The Rivers of Paradise

Book excerpt: A river flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four branches - Genesis 2:10 From the author of Jesus: The Mantra Of God and Towards A Christian Tantra comes a spiritual memoir that poetically expresses a single person's journey, and through it, humanity's return to the paradise that we spring from. Drawing on complementary ideas from Christianity and Hinduism, The Rivers of Paradise is a much-needed wellspring of spiritual insight and inspiration for the twenty-first century. It shows how openness to contrasting traditions can lead to levels of spiritual awareness that are exciting and deeply fulfilling. Rev. Dr. John R. Dupuche is an internationally respected associate professor in theology at the Catholic Theological College within the School of Divinity, a leader in interfaith dialogue in Australia who has spent many years travelling to India to practice meditation and research his interest in Kashmir Shaivism. He is uniquely situated to comment and share his wisdom in interfaith spirituality. His website is johndupuche.com Rivers of Paradise draws deeply and movingly on the currents of wisdom and love that well up from John Dupuche's long and dedicated life of study, prayer, and service. His pure and simple paragraphs resonate with both the Greek Orthodox and Tantric styles, and each is headed by a Sanskrit word rich in meaning that will stay with you even if Sanskrit is not a language you already know. Those who take the time to savor his words slowly and patiently will come to appreciate the great gift Fr. Dupuche is offering to his readers, life-giving insights into breath and vision, body and soul, love and light, all on the path to God Alone. This is a prayerful book you can return to again and again. -Francis X. Clooney, SJ, Parkman Professor of Divinity, Harvard University