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The Texture Of Being

by Roy Whenary (book)

Introduction

The Author

Book Extracts

Chapter 7:

Living In The World

Chapter 15: Teachers & Enlightenment

Other Authors Comments

How To Buy It

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Meditational Music

Inner Peace, Inner Joy

(by Roy Whenary)

Deep Spirit Music CDs

(by Robert Nicholas)

Inspiring Words from Other Authors (click)

Links (click)
Opening The Clown Chakra (click)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW BY LAURA ROMANO

Sumarah is a philosophy of life and a form of meditation that originally comes from Java, Indonesia. The word 'Sumarah' means 'total surrender' - to life. The practice, which is based on developing sensitivity, receptivity and acceptance, guides towards a deep relaxation of body, feeling and mind. This is the first step in the process of personal transformation and meeting our total self. Advaita students may notice a similarity of approach between Advaita and Sumarah. Laura Romano is a practitioner and teacher of Sumarah, and is also the author of the book "Sumarah: The Awakening Of The Inner Teacher" (available only in the Italian language at present). Her website is at: www.sumarah.net

 

In his book 'The Texture Of Being', Roy speaks in a simple but deep language. The main message is a wonderful and very relaxing one ... "we do not need to search for our true being ... we already are it!".

 

I feel that this book can be read on many levels and also many times. One can find something new, a new level of understanding each time. I find that the message of Advaita has many points in common with Sumarah. Here are some:

 

1.

However we have decided to search for the 'Source', the main tool is not the mind, but the 'feeling' ('rasa' in Java, Indonesia). Thought cannot take us 'there'. It is important, in the spiritual practice, to learn to be receptive and to go beyond emotions. Roy points out very clearly the difference between feelings and 'feeling'. I think this is very important for the West. In fact, in our culture, the identification with the emotions is so strong and so deep that no one is very willing to let go of them. It is felt that we would lose ourselves. I like the way in which, from Roy's words, emerge the fact that going beyond emotions is not denial, but actually the possibility of going deeper into our true self.

 

2.

The real challenge is to live in the world. The spiritual message is not to escape somewhere to find peace, but to find peace in the market place. The challenge is also to find the extraordinary in the so called ordinary, and (I would say) vice versa, to find the ordinary in the extraordinary. The wisdom of the ordinary, in Sumarah, is called 'daily meditation'. I like Roy's statement that "the ordinary is already quite extraordinary". This is one of the many pearls of this book. Another one shines up when Roy mentions the need "to move from personal reaction to effective action". How true .... and it is about time!

 

3.

No need for an outer teacher. Sumarah speaks about the inner teacher ('guru sejati') and the inner guide ('pamong pribadi').

 

4.

The importance of acceptance and surrender (Sumarah literally means 'surrender'). 'No resistance' is learning to accept and to stay with what is - the negative and the positive.

 

I enjoyed the relaxed feeling of this book. The Advaita message has no 'must', no 'for sure', no 'never' and no 'always' ... just the same as in Sumarah.

 

Roy suggests that meditation is like having a shower ... a shower in/of silent emptiness. Through it "we can maybe learn to be like a flower, always ready to respond to the light" (another pearl!).

 

At the end of the book one feels this need and the deep wish to find and practice "the transcendent vision (and 'experience', I would say) of the way things are in the universe". Roy says that there is no conclusion. On the other hand, perhaps, there is a very precious message, which is: "If we cannot live in the present moment there is no other time to live. This is what is on offer, this is our opportunity to manifest our destiny".

 

Laura Romano

 

 

 

 

 

 

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