Chasing Nirvana: A Story of Love, Loss, and Liberation

For fans of Daniella Mestyanek Young's Uncultured and Tara Westover's Educated, one woman's gripping firsthand account of falling into--and eventually escaping--a female guru-led cult as she seeks her own personal awakening.

Growing up under the sway of a Brooklyn housewife turned guru, Priya Hutner is drawn into a world shaped by bizarre rituals, spiritual promises, and oppressive beliefs. What begins as a quest for enlightenment unravels into a stifling reality as the boundaries between spiritual devotion and control blur--and as Priya becomes an integral part of the ashram community, sharing the guru's teachings, she becomes further entangled in a web of spiritual control and manipulation.

In this deeply personal memoir, Priya shares her struggle to break free from her guru and the cult-like grip to which she falls prey. Priya's traumatic escape from the community marks a profound turning point as she regains personal power, rediscovers herself, and achieves true liberation in the process.

A spiritual adventure story and a cautionary tale, Chasing Nirvana is a story of love, heartbreak, and redemption that offers a powerful reflection on the perils of blind faith and the beauty of reclaiming one's life on one's own terms. Priya's story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience, self-discovery, and freedom from the bondage of belief.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: She Writes Press
Published: 03/03/2026
ISBN: 9798896360889
Pages: 356
Weight: 0.47lbs