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The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami

Radhanath Swami (Goodreads Author)

4.64 · Rating details · 3,726 ratings · 459 reviews

Within this extraordinary memoir, Radhanath Swami weaves a colorful tapestry of adventure, mysticism, and love. Readers follow Richard Slavin from the suburbs of Chicago to the caves of the Himalayas as he transforms from young seeker to renowned spiritual guide. The Journey Home is an intimate account of the steps to self-awareness and also a penetrating glimpse into the ...more

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Paperback, 368 pages

Published January 19th 2010 by Mandala Publishing (first published 2008)

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Aug 18, 2013 Dhiraj Sharma Nyaupane rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I started reading this book somewhat grudgingly and after a tumultuous ride on a journey with the author, I came to this. It describes the author's confusion about whether God is personal or impersonal and how one day Srila Prabhupada removed his confusion. I had the same confusion regarding the nature of the divine and this removed my confusion as well. But unlike the author, I lean towards striving to attain the divine as impersonal through meditation. I will always remember this book for this I started reading this book somewhat grudgingly and after a tumultuous ride on a journey with the author, I came to this. It describes the author's confusion about whether God is personal or impersonal and how one day Srila Prabhupada removed his confusion. I had the same confusion regarding the nature of the divine and this removed my confusion as well. But unlike the author, I lean towards striving to attain the divine as impersonal through meditation. I will always remember this book for this section which inspired me to resume my spiritual quest.

"For some time, I had been troubled by a fundamental philosophical dispute over whether God was ultimately impersonal or personal. On the one hand, I had heard some yogis and philosophers profess that ultimately God is impersonal and formless, but that he accepts a temporary material form as an avatara when He descends into the world for the benefit of all beings. After accomplishing His mission, He again merges into His formless existence. All form and personality, according to the impersonalists, is a nonpermanent product of material illusion. In the final state of liberation, the soul sheds its temporary identity and becomes one with God, merging into the all-pervading spiritual existence.

On the other hand, I had heard other yogis and philosophers profess that God is the Supreme Person, that His spiritual form is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss. At the time of liberation, the soul enters into the kingdom of God where it eternally serves the all-beautiful Personality of God in pure love.

I often pondered this apparent contradiction. How could they both be correct? God must ultimately be one or the other. Either He must be ultimately impersonal or personal. Out of respect for my beloved teachers, it had been difficult for me to think that any of them were wrong. Some attacked the opposing point of view while others refrained from argument by keeping the subject vague. I found that many spiritual teachings were similar until they came to this point.

What is the goal I should aspire to? I wondered. Should I strive to transcend dualities to become one with an impersonal, formless God? Or should I strive to purify my heart to serve a personal Lord with unconditional love in His eternal abode?

One afternoon, a guest asked Srila Prabhupada this very question. “Is God formless and impersonal or does He have form and personality?” The chattering of birds, screeching of monkeys, and honking of distant rickshaw horns were silenced by the anticipation in my heart. I sat up with attention, eager to hear his answer. Srila Prabhupada slowly leaned forward, his face perfectly relaxed and full lips curved downward at the edges. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, his elbows rested on the low table in front of him and his hands were clasped together under his chin. With a grave gaze, he quoted from the Vedas and explained, “We must first understand the inconceivable nature of God. The Supreme Lord is simultaneously personal and impersonal. It is an eternal truth that He is both formless and that He has an eternal, blissful form.”

I felt a warm, peaceful sensation flood my chest. With one hand Srila Prabhupada stretched his index finger upward. “The Lord’s impersonal, all-pervading energy is called Brahman. And Bhagavan is the personal form of God, who is the energetic source and never under the influence of illusion. Take for example the sun. The form of the sun as a planet and the formless sunlight can never be separated, as they exist simultaneously. They are different aspects of the sun. Similarly, there are two different schools of transcendentalists who focus on different aspects of the one truth. The impersonalists strive to attain liberation in the Lord’s impersonal, formless light, while the personalists strive for eternal loving service to the Lord’s all-attractive form. There is no contradiction.

