The Swami Who Stopped His Heart…

There have been several realized masters of India who have travelled across the oceans to spread the word of God. Most notably being Swami Vivekananda, Paramhansa Yogananda & Srila Prabhupad. One such name was of Swami Rama, who at the behest of his Guru – Bengali Baba (Swami Madhavanda Bharati), went to the United States. Swami Rama was born Brij Kishore Dhasmana in 1925, to a northern Indian Brahmin family. His biography has been written by his closest disciple – Pandit Rajmani Tigunait called – “At the Eleventh Hour”, wherein he narrates the entire story of Swami Rama.

Under the direction of his Guru, Swami Rama moved across India, did several rituals and even got married and begot children. He established Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy in Kanpur in 1966. It is now headquartered in Pennsylvania, United States, where Swami Rama moved to, in 1969. Swami Rama has written several books, his most famous book being – “Living with Himalayan Masters”.

Some excerpts from the book:

1. You have a body, but you are not the body. You are in the body, yet you are beyond the body. (11)
2. Whether we live in the world or renounce the world, the goal is the same: inner fulfilment. (141)
3. Avoid all company that distract you from your primary goal. (215)
4. The real truth is the same truth for all, and the truth has nothing to do with religion, and the methods are for each individual to choose and develop for themselves. (261)

The book mentions several esoteric concepts around Tantra, Sabar Mantra, Wave of Beauty and Bliss (Saundaryalahari), Goddess Chinnamasta etc. Swami Rama endorsed Yoga Nidra, a type of yogic sleep meditation. The book mentions experiments done by Menninger Foundation, Topeka, Kansas, United States on Swamiji, that how wilfully he was able to produce alpha, theta and delta waves. He was also able to stop his heart beat.   

In almost 400 pages and 12 chapters, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait describes the entire life of his revered Guru – Swami Rama. Swami Rama left his earthly body in 1996. The book has several pictures, including his young age and when he became the Shankaracharya (at the age of 28) of Karvirpitham, Karnataka.