Not all who kneel are seeking. Some are remembering.
At the center of all true spiritual journeys lies an ache — a sacred longing that no worldly success can satisfy.
In I Surrender, the first book in the transformative Pathless Path Series by Sukhdev Virdee, follow the heartfelt journey of Eli, a man who lets go of everything he thought he was, and bows into a love beyond all objects, all images, and all religions.
This is not the story of a man who found God. It is the story of a man who remembered he was never apart.
🌿 In this book, you’ll
The deep meaning of Bhakti Yoga — the path of love and devotion
How true surrender begins, not in weakness, but in sacred strength
What happens when longing is allowed to bloom fully
How devotion transforms from worship of something outside you, into a living recognition of the Self
Why real spiritual awakening is not about gaining something new, but losing what was never you
🌌 About the I Surrender is the opening doorway into The Pathless Path Series — a 5-part journey through the stages of
I Surrender – The Path of Love & Devotion (Bhakti Yoga)
I Know – The Path of Knowledge (Jnana Yoga)
I Serve – The Path of Selfless Service (Karma Yoga)
I Dissolve – The Path of No-Path (Beyond Yoga)
I Am Not… – My Personal Journey (...into the Unknown)
Each book stands on its own — yet together, they gently guide the reader from longing to silence, from identity to infinity.
Sukhdev Virdee was born and brought up in Nairobi, Kenya. Since childhood he was very inclined towards spirituality and music. After his studies he chose to take up music as a profession. He learnt how to play the keyboards and started performing live on stage at the age of nineteen. He later went to London and completed a BTEC in Music Production and Performance.
He later flew to Mumbai, India to pursue his dream of singing and composing music in the largest Indian Entertainment Industry. His debut pop-album became a chartbuster making him a popular household name in India and across the world. Mumbai became his home where he is known for his high energy live performances and this popularity took him to several countries across every continent on the planet to perform live for huge audiences.
A few more albums and singles followed after that. He was living the life that every young person looks up to even today. He had created a name for himself and enjoyed the name, fame and fortune that most singers dream of but never get to live. During all this he was totally oblivious of what life had in store for him in the coming years.
Just before his 40th birthday, when he was going through a rather rough patch in life, three of his friends gifted him the Bhagavad Gita out of the blue. These were friends that he met only occasionally and yet within two weeks three different people gifted him the Bhagavad Gita that would change his life completely. He read the Bhagavad Gita and felt Lord Krishna was speaking directly to him. It completely changed his outlook towards life as he followed the teachings in the Bhagavad Gita as best as he could. Just over a year later, one fine morning after he woke up from his morning meditation and walked towards his temple in the house, his body completely froze and in an instant he had become one with the entire Universe. Time stood still and every particle of the entire Universe was alive and shining in bright golden light and he was the light. He was no longer limited to just his body or mind, he was everywhere at the same time and everything was one with him.
This Spiritual awakening experience turned his life upside down and inside out. All desires for anything worldly vanished, fear of death vanished, love and compassion for entire humanity and nature arose and he could feel and experience the Supreme Being in everything. Not knowing exactly what had happened and what to do next, he sought out several resources before he was pointed towards the Upanishads that answered all his questions as to what had happened, what led to it and what to do after such an awakening.
After years of studying the Vedanta texts he is now an expert on non-dual Vedanta through not only intellectual and philosophical knowledge but most importantly with his own personal direct experience everyday. He has put all his heart and soul into writing these books that include the highest knowledge of the Upanishads and his own direct experience and knowledge of the Supreme Being. The series has been written with the absolute conviction that you, the reader, can realize your true immortal Universal Self too, that you are pure bliss and completely unaffected by all pain and suffering.
The promise of all spirituality is that one transcends pain and sorrow in this world, not that pain and sorrow don’t come, but that the realized being is untouched by it. One realizes that their true nature is immortal, that they are one with the Universe. Would a being that realizes that he or she is one with the Universe ever want to accumulate anything in this world? No, the True Saint or Sage who is Self-Realized makes do with only the very basic necessities required to live an honest decent life. They don’t look to gain wealth, become famous, build an empire or any such sort of selfish activities.