“Similarly, the soul is part and parcel of the Lord, simultaneously one with God and different from God. Qualitatively we are one with God, being eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss. But quantitatively, we are always but a part, just as the sunray is but a tiny part of the sun and yet has the same qualities as the sun. We are both one with God and different from God. God is the independent controller, but when the soul misuses his God-given independence, he forgets his relation to the Lord and falls into illusion and subsequent suffering.”

Leaning back against the wall, he tilted his head slightly and gazed directly into my eyes. “The two schools, personalists and impersonalists, both approach different aspects of the One God.” He went on to explain how Krishna, His form, qualities, personality, and abode were unlimited, and that all the true religions of the world worshipped the same One God. He had simply revealed Himself in different ways at different times.

How beautiful. With these simple and intelligent words, Srila Prabhupada had harmonized two apparently opposing views. As I listened to him, tears of appreciation welled up in my eyes. Yes, now it all makes so much sense, I thought. A dilemma that had confused my progress was now completely removed. A spontaneous, joyous smile stretched across my face. Srila Prabhupada reciprocated with a smile, too, one endowed with both wisdom and serenity." ...more

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Apr 25, 2020 Ashish Iyer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hinduism, biography, read-2020, non-fiction

Journey of Radhanath Swami is inspiring and fascinating, thrilling and much for fulfillment. The quest for Bhakti and finding inner peace through a series of life’s experiences leading to finding of his Guru & Lord Krishna.

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Dec 12, 2009 Ryan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Indiaphiles, religious people and lovers of a great story

I don't know how widely available this book is (published in 2008 in India by an Indian publisher), but I think it may explode in popularity! The author was a Jewish-American kid from the Chicago area that that was immersed in the hippy counter culture of the time. Then at the age of 19 decided to go on a quest to find spiritual and personal truth. The adventures that follow are NEARLY beyond belief! He flies to Europe with friends, hitchhikes from London hitchhikes through some of Europe's most ...more

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Dec 25, 2010 Lisa Spinelli rated it it was amazing

Truly amazing and inspiring story of the spiritual journey of Radanath Swami as he explores many spiritual traditions across Europe, through the Middle East and India to find his heart's calling as a Vaishnava monk. ...more

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Apr 03, 2014 Suchita rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A very nicely written book that will motivate you and will make you witness the bitter realities of life.
Its a common story of a common man as you and me go through in our daily life. We meet impostors, quacks, charlatans .. etc etc. Some of us becomes a part of this society of black heart people , some accepts it as the only truth and exceptionally few fights back. Those exceptional souls don't let anyone to dilute their soul and corrupt their heart.
Some of the incidents from this book are a g ...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Madhu Gopal rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great read. Real page turner. When is the movie coming out?

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Jul 04, 2012 Jyoti rated it really liked it · review of another edition

My first autobiography read. It was gifted by a spiritual uncle at the time I lost my mother, as an attempt to help settle me...

The book took many weeks to finish because of distractions and preoccupations but I did seek it out despite much mental and physical confusion. It offered a fluid and believable read. Radhanath Swami's journey from a 19 year old American Jew boy to become Srila Prabhupada's follower 2 years later was full of tough travels, conflicting experiences and much exploration. I My first autobiography read. It was gifted by a spiritual uncle at the time I lost my mother, as an attempt to help settle me...

The book took many weeks to finish because of distractions and preoccupations but I did seek it out despite much mental and physical confusion. It offered a fluid and believable read. Radhanath Swami's journey from a 19 year old American Jew boy to become Srila Prabhupada's follower 2 years later was full of tough travels, conflicting experiences and much exploration. It took him 6 months to reach India through Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan by land and with little or no money. I admired his determination and belief in his own quest. It was a surprise that the idea of India came to an American teenager in the 1970s when this country was even less tourist-friendly or known. It was good to know about all the sadhus he met--including Neem Karoli Baba who I'd heard about only in Steve Jobs' context--and his genuine interest in learning from them. I felt sorry for his troubles so many times and heaved a sigh of relief each time he got to eat anything substantial. After all his doubts, learnings, struggles, I've to say, however, that I was disappointed with his final decision to connect with a glamourous brand like Iskcon. Much as I enjoy going into clean and large Iskcon temples, eating its lovely prasad or buying rosary beads from its Delhi store, in its present state, Iskcon's concept brings many doubts to mind about its mission. And, this is when I believe in Krishna as a God too. Recently, when I asked a young Sivanand Ashram Swami about his impressions of Iskcon's mandate and method, he said that it has evolved into something that may not have been Srila Prabhupada's vision of it. To my own mind, Iskcon promotes a cult movement by offering music, dancing and single-minded chanting of a mantra. It's almost as if it's created a template that is attractive to adopt by Western seekers. I realize that many would advice me to keep my own heart and quest clear instead of deriding any sect but for now my impression of Iskcon is based on my experience of it...however limited that may be at this stage.

