Book series on Indian spiritual leaders' teachings

Home to many spiritual and religious leaders, India abounds with their precious teachings.

Bringing their wisdom, usually in form of aphorisms, to guide people is an upcoming 10-book series called 'Life Lessons' with its first four featuring Moinuddin Chisti, Guru Nanak, Adi Shankara and Mahavira set to soon hit stands in India.

Edited by Chennai-based historian-environmentalist Nanditha Krishna, the series, published by Aleph Book Company, will be a simple guide for those who may want a spiritual explanation or solution for the many conundrums that life often poses.

"The aphorisms in each book in this series are culled from their essential teachings and presented in a simple and accessible way," the publisher said.

"The world is changing and the family support system is fading away. We all know there have been great masters but who has the time to read their writings?

"Each guru teaches us lessons appropriate to a specific situation. There is no 'one size fits all' solution in life. But there are simple answers that have been put together to guide every individual. That's what Life Lessons is all about," Krishna said about the series.

Coming in the year which marks the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first of the ten Sikh Gurus, the book 'The Light In All Is One' will contain some of his greatest teachings. It is translated and edited by Navkirat Sodhi.

The second book, 'Live and Let Others Live', will house the core teachings of Mahavira – the 24th Tirthankara of the Jains – that show one how to lead a peaceful and fulfilling life.

Another offering 'Be Present in Every Moment', edited by Babli Parveen, will spell out Sufi saint Moinuddin Chisti's key teachings of charity and compassion for the poor and helpless and leading a pure life of devotion to the Divine.

The final book to be coming in at this time in the Life Lesson series is 'You Are the Supreme Light', which will spotlight Adi Shankara's cornucopia of commentaries on ancient Indian texts as well as original philosophical works.

More books in the series will be published by next year, as per the publisher.