Echo in the Lotus Land

Book excerpt: Death and loss are universal. But how do we liberate ourselves from the frustration, grief, and pain of losing a loved one? Echo in the Lotus Land is a narrative philosophical novel exploring themes of grief, loss, and contemplation through the lens of ancient Indian rational philosophy and spiritualism. Drawing on Samkhya texts, a dualistic school of Hindu philosophy, it seeks to help the reader liberate the self through the parable of Chaya. Chaya’s roommate, Karl, has just lost his mother. As the family comes together around the funeral, Chaya reflects on her past experiences dealing with the loss of her own mother, and how this new death brings that history back into focus. Chaya searches for the meaning of life, and how to resolve and take action to move away from the discomfort of loss and into equanimity once more.