Stop Sleep Walking Through Life!

“In simple language, it shows how to gain an inner awareness which brings peace, uniting us to each other and to the whole universe. Its most valuable lesson is that a practical spirituality is possible within everyone’s daily activities, including the pursuit of a successful career.”– Fr. Lancy Pereira S.J.,Former Principal, St. Xavier’s College, MumbaiWhat happens when your ‘big dreams’ get fulfilled? Do you attain an enduring state of fulfilment? Are you then able to live happily ever after? Or, is there something vital missing that you need to address now?“When I pose these questions to the students at IIT, they feel uncomfortable,” says Dr. Menon. “The majority are too heavily programmed,” he adds. "There appears to be too much at stake in the ‘rat race’ of life and it takes considerable courage, even just to pause and reflect, especially when one has traveled far and got ahead in the race. There is little in their education to persuade them to think otherwise.”“Is this the best our education can offer today?” asks Dr. Menon. “Are we not completely evading certain key issues in life? Are we not leaving the young generations ‘magnificently unprepared, for the long littleness of life’?”Drawing inspiration from various spiritual traditions, Dr. Menon guides the reader through nine graded chapters to the full meaning of ‘awareness’. He establishes that awakening and continual awareness of one’s ego-self not only bring freedom from mind-made suffering, but also enhance the quality of one’s work and one’s life.

Devdas Menon is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Madras,engaged in teaching, research and consultancy in structural engineering. Headopts a holistic approach in education, placing an emphasis on inner development and transformation.
 
In engineering, his primary research interests are in the area of structural concrete design. He has a special interest in developing codes of practice, and is presently the Chairman of the Bureau of Indian Standards CED 38 Committee on Special Structures. He has authored several popular textbooks: Reinforced Concrete Design, Structural Analysis and Advanced Structural Analysis.
 
Devdas Menon has also authored a book called Stop sleepwalking through life! (1998),and has given numerous invited talks and conducted workshops forstudents, teachers andcorporate organisations on finding meaning and fulfilment in life through self awareness and inner transformation. He teaches two uniquely designed and popular elective courses at IIT
Madras, Self Awareness and Integral Karmayoga. For his contributions in engineering and education, he has been conferred several awards. More details are available at devdasmenon.com