In her mid-twenties, Madhu Tandan and her husband, Rajeev, left Delhi to
live in a remote ashram amidst the Himalayas. Under the tutelage of the
charismatic and mysterious Ashishda, the former English aircraft engineer
turned Vaishnav guru, they lived a simple life with a 'soil to soul' philosophy,
where every experience was viewed as an opportunity to grow.
Living as a community in the Ashram came with its own challenges. Other
than being physically taxing, there were days when life was too perplexing,
and when personal dilemmas would leave them questioning the journey. The
couple strove through this with resilience, struggling to transcend suffering and
discover what lay beyond it. Believing in simple practices such as growing one's
own food and meditation, and relying on the powerful role that dreams play in
one's life, Madhu and Rajeev navigated their seven years of Ashram life with the
conviction that there are no dead ends in life.
First published in 1997, AWayWithin-extensively revised and expanded for
this edition-is a candid and illuminating account of the inward journey; a
quest that is challenging and rewarding in equal measure.
