My Life with a Brahmin Family

by Lizelle Reymond

Here is a unique, firsthand report on the family life of India's orthodox Brahmins. Accepted as a member of such a family, Lizelle Reymond found its existence pervaded by the same subtle discipline that has preserved India's religious heritage through thousands of years. "The home-life of my Brahmin family formed a unity from which no part could be subtracted," she writes. "For a time, I had my own place in tat life. Only one thing could have driven me from the family circle, disobedience to my own personal rule; in other words, had I been dishonest with myself for good or ill." In these pages, she describes the day-by-day course of the Brahmins' life, telling how they taught her a form of Yoga that touches every aspect of ordinary human experience. And long before her stay in India was over, she knew tat, whatever upheavals the future might bring, the hidden life of the Brahmins would go on as it always had - unassailable, unshaken, unchanged.

Genres: Spirituality

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Oriyah N]

I rarely say something so strong, but this book was absolute garbage. First of all, the title, while being almost exactly what it is, still manages to be misleading. I imagined I'd get to know about the inner life of a Brahmin family, get to know the culture and beliefs and dynamics...very little to none of that. It was literally what it says - about what the author did with the days of her life while she lived with a Brahmin family. Without adequate explanation or context (the author doesn't even mention what she's doing in India, or whether she is Hindu herself) it's entirely mundane and boring. Terms that are foreign are often left unexplained, so that only someone with a great deal of prior knowledge will learn what the author seems to want her readers to get out of the book.
At a point, she also vanishes from her home "with a Brahmin family" and sets up with a guru. While it might have been an important part of her personal journey, it seemed out of place and inexplicably included in this random sharing of her story.

I'd be proud of myself for slogging through, but don't think I learned anything of value, or otherwise. I could have spent 5 minutes googling Brahminism and would have likely learned ten times as much.

The cover was cool, though I don't think that earns this book the one star I gave it. The "I didn't like it" of a one star rating was extremely generous, if you ask me.

This is one for the recycling bin.

[Eliza Kings]

DNF @ 60% I just couldn’t go on any longer. I trugged through this book for months. As such a short book it should be readable in days. I was hoping to learn the beliefs, practices and ways of Brahminism but I could learn more from a quick Google search, I really can’t say I even learnt anything about the author or her beliefs.

[Kallie]

This book, so well-written and immediate and honest, contributed to my perception that U.S.A. American values were/are woefully superficial and not enough to sustain a feeling of life being worthwhile. Of course, that is my own perception and others may have found all they need. But I did not and just knowing that inspired me to search for what I have needed.