Spiritual Compass: The Three Qualities of Life - Hardcover

Kumar, Satish

4.22

65 ratings by Goodreads

9781903998892: Spiritual Compass: The Three Qualities of Life

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1903998891 ISBN 13: 9781903998892

Publisher: Green Books, 2007

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In our modern, materialistic world it is easy to separate spirituality from everyday life, but this book encourages spirituality to be a part of our ordinary, everyday existence. It needs to be implicitly present in business, in politics, in farming, in cooking, and in relationships. To illustrate this, Satish Kumar draws on the Indian Ayurvedic tradition which characterizes the mind as having three gunas, or primary qualities: sattva (characterized by calmness, clarity and purity), rajas (energy and passion), and tamas (dullness and ignorance). These qualities can be applied to work and the environment. When we see ourselves in the light of the three gunas, they can orient us toward the direction in which we wish to go. They can help us to recover the art of living, and lead us towards a peaceful and contented existence. Extending the meaning of spirtuality further, Satish explains that there is no dualism between spirit and matter—all matter is imbued with spirit, and spirit manifests through matter. This integrated world-view forms the core of his book.

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About the Author:

Satish Kumar is an internationally renowned speaker on ecological and spiritual issues. He is the editor of Resurgence magazine, director of programmes at Schumacher College, and founder of the UK Schumacher Society. He is the author of Earth Pilgrim, No Destination, and You Are Therefore I Am.

Review:

“Satish Kumar's own life is an admirable example of simplicity, compassion and care. And this shines through on every page of this delightful, yet profound, little book.” —Peter Russell, author, From Science to God

“Articulates the timeless values and world views which support right living. His book will help us move from the mechanistic worldview, which has pushed us to the brink of survival, to an ecological worldview.” —Vandana Shiva, author, Earth Democracy

“Offers clear and joyful evidence of the bridge that can and must be built between the great spiritual teachings of the East and the onrushing, bedevilled life of our contemporary world. May there come many others who join Satish Kumar in this essential work!” —Jacob Needleman, author, Why Can't We Be Good?

“In this book Satish Kumar offers a holistic approach to humanity's problems by showing how a sattvic lifestyle can allow us to heal ourselves and contribute to the healing of humanity and the world. Those who wish to restore the broken balance in their lives will greatly benefit from the wisdom expounded in this book.” —Deepak Chopra, author, Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment

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