About the Author

Sanyasi is an Indian word meaning truth-seeker. It does not imply expertise in metaphysics, but a more practical search, a personal journey of discovery. It is an ancient practice-that of leaving one's life behind in search of ultimate truths in the tradition of Gautama Siddhartha, the Buddha, and countless others. It was memorialized by Herman Hesse in the book Siddhartha. Now in the autumn of my life, I am plying my crafts of medicine and poetry in the American Southwest, as well as traveling to specific places of importance in my personal path in search of ultimate truth. My journey began as a Catholic. These beginnings evolved into an embracing of Vedanta and Yoga in the school of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Transcendental Meditation, which I have practiced since 1975. Along the way, I have read Buddhist, Sufi, Native American, Zen, Jewish, and other spiritual paths, interested as I am in finding common themes. In the end, personal experience has become most important, but I feel indebted to all those who have gone before, showing the way, keeping the door open and the light burning. This collection is a tribute and an expression of gratitude to all the masters and teachers who have made this possible, and a travelogue of that journey.