Life Positive
October 2008
One Master One Disciple
Jyotii Subramanian
Yogi Impressions
174 pages; Rs.250
A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
Although this book is a true life story of one seeker, walking through the path of self discovery, it could easily be mistaken for a fictional thriller. Out of body experiences, divine interventions, miraculous healings, vivid past life experiences- glimpses that sadhaks yearn for lifetimes, seem to be everyday happenings in the author's life. The beauty of these experiences lie in the fact that none are written with any trace of arrogance- rather as matter-of-fact events unfolding into her life. The surrender this disciple feels for her guru- Gurunath, a disciple blessed by Mahavatar Shiv Gorakshanath Babaji- is so complete that every experience is welcomed with total acceptance and therefore there exists not a trace of fear or even ego through it all. She shares an intimate relationship with her guru- loving him, being guided by him and sometimes even feeling childish anger towards him.
Jyotii reveals herself and her life with so much honesty that any reader can connect to it. Her story is our story. She speaks openly of all the topics, including the ones generally seen as taboo in our society- like her traumatic relationship with her husband, her extra marital dalliances, the abortions she went through in her desire to bear a male child. And yet, one can at no point judge her because every experience seems to have taught her, cleansed her, prepared her for meeting her guru. The meeting itself was extraordinary. Sitting in a hot room at Chandigarh for some spiritual workshop, Jyotii had an image of her guru- powerful looking with a white lion-like mane around his calm face- beckoning her. Surprisingly, she had never met him before. And yet, his description fitted none other than Gurunath.
One meeting after the other, Gurunath cleansed her- physically, emotionally and spiritually. Gurunath's ashram in Pune, claims Jyotii, is one whose very soil has acquired healing properties. She writes, "Many disciples, after their first night at the ashram, exclaim how an excruciating pain, an irritating rash, or a recurring symptom has miraculously vanished!" For Jyotii, the ashram is sacred- for it brought her life-changing experiences, and moved her closer to herself, to her guru and his wife, and to the Higher Being. Jyotii appears, from the beginning to the end, like a fun-loving child who plays in the mud and also plays amidst flowers- but strangely remains untouched by it all. She appears free, happy, loving.
This book is an exciting read for anyone who wants to know how faith, acceptance and compassion can transform an ordinary woman into first an extraordinary seeker, then disciple and finally a teacher.
- Megha Bajaj |
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American Authors Association
Title: One Master One Disciple: A Thrilling Spiritual Adventure
Author: Jyotii Subramanian
Publisher: Yogi Impressions
Reviewer: W. H. McDonald, Jr. - AAA Founder
Spiritual Food For Those on the Journey
Sometimes when I open up a new book I just know that there will be something of great value and importance waiting inside for me to discover-that was certainly the case for "One Master One Disciple: A Thrilling Spiritual Adventure." Author Jyotii Subramanian shares her own personal life journey before and after she began a discipleship under the teachings of Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath.
In her book, Jyotii takes the reader on a rough and rocky road through her earlier life experiences before she found her guru. Her personal history shows that she was still in grasp of great emotional delusion and pain. That willingness to expose her individual faults and blemishes to her readers endeared her to me. It also made the rest of what she wrote about after meeting her guru that much more believable and important. She shares not only her life experiences but also some of her mystical inward journeys.
The life story she writes about is actually like two very different stories. It seems there are two different people she is writing about in her memoir. The obvious changes in her, after her association with Gurunath, become evident in her outlook and attitude about her life experiences. The impact of watching this personal transformation of her spiritual journey is a powerful and inspirational one for the reader. One realizes that her story is not so unlike many other people-except that she made choices in her life that brought great changes after finding her guru. The book shows that this evolutional process that leads us all to personal redemption and self-realization is just a matter of having a renewed spiritual focus, the right kinds of spiritual techniques (Kriya Yoga) and a loving teacher (guru).
I enjoyed reading her book. Actually, I savored and devoured it! This is not a book for closed-minded readers, or for those who are judgmental. It is a book that is best appreciated and digested if the reader has some knowledge of yoga. For those who may be unawares of her saintly Indian guru, I highly recommend reading his own book "Wings to Freedom." Gurunath is one of those modern day yoga masters. He received the blessings and spiritual training in the Himalayan Mountains from the deathless avatar Babaji (who was first discovered by the Western world by those reading that spiritual classic "Autobiography of Yogi.")
The author shares great insights from her own life and that of her guru. The telling style is easy reading except for some of the Hindu terms and references; however, she has provided a glossary at the end of the book to help. The stories of her relationship with Gurunath are told with such loving care that one can feel the closeness of that relationship.
