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Aghor Guru : Oasis of Stillness

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The Aghor tradition is probably the most secret branch of the Shakta religion which itself is the extremist part of Tantrism. One can come to know about Aghor from two main sources. The first is from scholar works like Mircea Eliade's "Yoga. Immortality and Freedom" where Aghoris are depicted in just a couple of pages as eccentric ascetic-magicians equalized to the successors of a much older ascetic order, the Kapalikas (cf. David Lorenzen's "Kapalikas and Kalamukhas. Two Lost Shaivite Sects"). This perspective deals with few reports and does not provide any information about Aghor spiritual practices in the present age. The second source consists of the three books by Robert E. Svoboda (cf. "Aghora. At the Left Hand of God", "Agora II. Kundalini", "Aghora III. The Law of Karma"). Here, Aghor sadhana is depicted in an atmosphere of thrilling sensationalism: miracles, supernatural powers, the emergence of astonishing levels of reality... It is an enjoyable read if you do not pose the question, "Where does reality finish, and where does the narrative invention begin?" Beside these two approaches, "Aghor Guru: Oasis of Stillness" opens a new way to enter the essence of the Aghor spiritual tradition. The most relevant part of the book is devoted to the life of a contemporary Aghor saint, Baba Aghoreshwar Bhagwan Ramji (1937-1992). Through his life, the reader assimilates not only mere notions, but especially can develop a new understanding of the human condition and its potentialities. The narration of Baba's life is done with the accuracy and devotion of an ancient hagiographer. But what I have found surprising, besides all the miraculous events constantly occurring around him (he never claimed any responsibility), is that although he was followed by hundreds of thousands of people in India, very few came to know of him in the West. His teachings have the integrity of not having been commercialized. Another important point is that thanks to this book the path of Aghor, which seemed mysterious and unapproachable for centuries, is now revealed in a practical way. It stays away from the sensationalism of the trend of New Age, and at the same time remains faithful to its ancient roots. In this sense, the section related to the founding father of this lineage, Baba Kinaram (XVI cent.), is of particular interest. From him descends a "parampara" (uninterrupted succession of Guru-disciple relationships) that lasts up to the present. The author himself belongs to the Aghor lineage, and this fact increases the value of the work, making it a reliable source. The book is of interest both for scholars and spiritual seekers.

OASIS OF STILLNESS by Aughar Harihar Ram is an exceptional biography, beautifully told by one of those rare individuals, an Indian with both an Eastern and Western education, who is able to speak of the life of an Indian sadhu in terms that Westerners can grasp. OASIS OF STILLNESS is the life story of the author's Guru, Aghoreshwar Bhagwan Ramji, a great being of a tradition that has been much misunderstood by European/American scientific-realists who, unable to cope with the problems they have created, manage to be mystified and horrified by too many of the works of God.

The Aghoris of India are those who see God every-where in every-thing. The very word Aghor (a name of Shiva) means "not terrible". "There is no place for feelings of fear, hatred, disgust or discrimination in the eyes of an Aughar."* Immersed in universal compassion, Baba Bhagwan Ramji dedicated his life to helping the poor, the afflicted, those the rest of the world would like to ignore, the lepers, the homeless, the widows, the hungry -- one of the most recent projects of the Sri Sarveshwari Samooh Ashram, which Baba Ramji founded, is to provide education for the street children, the orphans, the beggar children of Banaras.

If you read this book you will read of a great soul who, in his youth -- indeed, from the time he was seven -- began to wander on the path of solitude, meditation, withdrawal from society. By his early teens, having gained peace, stillness, serenity, a depth of understanding and compassion deep enough to encompass all living things, he returned to Banaras. There, this holy man matured and, becoming the spiritual leader of the Aghora lineage, maintained a network of ashrams and sanctuaries throughout India. He and his disciples also created new ashrams and institutions-of-aid sustained by a belief in helping those who are most in need. Later, Baba Aghoreshwar Bhagwan Ramji visited the Western world, where recently, less than a decade after his death, his influence is beginning to be felt.

Read with awareness, OASIS OF STILLNESS may change your outlook on life, may set you on a path to serenity, and develop in you a passion to work for social justice.

*from Oasis of Stillness Foreword.

Jan Haag may be reached at jhaag@u.washington.edu

Any amount of praise for this book wont do justice to its worth. Its main purpose is to benefit the english speaking humans who could not have otherwise ever been able to even come close to knowing what Aghor is all about. Its sad to note that even now one of the reviewers calls Aghori tradition as a part of shakta tradition. Its his ignorance.I am convinced that this book is only a beginning to initiate the western world to the ultimate spiritual experience. there are a few other books on Aghor in english but they will be made available to the west only when the Aghoreshwar thinks its time for that. I appeal to the western world to let go off their prejudices and approach it with an open mind. The present times are tumultous ones and the society has to change in order to bring order. An aughar is one who is continously striving for this. let us give him support. let us try and understand them. This book has no alternative.