Swami Rama was notable as the first Yogi who allowed him to be studied by western scientists. In the 1960s the scientists from Menninger clinic studied his ability to voluntarily control bodily processes such as heartbeat, blood pressure, body temperatures etc., which are normally thought to be involuntary or autonomic. Swami Rama was the founder of the Himalayan institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, whose headquarter is situated at Honesdale, Pennsylvania, USA. There are many other branches in the USA, Europe and India. Swami Rama was also the founder of other teaching and service organization. Swami Rama wrote several popular books during his lifetime. In these books he described the path he took to become a Yogi and laid out the philosophy and benefits behind the practices of meditation. The common themes explained in these books are 'enlightenment without God' and 'living with the Himalayan Masters'. Swami Rama criticized the tendency of the yogi to use supernatural feats to express their power. He argued that this only demonstrate the ability to perform a feat. |