I am familiar with the Kriya mediation techniques she talks about from my own line of Self-Realization Fellowship gurus. It seems that her path and mine both lead back to the same roots with Babaji. If one is a student of some form of yoga they will, of course, get much more understanding and a deeper message out of this book. However, if one knew nothing about yoga or Babaji it will still make for some inspirational reading. It is after all "A Thrilling Spiritual Adventure!"
I fully recommend this book which is soon to become a spiritual classic. I give this book The American Author's Association's highest book rating of FIVE STARS! I have also nominated it for one of that association's annual book awards. It is that good! Buy it and read it! |
One Master, One Disciple
A Thrilling Spiritual Adventure
By Jyotii Subramanian |
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Journey to Redemption
Tribune News Service
Sunday, May 18, 2008
One Master One Disciple
by Jyotii Subramanian. Yogi Impressions, Mumbai. Pages IX+174. Rs 250.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080518/spectrum/book5.htm
BORN feet-first, Jyotii appeared destined for an unusual life. A pampered child, she grew up listening and learning Carnatic music and wearing ahead-of-the-time dresses, thanks to her entrepreneur mother. Belonging to a family from Kerala's Palakkad district, she had spent her childhood in Bengal and Bihar before finally moving to Chandigarh (the move was triggered off by a chance eavesdropping by her father on the sweet-nothings that his teenage daughter was exchanging with a lad over the phone).
Despite a hawk-eyed father and a possessive, albeit liberal mother, she managed to live an unconventional life. While still a college student, she married a Sikh farmer. The marriage-opposed by their respective families-turned out to be a stormy one. A marriage on the rocks and the consequent separation would convince the reader that the author was surely hotfooting it to the Doomsville.
But, then things began to take a different turn. During her separation years in Australia, she had a couple of para-normal experiences that hastened her reunion with her family in Chandigarh. Although the relationship with her husband hadn't fully come out of the woods, there were enough reassuring positives.
'Visions' and 'spiritual experiences' became instrumental in taking her into the fold of Yogiraj Siddhanath-affectionately addressed as Gurunath by his followers. Thence started the journey to redemption that is still continuing.
The book's title and the blurb on its back remind one of such books on spiritualism as Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi and Dr Paul Brunton's A Search in Secret India. There are references to karma , especially when Jyotii rationalises one of her particularly heart-breaking relationships, or when she describes a Red Indian Chief as her grandfather in a previous life.
There are other such details that make one reflect on the mysteries of life. For example, the interplay of contrary forces that mould one's destiny becomes apparent, not immediately but when the proverbial dust has settled. So, she is able to understand the influence of the spiritual undercurrents only after she is extricated from the darkest phase of her life.
Skeptics might well question the need for having one more 'New Age Guru' when already there are a legion of them promising to improve our here and hereafter. Others might look askance at this guru's corporate style approach-a dedicated publishing house with a website that sells books, audios and videos; each book comes with a postage-prepaid business reply card to enable readers to enroll in the mailing list.
You might also be wondering at the propensity of our gurus and godmen for partiality towards the well-heeled. Nirvana may not come cheap 'n' easy, but read this book for what it really is-the saga of a tortured but resilient soul's successful bid for solace, courtesy her preceptor. |
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Jyotii Subramanian's Rejoinder
Jyotii Subramanian
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
One Master One Disciple
http://savantsallies.blogspot.com/
Dear Mr. Amar Nath Wadehra,
Please allow me to thank you for the review of my book One Master One Disciple in May 28, 2008, The Sunday Tribune (http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080518/spectrum/book5.htm and http://savantsallies.blogspot.com/2008/05/journey-to-redemption-by-amar-nath.html). I was really touched that you compared it to Paramahamsa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi as that is an all time classic writing of this genre of books. Since you dwelled so much on the personal I must tell you that this chapter was not in the original draft that went to the publisher but was pulled out of me by the Editor who thought the reader might want to know where the author was coming from.
I would like to point out though, that your understanding that Gurunath is in control of the publishing house Yogiimpressions is incorrect. My book was selected by the publishers through submission online. They are an independent publishing house and have nothing whatsoever to do with the Hamsa Yoga Sangh which is Gurunaths organisation. In fact Gurunaths own book "Wings to Freedom' is self published and facing lots of difficulties in marketing. Far from being a new age guru he reminds one of sages of ancient India and his wisdom is comparable to the wisdom of sages such as Vasisth and Vyasa. You can see some of his videos on www.youtube.com/hamsayogi.
He was selected to address the United Nations Global Ethics Committee purely on the basis of these videos as we dont have the funds or talent for lobbying for such appearances.
I felt I must put the record straight on these points.
With much warm regards,
Jyotii Subramanian |
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