About Rajan
Having been raised in a difficult period during the mid-90's Chicago gentrification, Rajan became a drug-dealer as a teenager. Living a troubled and crime-laden youth led to conflicts with police, judges, and the criminal world. In 2005, Rajan was given a second chance by a police officer and avoided prosecution and jail. Realizing this was divine intervention, he vowed to change his life, never straying from the path again.
Shortly after, Rajan and his friend started an asphalt company in Indiana. After becoming successful, it didn't take long before the two young men learned that money didn't make them content. The two began to ask big questions and study yoga, and after reading Autobiography of a Yogi—a book about a monk's life—Rajan made the decision to leave the mainland and master meditation.
Rajan Shankara left the world at 19 years old to become a monk and study his mind, find out what meaning and purpose was, and if meditation could take him to higher states of consciousness. Having lived as a monk for 12 years, he is now back in society as a world-yogi to teach others how to control their mind, body, and emotions.
Rajan was trained for 7 years in monastery landscaping, construction, electrical, carpentry, office work and vehicle maintenance. During this period of his life, 2007-2014, Rajan went through exhausting measures of self-development, and the deep study and practice of Raja Yoga.
He spent another 5 years in the monastery office learning clerical skills, travel management and coordination, team leadership, editing, writing and publishing—and being a part of the Hinduism Today international magazine team of senior monks and managing 16 pages.
From 2014-2018, Rajan began advanced yogi training and studied under the most senior monks in the monastery. He became a mentor to several hundred people around the world, and helped restore balance in their lives. This was a period of intense inner training in order to master meditation, and intense outer training to master fitness, diet, and the mind by studying history, psychology, military leadership, theology, philosophy, and the priestly arts of Hindu Agamic ritual.
After 12 enlightening years, Rajan Shankara left the monastery with his guru's blessings. Rajan's wish was to teach others what he has learned about the mind, meditation, the ego, and soul. He is currently a meditation guide, award winning writer, author of four books, self-development mentor, fitness and health expert and business owner in California.