Book excerpt: Searching for the Lost Smile recounts a journey of self-discovery and personal growth undertaken by the author in an attempt to transform his life from a state of chaos to a state of equilibrium.It is a story of a qualified doctor who, disappointed in the powers of conventional medicine to help him deal with his own troubles, sets out to investigate healing methods used in different cultures across the globe.His journey takes him to unusual places, some hidden and remote, miles off the beaten track, others visited by millions in some of the largest gatherings on Earth.He is a witness to exorcism rituals in the caves of Ethiopia, experiences shamanic rituals in Peru and spends time in the hospital for lepers in Varanasi.But in search of his true self he also journeys into the depths of his own being. He discovers peace and tranquillity of Zen gardens in Japan and the emptiness of the American dessert. He learns humility in the rarefied atmosphere of Kathmandu. He encounters Yoga and Homeopathy in India and the spiritual healing through psychosynthesis at the Re-Vision College in London.This is the story of these two parallel journeys and the lessons they bring forth as they are finally made to converge.Whether travelling inwardly or outwardly, the experience proved rich in insights and revelations, with gleaming nuggets of wisdom often found in most unexpected places...This book can help us realise that there is much more to life than being comfortable, entertained and having material possessions. It aims to nourish the soul and, for those who learn to read the signs by the road, it can provide motivation to embark on their own quest of self-discovery. Illustrated with photographs taken during author's travels.