Carried by a Promise: A Life Transformed Through Yoga [Paperback]

Swami Radhananda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2011

In 1977, when Mary-Ann McDougall mother, wife and teacher first heard Swami Sivananda Radha speak at Yasodhara Ashram, she knew she had found what was missing in her life. Her memoir, Carried by a Promise, is the unique story of a woman s spiritual journey that follows her deepening commitment to Swami Radha. It describes the extraordinary events that lead to her transformation into Swami Radhananda and offers a very human example of how a heartfelt promise to the Divine can carry us on the spiritual path. Above all, it gives an intimate look into the love between a guru and a disciple a sacred connection that has the power to transform.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Roshi Joan Halifax, Founder, the Upaya Zen Center, and Co-Founder, the Ojai Foundation:

Swami Radha touched the lives of many thousands of peo­ple. This extra-ordinary account brings us close to her vision and great heart through her profound relationship with Swami Radhananda, the author of this inspiring book. May the teach­ings of both these women nour­ish the world. --Roshi Joan Halifax, Founder, the Upaya Zen Center, and Co-Founder, the Ojai Foundation

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Founder, Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery. Tenzin Palmo, the subject of Vicki Mackenzie's popular biography Cave in the Snow, is a Western Tibetan Buddhist yogini who has vowed to attain Enlightenment in the female form:

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read the manuscript. Apart from her inner spiritual experiences along the way, she also chronicles learning how to deal skillfully with the power politics at play within almost every organization, secular or spiritual. An important aspect of any path is this ability to transform challenges into opportunities for learning and practice. Ultimately it is a story of dedicated love and surrender to the Divine Light. Swami Radhananda's absolute devotion to Swami Radha shines throughout the pages and is an inspiration for us all. --Tibetan Buddhist nun, founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, author of various books on Buddhism

About the Author

Swami Radhananda is the spiritual director of Yasodhara Ashram in Kootenay Bay, BC, Canada. Appointed president of the Ashram in 1993 by her guru, Swami Radha, she carries forward the spirit of Swami Radha s work with heart, creativity and practicality. Under her stewardship Yasodhara Ashram has thrived as a harmonious community built on the spirit of generosity and inclusion and has become a leader in environmental sustainability. She also teaches classes and workshops internationally. Carried by a Promise is her first book. It will be followed in the Spring of 2011 by Living the Practice, a compilation of essays that highlights the power of yoga to transform daily life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Timeless Books (January 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932018360
• ISBN-13: 978-1932018363
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,853,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In 1977, when Mary-Ann McDougall - mother, wife and teacher - first heard Swami Sivananda Radha speak at Yasodhara Ashram, she knew she had found what was missing in her life.

Her memoir, Carried by a Promise, is the unique story of a woman's spiritual journey that follows her deepening commitment to Swami Radha and the extraordinary events that lead to her transformation into Swami Radhananda.

She was appointed president and spiritual director of Yasodhara Ashram in Kootenay Bay, BC, Canada in 1993 by Swami Radha.

Swami Radhananda carries forward the spirit of Swami Radha's work with heart, creativity and practicality. Under her stewardship Yasodhara Ashram has thrived as a harmonious community built on the spirit of generosity and inclusion. The Ashram is also a leader in environmental sustainability.

For more information you can visit her blog at http://radhananda.org.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Puts a Whole New Light on Yoga February 9, 2011

By Janet G

Format:Paperback

A `must read' for anyone on a spiritual path. Grounded, practical, inspiring. This book takes the fantasy and theory out of what it means to live a spiritual life. Swami Radhananda speaks directly to a marriage that is not working, to lack of financial security, to going back to school mid-life--bringing her spiritual practices into her life then witnessing the changes that start to happen. At the heart of it all is her love for her teacher.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Inspiring Spiritual Journey Valuable to Anyone on the Path May 13, 2011

By Erin L

Format:Kindle Edition

Reading Carried by a Promise has provided me with the much needed traction and inspiration to continue and go deeper into my own spiritual life.
Swami Radhananda's lusciously honest memoires begin when she was still Mary-Ann McDougall, mother of two, wife, and teacher, discovering for the first time just what Swami Radha's teachings and yoga are all about. She starts from her thought-provoking introduction to different spiritual practices like standing meditation and journaling. Then Radhananda takes us along on her journey and into her transformation as her faith deepens and her devotion to her guru, Swami Radha, intensifies. She tells the story of her rocky marriage, her spiritual experiences, financial stress, the development of her relationship with Swami Radha and how she eventually comes to live at the Ashram. All of this is interwoven with inspiring gems of her guru's teaching.
What echoes clear throughout the book is Swami Radhananda's willingness to open her life to Light, and the ensuing Divine assistance she receives, propelling her forward along the spiritual path.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring July 4, 2011

By AllisonAdventures

Format:Paperback

Carried by a Promise is an inspiring story of growth and transformation through various practices of yoga. I'm just in the beginning stages of learning about yoga as a philosophy and way of life rather than just a fitness regimen. This book takes you through 20 years of personal journals, on her road from a depressed and seemingly going nowhere mid-30's wife and mother to the spiritual director of a thriving ashram. She discovers a spirituality that was missing in her life; and as that grows, so does faith in herself. Using her newfound inner strength, with help from her guru Swami Radha and the "Divine Light" - she manages to pull herself out of the depths of poverty and depression to a successful career and finally life at the ashram. This book is full of useful tips and knowledge from a true guru for anyone struggling on their own path.