Product Description

A fascinating look at Hindu gurus with significant followings in the United States.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1410160 in Books
• Published on: 2005-12-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 236 pages

From the Publisher
Gurus in America provides an excellent introduction to the guru phenomenon in the United States, with in-depth analyses of nine important Hindu gurus—Adi Da, Ammachi, Mayi Chidvilasananda, Gurani Anjali, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Osho, Ramana Maharshi, Sai Baba, and Swami Bhaktivedanta. All of these gurus have attracted significant followings in the U.S. and nearly all have lived here for considerable periods of time. The book’s contributors discuss the characteristics of each guru’s teachings, the history of each movement, and the particular construction of Hinduism each guru offers. Contributors also address the religious and cultural interaction, translation, and transplantation that occurs when gurus offer their teachings in America. This is a fascinating guide that will elucidate an important element in America’s diverse and ever-changing spiritual landscape.

About the Author
Thomas A. Forsthoefel is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Mercyhurst College. He is the author of Knowing Beyond Knowledge: Epistemologies of Religious Experience in Classical and Modern Advaita. At Claremont McKenna College, Cynthia Ann Humes is Chief Technology Officer and Director of Information Technology Services and Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies. She is coeditor (with Bradley R. Hertel) of Living Banaras: Hindu Religion in Cultural Context, also published by SUNY Press.

Customer Reviews

Gurus in America (and their reluctant acolytes)
Perhaps not the type of book I usually would read, I still found this to be quite interesting and enlightening. The book is a bit different than most books in the field of religious studies, since most (I think all, but not 100 % certain of that) of the contributors are involved in the following or phenomenon they write about. It is still mostly a scientific book, but the partisanship of the writers from time to time shines through. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, just something one might keep in mind while reading it. The various gurus mentioned in the nine chapters are mentioned in the book description, so no need for me to regurgitate the list of rather difficult names for a European gentleman.

The gurus and their movements stretch from TM, ISKCON to various branches of yoga. Instantly though, one gets the feeling that all is not well in the world of gurus. Even though several of them are or were able to draw rather large followings in the West, as well as their native India, very few of them managed to convey their entire message. It seems the people they attracted in the West were unable to understand their complete message, and knowing the type of "New Age" airheads alternative religiosity often attracts, I think I understand how frustrated the gurus must be. The neophytes are seemingly only attracted to the portion of the Hindu message they can incorporate into their materialistic lives without making any changes to their way of life. The feeling one is left with after reading the book is that the gurus mostly only attract unserious individualists, who are only after pleasure here and now (ISKCON being partly excluded, at least some of their members appear to be genuinely interested in religion).

If you want to find out why the West is filled to the brim with these kinds of selfish individualists, read Dr. Kevin MacDonald's "The Culture of Critique", available here on Amazon. After having done so, feel free to read this fine book that offers a well-written chronicle of some alternatives to the dominant religions of the West, mostly steeped in the Indo-European Traditions of old, although quite a few of these gurus are of a less gentlemanlike nature, as you'll discover when you read this book. 4 stars and an interesting read.