Book excerpt: Written with extraordinary clarity and elegance, this book is an excellent exposition of the complex philosophy of Advaita. A special feature of the book is that it inspires readers to inquire deeply into their own tradition and undertake the mystical quest. The authors emphasis on "first hand truth" is indeed heartening, for as he says quite rightly, "ultimate questions are too important to be left for others to determine the answers." Professor Pugliganda approaches Vedanta as a free and independent thinker with a desire to modernize its format and shows the key to search and reach the highest form of living truth by tracing the single theme of non-dualism.