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Rising in Love: My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now, with Amma, the Hugging Saint Kindle Edition

by Ram Das Batchelder (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 194 ratings
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Rising in Love tells the story of the author's extraordinary spiritual awakening in America (which included meeting an angel), his discovery of Amma (the living Guru known in the West as “the Hugging Saint”), and the 27 amazing years he has spent in quest of Enlightenment as Amma’s devotee, most of that time in India. The book is a multi-faceted diamond. It is a suspenseful psychological thriller, a page-turner from the outset—yet there also much humor in the narrative, and at times reads like a comedic novel. From another angle, it is a story of profound healing from delusion, drug addiction and despair into a joyous and beautifully fulfilled life, and as such it is a ray of hope for all who suffer from addiction or mental illness of one kind or another.
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  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    O-Books
  5. Publication date
    December 12, 2014
  6. File size
    9512 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

I challenge anyone to not be interested or inspired by his true tale of love, faith and complete devotion.

~ Jo Barnard, author

This is a well written and extremely engaging book, that provides invaluable insight into the life of Amma, alongside the life of a devotee who has been purged through his life experience in fire and water, again and again.

~ Stephanie Sorrell, author

Oh my God, I loved this book! I laughed out loud at least 50 times, and had tears in my eyes several times too. Everyone should read this book!

~ Terry D.


I laughed, I cried, I didn't want it to end! My only regret? There is not another page! More, more, more!

~ Robyne Conway, CEO

You're not going to want to put it down. It's truly an amazing ride!

~ Rick Archer, host of Buddha at the Gas Pump

An absolute page turner that makes the heart smile!

~ Kelly Olsen

Compelling, profound and hilarious, this book is amazing! You won't be able to put it down!

~ Gina Suritsch, author

I found this book to be delicious. Read Rising in Love. It's a gem!

~ Paul Wagner, 5 time Emmy Award winner and author




Ram Das Batchelder has a sense of humour like no other. He is witty, the book is well written and just a joy! This is also Amma's story, and by seeing the Saint through the author's eyes and how she teaches him lessons along the way, we see her great wisdom, inner light and brilliant sense of humour. In a weird twist, I felt darshan from the saint as I read this book. Something shines through it. I am better for having read it.

~ Colette Brown, author

Truth explodes on every page of this book!

~ Jacquelyn Small, author

Put it on your "must-read" list, right now!

~ Andrea Mathews, author

This is a spiritual classic!

~ Paula Bande, author

The best book about spiritual growth I have ever read.

~ Ted Zeff, Ph.D., author

To declare Rising in Love to be an amazing compilation of light and love would be to minimize the empowerment one gains from Ram Das' wisdom and spiritual sensitivity.

~ Dr. Jim Young, author


The openness and lack of ego of this author shines through his words. I couldn't help feeling that 'Rising in Love' was actually imbued with the energy of Amma and that she had reached out to me through the pages of this exceptional book.

~ Hilary H. Carter, author

Ram Das charts a profound journey of awakening. And the relief is, the reading is both light and funny! He writes with an openness and honesty that enfolds all the contradictions of ego, ignorance, and desire (not to mention lust) on his path towards being fully realized. Thank you Ram Das!

~ Carmen Harris, author

About the Author

Ram Das Batchelder was born in Pittsburgh in 1961. His spiritual awakening began at age 21, in New York. He met Amma, his Guru, when he was 25, and moved to India two years later. Ram is a songwriter, playwright and children's author and has spent the last 27 years in India, meeting many Saints and Gurus, and observing many miracles. He has been happily married since 2002. He and his wife continue to live in Amma's ashram in Kerala, and lead tours together to the sacred cities of India.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00PYXFJNQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ O-Books (December 12, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 12, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 9512 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 194 ratings