Their main focus becomes serving humanity selflessly and uplifting others to help them realize their true nature
Sukhdev Virdee’s The Pathless Path series is a contemplative journey through love, wisdom, and service — and its first part, I Surrender: The Path of Love and Devotion, gently opens the door to the inner realm of Bhakti Yoga. Through the life and spiritual voyage of Eli, the author invites readers into the tender unfolding of devotion — not as blind faith, but as an awakening to love itself.
From the very first pages, the story draws us into Eli’s quiet yet profound transformation. Though his beginnings are only hinted at — such as his chance purchase of the Bhagavad Gita for five dollars in an old bookstore somewhere far from India — his longing for truth becomes the undercurrent of the book. Guided by this longing, Eli journeys to India, to Rishikesh, where fate leads him to the serene presence of Om Das. The meeting feels destined, as if orchestrated by something greater, and from there his path of surrender truly begins.
The ashram scenes are vivid and reflective. Om Das serves as a mirror through which Eli begins to see his own self — not as a seeker reaching outward, but as one awakening inward. The book gently unfolds the realization that true devotion is not asking for something from the divine; it is the willingness to give everything. The act of surrender becomes not submission, but liberation — an acceptance that “there was never anything else” apart from truth itself.
Virdee’s prose is graceful, and the philosophical insights scattered throughout shine like quiet jewels.
A few that stay with the reader are:
1. “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
2. “You do not surrender because you are weak; you surrender because the false has become too heavy to carry.”
3. “Bhakti isn’t love of a person or a deity or a symbol; it is love itself, freed from need.”
Through these insights, Virdee reminds us that divinity is not somewhere outside but within everything — in each breath, tree, and being. Love, in its purest form, is eternal.
By the end, Eli’s surrender transforms into a deeper search for wisdom — leading toward Jnana Yoga, the next step of the journey. I Surrender thus becomes both a beautiful closure and a doorway to new understanding — a meditation on what it truly means to love, to let go, and to awaken.
𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞: "Some books you choose. Some books choose you."
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? I occasionally read non-fiction, and spirituality has always been my most favourite genre. So when I came across this book, its blurb instantly drew me in.
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Admiration should be given to the cover design, which effectively captures the essence of the book with its calming colour scheme, tranquil imagery, and appropriate title. It exudes serenity and encourages introspection before the first page is even turned.
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The narration is very well done. The author strikes a balance between the subject matter's profundity and elegant storytelling, which makes the material both interesting and educational. Throughout, the language is clear, guaranteeing accessibility without sacrificing nuance. But, you must be having some knowledge about the subject matter to be at ease with the vocabulary.
𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧: ✓ The story traces the journey of Eli, treading the path of self-realization and spiritual awakening. ✓ Eli’s reflections and struggles felt very relatable, making the narrative both compelling and authentic. ✓ The book comes along with many thought-provoking quotes, so readers who like annotating, will have a good time. ✓ Concepts like bhakti yoga (devotion), jnana yoga (path of knowledge), surrender, non-duality, and the omnipresence of the Divine are explained with remarkable simplicity and clarity. ✓ I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in spirituality. It’s a concise yet impactful read. It is perfect for seekers and even approachable for beginners, provided they have some familiarity with Advaita philosophy.
It is a deeply moving exploration of Bhakti Yoga, the spiritual path of surrender and devotion. It rose in the way a river rises in spring — slowly, sincerely, and without effort. Surrender is not weakness. It is truth. The author has weaved his insights into a narrative form through Eli, making profound spiritual truths accessible and relatable. Eli had always trusted reason. Logic had been his compass since childhood. It had helped him navigate a world that often felt chaotic. It had kept him sharp in meetings, safe in arguments, grounded when others spun out.
But he began noticing the quiet absurdity of things. The restlessness made Eli to go inside him and he bought a one-way ticket to India one afternoon. Then, he started his journey of liberation and divine. It is about the power of letting go of ego, control, and resistance, and instead opening the heart fully to divine grace. The book portrays surrender is a conscious choice to trust the divine flow of life and allow love to dissolve barriers within.
