DISSOLVED

by Tarun Sardana

Dissolved - a state where two become one. Just as a river dissolves in the ocean, a raindrop in the water, a fragrance in the air, and a seeker in the Self, realizing that they were never separate. This book is about the journey of a seeker, Vivek, who goes within to seek the truth and in the process becomes one with it. This is a parable of the dissolving of the ego-self in the ocean of blissful, all-pervading Self the only Truth.

110 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2009

About the author

f you open your eyes and you see Him
If you close your eyes and you still see Him
He has visited you
Now you are of no use to the world
Dance, Play;
Celebrate your freedom.

- Tarun Sardana

Reviews

[Richa Kashelkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating a work of such depth feels like an insult to the writer; Immense gratitude is the only feeling I have after having read this book.
It explains phenomenally complex ideas of reality and the Self in surprisingly simple ways, which to be honest I hadn't expected. By its sheer simplicity, it has managed to make me slightly more capable of inquiring within.
It is also heartening to know that such people are around in today's times too.
Thank you for throwing some light for the rest of us.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The journey to the Self is a little complicated: The more one walks towards it, the farther it goes;
The moment one stops, one finds oneself there.’

Tarun Sardana has worked as a successful software professional both in India and abroad. Despite his long-term diverse and extensive experience as a successful corporate career as a project manager with a fortune 500 company, he altered his course to devote the rest of his time in ‘knowing the “I”. The “I” which we use n number of times in our conversations throughout the day, but still don’t really understand it. This is how 'KnowI' was born.’ Tarun’s fine book DISSOLVED is based on ‘Advaita’ (non duality) and since its release in 2009 the book has already gained popularity amongst the non duality followers both in India and abroad. An ardent advaita believer, Tarun believes in Oneness and love for all existence. His writings and speeches are permeated by a scientific and practical approach, emphasizing the need to understand the “I” through which one lives in the world before spending time in knowing or understanding anything else. He believes this is the highest knowledge one can get and this is the only knowledge which can lead to true freedom.

In his Preface Tarun offers ‘Isn’t it wonderful to find that we were never born and will never die? All our scriptures talk about people who practised strict austerities to win over death. We all know about their unsuccessful attempts. Why were the attempts unsuccessful? Because all the attempts were made for a non-existent “I”. Our real identity, The Self, is already birth-less and is our natural state. All our attempts only take us away from it. This is a story about a seeker who went in search of his true Self, only to lose himself and never return.‘

The format of the book is a teaching/learning experience, acted out in a manner that aids the reader to understand the meaning of the content – ‘This is a chronicle of Guru Ji and Vivek. Vivek, an earnest seeker of truth, who comes to Guru Ji in search of the truth, unaware that he himself is the truth he is in search for. The most appealing thing of the book is the way the teaching is imparted. After Vivek experiences the Self, to firmly establish him in the Self, Guru Ji acquires the role of seeker and inquires from Vivek about his wonderful discovery. Guru Ji rightly calls this exercise “dissolving”, i.e., stirring the salt in the water until it gets completely dissolved.’

Some of the enlightened aspects of DISSOLVED are outlined by Tarun: it is a readily understood Advaita: a study of mind; a question of illusion; an enquiry, "Who am I?"; a surrender to the Guru, to the Self; a dialogue on spontaneous action, pre-determination, fearlessness. impermanence; the nature of happiness; renunciation, diet, helping out the world, alcohol and drugs; all these topics are crisply addressed. In the end there is the dissolution into Self through surrender to the Guru and via self-enquiry.’

Within the covers of this book is a new manner of viewing the world and ourselves and place, a description Tarun states simply and eloquently –

If you open your eyes and you see Him
If you close your eyes and you still see Him
He has visited you
Now you are of no use to the world
Dance, Play;
Celebrate your freedom.

This is a book of treasures. Highly recommended.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The journey to the Self is a little complicated: The more one walks towards it, the farther it goes;
The moment one stops, one finds oneself there.’

