At the age of 25, driven by the profound loss of his father, a man embarked on an extraordinary journey through the realms of religion and philosophy. This personal tragedy ignited a fervent quest for meaning, leading him to immerse himself in the study of Buddhism and other spiritual traditions. Despite a demanding career in finance, he dedicated four hours each day to his passion, meticulously compartmentalizing his professional life from his intellectual pursuits. His unique approach, characterized by clarity and deep research, allowed him to transform complex philosophical concepts into accessible and engaging narratives. His writings, which he describes as a form of psychotherapy, offer authentic spiritual guidance rooted in the wisdom of great Masters. As an author of both non-fiction and fiction, his works strive to make learning a joyful and enriching experience, providing readers with profound insights while maintaining an air of joy and elation. In the following interview, he shares his remarkable journey, insights, and the inspirations behind his acclaimed works.
1. What first sparked your passion for studying various religions and philosophies at the age of 25? Was there a particular moment or experience that set you on this path?
Yes, there was indeed an event that set me on this path: the sudden death of my father when I was 21. He was a very religious and devout man, and his sudden death turned my world upside down. I had to go through tremendous emotional and financial hardship – it caused a repulsion in my mind towards all things religious and spiritual. I became a rude atheist. I was bewildered by the challenge that life had thrown at me and started seeking meaning and answers. I always felt an attraction towards Buddha, and because Buddhism is an atheistic religion, I started my study with Buddhism – basically to seek answers for the human predicament. I was suffering, and the basic emphasis of Buddhism was suffering, dukkha.
2. How did your career in finance shape your approach to writing about philosophy and spirituality? Any interesting overlaps between these two worlds?
I started writing at the age of 42, i.e., after 17 years of study. During those years of study, I never had writing in my mind. Because of my job, I could manage only about four hours of study each day – two hours in the early morning and another two hours at night. For that, I had to sacrifice television, sports, and other kinds of entertainment. And I was able to strictly compartmentalize my career and my passion for seeking knowledge. There were no overlaps. But I was grateful to my profession because it gave me the means to purchase books by the hundreds.
3. Walk us through a typical day in your life as a writer. How do you juggle your time between deep study, contemplation, and putting pen to paper?
For all these years when I was in a job, in a typical day, the writer did not exist at all! Since all my books involved deep research and study for years, I was studying most of the time to gather material for my manuscripts, taking notes, etc. Then, when I had the structure ready in my mind, I would sit down to write. Usually, I wrote in intense bursts of four-five days to complete a section of the book. Putting pen to paper took up very short time compared to the study that went into writing a manuscript.
4. Making complex philosophical and spiritual concepts accessible to everyone sounds challenging. What’s your secret to simplifying these profound ideas for your readers?
The secret is clarity. I decide to write a book only when I have complete clarity about the subject. I never write something about which I have an uncertain understanding. When you have that kind of clarity and always have the lay reader in mind while writing your book, it is possible to convey profound ideas in a simple manner. Of course, the gift of expression is also required, but in this respect, I enjoy the grace and blessings of the Divine.
5. You describe your writings as a form of psychotherapy. How do you envision your words helping readers find peace and contentment?
All spiritual teachings are, in a sense, psychotherapy. Because they address our value system, deal with our mental aberrations, flaws in thinking, and help us to identify the true priorities in life. The majority of the problems in life have their origin in our false values and deluded thinking. Spiritual knowledge corrects this situation. Peace and contentment can come only when we choose the “good” over the “pleasant.”
6. You’ve steered clear of the typical self-help and motivational writing. How do you stay focused on offering authentic spiritual guidance instead?
There are enough trainers offering self-help and motivation to succeed in life. That is not my domain. And success is a station in life; it cannot be the destination. Buying houses, cars, and gadgets cannot be the end-purpose of life. If you are successful in life but lack purpose and meaning, peace, and contentment, then you are a failure in my view. I am able to offer authentic spiritual guidance because all my writings are based on the great wisdom traditions and teachings of the great Masters.
7. What drew you to Sufi philosophy, and how do you weave its teachings into your work?
My passionate exploration of all mystical traditions led me to Sufism. It was one of the many mystical paths I explored. And only my first book, *Eating His Money – The Antics of a Metaphysical Clown*, is based on Sufism. It contains my commentaries on 25 jokes of Mulla Nasrudin, who is a teaching device invented by the Sufi Masters. My other books are not about Sufism. For instance, my fourth book, *An Oak Tree in the Garden*, is about Zen.
8. You’re active on YouTube and write for an online magazine. How do you tailor your content for these different platforms to engage a broader audience?
The problem with YouTube and online articles is the limited space. It is not possible to say in a short video or an online article what I can say in a book. But since the book-reading audience is becoming smaller with each passing day due to the fall in our attention spans, I choose only a small aspect of some subject and create content keeping the space constraint in mind.
9. Winning awards for your books is quite an achievement! How has this recognition influenced your writing journey and your approach to new projects?
I have been writing continuously for the last 20 years but could achieve publishing success only in the last two years. The two awards won so far have come in 2024 only. So, awards did not figure anywhere in my writing journey of 20 years. I don’t think these awards are going to influence my new projects because if the awards have come, that is because of the quality of the content and the dedication that has gone into the study and research. And that is not changing. Awards or no awards. Yes, I am grateful for the awards because that would take my writing to a wider audience.
10. You’ve written both fiction and non-fiction. How does your mindset shift when you switch between these genres?
All the four books that have been published so far are non-fiction. Only this year, my first fiction work, *Sermons of the Dead*, is going to be published. To be honest, I enjoy writing fiction more, but the kind of subjects I am passionate about cannot be rendered in fiction. The shift in mindset is all about the mode of expression. Even in writing fiction, I am dealing with very deep subjects, but the tone and expression are different.
11. Can you give us a sneak peek into your upcoming books, A Grain of Sand and Sermons of the Dead? What can readers look forward to in these new works?
Both of these works are unique. *A Grain of Sand – Decoding Images, Rituals and Mythology* is an exploration and explanation of the symbolism in Sanatana Dharma that has been used in the Puranic, Upanishadic, and Vedic ages. And *Sermons of the Dead* is a fascinating work of fiction which contains imaginary conversations with the great martyrs of history like Socrates, Jesus, Mansur al Hallaj, Joan of Arc, Galileo, and Gandhi. Readers can expect immense enrichment of knowledge through these deeply researched works.
12. What do you hope readers take away from your books? How do you see your work impacting future generations interested in philosophy and spirituality?
The main takeaway for the readers is that they get to learn about philosophy, religion, spirituality, psychology, history, etc., in a very readable and accessible format. I strive to make even serious content entertaining. I do not believe that entertainment has to be mindless. And future readers could become interested in this kind of content because I want to show through my books that the acquisition of knowledge can be done with a smile on your lips, not with a frown on your brow. Learning should be a joyful process. True spirituality is not about long faces, but smiling lips. Hence, all my writings have this air of joy and elation.
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