The first time I heard Sadhviji speak was during a satsang held within the serene Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh. Her clarity of thought, her ability to articulate profound spiritual truths with such coherence and simplicity – it left a lasting imprint on me. Yet it also stirred a deep curiosity: Who is she, really?
I’m grateful to my husband for gifting me Hollywood to the Himalayas during one of our visits to Rishikesh. The book became my window into the extraordinary journey of Sadhvi Bhagawatiji Saraswati – from the dazzling comfort of the material world to a life anchored in spiritual truth. It’s not just an autobiography; it’s a soul’s unfolding.
Sadhviji was an American-born Jewish woman who had experienced every comfort life could offer. A Stanford graduate, she was brilliant, with endless opportunities awaiting her. Her initial visit to India was alongside her husband, who was on his own spiritual quest. Yet, as fate would have it, it was Sadhviji, not actively seeking a spiritual path herself, who was destined for an enlightening event on the sacred banks of the Ganga.
In this deeply personal memoir, with rare honesty, Sadhviji courageously peels back the layers of her seemingly comfortable life in America, revealing a past burdened by childhood sexual abuse and a lifelong struggle with an eating disorder. She candidly shares the heavy baggage she carried, and how it was on the banks of the Ganga, under the blessings and guidance of her guru, Pujya Swami Chidanandji Saraswati, that she gradually released the past and stepped into stillness, peace, and purpose. Her ability to recount heartbreaking incidents with such ease and detachment is a testament to her liberation from suffering, a clear indication that she no longer identifies with those painful experiences. Her story is not of escape, but a powerful narrative of forgiveness, letting go, and ultimately, understanding life’s true priorities.
What makes Sadhviji’s journey particularly inspiring and relatable is her very humanity. While common people might revere spiritual leaders, often feeling that their sacrifices and willpower are beyond reach, Sadhviji stands as one of us. She carried her own burdens and sufferings, yet also had every possible luxury at her disposal. Her triumph over these challenges – her capacity to forgive, to let go, and to hold no grudges – is profoundly moving. She transformed herself into an “empty vessel,” allowing grace to flow through her. This tangible example resonates deeply: if she can achieve such liberation, it suggests that such a path is accessible to anyone willing to embark on it. There is no complex “rocket science” to her transformation; it is a testament to the power of inner work. If she could rise above her pain and past, perhaps so can I.
The book is punctuated with chapters that are both hard-hitting and incredibly instructive, offering practical wisdom for navigating life’s complexities. Chapters like “You Are Not A Pen” taught me the power of detachment from identity, while “The Stupidest Smart Person” delves into understanding the truth of the self. “Satsang” invited me to create space within, so grace could flow, and “The Doer Burns Out” emphasizes the profound lesson of becoming an instrument rather than a doer.
Pujya Swamiji’s prescient words that Sadhviji would “touch many lives” have undeniably come true, as she has certainly touched mine. The guidance I received from her satsang, vividly brought to life through her autobiography, proved instrumental in helping me find peace of mind during a period of emotional turmoil. This transformative experience, initially recorded in my personal journals, eventually blossomed into my own book, “Rishikesh Diary: Lost and Found”.
I chose to read “Hollywood to Himalaya” slowly, savoring each chapter like a fine wine, rather than rushing through it. It took me nine months to complete, perhaps the longest I’ve ever spent on a single book, as if I didn’t want the journey to end. Reading it felt like being in Sadhviji’s presence, as if she were personally providing the answers I had been seeking. This book is more than just a memoir; it’s a story of healing, courage, forgiveness, and grace; it is a beacon of hope and a practical guide to begin your own journey inward.
