Eknath Easwaran

Eknath Easwaran (1910–1999) was an Indian spiritual teacher and the author of more than two dozen books on meditation and spiritual living. He is best known for his best-selling book, Passage Meditation. This book gained international attention for its accessible and practical approach to meditation. Easwaran was also known for his uncompromising commitment to inner transformation as the foundation for responsible engagement in the world.

Easwaran was born in Kothara, a small village in the Indo-Gangetic region of India. He was one of seven children and his father was a village schoolmaster. From an early age, Easwaran was fascinated by religion and philosophy. He read the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita, and was deeply inspired by their words.

Easwaran attended Madras Christian College and received a degree in English literature in 1931. After college, he moved to Bombay and began working as a journalist. He also joined the Marathi Swadhyay Mandal, a Hindu devotional society that taught a method of meditation called passage meditation. Easwaran’s introduction to the practice of passage meditation was the beginning of a lifelong journey in the quest of spiritual truth and inner transformation.

In 1952, Easwaran moved to California, where he established a meditation center and began teaching and writing about meditation. He developed his own method of meditation, named “Passage meditation”, which makes use of both eastern and western thought. His book, Passage Meditation, has been translated into over thirty languages and is one of the most widely read books on meditation. In it, Easwaran describes a practice of mental focus combined with special silence that helps develop and strengthen focus, concentration, clarity, and inner peace.

Along with his accessible and practical approach to meditation, Easwaran was also known for his practice of ahimsa, or non-violence. This philosophy was the cornerstone of Easwaran’s teaching and is the consistent thread that runs through all of his work. Easwaran believed that one can achieve inner peace and live an ethical life without violence or harm to oneself or others. He also sought to bridge the divide between eastern and western religions and philosophies, believing that it was possible to find common ground between them.

Easwaran's spiritual teachings are echoed in his many books and lectures to this day. His collected works include more than two dozen books, hundreds of lectures, and many articles on meditation, spiritual living, and other related topics. His writing style is direct and easy to understand, making it accessible to readers of all backgrounds and beliefs.

Eknath Easwaran is an important figure in the world of meditation and spiritual living. Through his writings and teachings, he has sought to bridge the divide between eastern and western thought, while also stressing the importance of inner transformation as the foundation of true spirituality. His accessible and practical approach to meditation through passage meditation has inspired people around the world to explore the rewards and benefits of meditation. He is an unparalleled spiritual teacher who remains an important and widely-read author today.