Tarun Sardana has worked as a successful software professional both in India and abroad. Despite his long-term diverse and extensive experience as a successful corporate career as a project manager with a fortune 500 company, he altered his course to devote the rest of his time in ‘knowing the “I”. The “I” which we use n number of times in our conversations throughout the day, but still don’t really understand it. This is how 'KnowI' was born.’ Tarun’s fine book DISSOLVED is based on ‘Advaita’ (non duality) and since its release in 2009 the book has already gained popularity amongst the non duality followers both in India and abroad. An ardent advaita believer, Tarun believes in Oneness and love for all existence. His writings and speeches are permeated by a scientific and practical approach, emphasizing the need to understand the “I” through which one lives in the world before spending time in knowing or understanding anything else. He believes this is the highest knowledge one can get and this is the only knowledge which can lead to true freedom.
I
In his Preface Tarun offers ‘Isn’t it wonderful to find that we were never born and will never die? All our scriptures talk about people who practised strict austerities to win over death. We all know about their unsuccessful attempts. Why were the attempts unsuccessful? Because all the attempts were made for a non-existent “I”. Our real identity, The Self, is already birth-less and is our natural state. All our attempts only take us away from it. This is a story about a seeker who went in search of his true Self, only to lose himself and never return.
‘

The format of the book is a teaching/learning experience, acted out in a manner that aids the reader to understand the meaning of the content – ‘This is a chronicle of Guru Ji and Vivek. Vivek, an earnest seeker of truth, who comes to Guru Ji in search of the truth, unaware that he himself is the truth he is in search for. The most appealing thing of the book is the way the teaching is imparted. After Vivek experiences the Self, to firmly establish him in the Self, Guru Ji acquires the role of seeker and inquires from Vivek about his wonderful discovery. Guru Ji rightly calls this exercise “dissolving”, i.e., stirring the salt in the water until it gets completely dissolved.’

Some of the enlightened aspects of DISSOLVED are outlined by Tarun: it is a readily understood Advaita: a study of mind; a question of illusion; an enquiry, "Who am I?"; a surrender to the Guru, to the Self; a dialogue on spontaneous action, pre-determination, fearlessness. impermanence; the nature of happiness; renunciation, diet, helping out the world, alcohol and drugs; all these topics are crisply addressed. In the end there is the dissolution into Self through surrender to the Guru and via self-enquiry.’

Within the covers of this book is a new manner of viewing the world and ourselves and place, a description Tarun states simply and eloquently –

If you open your eyes and you see Him
If you close your eyes and you still see Him
He has visited you
Now you are of no use to the world
Dance, Play;
Celebrate your freedom.

This is a book of treasures. Highly recommended.

[Kuldip Jhala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece.

First, the student questions the guru about self and realization. Slowly, the guru dons the hat of the questioner as the student becomes realized and asks questions from a layman's point of view.

The meditation described in the book is easy to follow for anyone. It is based on Ramana Maharshi's way of self-Inquiry.

Short but gripping.

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dissolved is about a student learning about Nirvana, Nirmana, and the Self. It was a very interesting, quick read.

[Debra Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Food for thought

Very deep and thought provoking. I enjoyed the book and the stories. The ending was great, as mission was accomplished.

[Srivardhan · Rating 1 out of 5]

BULLSHIT!!!!
This is the word which came out of my mouth after reading this book...
Yes... I didn't like this book... Not even a bit... The one star I gave is only cos I can't give zero stars!!!
You might be wondering wat this book is about... Well, this book is about 2 people shitting!!! Not exactly 2 people shitting, its bout one guy shitting and other guy analysing tat shit!!!
Yes, nothing in this book makes sense... The author has written some random shit from some swamijis lecture...
The author talks philosophical in a very abstract way... It irritates the reader... There is nothing new!!! You can get the same thing if you go to any lecture from any swamiji!!!!

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received Dissolved by Tarun Sardana as a Goodreads First-reads giveaway winner. This is a book about finding one's self by going within. I believe in improving myself through meditation & mindfullness. The book makes some interesting points, but I can't honestly say that I "got" it. It's a quick read, but I did not really enjoy it. I hope you get more from it than I did.

[Alexander S........... · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book, make me think about life and be alive... true to nature true to myself... I like it good book... thank you

[Sarah]

I won this book through Goodreads First Reads, but I cannot review it because it hasn't arrived yet :-(

Update: It has finally arrived. Will read and review as soon as I can.

[Pinaki Sadhukhan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book is really uninteresting and there is nothing in it that actually tries to catch the readers interest. The only thing good about the book were few of the poems just before every chapter.

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read

I enjoyed the book though it seemed the author tried to stretch a short message into enough words to make a book