We embark on life's journeys, bursting with dreams and ambitions destined for greatness. With each hard-won peak, the expected bliss proves fleeting. New milestones pass, achievements accumulate, and yet, lasting happiness dangles just out of reach before the next desire hijacks its hope. How does anyone find enduring fulfillment impervious to life's unpredictable turbulences in our fast-paced modern times? This philosophical novel chronicles a Silicon Valley technologist, Qayum, whose tumultuous experiences spark questions about the essence of existence. Blending psychology, neuroscience, and ancient teachings from Stoic and Vedantic texts, the gripping spiritual fiction employs lyrical prose and thought-provoking vignettes on a journey of self-transformation. Eastern philosophy's esoteric concepts of illusion, consciousness, and natural laws come to life in engaging dialogues, revealing the timeless tools for monk-like equanimity while being fully engaged in life's dance. About the author: Serene Rishi is a pen name for a tech professional based in Silicon Valley. She has worked in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly 25 years at major companies like Google and Cisco and a few early-stage start-ups, where she honed her analytical rigor and structured thinking. She was born into a Muslim home, studied at a Catholic school, and married into a Hindu family. Outside the corporate demands, the author maintains an avid interest in positive psychology, scientific theories of consciousness, and Western and Eastern philosophies. Her existential dilemmas as a modern-day professional seeking tranquility are reflected in her debut novel. She illuminates important connections between science and spiritual teachings for analytical minds seeking practical tools for enduring peace.
