Teja Shankara's Memoir The Rita Lila: A Western Yogini’s Journey to Bliss - Reviewed by Prema Gaia

(The Rita Lila is written under the pen name, Rita Ann Shankara)

The Rita Lila is a beautifully written memoir about Teja Shankara’s personal journey of spiritual awakening. The book follows Teja as she finds her Spiritual Truth through an earnest exploration of personal relationships, retreats, gurus, healers, sadhana and self-reflection.

It is very enheartening to journey with Teja as she finds her voice and comes into her power through perseverance, humility, openness and devotion.

I really appreciated how transparently Teja shared about her ‘dark night of the soul’ experiences, inherent to the path of transformation.

“I began to doubt myself as a vessel for Light. I felt ashamed of myself, like I wasn’t doing it right. In that place of shame, all kinds of vasanas surfaced: loneliness, desire for union with an earthly man, embarrassment, and thoughts of suicide. I didn’t really want to end my life, but I wanted to escape the pain of the spiritual path.” (pg. 116)

Teja speaks openly and candidly about her personal inquiry into the role that sexuality, polyamory and celibacy play in the spiritual unfoldment process.

I’m tempted to call this book ‘Eat Pray Love’ for the advanced soul, and it certainly would raise the vibration of mainstream bookstores to have more books like ‘The Rita Lila’ on their shelves!

We can all see ourselves reflected in certain aspects of Teja’s story and this book serves as a sacred mirror for its readers. I found quotes such as this one to be particularly resonant:

‘My projection of what I think it will look like to merge with the One radiance is holding me back. I am afraid that if I really let go, I will be too wild and I won’t wear clothes! Fear of being too wild and naked. Fear of not being a polite, good girl. Fear of being socially inappropriate. Fear of singing in public.’ (pg. 177)

The themes of Teja’s journey are highlighted with beautiful poems throughout the book. Here is an excerpt from one that particularly struck a chord:

….Why is She in hiding?
They won’t kill Her this time.
Many times around the wheel
of oppression
She doesn’t trust
that this place is safe……

I enjoyed the insightful and often amusing reflections that Basil, Teja’s spiritual teacher, makes throughout the book, such as: “Rita, your intensity is your gift. Stop trying to modulate it.” (pg 93)

It is a true seva to write a book which shares so deeply and courageously from the heart, and I’m sure that many people will derive much sustenance and inspiration for the Path from reading ‘The Rita Lila’.

After working as an event producer, a videojournalist, a model, and a publicist, Prema Gaia received compelling inner guidance to give away all of her possessions, stop using money and embark on a Truth-Quest of indeterminate length. Several years of studying the world’s wisdom traditions, spiritual practices and healing arts followed. Prema traveled extensively and met or studied with a diverse range of spiritual teachers including: Baba Hari Dass, Shree Maa, A.H. Almaas, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Ammachi, Jack Kornfield, Tenzin Palmo, Mother Meera, Ajahn Amaro and others.  Prema now works as a freelance writer and lives at Hummingbird Community, a community dedicated to the evolution of consciousness.  www.hummingbirdcommunity.org     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2s3E0_IRX0