ONE OF THE greatest adepts, teachers, writers, and humanitarians of the 20th century, Swami Rama is the founder of the Himalayan Institute. Born in the Himalayas, he was raised from early childhood by the great Himalayan sage, Bengali Baba. Under the guidance of his master he traveled from monastery to monastery and studied with a variety of Himalayan saints and sages, including his grandmaster, who was living in a remote region of Tibet. In addition to this intense spiritual training, Swami Rama received higher education in both India and Europe. From 1949 to 1952, he held the prestigious position of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham in South India. Thereafter, he returned to his master to receive further training at his cave monastery, and finally, in 1969, came to the United States, where he founded the Himalayan Institute. His best-known work, Living with the Himalayan Masters, reveals the many facets of this singular adept and demonstrates his embodiment of the living Himalayan Tradition.

Swami Ajaya, PHD, received his education at Wesleyan University and at the University of California, Berkeley. He taught at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison, Wisconsin,and served there as a consulting psychologist. In addition to his Western training, Swami Ajaya studied with various yogis in India. He is the author and co-author of numerous books, including Yoga Psychology: A Practical Guide to Meditation and Yoga & Psychotherapy.

Rudolph Ballentine, MD, received his medical degree from Duke University and served on the faculty of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. He studied the Ayurvedic and homeopathic systems of medicine in India. For 12 years he served as president of the Himalayan Institute, and for 18 years as director of its Combined Therapy Program where, under the guidance of Swami Rama, he was instrumental in developing models of holistic medical care that have been adopted around the world. Retired from the practice of medicine, Dr. Ballentine lives in the Carolinas, where he practices and teaches permaculture and tantra.