Aghora III: The Law of Karma [Paperback]

Robert E. Svoboda (Author)

Book Description

Series: Aghora | Publication Date: December 1, 1997

In this third volume of the Aghora trilogy, the Aghori Vimalananda uses the backdrop of the Bombay racetrack as metaphor for the ultimate game of life, where destinies and fortunes are won or lost on the momentary edge of the finishing line. Our lives are masterfully entwined with the cause and effect of karma eternally - until we recognize and stop it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 322 pages
• Publisher: Brotherhood of Life Books (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0914732374
• ISBN-13: 978-0914732372
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 20 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #670,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert E. Svoboda is the first Westerner ever to graduate from a college of Ayurveda (in 1980) and be licensed to practice Ayurveda in India. During and after his formal Ayurvedic training, his mentor, the Aghori Vimalananda, tutored him in Ayurveda, Yoga, Jyotish, Tantra and other forms of classical Indian lore. After moving to India in 1973, he lived there for more than a decade. Since 1985 he has traveled the world lecturing, consulting, teaching and writing. The author of more than a dozen books and audio works, he has served as Adjunct Faculty at the Ayurvedic Institute, Albuquerque, NM, and Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA. To read more about Dr. Svoboda and his travels, visit his website www.drsvoboda.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guru's Racetrack Interests No Contradiction in Vedanta, February 27, 1999

By 

G.F. Nair ([e-mail]) (San Felipe Valley, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aghora III: The Law of Karma (Paperback)

This valuable addition to author Robert Svoboda's outstanding Aghora trilogy makes a vivid and illuminatingly frank contribution to our understanding of what spiritual masters--and we--are and aren't. Principal among these is the apparent fact detailed extensively in this book that "enlightenment" comes in a wide variety of shades but, in any case, cannot erase, by far, every inclination of the human personality of the enlightened. The great aghori Vimilananda's ownership of racehorses and his adventures at the track are a case in point dramatically pertinent to this apparent anomaly. Following Svoboda's account of his teacher's response to his own karma and that of his track competitors, students and family is, ironically, a Vedantic lesson in detachment from attempting to understand the whys and hows of the way things happen. For the open-minded, this book does present many intriguing indicators as to how behavior and attitudes in this life may affect the cards dealt to us in future births. Readers who recall the basic premise of Advaita Vedanta (Vimilananda's spiritual orientation), however, may remind themselves as they read this book that, since "doing" is only apparent-doing, and it is Life that lives life, what the heck difference does the understanding of karma matter anyway? Dissecting the complexities of karma is not only impossible but an activity appropriate only for those still involved in the futile task of self re-creation. Own this book if only for the cover which has to be a "first": a truly spiritual book decorated with a color photo of racehorses pounding to the finish line in Bombay!

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars final book in trilogy fails to live up to first two, June 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Aghora III: The Law of Karma (Paperback)

After eagerly awaiting the publishing of this book for about two years, I was somewhat disappointed to learn that it didn't really measure up to the first two. The engaging stories and parables that graced Aghora I and Aghora II were conspicuously absent, having been mostly replaced by racetrack stories inspiring a bleak outlook on human nature. I also believe the metaphysical and spiritual benefit to be gleaned from the book's contents is be harder to come by, since most of the stories provided to demonstrate the vicissitudes of the Law of Karma are concluded with the statement that Karma is impossibly complex and incomprehensible.

Positive things to note about the book are the fact that it rounds out the details of the great Aghori Vimalanda's life, and anyone having an interest in the man's inimitable personality will appreciate this. Perhaps the fact that Karma is such a difficult subject is the reason for the book's failure to confirm or deny the limited knowledge about Karma that I have already gained in this lifetime.

If the author reads this and would life to point out something that I may have missed, I would encourage him to email me. I must also say here that the first two books impressed me so much that they have changed my life, and should be required reading for anyone with an interest in Tantra.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent summing up of lessons from the previous books, February 26, 1999

By 

H. Smedbol (British Columbia, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aghora III: The Law of Karma (Paperback)

BRAVO!!!Robert Svoboda has delivered another page-turner in his series of wonderful books about that awesome Aghori, Vimalananda. May the Blessings of the Divine Mother be upon them both!These books are truly life-transforming in that they open up vast new vistas in the "Tantric" world, where one may see that Tantra is not just the "Sex" Path but instead much deeper and more profound. This book's expositions on the Law of Karma are an amazing study in human relationships and the duties and debts which we all owe.The concept that any animal killed for pleasure or even food gains the right to be reborn in such a way that the debt may be repaid in a like manner, is reasonable, even if frightening to those of us who have eaten, or continue to eat meat and/or are involved in pastimes which may be abusive to animals or people, or even plants.It is comforting to see how thorough Karmic justice is, even though we may not see the results right away.Thank you,Dr. Svoboda for your refreshing approach to Tantra/Aghora. I am not an expert in this field but i must convey my appreciation for the Light of Truth which you have shed,filling up the dark corners of ignorance with the honey-like light of bliss and Divine Love. Thank you! Om Namah Sivaya! Jai Maa! Om Amrtesvaryai Namah!