Product Description

In 'Earth Pilgrim', Satish Kumar draws on his personal experience of making pilgrimages and also his understanding of the spiritual traditions of both East and West. The book takes the form of conversations about both the inner and outer aspects of pilgrimage. If we want to tread the pilgrim s path, we need to go beyond ideas of good and evil, and to be dedicated to our quest to our natural calling. We need to shed not only our unnecessary material possessions, but also our burdens of fear, anxiety, doubt and worry; in this way we can find spiritual renewal and embark on the great adventure into the unknown. Being on a pilgrimage doesn t necessarily mean travelling from one place to another it means a state of mind, a state of consciousness, a state of fearlessness. Satish believes that at this stage of human history we now need a new kind of pilgrim, unattached to any form of dogma Earth Pilgrims who are concerned with this world, not the next. Such pilgrims are seeking a deep commitment to life in the here and now, upon this Earth, in this world. We need to realise that we are all related and connected, and through this connectivity we become pilgrims.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16643 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 144 pages

Review
This book is not primarily about Satish's physical pilgrimages, but about their metaphorical extension to life's journey, and indeed to entire evolutionary progress. . . . [It] is fresh, wise, and profound, and is expressed with all Satish's directness and simplicity. It also has the great merit of brevity. Anyone who reads and digests it will find that their life is enriched. Above all, it is inspiring, like Satish himself. --from the Foreword by Rupert Sheldrake, author of 'A New Science of Life' and 'Seven Experiments That Could Change the World'

What a brilliant little book. Every page contains words of pure joy, wisdom and revelation. I experienced many moments of illumination as I read it. The questions posed were often exactly the ones I wanted to ask - each one felt relevant and poignant as the book unfolded gently to reveal new and deep insights! I am sure that it is a book that I will read many times and find new meanings with every reading. --Prof. Sharon Turnbull , Director of the Research Centre for Applied Leadership

In 1962 Satish Kumar walked from India on a peace march to the four corners of the nuclear world Moscow, Paris, London and Washington and he s been on the move ever since, physically, mentally, metaphorically . And on all his pilgrimages, both outer and inner, Satish has remained a stalwart friend of our home, the Earth. If only all journeys and all conversations were as profound and inspiring as this one. --Jonathan Stedall, documentary film-maker and author of 'Where on Earth is Heaven'

From the Inside Flap
In Earth Pilgrim, Satish Kumar draws on his personal experience of making pilgrimages and also his understanding of the spiritual traditions of both East and West. The book takes the form of conversations about both the inner and outer aspects of pilgrimage.
If we want to tread the pilgrim's path, we need to go beyond ideas of good and evil, and to be dedicated to our quest - to our natural calling. We need to shed not only our unnecessary material possessions, but also our burdens of fear, anxiety, doubt and worry; in this way we can find spiritual renewal and embark on the great adventure into the unknown. Being on a pilgrimage doesn't necessarily mean travelling from one place to another - it means a state of mind, a state of consciousness, a state of fearlessness.
Satish believes that at this stage of human history we now need a new kind of pilgrim, unattached to any form of dogma - `Earth Pilgrims' who are concerned with this world, not the next. Such pilgrims are seeking a deep commitment to life in the here and now, upon this Earth, in this world. We need to realise that we are all related and connected, and through this connectivity we become pilgrims.

About the Author
Satish Kumar was born in Rajasthan, India, in 1936, and his life has been permeated by the theme of pilgrimage. It began with his mother, walking with her to and from the fields of melons, millet and sesame that she cultivated. At the age of nine he became a wandering Jain monk, walking through the northern and western parts of India with his guru, Acharya Tulsi. He then joined the Land Gift movement of Vinoba Bhave, this time walking through the eastern and southern parts of India, and in 1962 he set out on a peace pilgrimage of 8,000 miles without any money, from the grave of Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi to Moscow, Paris, London and Washington DC. He also undertook pilgrimages to mark his fiftieth and sixtieth birthdays. Satish has appeared on BBC Radio 4 s Desert Island Discs, and made a film for the Natural World series entitled Earth Pilgrim. His other books include No Destination: an autobiography; You Are, Therefore I Am: a declaration of dependence; and Spiritual Compass: the three qualities of life. He lives in north Devon with his wife June.

Customer Reviews

This is what political vision should be all about
Satish Kumar has written a truly great book, easy to read and simple to understand. He has managed to avoid jargon or language that is difficult to engage with - which is a refreshing change. Based on his extensive personal experiences and years of reflection this book, for me, should be read by all who yearn for a more caring and sustainable future - it's radical without being off the wall.
Earth Pilgrim is written as a conversation with several different interviewers, and at first I was sceptical that this format would work - but it does and its very good! Satish argues for a reconnetion with nature, for the development of holisic education (or should than be re-education) for all and, for putting ecology ahead of economy
If you want to hear a refreshing critique of what's gone wrong with out society and to feast on a vision of what can be, then read this lovely and compelling book. It puts forward a manifesto that is quite different than anything that the mainstream politians have to offer - and it just could work!