Kanye West's sudden interest in Hinduism has been welcomed by America's religious leaders, who hope the troubled rapper finds the spiritual guidance he seeks at an ashram in India.
After staging a bizarre protest at the MTV Video Music Awards and pulling out of tour dates with Lady GaGa, the embattled star has announced he's hoping to chill out at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry - and Hindu leaders are urging West to take his time out seriously.
Rajan Zed, the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, has invited West to study with him and other leading Hindus upon his return to America: "West should put into practice what he learns at the ashram. If he needs any help in further exploring Hinduism, I would gladly guide him."
After all his troubles, Zed insists the ashram trip will be "a long needed break for him".
The Hindu leader adds, "This ashram is located in a small coastal town in South India. Sri Aurobindo was a philosopher-yogi who died in 1950. In his view, man, at present, lives mostly in his surface mind, life and body. There is an inner being within which pushes him to a constant pursuit of a greater beauty, harmony, power and knowledge."