Description

It is widely thought that finding peace, happiness and freedom requires tremendous effort – that in order to achieve a state of contentment and harmony in life, a journey must be taken, or someone or something must be awakened or overcome.After a chance encounter with an extraordinary Anglo-Indian man on the ghats of the sacred River Ganges, Ray Brooks discovers through the course of nine conversations that his quest for wholeness has been futile: no such journey was necessary, and, just like a shadow that seeks the sun, he had been searching for a self that had never been lost in the first place.“No effort is necessary, Ray, no new knowledge required or acquired. No transcendental experience or higher consciousness needs to be achieved. When the recognition of what you are is seen – nothing at all happens. Why would it? You simply find yourself as you already are.”This book offers no systems of belief or promises. Instead, it clearly points to something that is ever-present yet usually completely overlooked: the ordinariness and beauty of our true nature. After acknowledging that simple yet profound truth, the search for wholeness will be complete.Editorial ReviewsReview“This beautiful book certainly deserves to be included with the luminaries of spiritual literature. Its essence presents the essential, non-dual understanding of not just the author and his many influences but the foundation of all great religious and spiritual traditions.” –Alcvin Ryūzen Ramos, Shakuhachi master/ teacher and recording artistAbout the AuthorRay Brooks, born and raised in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the United Kingdom, is the author of The Shadow that Seeks the Sun: finding joy, love and answers on the sacred river Ganges (Watkins 2018)In reproducing the talks with Rudra, Ray writes from direct understanding, and he credits his influences, among others, to the early works of philosopher Jnaneshwar (13th century), J.Krishnamurti, who he met in Ojai, Francis Lucille, who he spent time with in Malibu, Rupert Spira, Rudra, who he met in Rishikesh, his friend Arvind Pare, and to all past and present members of The Hall of Mirrors Group, Facebook, (a public forum, where all beliefs are examined.) Without these individuals and the Hall of Mirrors Group, the nine short talks that are interspersed throughout stories of life in India would not have been possible. Ray is also the author of Blowing Zen:Finding an Authentic Life, (Ich Ging den weg der Zen Flote, German edition), a musician and recording artist who is internationally respected in the world of shakuhachi music. He has studied with many great shakuhachi masters and performed throughout Japan and overseas. Ray and his wife Dianne, co-writer, who now live on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, spend most of their winters living in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas.Please see links to all of the above: raybrooks.org File Size: 1440 KBPrint Length: 298 pagesPublisher: Watkins (February 15, 2018)http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-That-Seeks-Sun-Finding-ebook/dp…