Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shankarananda (Guruji) grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and as a graduate of both Columbia and New York universities began a promising career in English literature at Indiana University. In the late sixties, a dramatic turn of events profoundly altered the direction of his life. In 1970, he travelled to India in search of a great teacher and a spiritual path. He practised Buddhist Vipassana meditation with Master Goenka, and hatha and raja yoga with Hari Dass Baba. He met a number of great sages, including Neem Karoli Baba, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, and the holy mother Anandamayi Ma. His search culminated at the feet of the powerful kundalini master Baba Muktananda, with whom he studied for twelve years and who initiated him into the Saraswati order of teaching swamis. Ganeshpuri Days tells the story of Guruji's search and of his intense spiritual practice and transformation in Muktananda's ashram. Over the past forty years, Guruji has headed ashrams in the US and Australia, teaching meditation, the philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism and his unique method of Self-inquiry, the Shiva Process. In 2010, he was given the prestigious title of mahamandaleshwar (great teacher) in recognition of his international teaching work. Guruji is the author of 'Happy for No Good Reason', 'Self-Inquiry: Using Your Awareness to Unblock Your Life', 'Consciousness Is Everything', 'Carrot in My Ear: Questions and Answers on Living with Awareness', and 'Muktananda Siddha Guru'. In 1991, Guruji and his spiritual partner, Devi Ma, established The Ashram Mount Eliza on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne, Australia. He teaches and lives with his students, guests and the ashram Chow Chow, Shakti.