The book is a philosophical novel set against the backdrop of Indian spiritual traditions, exploring the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern psychology and scientific thought through a tapestry of dialogue, inner search, and cross cultural understanding. The story follows the central character of the book, Anna Lindermier's journey to India, to familiarize herself with the elements of contemplative psychology as elaborated in the old Indian texts relating to Yoga and Vedanta. The book is a work of reflective fiction that explores the meeting ground of psychology, culture and inner experience. Through the journey of it's central character, it examines enduring questions about human nature, violence and compassion, reason intellect and intuitive wisdom, and search for meaning in a fast changing world. Anna's spiritual and intellectual journey leads her from the structured world of western psychology and psycho analysis to the deeply symbolic terrain of Indian philosophy, which also reflects the fundamental elements of Indian psychology, which is being researched upon in recent times. She travels to India to seek a direct insight into the Yogic and Vedantic traditions. Set across contemporary India- from forest and wild life reserves to villages, rivers and ashrams- the narrative brings the Western analytical thought into dialogue with the Eastern contemplative traditions. Without idealising either of the two, it presents culture as a living and evolving process shaped by history, belief and experience. Nature, memory and myth play a vital role in the story, offering symbolic and psychological depth. The forest, the tiger, the mountain and the river serve not only as settings for the story, but also are metaphors for instinct, transformation and self inquiry. Rather than delivering dry exposition, the novel attempts to weave Vedanta and Yoga philosophy into a series of vibrant discourses and storytelling. It explores various schools of thought including Buddhism, Charvakmaterialism , non dual Advaita school of Vedanta, while addressing the modern misappropriation, commercialisation, and commodification of spiritual concepts, thereby diluting it's rich content. This is not a book of conclusions, but of exploration. It invites the readers to reflect, to question the inherited assumptions and to consider perspectives that lie beyond the conventional boundaries of thought. The attempt is to foster among the readers an interest in psychology, philosophy and cross cultural understanding by offering a contemplative journey into what it means to be human. This book grew out of questions rather than answers, and many people- knowingly and unknowingly became part of that questioning. I am grateful to all those people who crossed my path during the writing of this book through conversation, silence or disagreement. My gratitude to my wife, children and family who stood by me during the writing of the book as well as friends and well wishers. I acknowledge the landscapes that shaped this work-mountains, forests, rivers and streams that offered both solitude and perspective.
The book titled 'That Thou Art- The Unknown Dimensions' has been authored by Indu Kumar Pande, a retired civil servant. Born in the lake city of Nainital, nestled in the Central Himalayas on December 1949, started his career as a lecturer in Physics and joined Indian Administrative Service in 1975. He retired in December 2009.
The book seeks to weave the richness of Indian Vedantic and Yogic tradition into a contemporary narrative framework. The novel engages with deep questions of human consciousness, psychology and cultural synthesis through the journey of a German psychotherapist who finds herself drawn to India in quest for it's spiritual landscapes. It is designed for readers who are curious about the Indian philosophical tradition, but seek more than surface level narrative. It is a literary exploration of the synthesis between metaphysics in the ancient Indian Vedic scriptures and modern psychology in the contemporary scientific tradition anchored in a story, by way of dialogue and discourse. The book is a literary vehicle to make available the Eastern philosophy to the global audiences, yet remains deeply rooted to it's Indian origin.
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Visual Search
Manage Wishlist