About the author

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Ram Das Batchelder

Ram Das Batchelder

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Ram Das Batchelder was born in the USA in 1961, had a spiritual awakening in his early twenties (which included meeting an angel), and has spent most of the last 25 years in India as a devotee of Amma, the “hugging Saint.” He has written four children’s books for Amma’s ashram, each of which have been translated into four European languages. He also wrote a novel in rhyming verse ("Sathyaram Discovers the Mother of All"), three full-length plays, and 40 original songs. In 2012, he and his wife, Tarini Ma, wrote and co-taught a university course on Hinduism in Venezuela. His highly acclaimed autobgiography, "Rising in Love: My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now, with Amma, the Hugging Saint" was published in 2014 by O Books, an imprint of John Hunt Publishing. He has given numerous talks and workshops about various aspects of spirituality in many locations around the world. He and his wife are currently offering luxury tours of the sacred cities of India, to both Spanish and English-speaking groups.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
194 global ratings
A warm and funny account of his journey into becoming Alive!
5 Stars
A warm and funny account of his journey into becoming Alive!
'Rising In Love', by my brother Ram Das Batchelder, is an account of his journey into becoming Alive in the midst of his Spiritual mother Amma, aka The Hugging Saint. I have known him since my teen years and spent a week with him when he returned from his first pilgrimage with Amma. He was in Love from their first meeting! So, I can tell you from personal knowledge hat this is an authentic piece of work! His style is unassuming and he manages to not take himself so seriously even in the face of daunting challenges. Many of us are content with merely living yet being Alive is an interactive sport. One that Ram plays with both hands and feet; sometimes on the ground, most of the time not - hands too, lol. The book is on sale for Kindles right now and I suggest taking advantage of such a great deal for a awesome read.
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Top reviews from the United States

docman
5.0 out of 5 stars What a beautiful spiritual journey
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2022
Verified Purchase
I started the book out of curiosity and after reading the first few chapters felt like how did someone who had such a disorganized chaotic life like Ram Das deserves enlightenment. But once I read through I realized how judgemental idiot I have been. Such a wonderful and blessed life.

How can one define this wonderful journey apart form the fact that he deserves everything he has and more from blessing of the most loving and forgiving guru in amma to the blessing of enlightenment. What we see is the struggle one human being goes through in this life. But this kind of blessing is not only a result of blessing of a divine guru like Amma, but also many lifetimes of sadhana and sacrifice.

Hope many of us will eventually be blessed with same experience and self realization.

Thank you Ram Dass for penning this beautiful life experience. Humbled after reading this.

