Chasing Nirvana

“Priya is one of the most courageous people I know—the journey of a real seeker isn’t for the faint of heart. As Priya makes clear in her story, you have to have courage to go beyond the mundane comfort of the familiar, on a road that leads to places you’ve never been. She went there her way, and that’s what makes her journey an inspiration to others.”—Arlo Guthrie, musician and American singer-songwriter “Bold and beautifully told, Chasing Nirvana beckons us inside an incense-filled ashram, to sit at the feet of “Ma”—a diet-obsessed guru in red plaid flannel shorts and gold bangles who is both evangelical pastor and charismatic MLM leader. After decades of sacrifice and secrets, Priya Hutner’s memoir tells tough truths about the ritual de lo habitual of life in a cult. Realizing Ma’s insatiable appetite for devotion is starving those around her of their own happiness, Priya finally chooses herself and chases her own Nirvana.”—Bridey Thelen-Heidel, author of Bright Eyes: Surviving Our Monsters and Learning to Live without Them—A Memoir “In this unflinching account of growing up in a religious community dominated by a complicated leader, Priya Hutner deftly dances between her genuine love for her guru and a lucid portrayal of the dangers and dysfunctions of giving one’s power away to a charismatic and unstable teacher who demands blind loyalty.”—Mirabai Starr, author of Caravan of No Despair and Ordinary Mysticism “Hutner reveals a depth of introspection rarely shared. In doing so, she eloquently presents a spiritual architecture for interdependence and reciprocation with the world.”—Obi Kaufmann, author of the California Field Atlas “Raw, courageous, and profoundly relatable for anyone who’s ever lost themselves in the promise of enlightenment. Her story shines a light on the seductive power of charismatic leaders and the universal longing to belong.”—Sarah Edmonson, author of Scarred and cohost of the A Little Bit Culty podcast

Priya Hutner is a writer, teacher, and cofounder of the Tahoe Literary Festival. The owner of The Seasoned Sage catering company and the arts and culture editor for The Tahoe Guide, her writing has been featured in The Tahoe Guide, Moonshine Ink, and Muse Magazine. She also facilitates writing, breath meditation, and self-discovery workshops. When she is not writing, cooking, or teaching, Priya enjoys skiing, hiking, and biking in the Sierra Nevada. She lives in Truckee, California.