One of the foremost of the modern representatives of the Himalayan tradition is Swami Rama. The systematic practice of Yoga Meditation comes from the ancient cave monasteries of the Himalayas, the source of the mystical Shangrila or Shambala. This lineage of teachers is at least 5,000 years old, though eternal in nature. It includes Swami Rama and his teachers Bengali Baba, who is disciple of Mahavatar Baba, known as Babaji. The tradition has no name, and is not affiliated with any of the institutions or religions of the plains of India or other countries surrounding the Himalayas. The tradition of the Himalayan masters encompasses all of the Yogas. Self-Realization comes through Yoga meditation of the Yoga Sutras, the contemplative insight of Advaita Vedanta, and the intense devotion of Samaya Sri Vidya Tantra, the three of which complement one another like fingers on a hand.
We employ the classical approaches of Raja, Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti Yoga, as well as Hatha, Kriya, Kundalini, Laya, Mantra, Nada, Siddha, and Tantra Yoga. Together, they guide one directly through the layers (Koshas) of our being to the direct experience of the center of consciousness. Meditation, contemplation, mantra and prayer finally converge into a unified force directed towards the final stage, piercing the pearl of wisdom called bindu, leading to the Absolute(Bindu). Trying to grasp the tradition of the Himalayan masters is like trying to grab a cloud. Try as you will, you cannot quite hold it in your hand, but only in the inner chamber of your heart. It is from that inner place where one is truly guided by the masters.