Abstract

In every spiritual tradition, there is the story of an ardent seeker who, while waiting for God, closes his door to the poor beggar who visits unexpectedly. Later, believing that the Lord has failed to appear, the seeker complains: Where were you? God responds, I came to you many times, in many forms, but always you turned me away. This is the true life story of that symbolic beggar, a hidden saint, a well-educated holy man who begged on the streets of India, Yogi Ramsuratkumar (1918 - 2001). Only God was his creed, and his approach to everyday life. His unusual innocence and radiant presence were recognised by seekers from both East and West, who knew him as the Godchild of Tiruvannamalai, the small city where he lived for forty years. The book also includes the lives and teachings of the holy beggar's three distinguished gurus, including Sri Auribindo. With self-revelatory honesty and an enjoyable mix of storytelling, interviews, and fact-finding, this eminently readable biography is an affecting account of an extraordinary life.