Foreword

Every so often, a book comes along that doesn’t just inform; it resonates. It does not merely challenge our thinking; it stirs something deeper within us, something ancient yet often forgotten. M-Mème is one such rare work. This book is born not of theory, but of lived experience, of a mind that has questioned deeply, a heart that has searched sincerely, and a soul that refuses to settle for partial truths. In these pages, the author does not prescribe a single path but rather invites us to examine the many - religion, science, philosophy, and ultimately, the path within. With clarity and courage, he explores the tensions and illusions that divide us, while gently pointing towards the indivisible truth that unites all of existence.

Reading M-Mème is not like reading a typical spiritual text. It feels like sitting down with a trusted companion who has walked through confusion, disillusionment, faith, and insight; and who now shares what he has found, not with authority, but with humility. This is a book for those who have achieved much in the world yet feel something essential remains unfulfilled. It is for those who are weary of conflict; within themselves, between faiths, and across societies. And it is for those who, like the author, have come to realize that lasting peace must begin with clarity in one’s own mind.

The author reminds us that true spirituality transcends language, culture, and religion. It is not about conversion, but about convergence: where science and scriptures, East and West, form and formless, all meet in the stillness of Awareness. As a fellow seeker, I am grateful for this work. This book is both a mirror and a map. May it guide you inward, upward, and beyond.

Dr. R. Srinivasa Reddy

Columbia, South Carolina

When I began reading the chapter “Division and Union", which was initially shared with me by the author to elicit my comments, I was pleasantly surprised and equally taken aback, as the author is well aware of my vacillation towards agnosticism. My first reaction upon reading the chapter was that this briefest attempt at the boundless literature on spirituality which is being bundled into a concise version would inevitably camouflage the intent of spirituality. As a person who has a fair amount of understanding about spirituality, I thought condensing the subject to the point of stifling would be subjecting it to suffocation. But later, when I read the entire treasure of his treatise on spirituality, I realized that the first one was just a teaser released to me. The herculean effort that was embarked upon by the author was in fact written and rewritten by innumerable seers in volumes the world over from the period of antiquity. Despite it, what is astounding is that the author demonstrated his courage of conviction to focus on the given subject with his incisive intellectual luminosity all along.

The purity of flow of thought in the book is as pristine and as divine as the flow of the River Ganges straight from its origin at Gangothri. The ease and aplomb with which the author laboured his articulation to put across his ideas to the reader is a sheer euphony that creates a joyful jugglery of consonance with the harmony of words, to enable the rendering to be a lilting song in the ears of the reader which unfolds a mellifluous musical concert of spirituality.

With the author’s ocean of abundant knowledge coupled with his genial writing skills, and with his catholicity of outlook on life and wisdom which is devoid of a doctrinaire approach to traditional narrow sectarian religious conservatism that we come across very often nowadays, I have no doubt whatsoever that this book would inevitably help unravel not only the separations within the unfathomable depths of the individual mind but also the deep divisions existing in humankind causing chaos in an otherwise hospitable Mother Nature. The author’s indefatigable industry will surely be a beacon, the lighthouse of spirituality in the minds of people who are going through the rigmarole of mundane drudgery and monotony of life cycles. For thinking brains, it shall be an elixir of inexplicably enriching and rewarding experience. At the very least, the reader can taste the nectar of spirituality from a whole new perspective and dimension.

Harshavardhan Madabhushi

Hyderabad

The author, a practicing surgeon in the south Indian city of Hyderabad, was born into a well-to-do family and was a high achiever in early life. As is a common experience, with every achievement, he would experience a high state of happiness. Over time he realized that the happiness was short-lived, the mind wanted further achievement and was always restless. This made him disenchanted with materialistic achievements and began to have thoughts like, “Is there more to this life?”, “What is the purpose of this life?” and “Who am I?” Science and psychology might call this midlife crisis or burning out. This turned the author towards spirituality or metaphysics. As you know there is a wealth of information in the form of scriptures belonging to different religions, and various interpretations and differences within the same religion.

It is the author’s firm conviction that the Truth cannot be multiple. It is this point the author wants to emphasize, which forms the crux of this book, for you to remember and hold on firmly. Don’t just be a pawn in the material-political-religious-spiritual maze. Try to understand true spirituality, true purpose of religion and the scriptures, and understand your true self. Approach the issue with keen interest; an open, rational and analytical mind. The knowledge the author has acquired and the experiences that he had are the basis of this book. It will be of use to all; and more so to anyone who wants to know more about various aspects of metaphysics or spirituality.

Everyone must do this exercise at some point in life. Do not believe in anyone’s narrative. Dive deep into the religious teachings of whatever religion you are following and other religions, get to the bottom of things and try to find the true meaning and purpose of those teachings, which will lead to the ultimate Truth. The author shares the view of Sri Satyanarayana Goenka and Sri Jiddu Krishnamurti, in that you should be your own master. Find out the Truth for yourself first and then you can pass on your first-hand information to the next generation. Otherwise, the Truth remains elusive.

Blind faith and dogma based on God, religion, and various other things, including science, will continue to divide the human psyche at individual and collective (society) levels. One particular group of people the author recommends this book and exploring spirituality to is the people over the age of 60, who have retired from active work and/or financially secure. Even though they have fulfilled their responsibilities well and are financially stable, some restlessness haunts them. It is not so obvious when one is involved in some active work and is young. As one is advancing in age, this becomes more troublesome. The restlessness is due to the partition in one’s mind which is innate. The partition and the consequent restlessness can be overcome by proper spiritual quest, knowledge, and contemplation.

Prasad Mallipudi

Sringeri, May 2025