The Spiritual Wisdom of India
by Lisbeth Ejlertsen
AuthorHouse
[Read this review from 2017 in its original form on the web page of The US Review of Books here]
Reviewed by Jennifer Hummer
“The five gurus who I met on my way all had the same message; that happiness is to be united with the divine in oneself; everything is in being.”
In 1992, the author meets a teacher in Denmark long inspired by an Indian master. For some time, the author has found herself depressed, despite her budding career. Motivated by the teacher, the author travels to India herself. It is to be the first of over 20 visits. Ejlersten’s goal is to visit with the most well-known Indian gurus, all of whom have enormous responsibilities as communicators of spiritual laws and truths. Years before, at age 26 and while travelling in Turkey, the author feels herself falling off a path, but instead of hitting the ground right away, time seems to stand still. It is because of this incident that the author already – because of her own experience – had come to believe that human consciousness can exist on many different levels. Throughout her many travels, Ejlersten is able to experience the presence of four of the most famous gurus: Swamiji, Sai Baba, Amma, and Papaji. She even gives her readers their addresses. Ironically, after travelling to India and meeting gurus there two times, Ejlersten meets her “right” guru, Chariji, in Denmark during one of his visits to this country. The author has a great love for India and the joy with which she writes about her adventures is profound. Ejlersten comes to understand the different philosophies between religion and spirituality. She realizes that religion views God as being something outside of human beings, while spirituality sees divine wisdom as living inside each and every one of us.
The author does a good job simplifying Eastern topics such as Sanskrit, Mantra, Vedas and the Bhagavadgita (the Hindu “Bible”) to name just a few. Her easy and unintimidating writing style allows both novices and experts alike to absorb her stories and teachings without feeling naïve or judged. With her extended wealth of information on the spiritual wisdom of India, Ejlersten might just be called a master herself.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
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