And yet, I do not mean to trivialize Richard Slavin's journey to find God and a guru. I'm full of admiration for his hardships and bravery to leave a comfortable life. The book itself is well written for someone who hadn't kept notes on his experiences and wrote about them 35 years later.

...more

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Aug 27, 2010 Kavesh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Truly marvelous book. I had been a interested in the book reading since childhood, and have read various books but this book is just a different one. Extreme adventures (and yet true!! these are not the incidences from fictional life but rather a real living person’s story!!), the unshakable determination of Radhanath Swami to undergo anything and everything to reach his goal of life and the style of the writing of author is so simple and humorous that one never finds the book tiring but always ...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Erinmelissa999 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I was totally loving this book but then I got pregnant and stopped reading it when I was about 2/3 of the way finished (with the book, not the pregnancy). The reason is probably because it was pulling me in the direction of a more solitary spiritual journey and motherhood will be the opposite of that--just the wrong energy for the moment. Maybe I'll finish this book when my kid starts kindergarten. :) I still give the book 5 stars and I think it's going to be a great read for any serious student ...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Hanuman Dass rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: iskcon

Westerners especially those who have an Indian heritage can relate to the stories of great individuals like Radhanath Swami. He is a living saint, master and it has been my great fortune to have his darshan on two occasions.

This is an excellent book, and there is a wonderful insight into his meeting with Ram Dass and Neem Karoli Baba, my copy is covered with copius notes, and I have read this from cover to cover twice.

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Apr 10, 2017 Adhiraj Didwania rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: need-not-possess

Over-exaggerated and over-blown. Radhanath indulges in shameless self-aggrandizement. His blind followers love this book as evident from the ratings and they couldn't be more deluded about an eccentric, egocentric, sanctimonious charlatan. This is more of a self-hagiography than an autobiography. ...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Tatiana Kutsenko rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A fascinatingnstory of an American young man who was searching for his spiritual path. The book is so well-written and inspiring that you feel blessed while reading it. It was very interesting to read about his meetings with such great people as Mother Theresa, Dalai Lama and others. It doesn't matter what religion you are in (or if you're not religious at all), the adventures and spiritual discoveries of this American Swami will not leave you indifferent. After this book I found a lot of inform ...more

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Sep 26, 2017 Iryna Lomachynska rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A beautiful book. It tells about a man travelling all the way from US to India to find his destiny. Learning different religions, meeting diverse people and facing lots of challenges and surprises. What I personally took from this book is that everything that is happening is happening for a reason and that the misfortunes that we are facing are always leading us to something good and beautiful, even we cannot understand it at the beginning.

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Oct 31, 2012 Hoshi Bhad rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Anyone seriously or even casually looking for answers in life, this is the book. What should be "MY" role in this vast world, how can "I" help myself and others also, these questions were cleared when i read this book. Really a VERY GOOD one, positively inspiration and practical.

And definitely clears the concepts related to God and His-will, different religions. ...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Manisha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: autobiography

Although I know the Himalayas is full of mysteries, it was nice to know it from the pen of an American. We Indians, from childhood, hear so much about people having super natural powers living peacefully in the high mountain range of Himalayas, beyond the reach of common people. It was like getting one more evidence in favour of all the legends.

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Aug 24, 2014 Kushagra Singh rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is one of the most enriching and fascinating books that I've read. I completed it in about 1.5 days. Radhanath Swami is a very elevated spiritual leader and reading about journey and his views about religion and God was enlightening. ...more

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Aug 23, 2014 Abhishek Jain rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Radhanath Swami is an inspirational figure. His story is not just an exciting read, but also full of knowledge.

