritual communities throughout
the world, the most prominent of which is the Radha Gopinath Ashram located in Mumbai, India.
Under his inspiration and guidance, the project has grown to include missionary hospitals, orphanages,
eco-friendly farms, schools, temples, emergency relief programs, and a food distribution program that
feeds more than 250,000 indigent children in downtown Mumbai every day. In spite of his many
responsibilities, he also travels widely, teaching Eastern philosophy and spiritually throughout Europe,
Asia, and America. He has been featured as a guest speaker in universities such as Princeton, Harvard,
Columbia and Stanford, and in corporations such as HSBC, Microsoft, Intel and Oracle.
While maintaining his own rigorous practice as a Vaishnava Hindu monk, Radhanath Swami is also able
to speak to universal principles of spirituality that cut across the faith spectrums and transcend sectarian
differences.
RADHANATH SWAMI
author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer
www.radhanathswami.co.uk
4
Selected Projects at a Glance
Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Ashram
A flourishing spiritual community in the heart of downtown Mumbaibuilt on principles of unity, love
and spiritual carethat serves as an oasis of inspiration for thousands of people, and is the hub of Share
Your Care and its affiliated projects.
Congregation of more than 5000 community members from a wide
variety of professional backgrounds, income strata, and ethnicity
Monastery with 180 full-time monks and
Traditional Vaishnava Hindu temple and center for spiritual education
and culture
12 satellite centres around Mumbai

Bhaktivedanta Hospital & Healthcare Initiatives
A non-profit organization whose prime mission is to provide quality health care service to the underprivi-
leged. The hospital integrates cutting-edge medical technology with time-honored holistic sciences to offer
patients solace for the body, mind and spirit. Also includes mobile medical and eye camps, disaster relief,
hospice care, and preventative education.
More than 30,000 patient screenings
More than 25,000 patients treated for pulmonary and gastrointestinal
diseases
More than 2500 dental procedures
More than 100 medical camps across India to date
Midday Meals
An innovative social service initiative based on the insight that childhood hunger is a prime reason for il-
literacy and the vicious cycle of poverty in India. With government support, Midday Meals feeds 250,000
children nutritious meals every day in the schools of greater Mumbais lowest income areas.
Meals adhere to highest standards of cleanliness and nutition
Meals prepared in 4 industrial kitchens equipped with automatic
conveyor belts, flightkitchen grade ventilation and drainage, and 660 lb.
capacity steam-jacketed cauldrons
Meals delivered in tamper-proof stainless steel containers and 69 rack-
fitted delivery vehicles to 1225 schools everyday
RADHANATH SWAMI
author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer
www.radhanathswami.co.uk
5
Photos
Radhanath Swami speaker at conference
Radhanath Swami portrait
RADHANATH SWAMI
author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer
www.radhanathswami.co.uk
6
The Journey Home book cover
Photos
RADHANATH SWAMI
author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer
www.radhanathswami.co.uk
7
Radhanath Swami prior to the journey
Photos
RADHANATH SWAMI
author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer
www.radhanathswami.co.uk
8
Radhanath Swamis journey across Europe
Journey across the Middle East, South Central Asia and then India
Photos
RADHANATH SWAMI
author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer
www.radhanathswami.co.uk
9
Radhanath Swami with the Dalai Lama after the journey
Photos
RADHANATH SWAMI
author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer
www.radhanathswami.co.uk
10
Radhanath Swami with the Mother Theresa after the journey
Photos
RADHANATH SWAMI
author | spiritual teacher | guide | inspirer
www.radhanathswami.co.uk
11
Radhanath Swami was invited to meet with the President Obama
Radhanath Swami meets President of India, Ms. Pratibha Patil
Photos