The Ashram

by Devashish

Set in the picturesque hills of Topanga Canyon, within hailing distance of the glitter and hype of modern-day Los Angeles, The Ashram gives us a fictional look at Southern California's colorful esoteric community, where the forces of Western commercialism and the mystic traditions of the East meld to form the beginnings of a new spiritual culture. Against this backdrop, we follow the journey of a young yogi in his search for enlightenment, from his childhood initiation by a mysterious sage to his romantic encounter with the woman who is destined to open his heart to the suffering in the world around him, a stark reality that he must come to terms with before he can complete his inner journey. In the process, the reader is ushered into the primal landscapes of the human spirit, where the final reckoning of who we are is determined by how we respond to the challenges that life places in our path.

312 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2004

About the author

Devashish is the author of six novels and two works of non-fiction that explore themes of spiritual growth and social change. He is an avid meditator, a yoga teacher, and a musician who divides his time between Puerto Rico and Brazil.

Reviews

[Giles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a lot of 'spiritual fiction' this book suffered from an identity crisis. It didn't know if it was a story or a spiritual instruction book. It had some quite interesting things to say about Kashmir Shaivism, non-duality and the limitations of high-profile guru worship, but the story was a bit on the thin side, and at times I felt as if I was being preached at. Nevertheless, the quality of some of the writing was quite engaging, and I felt I learned some things.

[Tom Spontelli]

This is a new revised edition to be printed this summer, a proof copy presented to me by the author.