During the eleven years I lived in India I was often lent or sent books about Westerners who had also come to India. But they were invariably about those Westerners who had been drawn onto the guru-trail that occassionally leads innocent victims into the hungry jaws of a white-bearded, impressively robed monster who leaves them more spiritually and materially bankrupt than before. [. . . ] They made me wonder why no in-dept study had appeared dealing with the many Westerners who have taken the plunge, left the bright lights of home and are now living fulfilled lives in this vast, fascinating country.