The Himalayan Tradition from which Swami Rama comes is a lineage of sages of the ancient cave monasteries of the Himalayas. This unbroken lineage of teachers is at least 5,000 years old, and includes Swami Rama’s direct teacher, Bengali Baba, and his grand master, the famous Mahavatar Baba, known simply as Babaji of the Himalayas; it is the tradition from which the stories of Shangrila or Shambala have emerged.

However, while the lineage is an ascetic tradition of the Himalayas, many of the sages themselves are also related to the monastic order of Shankaracharya of the 9th century.

The orders of Shankaracharya, established 1,200 years ago, were organized through five main centers in the North, East, South, West and center of India. All orders in India traces its tradition from one of these centers.

Swami Rama writes in Living with the Himalayan Masters, "Our tradition is Bharati. Bha means knowledge; Rati means lover. Bharati means 'he who is the lover of knowledge'."

From this comes the word Bharata, the land of spiritual knowledge, one of the Sanskrit names used for India.

In the Himalayan Tradition learning from the Upanishads is very important Swami Rama explains in Living with the Himalayan Masters, along with the special advanced spiritual practiced taught by the sages. The Māndūkya Upanishad is accepted as one of the authoritative scriptures. The knowledge of Srī Vidyā is imparted stage by stage and the advanced student is taught Prayoga Shāstra.

"The knowledge imparted by the sages and masters of the Himalayas guides the aspirant like a light in their darkness. The purpose of this message is to awaken the divine flame that resides in the reservoir of every human being. This flame, when perfectly kindled by spiritual discipline, mounts higher and higher into the vast light of Truth", explains Swami Rama in Living with the Himalayan Masters.

Source:
Living with the Himalayan Masters by Swami Rama
http://www.geocities.com/swamiramabio/