I AM Ashish to "I AM" - Paperback

by Anil Joshi (Author)

This is a story of a hard-driving businessman who, at age forty-six, understood that this world is simply an illusion as perceived through our senses and individuality. He wanted to get more out of life and experience the Truth behind this illusion. In the twenty-first century, his message to all of us is to put less emphasis on organized religion and more on universal spirituality.

This book will help a reader understand some of the more profound questions we often ask ourselves when sitting alone, facing challenges, or striving for peace and happiness: Who am I? Is there a God? Do prayers work? How is spiritualism different than religion? What does it mean to be enlightened? "I AM" will clarify your questions and illuminate your path to enlightenment.

Written in a question-and-answer format and accessible to all-young and experienced alike-this book distills the essence of spiritualism as understood and experienced by an ordinary human being amongst us. An ordinary human being sharing his learnings and experiences on spiritualism and answering the eternal question: Who am I?

Excerpt from "I AM"

"When personality merges with Reality, what remains is a non-personal, all-inclusive awareness. The Reality is singular. God and I are one and the same in this Reality. When our individuality or ego is dissolved, the appearance of all perceived connections with this external and illusory world dissolves. Thus, "Ashish" no longer exists, and a self becomes the Self-a permanent and eternal state of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss. This is Self-Realization."

This book is intended for a wide audience. In most cultures, God, prayers, and religion play a major role. Each culture has its own methods and traditions that shape young minds. Such teachings are offered in places of worship, like temples and churches, at the home dinner table, or in bedtime stories. In this book, we have tried to raise tough questions and offer direct responses. This approach may be uncomfortable for some readers, but the thoughts presented here will encourage deeper questions and insights.

A unique offering in this book is to distinguish between two perspectives: First duality, in which there is a physical worldview where we see with our eyes, hear with our ears, and touch with our hands. Here, emotions of love, hate, jealousy, and competition are part of survival and well-being. Everyone is viewed as an individual entity, with the ability to influence their successes and failures, while trying to live a good life and help those who are unfortunate. This individual is separate from God, a higher power that is respected and worshipped. Second non-duality, where God and individual are considered one and the same! Each individual entity-be it a human, an animal, or a thing-is just an appearance; individuals vary in their physical and moral characteristics, but all go through constant fluctuations between happiness and suffering, victory and defeat, and win and loss. Yet none of these things are truly real. Reality is only that which is non-changing and everlasting. Readers will see most of the questions in the book coming from the perspective of the physical world or duality, since that is the perceived reality for billions of people. Yet the responses from Sri Ashish are from the perspective non-duality, the state of Sat-Chit-Ananda, where this world is just a manifestation appearing within this Reality and not separate from it.

This book will encourage self-reflection and help you go deeper into the meaning of life and who you are. It will help you ask more questions of yourself and those who are on a spiritual journey with you. It will help you ask more questions of yourself and those who are on a spiritual journey with you. Sri Ashish has an inherent ability to explain in a simplified manner the complex topics often covered in religious, spiritual, and philosophical scriptures.