This House Is On Fire: The Life of Shri Dhyanyogi

by Shri Anandi Ma

This biography of Shri Dhyanyogi, the kind of Indian saint who only exists in legend, provides tales of his exploits—at 100 years old he could walk faster than any of his followers—that are intertwined with his spiritual teachings. After 80 years of solitude in rural India, Dhyanyogi came out from seclusion to teach in India and the United States. Tales of the gentle yogi facing down tigers, battling hunger and thirst, and traveling through the treacherous mountains and scorching deserts of India are all told here. In his unending desire to be a resource to followers, Dhyanyogi is known to have said to his followers, "This house is on fire—loot all you can!"—referring to the wisdom he had and how little time he had on earth to impart it.

Genres: Spirituality, Biography

430 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Steven Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite books! I found this randomly at the Bodhi Tree bookstore. When I saw the face of Dhyanyogiji it just grabbed me and I literally bought the book based on its cover. It offers an intimate view into the life and works of a lesser-known guru, Dhyanyogi. The book transmitted to me an energy which I cannot quite describe, but it awoke something within me and I feel a deep connection to Dhyanyogiji even though I had never physically met him.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weighty book at some parts slow and tedious but you gain tremendous insight into the Indian culture and the life of Shri Dhyanyogi and Anandi Ma.
Worth the effort.

[Amitabh Sarwate · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an exceptional biography of a great saint. It charts his search for self realization from his childhood to receiving the ultimate experience from his master, and then passing on the lineage to the current master Anandi Ma. Dhyanyogiji was a saint of the highest level, initiating thousands on the path to self realization by awakening their 'Kundalini' - the dormant energy that sits at the base of our spine. He was also a humanitarian raising money for a vast array of services including schooling, hospitals etc. It's a blessing to get a chance to read this inspiring book, and it will guide any spiritual aspirant in his/her journey

[Tahnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is similar to ‘Autobiography of a Yogi,’ in that it is an epic tale of a saint who lived til he was over 100 years old and his many adventures around India and in the US.

That said, it felt like this book had more depth and purity than the Yogananda book (which is saying a lot, as that book was a hugely pivotal read for me).

I felt a sense of grace reading about Dhyanyogi’a life and really enjoyed the storytelling, and the insights into Yoga I gained from reading 'This House is on Fire.'

Highly recommended.

[Skanda Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic, on par with Autobiography of a Yogi.