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Dec 26, 2019 SUMAN rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is one of the most amazing stories of the search for God I have ever read. The journey to India is just the initial part of the book. From there you get an inside look at the many spiritual traditions of that land, all through the eyes of the young Richard, who is a genuine seeker of the truth. In some parts of the world you only get the two options: follow what your church or religious organization says or turn to atheism. In India there is more of an intellectual component. The many facti ...more

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Feb 25, 2014 Yana Repkin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

A spiritual journey of an american teenager back in early 1970. Great first half of the book where he travels the world but second half of the book gets too slow, becomes a bit too exalted and starts to proselytize.
This book would be great for young people/teens because the author has a lot of "profound" revelations that most thinking educated adults would have already experience by the age of 27 (I hope).
This book made me remember the main commandment of George Carlin: "Thy shall keep thy reli ...more

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May 28, 2013 Abhishek Pareek rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The book starts off as a simple writing but as the author pens down his experiences while travellimg in search of answers to his spiritual quest, it gets interesting.

Many incidences made my jaw drop. The meetings with various spiritual personalities are interesting, more interesting is the author's learnings from each of it. Author's focus on God is inspiring and so is his meeting his Guru. The account of travel through India is interesting ...more

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Feb 02, 2016 Denise Tarasuk rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Such a deep book that makes me think. The Journey Home is so well written and covers a young man life who has so many thoughts and questions. He travels, or should I say hitch hikes to India. During his travels he meets and studies with many guru’s and teachers. He is so grateful, kind, and respectful during his journey. This book is very deep and full of adventure. You can go on his journey with him. It may change your life.

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May 18, 2016 Sudarshan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It's just amazing to read it. The reader takes us along his journey helping us to realize the most amazing truths of the world, which all the age old intellectuals has assimilated in their soul journey.
I am flabbergasted to perceive my soul journey in his....
Eagerly waiting for his ahead books... :-) ...more

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Oct 02, 2017 Shabba Banks rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Journey Home is a beautiful story of a gripping spiritual journey. The author's account of his obstacle-filled road to spiritual understanding is so detailed and fascinating that parts of it seem farfetched. However, interwoven in this exciting story of exemplary resilience are gems of wisdom for anyone seeking spiritual development. Overall, this was a good read. ...more

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Jan 20, 2014 Lisa Tener rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: spirituality, memoir

I so enjoyed this book. It reminded me of reading Siddhartha when I was in high school--like a light turned on inside. There is a certain vicarious bliss in reading of someone's spiritual journey. I remain inspired several weeks after completing this joy-filled and experience-filled gem of a book. ...more

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Nov 29, 2016 Liza rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The writing was very weak at times, and at other times beautiful. I found myself on a roller coaster with this book. Sometimes disliking it, sometimes really enjoying it. Overall it is a beautiful story of his spiritual journey and there is something we can all relate to.

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Nov 19, 2019 1st Arrow rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: best-of-the-best, spirituality, biography-memoir

I love this book. Bright, memorable, enlightening… Rare masterpiece of truly honest search for oneself by a sincere simple boy from Chicago suburbs who lately became a renowned guru. Strongly reccomend

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Dec 06, 2010 Anasuya added it · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-over-and-over

Mind-blowing! Heart touching! Spiritually challenging!

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Jun 04, 2012 Vikas Shinde rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a story of a young boy going through various dangerous situations, threats, tests, adventure, humor in order to at last find his way to his most cherished goal.....True Love

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Jan 28, 2013 Tiffany rated it did not like it

Shelves: metaphysical

Too many of these types of books exist out there and this was all rehash.

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Feb 01, 2019 Samiam rated it really liked it · review of another edition

All attracting love.

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About Radhanath Swami

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33 Sweeping Multigenerational Family Dramas

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“A dog will recognize his master in whatever way he dresses. The master may dress in robes, suit and tie, or stand naked, but the dog will always recognize his master. If we cannot recognize God, our beloved master, when he comes in a different dress from another religion, then we are less than that dog.” — 72 likes

“Man cannot be enlightened through any organization, creed, dogma, priest or ritual, nor through any philosophical knowledge or psychological technique. He has to find it through understanding the contents of his own mind, through observation, not through intellectual analysis or introspective dissection.” — 57 likes

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