This just in. My recent book, Pilgrims to Openness: Direct Realization Tantra in Everyday Life, has won an IPPY silver medal for best books about religion published in 2009.
I wrote Pilgrims to Openness because I want seekers to have an accessible, practical, yet authentic guide to the heart of the Indian Tantrik tradition, aka Kashmir Shaivism.
Nearly 70 short essays address questions such as: “Do I need a Guru?” “What is suffering?” “Why am I doing spiritual practice?” “What is nonduality?” No subject is off limits, from difficult emotions such as loneliness to love relationships, death, kundalini, chakras, boredom, and how to wake up in the morning and for all time.
The IPPY, or the Independent Publisher Book Awards contest, is among the largest and most recognized in the world. Needless to say, I’m happy because now more people will be encouraged to learn about this beautiful tradition of Self-realization.
If you haven’t read PTO yet, check it out!
In Ma’s love,
Shambhavi
Congratulations! The book is a blessing to me and I think its a well deserved award. *smiles* Thank you for writing it.
05-22-10
I forwarded your IPPY PR to Sounds True for consideration of inclusion in their catalog.
As a fellow traveler and post modern westerner, I admire your literary homage to Ma.
As a loyal devotee, your skillful, honorific blending of rigorous intellectual scholarship with historical accuracy to these received ancient teachings, you have not only produced a text/testament but you accomplish the preservation of an extraordinary wisdom transmission – in language which is although accessible to seekers is not dumbed down or cliched.