ADVENTURES IN SELF-DISCOVERY

The Journey from Mind to Heart to Consciousness

This book, which contains some of the talks given by Srinivas Arka in Toronto and London, encompasses many topics he explores in depth that raise spiritual awareness. Sometimes the words, in an apparent simplicity, pinpoint a vista beyond their own meaning, reminding those who attend his open audiences of the tremendous force of his presence.

At a time when both East and West share a focus on mind power (this being usually expressed today as 'mind over matter'), Srinivas Arka comes to fill a gap in our approach to truth.

For mind, with all its process of manufacturing our daily thoughts, is the instrument of our consciousness, and as long as we are not aware that we are that consciousness, we persist in the false identification with our mind and physical body.

Once this awareness dawns on us, Srinivas Arka then invites us to journey further to higher levels of awareness.

Although different terms are used to define this higher level of awareness, it matters less the chosen word. What really matters is not the name but the direct experience of it.

It was thought appropriate in the written expression of his ideas to keep the same eloquent style as when he spoke the words, in order to preserve something of the spiritual atmosphere of that experience.

In this Book (Adventures in Self Discovery), Srinivas Arka in my opinion has a message relevant to all kinds of people, be they adherents of any particular religion or none, for as he states, “we all want to find inner peace and know the truth of life” and we seem to have made our lives increasingly artificial and mechanical, keeping too busy to have time to spare for our own inner progress.

In this book he is clearly aiming to redress the balance, and he is not being prescriptive, but as he points out we all have to find our own way and tailor our meditation in ways that suit ourselves.

The book is a relatively brief and readable overview of a huge range of concepts, and I feel it will be helpful to anyone in the early stages of asking the most important and fundamental philosophical questions concerning the meaning of life, why they are here, and how to be content, fulfilled and happy. Although some unfamiliar content may not be accepted in its entirety by the reader, the book in fact outlines what I feel are really basic rules for living, which are in complete agreement, I think, with the guidelines laid out in the teachings of the major religions, and which if followed should lead to contentment and expansion of consciousness. He stresses the importance of silence, solitude and also of meaningful activity, and of the need to listen for guidance, be it from and outside source such as nature, or from within, depending on our philosophy.

Many of his statements are similar to some of the principles utilised in psychological therapies, particularly some of the more cognitive approaches, but with more of an emphasis on the spiritual area than purely on the more intellectual, as well as on the need to explore our inner being and to listen to our intuitions rather than just focusing on externals.

I found the book left me resolving to delve further and to make time to put some of his suggestions into practice.

Diana M Pidwell MSc, AFBPsS, UK
Charted Clinical Psychologist