A must read for every spiritual aspirant.
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C Rubio
5.0 out of 5 stars A Book for the Ages
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2015
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What a read! and Ram Das is such a gifted writer... while I was reading his book, thoroughly enjoying it, I had this feeling this was kinda like a "sequel" to Yogananda's - Autobiography of a Yogi, which I read several decades ago and like most who read it, a primer for things to come in one's spiritual journey. Certainly was for me. The major difference is that instead of a primer to all things spiritual from India and the Vedic tradition, "Rising in Loving" focuses specifically on the advent of the Divine Mother incarnating on this planet of ours. And I wonder if the general population, even those who have studied the Vedas know just how significant the stature of The Divine Mother's "Presence" holds in the cosmic scheme of things. Here's a suggestion... if you like to know, read Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's commentary and translation to the first 6 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 4, Verse 1. That should do it. In the meantime, whether you had exposure to anything "Indian" or not, doesn't matter. I'm certain you will enjoy reading this very fascinating account of Ram Das spiritual journey.
2 people found this helpful
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Amara Alban
5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Grateful Reader ....
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2015
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I am soooo glad I read this book! It (amazingly) held the answers to many questions I had been contemplating and had put to Amma in prayer the week leading up to my coming across it. It was a very spontaneous and sparkly purchase to say the least! For this alone, I'm very grateful.
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Aside from that, Ram Das's writing style is so enjoyable I had a hard time putting it down. His stories unfold with honesty and self-deprecating humor -- tremendous devotion shining through on each page. Not only for Amma devotees - Ram Das shares so much personal and spiritual insight gleaned on his very focused spiritual path, it's valuable to anyone who is interested in a better understanding of advaita (non-duality) and devotion and how these two seemingly disparate paths can weave together beautifully. I honestly just also enjoyed it as a funny and sometimes tragic account of one person's journey to the Self. And, yes, the Amma stories are awesome too!
3 people found this helpful
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Jeffrey M. Haley
5.0 out of 5 stars Rising in Love surly is a wild and crazy ride
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2016
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Rising in Love surly is a wild and crazy ride. Ram Das Batchelder has been through a wide variety of spiritual experience's and down to earth real human dilemmas bringing them to life with humility and comic relief. In his captivating book Ram Dass takes the reader on his journey with him making his inner experiences come alive with a humble human like touch. Having been in close proximity with Ammachi since 2002 and Neem Karoli Baba before that, I was struck with lightning like understanding and relation to Ram Das's story. If you haven't met Amma, (who is very accessible to all) or have met Her this book will rocket you into a deep space of comfort and peace brought about by Her close long time devotee Ram Das Batchelder. If you read it you most likely will experience some sort of shift no matter where you are, or if you are on a spiritual path.
3 people found this helpful
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Ajith Kannan
4.0 out of 5 stars Its a treasure for any amma devotee and amazing read. It really made me close to amma ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2015
Verified Purchase
the book is an autobiography of the author and i found his initial days before meeting amma too elaborate and skipped through to the part where he spend his life in the ashram . Its a treasure for any amma devotee and amazing read. It really made me close to amma and anytime i feel away from her i skim through the book and read through the experiences he had and the struggle which motivates me everytime.
One person found this helpful
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MH
5.0 out of 5 stars Diary of Devotion
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2015
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Ram Das shares his journey of Devotion to Amma with startling and illuminating openness and honesty. This is a very innocent, complete recounting of what is ordinarily, essentially, reserved for the deepest recess of the Heart and Consciousness of the disciple in his Divine Journey with his Master. It feels to me to be a sharing in service to all of us who are on a journey of awakening to our True Divine Self in Devotion and Knowledge. Ram Das is a sincere open book, revealing this Leela to us, in such a creative, funny, profound, gritty and totally original way. One feels the Divine shaping and transforming through each chapter, revealing the Magic of this Guru Love, this Disciple Love. This diary has moved me in ways that I am profoundly grateful for. Thank you Ram Das!
One person found this helpful
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Sun Yogi
5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to laugh out loud
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2021
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This book is honest and hilarious. Some parts made me laugh out loud. While the whole book was very interesting then where a few lines/ideas about spiritual unfolding that really struck me and helped me a lot.
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ved bell
5.0 out of 5 stars The Ride Continues....
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2015
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The story is so familiar, stretches of the Ram Das path are so similar to my own journey. I read slowly to absorb the ideas, thoughts, and concepts of any spiritual material, then observe how my perceptions change. My wife is from Nepal and Hindu. I can honestly say that what i have learned about Hinduism from Rising In Love has led me to a deeper understanding of my wife and her culture. i see my wife differently now, and Ram Das Batchelder too. This book won't change your life. But, just maybe, you'll want to change your own life after reading this book.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Avery
5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating, soul-nourishing, and pleasantly funny!
Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2021
Verified Purchase
Rising in Love is a Deep Dive into the inner landscape of loving devotion. I found it to be illuminating, soul-nourishing, and pleasantly funny and accessible. I would recommend this book to anybody who is even semi-curious about Amma or spirituality as a whole. Thank you Ram Das Batchelder for sharing your story with the world.
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Sameera
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, authentic and un-put-down-able
Reviewed in India on June 7, 2018
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A very honest, candid and humorous account from a very beautiful soul.

Ram Das has narrated his life story with candour. I was able to relate so much with his utter devotion and surrender to his Guru, Amma, an avatar living in this century.

Highly recommended read!
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morja
5.0 out of 5 stars Love, love, love.
Reviewed in Germany on March 1, 2018
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I love reading this book. Ram Das writes beautifully, funny and so honest. Reading about his path and about divine Amma lifts my heart. And it is true help for me in times of doubts and mind storms. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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Allie M
5.0 out of 5 stars A must have book for any spiritual seeker!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 5, 2015
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“My mind could think only of two things: this woman, and the agonizing idea that I was failing in my spiritual quest. I would daily pray for purity, and all night yearn for sex’ – Ram Daz. (Rising in Love)

Where was ‘Rising in love’ when I was called towards celibacy?! Well, it hadn’t been written so there’s no point lamenting. But it is here now! Perfectly in time for you, lovely Amazon review reader. There’s no need to feel alone in your spiritual journey, for in Ram Das’ experiences you will find comfort and reassurance. Enlightenment is possible. What’s more, it is worth the effort.

