Fascinated by India’s spiritual heritage, its scriptures and legacy of realized saints and sages, great number of foreign travelers visited India in the past. Needlessly to say that all drew inspiration from the life and works of illumined souls they came across.

Paul Brunton, an English journalist in the days of the British rule, was smitten by the tales of mysticism and yoga he heard about from India, and decided to travel there in search of the Truth. Brunton came to India in the 1930. Travelling across India was no pleasure in those days, but he traversed the length and breadth of undivided India. The India he explored was in a sense 'secret India' for the majority of the western world.

Paul Brunton has written many books in spirituality; this is one of his earlier books. It records his experiences in India, when he meets many kind of people of various spiritual inclinations. Brunton was not an impartial traveller, rather he was personally seeking, skeptical and cautious. His meeting with Mehar Baba, who claimed himself as Messiah (avatar), is an example where Brunton's disappointment shows its face. Brunton introduce us to different yogis, their life styles and their views. He takes us along in his voyage of self-discovery in his unique style. He represents the finest tradition of the Western skeptic. He can not accept what people around him so willingly, and unquestioningly, embraces. He meets with more than a fair share of charlatans and shams, run into tropical disease, and comes close to packing up.

Sage-head of Kanchi mutt directs him to Sri Ramana of Tiruvannamalai. He visites Arunachalam and encounteres Ramana Maharshi. After his initial scepticism, he realises that this is the Sage he had searched high and low for. Ramana had no panacea to offer, nor was he a propagator of miracles. Mostly, he did not even speak. He did not push religion, which is one reason even today, many decades after his death, many faiths and nationalities flock to his quiet ashram. 

In the conversations with Ramana, Brunton is quite clear about skeptical views. He stays with Ramana for some time and leaves for further travel. He meets magicians (siddhas) and astrologers. He decides to leave India, and even book for his ship in Bomabay. Suddenly, he evalutes his experiences and decide to return to Sri Ramana for further guidance. He goes to Ramana, learns about " Who am I?" enquiry and practices it with his support. He finally leaves India with a positive outlook. Once back to the west, he continues his search, writes many books and guides scores of people. Brunton is one who took Indian mysticism and yoga to the West, and popularised it there.