Book Review: Clarity is the Only Spirituality by Susunaga Weeraperuma

Introduction

Source: Amazon.in

ISBN:  978-93-8777-903-7

Genre: Non-Fiction / Classics

Publishers: Fingerprint Publishing

Price: Rs. 199/-  ( I got the book for review from the publisher)

Behind the Book

Do dogmas, doctrines, beliefs, prayers, pilgrimages and religious practices of any kind really take us anywhere? Do they help us change our inner selves and embark on a spiritual journey? Can we really change anything at all about the world outside of us unless we try and change our inner selves?

Genuine spirituality is the quest for Truth, the eternal verities and not the search for peace and happiness. That serious quest entails, above all, discovering the truth about oneself, warts and all. But how many of us are ready to face the facts and see ourselves exactly as we are in the mirror of awareness?

In a variety of essays ranging from a discussion about the benefits of sexual abstinence to contemplating death, Clarity is the Only Spirituality negotiates through the landscape created by the waywardness of the human mind.

Written in a simple and lucid style, the book approaches controversial questions in the sphere of spirituality with a certain freshness that will stimulate the psyche and force one to rethink and relearn.

About the Author

Susunaga Weeraperuma, who lives in the quietness of a medieval village called Les Arcs-sur-Argens in the south of France, devotes his time to hatha yoga, pranayama, organic gardening, creative writing, reading and meditation. He is a pacifist, a vegetarian, an animal rights activist, a connoisseur of art, a classical music buff and a traveller. This prolific author’s wide variety of publications range from entertaining short stories and novels to in-depth studies of religion, Buddhist philosophy, J. Krishnamurti’s teachings and meditation. Of late, he has been writing books of essays, like the present one, that are self-searching in character.

In life you always reach a stage where everything looks muddled up and nothing seems to make sense. During such phases, I have always wondered if life should come with an instruction manual. Well, for starters this book does look like an instruction manual tailor made for such confused phases of life.

I like the overall tone of the author in the book. It is neither preachy, nor pushy but it is akin to the tone of a friend who is trying to explain something to you, hoping you are able to see things from his perspective. This 'hope' is liberally sprinkled all over the book and that is one of the key reasons why a book on such a heavy subject doesn't see like a heavy read. It is engaging and engrossing to note how the author has presented such simple and obvious aspects of life, oft ignored by us in a manner that makes us ponder.

Neatly segregated into various topics dealing with personal life, relationships, friendship, professional aspect and our most importantly the relationship we share with our own self, this book is an eye opener. It even talks about topics like sex, death etc. which most of the times we are hesitant to even talk about. I loved how the book covers an entire range of issues and talks about them with an honesty that is truly appreciable. 

I would recommend this book, strongly not only for one's self healing but also as an appropriate gift for a loved one because this doesn't promise to heal you, but guides you how to heal yourself because the key to your happiness is in your hands. 

Foodie Verdict

This book is like the Sindhi Kadhi Chawal - Deliciousness in every bite, almost a bite of heaven!

Source: Maunika Gowardhan