Costa Via

The Life of Mestre Raimundo Irineu Serra presents the story of Raimundo Irineu Serra, the Brazilian spiritual leader whose life and work gave rise to the Daime tradition. Drawing from historical records, oral testimonies, archival materials, and community memory, this biography follows Mestre Irineu from his birth in Maranhão in 1890 through his migration to the Amazon, his encounter with ayahuasca, and the formation of a disciplined spiritual path rooted in prayer, healing, hymns, community, and devotion. The book explores the historical world that shaped him: post-abolition Brazil, the decline of the rubber boom, frontier life in Acre, and the social and religious pressures faced by Afro-Brazilian and Amazonian spiritual movements.
It also traces the development of the early Daime community, including the first followers, the establishment of ritual works, the receiving of hymns, the creation of uniforms and spiritual hierarchy, and the move to Alto Santo. More than a simple biography, this work portrays Mestre Irineu as both a historical person and a spiritual guide: a man of humility, discipline, strength, and vision whose teachings continue to influence communities in Brazil and beyond.
It is a detailed account for readers interested in Brazilian religious history, Amazonian spirituality, Santo Daime origins, ayahuasca traditions, and the life of one of the most important figures in modern spiritual movements.