Autobiography—Touched by Fire:
The Ongoing Journey of a Spiritual Seeker
India is a country of extremes and contrasts. So begins the tale told by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, and the same might be said about his life. He was born in Amar Garh, an ancient village in northern India... Today, Tigunait serves as the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute in the rolling hills of northeastern Pennsylvania. His journey from there to here is the subject of Touched by Fire. But it’s more than an autobiography. It’s a revelation.
As you read, you will share in the author’s immersion into Sanskrit scriptures and his ongoing traditional education. You’ll also meet a variety of saints and spiritual masters who add to Tigunait’s understanding of the Divine Mother; teach valuable meditation techniques, lifestyle choices, and powerful mantras; and change the course of his life. You’ll be privy to miracles and mystical events that leave you shaking your head in wonder. Best of all, you’ll discover the spiritual richness, wisdom, and inner peace that comes from living a truly contemplative life.
Here is the larger truth that shines through the journey traversed in the pages of Touched by Fire: though cultures and religions and life experiences may differ drastically, we are all alike in what really matters. It’s these moments of recognition that will make you most glad that you picked up this book. And you will be left with the certainty that its insights are desperately needed in our tumultuous world.
“In this day and age when the world is shrinking into a global family, we must realize that our first identity is that we are human beings,” writes Tigunait. “Unless we, as individuals, gain this realization at a personal level, political maneuvering and the sweet-sounding talk of peace will bear no fruit. It is only this knowledge that can make the idea of loving all and hating none, embracing all and excluding none, a living reality.”
Excerpted from Touched by Fire: The Ongoing Journey of a Spiritual Seeker