Review of Looking Inwards
-
Jen Cowhig
- Posts: 250
- Joined: 18 May 2023, 11:07
- Favorite Book: Fangirl
- Currently Reading: The Madness Underneath
- Bookshelf Size: 174
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jen-cowhig.html
- Latest Review: Amber’s Way by Gloria Galloway
- Reading Device: B0775717ZP
- 2025 Reading Goal: 25
- 2025 Goal Completion: 24%
Review of Looking Inwards
[Following is a volunteer review of "Looking Inwards" by Sameer Pendse.]
Looking Inwards: A Journey into Turiya is a book containing a collection of poetry and songs by Sameer Pendse. All of these works are focused on Pendse's spiritual journey, but I don't think that this book should only be for those who are religious, as there are a number of poems that focus on social responsibilities, and as a nonreligious person, I think that anyone who reads this book can find a poem that speaks to their soul.
Nonetheless, those who already possess knowledge of Eastern spiritual practices such as Buddhism or Hinduism might have an easier time understanding some of the concepts within this collection. One of the main concepts is the idea of Turiya, which in Hindu philosophy is pure consciousness, the true self beyond the three common states of consciousness. I wish that the author would briefly explain these spiritual concepts to help those unfamiliar with the subject understand the poetry more deeply. I know that the author doesn't do this because they believe “the poet does not in any way strive to be a willful educator or proponent of any particular school of thought” (Pendse 7). This book isn't meant to preach; it is a form of self-expression, telling the author's spiritual journey. However, I still disliked that the author chose not to briefly explain the spiritual practice that they follow or any of the important concepts relating to their religion, as I wanted something to ground me in this highly philosophical work. While I don't want to discourage nonreligious readers who are interested in Pendse's poetry from checking him out, I also want to be honest and say that this book contains a lot of spiritual content relating to higher devotion.
However, I came into this book knowing that it was likely going to be very spiritual, and I give it five out of five stars as there is really nothing wrong with the book. While I might seem critical about the contents of the book at times, I actually fell in love with many of the poems!
It shouldn't be surprising to readers of this review that my favorite poems were the ones that weren't very religious. My favorite poem was probably “The Daughter We Never Had”, which is about a miscarriage, but it also goes through the perceived differences between daughters and sons. It made me reflect on how my life might have been different if I had been born a boy. I feel like the best poetry makes us reflect on and connect to moments in our personal lives. The opening essay gave me a deeper appreciation of poetry as well as explaining what the author believes the role of poetry and poets is in society. Poetry is an ancient art that has many purposes, but Pendse believes that a poet's greatest mission in life is to keep love alive (Pendse
. Isn’t that a beautiful concept? While I have enjoyed some poetry in the past, I don’t think I truly appreciated it before reading this book.
I highly recommend this book to those who have an interest in poetry and some experience with Hinduism. Although some individuals from different backgrounds may enjoy specific poems, this book as a whole is better suited for poetry enthusiasts who already possess some knowledge about Eastern spiritual practices.
******
Looking Inwards
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Looking Inwards: A Journey into Turiya is a book containing a collection of poetry and songs by Sameer Pendse. All of these works are focused on Pendse's spiritual journey, but I don't think that this book should only be for those who are religious, as there are a number of poems that focus on social responsibilities, and as a nonreligious person, I think that anyone who reads this book can find a poem that speaks to their soul.
Nonetheless, those who already possess knowledge of Eastern spiritual practices such as Buddhism or Hinduism might have an easier time understanding some of the concepts within this collection. One of the main concepts is the idea of Turiya, which in Hindu philosophy is pure consciousness, the true self beyond the three common states of consciousness. I wish that the author would briefly explain these spiritual concepts to help those unfamiliar with the subject understand the poetry more deeply. I know that the author doesn't do this because they believe “the poet does not in any way strive to be a willful educator or proponent of any particular school of thought” (Pendse 7). This book isn't meant to preach; it is a form of self-expression, telling the author's spiritual journey. However, I still disliked that the author chose not to briefly explain the spiritual practice that they follow or any of the important concepts relating to their religion, as I wanted something to ground me in this highly philosophical work. While I don't want to discourage nonreligious readers who are interested in Pendse's poetry from checking him out, I also want to be honest and say that this book contains a lot of spiritual content relating to higher devotion.
However, I came into this book knowing that it was likely going to be very spiritual, and I give it five out of five stars as there is really nothing wrong with the book. While I might seem critical about the contents of the book at times, I actually fell in love with many of the poems!
It shouldn't be surprising to readers of this review that my favorite poems were the ones that weren't very religious. My favorite poem was probably “The Daughter We Never Had”, which is about a miscarriage, but it also goes through the perceived differences between daughters and sons. It made me reflect on how my life might have been different if I had been born a boy. I feel like the best poetry makes us reflect on and connect to moments in our personal lives. The opening essay gave me a deeper appreciation of poetry as well as explaining what the author believes the role of poetry and poets is in society. Poetry is an ancient art that has many purposes, but Pendse believes that a poet's greatest mission in life is to keep love alive (Pendse
. Isn’t that a beautiful concept? While I have enjoyed some poetry in the past, I don’t think I truly appreciated it before reading this book.I highly recommend this book to those who have an interest in poetry and some experience with Hinduism. Although some individuals from different backgrounds may enjoy specific poems, this book as a whole is better suited for poetry enthusiasts who already possess some knowledge about Eastern spiritual practices.
******
Looking Inwards
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Amber’s Way by Gloria Galloway
