At the Eleventh Hour: The Biography of Swami Rama --- A Review

This book, to a large extent, fills out some of the missing details and information in Swami Rama's "Living with the Himalayan Masters". The author has, especially, done exceedingly well in providing us with certain facts concerning Swami Rama's childhood, parents, adolescence, the incidents that led to the Swamiji's abdication of His Sankaracharyahood, and the renunciation of His marriage life.

There are also some very interesting and useful pieces information that are never mentioned in any other books by or on Swami Rama. For instance, 

1. The history and worship of Goddess Chinnamasta

2. That Swami Rama learnt Kung-Fu

3. That Swami Rama was never seen reading any books

4. That Swami Rama met sages Durvasa and Agastya, as well as Lord Rama.

5. That Swami Rama renounced sanyas twice.

The second half of the book, which begins at chapter 12, could have even better if the the author had concentrated on the the scientific experiments that Swami Rama subjected Himself to, and on the infighting and the lawsuit that further fragmented and splintered the Himalayan Institute.

The last chapter could have been further expanded, given the author's intimate knowledge of and information on his Guru, to include more details about the last days of Swami Rama. People who are acquainted with the Swamiji's teachings and tradition might be keen on learning more about the spiritual juggernaut's last moments on earth.

In my opinion, this book and "Walking with a Himalayan Master" by Justin O'Brien should be read after finishing Swami Rama's "Living with the Himalayan Masters". This book traces Swami Rama's history in a more chronological fashion than "Living with the Himalayan Masters".

P.S. By the way, at many places on the net, it has been said that Swami Rama received His education, among many places, in Oxford University. The author of the present volume mentioned that but once; however, details of when He did so are not found anywhere.