Book Description

In the summer of 2002, the SRV staff, supporters, writers and contributors all come together once again for another exquisite expression of Advaitic Truth — that unique and quintessential quality which is at once a salubrious tonic for the body, a lustral lenitive for the mind, and a soothing balm for the soul. Applying a generous dole of this nepenthe of Nondual Nectar to life and mind will transport the spiritual aspirant into heretofore unforeseen and unimaginable heights of insight and perception, giving rise as well to an upsurge of abundant divine attributes lying fallow in the subtle soil of the human subconscious. It is no wonder that countless luminaries have taken unremitting recourse to this superlative divine domicile, this nonpareil sanctuary of refuges, finding an abiding solace and succor in Its boundless expanse. The theme of this issue is peace — individual, terrestrial, mental, and spiritual. Health for the body, preservation of the earth, healing for the emotions, purification of the mind, inspiration for the intellect, inner guidance for spiritual life — all levels of the human life-experience must be consciously catered to with sensitivity and devotion based upon knowledge. For, it is obvious that the many proffered “healing” systems current today which profess integration of body, mind and spirit fall ridiculously short of doing anything beyond mere physical therapy, ignoring almost completely the mind and soul of mankind. Though claims of holistic healing run rampant over the pages of contemporary magazines, the real orientation, directed grossly at gathering, storing, and protecting wealth, is most ponderously placed upon physical health and exercise combined with cosmetic solutions and techniques. These are duly predicated on man’s external existence alone, and designed mainly to satisfy the voracious and vulpine vanity of the body-oriented person inhabiting a materialistic society. Regarding the mind, if it is ill, bored, or imbalanced, a pill is supposed to suffice to put it right, or an extended period of study among the dry, dusty and philosophically anemic volumes of “higher learning” comprising our much vaunted and over-rated fields of Western secular knowledge. For the spirit, the “soul,” there is the growing popularity of overpriced, undernourished seminars, retreats or intensives, designed to bring a being face to face with oneself. Unfortunately, that “self” is, again, the body, for if one can relax it, stretch it, fill it with good food, massage it, steep it for hours in healing waters, run it around the grounds, engage it in sports, and indulge it in some dancing in the evening, the spiritual criterion of “holistic healing” is deemed satisfied and the “spirit” is considered rejuvenated.