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Ape Tantra: My Adventures in the Land of Spirits

by George Berci (Swami Shivanando)

390 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #00-0185; ISBN 1-55212-520-3; US$30.50, C$35.00, EUR25.00, £17.50

The memorable - and ongoing - life of Swami Shivanando, aka George Berci, a man who survived in Budapest's Jewish ghetto during World War II, fled to Canada in 1956, and discovered hope, peace and spiritual prosperity over the next decades.

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about the book      about the author      from the cover      catalogue info

About the Book Ape Tantra is the story of George Berci, later known as Swami Shivanando, a man born as a Jew in Budapest in 1936 to an upper-middle class family. His father died in a punitive regiment for Jews, in Russia. Berci lived in the Budapest ghetto and his mother in a concentration camp. She survived and became a Marxist. The book talks about Berci's high-school years and developing sexuality, then later, his job on a stud farm and his relationship with horses. In 1956, during the Hungarian Revolution, he escaped to Canada. He continued his work with horses, mingling with the "super-rich" in New York and environs. After returning to Montreal, Berci found new employment. He married, and worked in medical research for 34 years. At the same time, Berci ran a hippie commune/children's horseback riding camp for several years. Berci's wife, a mystic, died in a car accident when she was 28. They had two children, forcing Berci to become their "mother." Berci's rotten second marriage ended with his breaking his back and writing his first memoir, The Posthumous Memoirs of a Sex-Maniac, and a divorce. Berci and his current wife, Jo-Anne, became a disciple of Osho (Rajneesh). He went to India and twice to Rajneeshuram in Oregon to see the Master. Sixty-two years, and assuredly, none of it boring. In short: a story of one persons' evolution: from ape to man, or should I say, tantrika.

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About the Author Swami Shivanando (George Berci) currently lives with his love, Jo-Anne, in Quebec.

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From the Cover

Ape Tantra, in short: I was born a Jew in Budapest in 1936 to an upper middle-class family. My father died in a punitive regiment for Jews, in Russia. I was in the Budapest ghetto and my mother in a concentration camp. She survived and became a Marxist.

I talk about my high-school years and developing sexuality, the later, my job on a stud farm and my relationship to horses. In '56, during the Hungarian Revolution, I escaped and ended up in Canada. For a while I worked with horses here too, then later, mingled with the rich and the super-rich in New York. Then I came back to Montreal a 'poor refugee' once more, working for 'rotten capitalists'.

I married, and worked in medical research for 34 years. I ran a hippie commune/children's horseback riding camp as well for several years. My wife, a mystic, died in a car accident when she was 28. We had two children. Thus, I became their 'mother'. I had a rotten second marriage, broke my back and wrote a memoir: The Posthumous Memoirs of a Sex-Maniac, then divorced. As a cripple I met my love. Jo-Anne and I became disciples of Osho (Rajneesh). I went to India and twice to Rajneeshpuram in Oregon to see the Master.

Sixty-four years and assuredly, none of it boring. In short: a story of one person's evolution: from ape to man, or should I say, tantrika.

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Catalogue Information

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