What you will find, lovely Amazon review reader, is that ‘Rising in Love’ is no ordinary, run of the mill, spiritual book. It’s honest and grounded. That’s what makes it so helpful. It speaks to your heart and sings to your soul. Ram Das’ lack of ego makes this book a remarkable read. It speaks like a soft, yet strong friend calling you through a dizzying maze of confusion, attachment, and desire. ‘You can get there, keep going’ whispers through the pages. Regardless of what spiritual path you walk, ‘Rising in love’ will be a blessing in your life. A friend through dark and light times. A book infused with love and understanding. Invite it into your life, you’ll be glad you did.

What’s the story? I hear you ask. Well, it’s Ram Das’ true life story of upping sticks from the US and into the Ashram of Amma- The Hugging Saint. (I know, imagine having that level of courage?) His life of service is explored – the conflicts and contrasts and the joys! Let’s not forget the joys! There are so many of them! So I hope that if, like me, you’ve felt that drive to awaken, to move beyond your ego and libido (oh the struggle!) then you will make space on your bookshelf for ‘Rising in Love’. You’ll find the loving hug you need inside these pages. The power to continue. Within ‘Rising in love’ there is truth, lots of truth, and it’s laid out for you with love.

I must add that yes, Ram Das’ story is fascinating, but that’s not all. This book is written with intelligence and humour. Never once will you feel patronised, judged, confused, or worst of all…bored. This is a human spiritual story. Of course it’s a journey about dismantling restrictive delusions, of exploring what awakening really requires from the individual – dedication, sacrifice, trust, and lots and lots of love. But, overall it is relatable. That’s rare in a spiritual book of such depth. This is due to the fact that Ram Das understands the complex nature of contemporary awakening. Ram Das has overcome these modern barriers by quite literally ‘Rising in Love’. What he has to say, you need to hear. He will inspire you to continue on your path with renewed vigour. Or perhaps he will show you how to contemplate aspects of your Self and the divine with new eyes. I won’t say too much, for you should grab a copy. Be prepared though, once it arrives you’ll do little else. It’s too entertaining to put aside. My advice is to set aside a day or two and simply allow yourself to drift on the air of his words. Words which lend strength and insight – the author knows his stuff. He has quite literally been there, done it, and continues to.

I know like me, if you read this book (which you should) you will be struck by the level of honesty on each page. Honesty has the undeniable effect of offering hope. Ram Das' honesty radiates. The hope that espouses is immense. I have to say, that level of truth-telling does need an acknowledging salute. I salute you Ram Das! You give us readers an opportunity to see our own multi-layered-selves reflected through your journey. We leave the book better able to sigh into our own silence spaces, embrace others with more humility, compassion, and integrity. From your honesty, a foundation of hope is built for us all.

Ultimately, lovely Amazon review reader, you are about to buy a book about love. This book is a loving gift written for you. You’ll be able to lean on these words, carry them around, return to them often for strength, comradeship, and a giggling acknowledging nod. You will feel secure in the authors loving wisdom. The kindness he extends to you will be felt from the first page and continues to flow onward. So I urge you to dip into Ram Das’ extraordinary life. This book is the spiritual companion you are looking for. I know that’s why you are reading this. After all, nothing in life happens by accident.

PS: Oh, and of course those also looking for a book on Amma will not be disappointed either. You get to see how she transformed Ram Das’ life from the inside out – it really is quite extraordinary!
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Hopbickler
5.0 out of 5 stars Transformational
Reviewed in France on February 26, 2015
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I haven't read such a transformational, inspiring book since Autobiography of a Yogi. This book is backlit by Amma’s divine light, and as you read, it gradually unravels, illuminates and heals. Ram Das, though his own crazy experiences, somehow brings you back home to self-acceptance, offering a sense of relief that we are OK as we are, and makes everything alright, no matter where we are on the path. Rising in Love does what the title says... it raises you in love, is full of fun and, reading it in bed at night, I often found myself giggling myself to sleep. When you feel bereft after finishing a book, like I do now, you know it was a masterpiece. This book has brought me back to Amma, confirms for me who she is and who I thought she was, and somehow makes everything better.
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