Why would a thirty-something, football-playing, cricket-loving, agnostic lawyer abandon a comfortable suburban existence in favour of an Indian ashram? How would he, his wife and two small boys manage that radical transition? What would be the reaction from family and friends affected by this move in 1978 from Perth, Western Australia to Poona, India? And how would it all pan out?

These questions are addressed in a frank and compelling memoir by the author. He takes us on a roller-coaster ride through his early childhood, university days and working life before his world is upended when he encounters Osho – the controversial guru formerly known as Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh.

Plunged into group therapy and strange meditation practices; marital disintegration and sexual experimentation, the author whirls in this spiritual washing machine for seven years before leaving the imploded cocoon of a commune to face fresh challenges, including how to apply any insights and understandings into regular life – and to address lingering issues in relationship, parenting and more.

This book will be of interest to those who have searched for meaning and purpose outside of mainstream religion or a consumer-driven society. It will also appeal to readers who may have never dipped toes into these waters but remain curious about the motivation and outcomes for those who do.