Swami Rama is presented as a modern representative and lineage-holder of an ancient Himalayan tradition of yoga and meditation, often described as an unbroken stream of transmission from master to disciple. From childhood he is said to have been trained in the caves, monasteries, and hermitages of the Himalayas, under the guidance of cave- and forest-dwelling adepts. His principal guru is identified as Bengali Baba, a master of this Himalayan tradition who shaped his spiritual development over many years. Through this relationship, Swami Rama is described as having received direct initiation into a lineage of Himalayan siddhas and realized saints.

This Himalayan tradition, as articulated through his life and teaching, emphasizes direct transmission from guru to disciple in secluded mountain settings and values experiential realization over mere theoretical study. It integrates multiple yogic paths—particularly Raja Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Tantra, and related meditative disciplines—into a coherent spiritual methodology. Alongside these practices, his training is said to have included philosophy, healing arts, and related fields, reflecting a comprehensive approach to inner development. The tradition is often portrayed as combining ancient yogic disciplines with a systematic, almost scientific, approach to spiritual practice.

Swami Rama’s role within this stream is twofold: he stands as a lineage-trained adept formed in the classical Himalayan environment, and he also serves as a bridge carrying that wisdom beyond its original geographical and cultural setting. Having been authorized by his masters, he presented himself as commissioned to share these teachings with seekers far from the Himalayan caves where they were preserved. To that end, he founded the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, framing it as a vehicle for transmitting the practices and insights of the Himalayan tradition in a structured and accessible way. Through this work, his connection to the tradition is portrayed not only as personal and initiatory, but also as a living conduit through which that ancient heritage continues to reach contemporary students.