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Swami Abhayananda was born Stan Trout in Indianapolis, Indiana on August 14, 1938. After service in the Navy, he settled in northern California, where he pursued his studies in philosophy and literature. In June of 1966, he became acquainted with the philosophy of mysticism, and experienced a strong desire to realize God. Abandoning all other pursuits, he retired to a solitary life in a secluded cabin in the mountain forests near Santa Cruz, California; and, on Novermber 18, of that same year, became enlightened by the grace of God. He spent four more years in his isloated cabin, and subsequently met Swami Muktananda who visited Santa Cruz in 1970. Shortly thereafter, he joined Muktananda in India, as his disciple, and later lived and worked in Muktananda's Oakland, California ashram. In May of 1978, he returned to India and was initiated by his master into the ancient Order of sannyas,and given the monastic name, "Swami Abhayananda," which, in Sanskrit, means "the blissof fearlessness." Abhayananda was then assigned to teach the knowledge of the Self of New York, then in Philadelphia, chicage, and Oklahoma city. In 1981, he left Muktananda's organization, and went into retreat once again, this time for seven years, in upstate New York. It was during this time that all of Abhayananda's books were written, and Atma Books was founded to publish them. At present, Swami abhayananda is residing in the Olympia area of western Washington state, where he continues to teach, write, and publish his works on the knowledge of the self.