The Light in-Between: A Journey of Recognition

Contents: Foreword by Sudhir Sopory. Bhumika: The Ground. Part I: Beginnings and Education in Europe (1940-1967). 1. Birth: Between Harmony and War. 2. Ancestral Roots. 3. Persecution and Refuge in Grossarl. 4. Post-war, We Are Poor. 5. Childhood and Music Education. 6. Teenage: Fall at Monchsberg. 7. At Crossroads: Beginning University. 8. A Fateful Meeting with Raimon Panikkar. 9. Rome: A Catholic Initiation. 10. First Immersion in India. 11. Preparation towards Doctorate. 12. A Retreat in Patmos. 13. Lila: Doctorate Completed. Part II: Exploring Indian Traditions: Art & Spirituality (1968-1985). 14. Beginnings in India. 15. In the Presence of Saints and Sages. 16. Yogasutras and PY Deshpande. 17. Love of Sanskrit: Learning from the Pandits. 18. Making of the Vedic Experience. 19. Banaras: City of Music. 20. HWL Poonja and the Lucknow Adventure. 21. Transitions in Banaras. 22. Abhishiktananda’s Fulfilment. 23. Alice Boner and the Art of Odisha. 24. Return to Europe. 25. Vienna and Indology. 26. Final Years with Parents. 27. Shivamurthy in Vienna. 28. Towards a new Freedom. 29. A Transformative Retreat (1978). 30. Return to Banaras: Settling in Assi Ghat. 31. Pilgrimage to Kedarnath. 32. Towards Kashmir. Part III: Fulfilment in Kashmir Saivism (1986-). 33. First Meeting with Swami Lakshman Joo. 34. 1986: An Eventful Year. 35. Saiva Diksa: Initiation. 36. Yajna: Integrating Inner and Outer. 37. Kyoto: Spirituality in Interfaith Dialogue. 38. Saiva Centres in South India. 39. Life at Ishvar Ashram (1988-‘91). 40. Sharika Devi’s Liberation. 41. Mahasamadhi of a Jivanmukta. 42. Phulchatti: The Flowery Roof. 43. Sailing on Two Boats: IGNCA and Alice Boner. 44. Spiritual Anchors in Europe. 45. Interreligious Dialogue in Practice. 46. Kailash: The Archetypal Pilgrimage. 47. Beginning of University Teaching. 48. Continuing the Tradition. 49. Sarada Kula: My Students. 50. Enchanted by Mystical Poetry. 51. IIAS: Scholarship in Shimla. 52. Overcoming Suffering and Death. 53. The Essence of Trika. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.

 

Bettina Sharada Baumer, a disciple of Swami Lakshman Joo and a scholar-practitioner of Kashmir Saivism, has been teaching various texts of this sacred tradition in intensive seminars for the last 25 years. This book is an account of her inspiring pilgrimage through life, in her own words. Beginning with her birth in Austria during the years of World War II and her family barely escaping the Nazi persecution, she gives a vivid account of her formative experiences which launched her on a lifelong quest for the Divine. With the life-changing, early influence of great religious figures like Raimon Panikkar and Swami Abhishiktananda, she was initiated into the experiential depths of Hindu-Christian dialogue. Coming in contact with the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi and the Upanisads, her pilgrimage took a decisive turn as she made Banaras (Varanasi) her centre for studying the Indian traditions. It remained her place of work and living. But it was only in 1986, when she met her Guru, Swami Lakshman Joo, that her quest found its fulfilment in the spirituality of non-dualist Trika Saivism. Continuing the responsibilities received from Swami Lakshman Joo and his closest disciples, Devis Sharika and Prabha, Bettina Sharada has dedicated her life to studying and disseminating the teachings of this great tradition. She has authored/edited more than 25 books, and continues to engage with seekers from all over the world who are interested in a spirituality which addresses the challenges of the present age. For her contributions to the field of education and towards promoting bilateral relations between India and Austria, she has been awarded the Cross of Honour for Science and Art by the Government of Austria (2012), and Padmashri by the Government of India (2015).