Book excerpt: Journey to the Awakened Heart follows Robert Jacobs’ travels through Europe, Africa, and Asia in the 1970s as he evolves from a free-spirited, hippie wanderer into a sincere spiritual seeker. Fueled by his desire to become a monk, Jacobs spends fifteen years living in yoga and meditation ashrams under the guidance of his spiritual teachers. While in high school, he began questioning whether God existed and wondered what the purpose of his life was. Later in college, he experienced an emptiness at the core of his being that made his life seem meaningless. Little did he know that this emptiness was close to a deeper inner spaciousness that would leave him feeling profoundly fulfilled. In this detailed and far-reaching memoir, Jacobs shares how his extensive journey eventually brings him on a path he never imagined. He grapples with the forces of fear and of faith and sees, again and again, his experiences reflected back to him as abundance and grace. Ultimately, Jacobs’ seeking brings him to the understanding that God, guru, and self are one and that his true calling has always been to simply love and serve.