Yogi, scientist, philosopher, humanitarian, and mystic poet, Swami Rama is the founder and spiritual head of the Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, with its headquarters in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, and therapy and educational centers throughout the world.
Swami Rama founded the Himalayan Institute as a means to synthetize the ancient teachings of the East with the modern approaches of the West. He has played a major role in bringing the insights of yoga psychology and philosophy to the attention of the physicians and psychologists of the West.
Several years ago, Swami Rama initiated a $ 350 million health and rural development project in the Garhwal region of the foothils of the Himalayas, which is designed to serve this region's population of over 10 million people who are in great medical, economic, and social need. The HIMALAYAN INSTITUTE HOSPITAL & MEDICAL COLLEGE will provide a model of an integrated health education and rural development program that is charitable yet self-sustaining.
The mission of the HIHT is to develop integrated, cost-effective approaches to healthcare that address the needs of the local people and can also serve as a resource-appropriate model for the country as a whole and for under-served populations worldwide.
HOSPITAL UPDATE (1995)
PHASE I of the Hospital project was completed in June 1994, when the main hospital building opened its doors with the first 100 beds ready for inpatient care. A dedicated and experienced medical team provides medical services to impatients and outpatients at the hospital and to people in distant villages through a mobile medical van. Last year the medical team served more than 25,000 patients.
PHASE II of the Hospital project is now underway. The 500-bed Nurses Hostel, home to hospital staff and student nurses, was completed in the Fall of 1994. The Medical College building, inaugurated in the fall of 1995 by the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narasimha Rao will serve 400 aspiring physicians.
The next phase of the Hospital Project includes:
Gradual increase in the number of hospital beds.
Operation of the medical college serving 400 students
College of Pharmacy
College of Nursing
Panch Karma treatment building
Central library building and large community hall for common use by the hospital and medical college.
More road work and parking facilities
Planting trees with medical value
College of Engineering
The Himalayan Institute Hospital
Those who wish to help can make tax deductible donations payable to:
Himalayan Institute General Fund
RR 1, Box 400
Honesdale, Pa 18431
Telephone (717) 253-5551, fax (717) 253-9078.
Related articles:
Ode To the Sun, by H.H. Shri Swami Rama of the Himalayas
Swami Veda Bharati
Collected Lectures of Dr. Arya/Swami Veda Bharati