Cartwheels in a Sari: A Memoir of Growing Up CultIn this colorful, eye-opening memoir, Jayanti Tamm offers an unforgettable glimpse into the hidden world of growing up “cult” in mainstream America. Through Jayanti’s fascinating story–the first book to chronicle Sri Chinmoy–she unmasks a leader who convinces thousands of disciples to follow him, scores of nations to dedicate monuments to him, and throngs of celebrities (Sting, Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela) to extol him. When the short, bald man in flowing robes prophesizes Jayanti to be the “Chosen One,” her life is forever entwined with the charismatic guru Sri Chinmoy, who declares himself a living god. A god who performs sit-ups and push-ups in front of thousands as holy ritual, protects himself with a platoon of bodyguards, and bans books, TV, and sex. Jayanti’s unusual and increasingly bizarre childhood is spent shuttling between the ashram in Queens, New York, and her family’s outpost as “Connecticut missionaries.” On the path to enlightenment decreed by Guru, Jayanti scrubs animal cages in his illegal basement zoo, cheerleads as he weight lifts an elephant in her front yard, and trails him around the world as he pursues celebrities such as Princess Diana and Mother Teresa. But, when her need for enlightenment is derailed by her need for boys, Jayanti risks losing everything that she has ever known, including the person that she was ordained to be. With tenderness, insight, and humor, Jayanti explores the triumphs and trauma of an insider who longs to be an outsider, her hard-won decision to finally break free, and the unique challenges she confronts as she builds a new life. |
Contents
1 | |
3 | |
Because Guru Says So Thats Why | 33 |
The Divine Cage | 57 |
The Supreme Is Your Boyfriend | 93 |
Miracles of Faith | 125 |
Amore at the United Nations | 147 |
Exiled to France | 179 |
Born Again Again | 205 |
This Is Heresy | 235 |
Cartwheels in a Sari | 261 |
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Common terms and phrases
According to Guru arms arrived ashram asked avatar beside bhajan blessed boyfriend boys bunny called Carl Lewis Center Chahna Clarence Clemons concert Connecticut dhule disci disciples divine divine-enterprises door endless entire everything ex-disciple eyes father favorite feel felt floor folded hands front girl Gitali God-Realization Greenwich Greenwich Academy Guru told Guru-blue Guru's house hair head honor inner inside Isha Jayanti Ketan Lalita lift lives looked Madal meditation mission Montpellier morning mother needed never night nodded official Oscar Pallavi parents person ples prasad Princess Diana Queens quickly quiet realized Romesh sandwich board sari scanned seat seekers seemed side smile songs soul spiritual Sri Chinmoy stared Steffi Graf stood suddenly Supreme talk tell tennis court Thant throne tion turned waiting walked wanted watched York