Robert Svoboda
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Robert E. Svoboda | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1953 Texas, United States |
| Occupation | Author, ayurvedic doctor |
| Genres | Ayurveda, Astrology |
Robert Edwin Svoboda (1953–) is an American author and ayurvedic doctor who continually travels the globe giving lectures and courses related to the subjects of ayurveda, jyotish,[1] tantra and Eastern religion. He is author of over 11 books, including Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution (1989), and the Aghora trilogy (1986, 1993, 1997) about his guru, Vimalananda, and the Aghori sect.[2][1]
He also maintains a private consulting practice with clients in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and India. Svoboda is the first Westerner to graduate from a college of ayurveda (in 1980) and be licensed to practice ayurveda in India.[3][4]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and education
Robert Edwin Svoboda was born in 1953 in Texas, United States. He grew up in Texas near an oil camp,[5] before moving to Oklahama where he did his schooling.[6]
Svoboda graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1972 with a B.S. (major in Chemistry, minor in French). In 1973, he moved to India and stayed on for another 10 years. During this time he met his guru Vimalananda and joined Tilak Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, an ayuvedic college in Pune. In 1980, he graduated from Pune University with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), receiving the title Ayurvedacharya. Author and ayurvedic physician Dr. Vasant Lad was one of his teachers there.[7]
During and after his formal ayurvedic training he was tutored in ayurveda, yoga, jyotish, tantra and allied subjects by his mentor, Vimalananda. Svoboda also served as Vimalananda's "Authorized Racing Agent" (thoroughbred horses) at the Royal Western India Turf Club in Mumbai and Pune between 1975 and 1985. He lived in India between 1973 and 1980 and again between 1982 and 1986.[citations needed]
[edit] Grants and awards
Svoboda received both the National Merit Scholarship and University of Oklahoma Merit Scholarship in 1970; the U.S. Office of Education Scholarship in 1973; National Endowment for the Humanities Youthgrant in 1975; and the Marsden Foundation Grant in 1978.[citation needed]
Between 1975 and 1980 he won all but one of the University of Pune awards for academic excellence in ayurveda, including the Ram Narayan Sharma Gold Medal.[citation needed]
Svoboda was ritually initiated into the Pokot tribe of northern Kenya in June 1973 as its first white member.[citation needed]
[edit] Professional experience
Since 1985, Svoboda travels the world lecturing, consulting, teaching and writing. He serves as adjunct faculty at the Ayurvedic Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington. Svoboda authored the new entry on ayurveda for Encyclopedia Britannica, 2000.[citations needed]
[edit] Bibliography
- Aghora: At the Left Hand of God, Brotherhood of Life; 1986. ISBN 0914732218.
- Aghora II: Kundalini, Brotherhood of Life; 1993. ISBN 0914732315.
- Ayurveda: Life, Health, and Longevity, Penguin; 1993. ISBN 1883725097.
- Tao and Dharma: Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, (co-author: Arnie Lade) Lotus Press; 1st ed edition, 1995. ISBN 0914955217.
- Hidden Secret of Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Press; 1996. ISBN 1883725046.
- Aghora III: The Law of Karma, Lotus Press; 1997. ISBN 0914732374.
- The Greatness of Saturn, Lotus Press; 2nd edition, 1997. ISBN 1571780327.
- Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution, Lotus Press; 2nd Rev ed. 1998. ISBN 8120811852.
- Ayurveda for Women: A Guide to Vitality and Health, Healing Arts Press; 2000. ISBN 1899434143.
- Light on Relationships: The Synastry of Indian Astrology (co-author: Hart de Fouw) Weiser Books; 2000, ISBN 1578631483.
- Light on Life: An Introduction to the Astrology of India, (co-author: Hart de Fouw) Lotus Press; New Ed edition, 2003. ISBN 0140195076.
[edit] Discography
- Varanasi: The City of Light (Audio CD). Soundwalk/Namarupa, 2005, ISBN 0976406101.
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Meet the Innovators Lifestyle, yogajournal.com.
- ^ The AGHORA Trilogy brotherhoodoflife.com.
- ^ Svoboda, Robert. Curriculum Vitae. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
- ^ Svoboda, Robert (1992). Ayurveda - Life, Health and Longevity. ARKANA-Penguin Books.
- ^ Sitting Down With Dr. Robert E. Svoboda layogamagazine.com, January/February 2003.
- ^ Interview with Robert Svoboda yogajournal.com.
- ^ Background Svobda at ayurveda-berkeley.com.
