Be "SELF"-Centered, Not Self-Centered
A Dialogue on Spirituality
by
Book Details
About the Book
This book is an intimate, sacred dialogue that attempts to capture the essence of the journey into enlightenment. It is a snapshot of many hours of dialogue with "Source," the intuitive voice heard in deep calmness, meditation, and in the spontaneity of the day-to-day. It contains a broad range of material and conversation on daily living, spiritual practice, metaphysics, health, and healing. It discusses age-old issues in the Universe that are both tangible and intangible, and it focuses on our journey towards enlightenment through the conscious awakening and unfoldment of the inner Self. Whatever our path, it is vital to understand that the root of spirituality lies in going beyond mind and body into a vast consciousness that we normally do not access. Resting in this experience, we rediscover our true source of happiness, love, wisdom, and peace. From that tangible knowing, we can then do anything without the limitations of our mind. Even a glimpse of something beyond gives us tremendous inspiration and confidence in discovering who we truly are. We are all in essence spiritual beings experiencing a material life; we are not merely physical beings blindly discerning life's purpose. We already are the great "Self." It is matter of calming the mind to dive deeper into what is already within us. This book is divided into four parts. Part I discusses general questions on the nature of God, Source, and enlightenment. Metaphysical questions on death, the nature of Spirit, and our sacred role on the planet are answered. It also dives deep into issues of karma/destiny, reincarnation, and other realms of existence. Part II outlines daily living from the perspective of Source. In-depth questions on gurus, masters, and mentors are answered in a way that the reader can appreciate. Part II then discusses spiritual practice and the mind at great length with particular emphasis on the "inner enemies"--those mental tendencies that obscure our experience of enlightenment. It also discusses relationships in depth. Part III focuses on spiritual phenomena such as channeling, psychic powers, and the inner workings of healing. UFO's are also mentioned. It stresses that we must go even beyond all phenomena to the root of consciousness for true enlightenment. Otherwise we may get stuck in the focus on the external world. Part IV addresses general health and healing. It is open ended to allow greater contemplation on what is real health (the state of enlightenment) and what is needed for inner change. It calls for a deeper level of understanding about the mind and body so that our medical system can ultimately transform to incorporate our many needs and levels of being.
About the Author
Rama Pemmaraju Rao MD is a board-certified physician who specializes in Internal Medicine and Psychiatric Medicine. He is currently assistant clinical professor at University of Alabama Medical School/Children's Hospital in Psychiatry/Child Psychiatric Medicine. He also deals with primary care medical issues as well. He continues to deepen his process in training and education in Integrative and Complementary Medicine. His lifelong goal is to bring the best of East and West into the medical setting, to afford optimal healing. His ultimate vision is to create a broad new paradigm in health and medicine through teaching, education, and through the manifestation of new clinic models that blend the Orient and the Occident. Dr. Pemmaraju Rao is a native Texan born in San Antonio, Texas, and whose parents and ancestry are from South India. He has blended the best of East and West in his life and has seen first-hand issues in the human condition that warrant a broader outlook and approach to health and healing. He completed medical training at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and continued residency in Medicine's Psychiatry, and Child Psychiatry at Baylor Affiliated Hospitals, Harvard Medical School (Children's Hospital), and completed Internal Medicine at Dallas Presbyterian Hospitals. Dr. Pemmaraju Rao appears regularly on television and radio for all affiliates in Birmingham, Alabama, on health, healing, and spirituality. He has had a lifelong background in Yoga and its practices. His deepest dream is to convey the teachings and principles of spirituality and healing inspired by the ideals of a number of meditation masters he has personally followed throughout the world. His original Guru is Swami Satchidananda who is his most revered personal master and mentor he has known since childhood. Swami Satchidananda is the Guru and founder of Integral Yoga© who came to the United States in the sixties and whose teachings are well known throughout the West. Dr. Pemmaraju Rao's spiritual journey has further led him to the intimate quest of the heart and the search for the Divine Mother. In this process, he has been extremely fortunate to receive the direct energy, guidance, and grace of a number of different embodiments of the Divine Mother around the world. These women have included Mother Meera (Dornberg/Thalheim Germany), *Mata Amritananda (MaCenter/San Ramon, CA), Suma Ching Hai, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda® (Siddha Yoga® lineage, South Fallsburg, NY), Karunamayi Vijayeshwari (SMVA Trust NY), and Anandi Ma (Dhyan Yoga®, Antioch, CA). He is also particularly grateful for the Guidance of Master Subramaniya of the Saiva Siddhanta San Marga Temple in Kaui, Hawaii. Dr. Pemmaraju Rao's philosophy of life is that we are forever growing and learning on the path to enlightenment. He feels there is nothing that is "not spiritual" if we simply shift our focus, increase our contemplation and introspection, as well as deepen our insight. Real spirituality, he feels is truly being one's Self and accepting everything about others and ourselves in every given moment. We must be who we are and learn and grow from wherever we are. One cannot ignore issues in Psychology 101 and claim to be spiritual. He constantly looks to the enlightened masters as examples of what we must all become. In fact, he feels we are already enlightened. Ultimately everything reveals itself to us in its own time when we approach and return to God or Source directly within our own beings. It is a matter of uncovering layer by layer "that which we are not in order to experience the enlightened state." Ultimate perfect health is the experience of enlightenment; everything we do represents our quest for health and healing through life's journey of Self-Realization and unfoldment.