This is a revised and updated version of a book published in 1988. In the intervening years Mary Garden finally recognised her need to practise as a writer. As a result, the original courageously honest and fascinating personal memoir about the guru-disciple relationship and ‘dubious mysticism’ has been enhanced by further reflection (which has allowed her to throw off the cloak of anonymity she had originally placed around the guru and herself), stronger self-confidence, and much tighter and more effective writing.

In the 15 years which have elapsed since the publication of the first edition of ‘The Serpent Rising’, the author’s outspoken disclosures about one or two of the uncritically adulated and
over-indulged gurus she describes in the book have been vindicated and reinforced by further revelations by of an even more critical and controversial nature.

Here, as an appetiser to this moving and well-observed account of a very strange journey, is how the subject matter is presented on the cover of the new version:
“In 1973, Mary Garden abandoned a promising academic career to spend seven years in India at the feet of such gurus as Rajneesh, Sathya Sai Baba and an enigmatic yogi in the Himalayan
jungle - Swami Balyogi Premvarni. ‘The Serpent Rising’ is her own story of the heaven and hell she experienced as she fell under the spell of self-appointed ‘god-men’.”

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Caught this at the meetup - nice to beet you Brian! I shall add this to my Mt TBR(to be read) pile; and it shall be read and reviewed in due course.

I read this book very quickly once I began as the writing flowed quite well. An interesting story, but I found Mary Garden very gullible - I could not believe she changed her mind so easily and so often with the different gurus who influenced her. Seven wasted years spent in India, from which she was very lucky to have survived. Hopefully her life is happy and fulfilled now.

Another one I snaffled at meetup. I have NO self-control! This looks really intriguing though, so onto Mt TBR with it!

This one was 'knocked over' on the two plane trips from Coffs Harbour back to Melbourne. The writing flowed easily and the subject matter was intriguing, but like meganh, I often found myself frustrated by Mary's naievete and continued search for answers with all the wrong people! On occasion I wanted to leap between the books pages and just shake her! I understand that people in general were less cynical in the 1970s, and have no difficulties with the notion of Mary searching for some existential answers and a more meaningful existence, at the same time, I struggled with the seeming ease that she moved from 'guru' to 'guru'. My family was involved in a minor way in assisting with the 'deprogramming' of someone who had been involved with the Bagwhan Rajneesh in the early 80s. Nothing infuriates me more than calculating 'messiahs' who take advantage of desperately unhappy people who are looking for answers - and Mary Garden's book has done little to change my view of these people.

Thanks for sharing this one with me. I'll probably bring it to meetup to see if anyone else wants to read it - though a couple of release locations (theosophical society? an ashram? scientology headquarters?) did cross my mind!!!! :)

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Released during meetup