All You Need Is Love: An Eyewitness Account of When Spirituality Spread from the East to the West

by Nancy Cooke De Herrera

There are some stories that no writer is talented enough to craft, no imagination wild enough to create, no storyteller gifted enough to tell. These are the true-life stories of people who go unnoticed by us for almost a lifetime. These are the people who live by their own rules, pay little attention to other people's truths, and follow their own hearts. In the process, they suffer great pains, and experience great joy. In the end, we all want to share in their journey, learn their lessons, and live, if only for a moment, vicariously. Nancy Cooke de Herrera has led a life of subtle defiance, in order to live a life of great adventure, always in search of something more. Nancy has raised four healthy, loving, happy children, buried the love of her life, her second husband Luis, and wandered through the mountain villages of India – all on her own. In this story, Nancy tells the intimate details of her life, which include her friendship with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founding father of Transcendental Meditation, and their time together in the Valley of the Saints with the Beatles, Mia Farrow, Mike Love, Donovan, and Paul Horn. Her life story chronicles the growth of the Maharishi from little known guru to international teacher of Transcendental Meditation, and promoter of peace and unconditional love. It is the ultimate eyewitness account of when spirituality spread from the East to the West. This book is a fascinating autobiography. It is a captivating adventure. It is an exotic tale. It is a celebrity sprinkled true-story. It is one amazing page-turner of a read.

Genres: Spirituality

450 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2003

Reviews

[Selene]

I loved reading this while I am completing a Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, India. The Western spiritual pioneers of the 1960s are the reason why I am also on this journey. It was fascinating reading about Maharishi from a devoted follower — very different perspective to how he was portrayed in the press obviously. I am sure the truth of how things truly were lie somewhere in the middle of those extremes. Nancy Cooke had an incredible life and mentions many of her star studded and holy connections throughout her life. It gripped me like a novel. However, I could not stop from cringing in many of her stereotypical and discriminatory opinions, which were so common for her generation. I found myself constantly wondering how a dedicated meditator could hold such views of people, but meditation does not solve all issues, even though this was beginning of the era that made such claims. Very worthwhile read but should come with some asterisks when recommending.

[Terri]

All You Need is Love by Nancy Cooke de Herrera is a detailed look at the meditation movement from its origins in the east to the western world. Through her direct work with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the author had the best viewpoint to watch as the world began to embrace this practice beyond a religious practice.

This book came to me at a bit of an unfortunate time. I had just watched the documentary Holy Hell in which a so-called guru was taking advantage of his followers. Throughout the beginning of this book, some of the same actions and devotion seemed to mirror the blind faith that the documentary had portrayed. With quotes from the book like “We always wanted the best for our Master” and the “honor of performing menial labor” it is scary how people can become so enthralled in another thinking they have some sort of magical key to life. However, the tides for Cooke de Herrera and the TM movement took a turn when famous actors and musicians came into the program. The main reason I picked up this book was to see another view of the time the Beatles spent in Rishikesh, and it seemed very interesting how the Maharishi thought the band and people like Mia Farrow would bring so much attention to the movement that actual devotees were being ignored. What he seemed to forget is that creative people are fickle people, and they'll drop you like a hot potato when they get bored.

The second half of the book chronicled the author's continued world travel and associated with the TM movement. However, what was most disappointing about the latter half of the book was that during trips to India, the mood went back and forth from being awed by the sights of these exotic places and in reverence to local religious traditions to whining about how inept the locals are in making sure everything is right for their American guests. It's also full of a massive amount of name dropping, from heads of state and politicians from all over the world to celebrities and heirs of all types. In some chapters, it seemed to take over the story that was being told.

But the actual takeaway from this book is simple, and comes in the last few pages: “self-improvement should be a reasonable goal for everyone.” That's the key to this story. You don't have to have money or be well connected to find the things in this life that make you happy and more compassionate towards others.

*Received a copy of this book from NetGalley

[Ingrid]

I am almost done with this book. I think the author had some amazing experiences but I have never read a book that is supposed to be about spirituality with so much name dropping. I am going to have to force myself to finish this one. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Shannon Breen]

I had very mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, her experiences in India and elsewhere were quite interesting, even if I found her hero worship of Maharishi to be a little much at times. What nagged me the whole time I read it was that I felt like I was watching a wealthy, privileged woman bounce around talking about karma. It just made me grit my teeth a little too much. She was very critical of John Lennon's attitude, especially considering she and her boy are the inspiration for THE CONTINUING STORY OF BUNGALOW BILL from the White Album . I have no doubt John could be snarky, but there was something about this rich woman and her rich son being very holy and spiritual at the retreat and then taking part in this tiger hunt, with her son himself shooting it to death. When John criticized, she said that it was them or the tiger. Well, yes, the tiger was charging...because they were out there with a group, on elephants, trying to lure it into the open to be shot! Her son (a college student) was so excited at the thought of shooting one of these magnificent creatures, while attending a retreat at an ashram from a guru who thought eating flesh was bad karma. While I give her credit for apparent regret over the incident after it happened, she still managed to put in the book a disgusting picture of her son and her with that gorgeous tiger, killed for sport and a thrill. It left a really bad taste in my mouth. Then there were all the famous people she knew and hung out with. I don't necessarily hold that against her, but I just wonder how different her spiritual search would have been if she'd been a lower class widowed mother of four trying to make ends meet with a non-glamorous, globe-trotting job.

[Brianna♥️]

Incredible story. Truly a woman Forest Gump.

[Kimberly Murman]

This was a fascinating view of a life journey of a global citizen. The book was a gift from her son but I had no idea how deeply this book would connect to various phases of my own life. She writes with broad scope, fine detail and real honesty yet so simply. You are indeed drawn in to her life as it unfolds it for you. In addition, seeing events, similar experiences and places through her eyes evokes the feelings and memories I thought long gone - but now back with a new and refreshing perspective.

What a remarkable woman, remarkable life and a legacy left on the world.

[Madhurima]

6 STARS... AND MORE.

This is one of the boldest books i read. This is the story of a spiritualist and her sincere critique of spiritual materialism, a critique from heart.

It is a must read for anybody interested in spiritualism. PERIOD!!!

I wish I can see you before I die.