by Brad Robinson

Brad Robinson met Rudi in July, 1972, and joined his Lafayette Ashram shortly after that. He talks about the strength of the connection he made with Rudi, who "has never left his side."

by Swami Chetanananda

We were standing across from each other, face to face,  and my face was very close to  his, when a wave of sadness came over me and I started crying. He just stood there looking at me, and I said, “ Rudi, I feel like everything that is you inside of me is being pulled out,” He said, “Michael, you are no longer my child, you’re my brother.”

by Spyridon Stratigos

"I will never forget pulling up in front of Rudi’s 10th Street Ashram. There was Rudi sitting on his stoop with several of his students including Michael. Here was this portly, bald, Jewish man smiling at me. Once our eyes met my heart broke and I was overwhelmed by a powerful emotion of joy and love."

by Dan Cook

With Rudi's support, Dan Cook started an Asian art business, Rudi South, only months after meeting Rudi. For forty years, that business took him all over the world and gave him access to people who had known and  done business with Rudi. His story is about the magic that happened as a result.

"Rudi inspired so many people to fulfill their potential, just as he did with me. It brought me to a state of total humility whenever I encountered the people whose lives Rudi changed in profound ways. Rudi’s impact was felt all over the world."

Renowned graphic artist Milton Glaser spent ten years with Rudi. In addition to his many iconic graphics, he designed the original cover for Spiritual Cannibalism and Rudi's later books published by Rudra Press.

"Rudi was always able to engender special relationships with every person. He had an extraordinary capacity for that."

by Greg Brodsky

Greg Brodsky met Rudi in New York in 1960 and spent the next 13 years studying with him: "Rudi consistently and clearly forced a decision: you were there to build your ego, or you were there to surrender your ego and to grow."

by Swami Chetanananda

This article, written around the tenth anniversary of Rudi's death, beautifully summarizes who Rudi was and the nature of his spiritual work.

by Guy Boster

Guy Boster was Rudi's student from 1968 to 1973 and was married at Rudi's house. His story has many vignettes of life around Rudi.

by Barbara Benson

A glimpse of life inside Rudi's art store and how he cultivated a flow with customers and students while carrying on his business. This article recounts how his experiences in his day to day work informed his teachings. It includes an example of an evening talk drawn from an encounter in the store.

by Tom Fabrizio

Tom Fabrizio helped start the Boston ashram. Here he tells the story of how his quest for a teacher led him to Rudi and how his experience with Rudi shaped his life.

by David Ross Komito

David Komito, who introduced Swami Chetanananda to Rudi, talks about his introduction to Rudi, his first trip to New York, and how the Bloomington ashram began. 

(by Cassia Herman)

Phyllis Rudolph was married to Rudi's brother David for over 50 years. She often spent time with Rudi and regarded him as her best friend.  Her story is unique in providing a family member's perspective on Rudi.

by Dan Spencer

Dan Spencer met Rudi first in Bloomington and then visited him in New York on numerous occasions. "Rudi was enormously loving, and, at the same time, he could be like a tiger."

by Swami Chetanananda

Swami Chetanananda explains how being with Rudi and appreciating his humanity as well as his accomplishment enabled him to come to a deeper acceptance of himself and a profound devotion to his guru.