It is a soulful exploration of what it truly means to let go. It flows like a gentle conversation, guiding the reader into the heart of surrender, love, and devotion.
The language is simple, warm, and accessible. The book does not preach a rigid path or one religion; instead, it is for anyone who longs for peace, love, and trust in the divine. It doesn’t just explain the philosophy of Bhakti Yoga—it invites the reader to experience it.
The story of Eli leads to the art of surrender. The book is for spiritual seekers, meditators, or anyone struggling with control and looking to embrace trust and devotion in life.
“What you’ve been searching for has been searching through your eyes all along.”
This beautiful line from the book stayed with me, for it captures the essence of the author’s message. The story follows Eli, a man who seemingly has everything, yet carries an ache, a silence, a question lodged deep within. Is it a calling, a self-realization, or simply the soul’s restless yearning to know itself? The author reminds us that the true protagonist of this journey is not Eli alone, but we, the readers each of us walking with our own unnamed longing. Through Eli’s path, we are drawn into the realization that love is not an act we perform, but the very ground on which we exist. Service becomes worship, and every gesture of kindness becomes an offering to the Divine who dwells in all.
The book, rooted in Advaita philosophy, makes profound truths simple and approachable. Each chapter opens and closes with a thought-provoking quote, guiding us gently from reflection to reflection. The language is crafted with care, and there are passages to underline, words to return to, and echoes that stay long after the page is turned.
What lingers most is the reminder that bhakti is not belief alone, but the act of loving the practice of seeing the Divine in every form. The book is not just a story, but an experience that leaves an imprint on the soul and quietly reminds us of who we truly are.
To understand Bhakti & Love, you have to know and be the one itself.
“Real devotion is not asking for something. It’s the willingness to give everything.” “Bhakti doesn’t require belief. Only sincerity.” quote from the book.
I surrender, is the story of Eli , the guy who is felt alone even in the crowd , uneasy and helpless as well as unsatified while living. One day he went to Om Das, the guru hearing A Lady in A random conversation. He didn't know if what is the aim of visiting aashram but he did for his inner instinct allowed to. Visiting Om Das was a will, and he was Mirror to Eli, he didn't speak enough but his silence and blessings guided him. Eli chose to understand his silences and moved on the paths of performing karma and met people on his journey. He met people with all his love and feeling to give.
“Love doesn’t always feel good. Sometimes it feels like labor. And that too, is holy.”
His journey from feeling alone to feel whole is about spiritual growth and transformation in terms of bhakti .
I love the writing style and narration , which is sweet and simple. If you are someone who wants to learn about the bhakti saadhna, and spiritual living, read this book.
This book beautifully captures an experience many of us encounter in life — that quiet restlessness where, despite having everything, something still feels incomplete. It’s not depression, nor exactly burnout; rather, it feels like a soul calling, a gentle nudge from the universe whispering, “I’m here. Look within.”
Through Eli’s journey, the author explores the search for peace, meaning, and stillness with a simplicity that is both relatable and profound. The narrative doesn’t come across as heavy or preachy; instead, it flows naturally, inviting you to pause and reflect on your own inner world.
What resonated most with me is the reminder that true fulfillment often arises not from external success, but from listening to that quiet voice inside — the divine energy we tend to overlook in our busy lives.
A thought-provoking and calming read, especially for those who have ever felt that subtle tug toward something deeper, something more real.
"I Surrender: The Path of Love & Devotion (Bhakti Yoga): The Pathless Path: Part 1 " by Sukhdev Virdee is a captivating and profoundly insightful spiritual odyssey that masterfully explores the realms of devotion, surrender, and self-discovery.
Through the poignant story of Eli, Virdee wonderfully illuminates the principles of Bhakti Yoga, guiding readers on a transformative journey of love, release, and spiritual awakening, offering a deeply introspective and soul-stirring experience that gently encourages readers to transcend their ego and unveil the radiant truth of their being.
With its evocative language and profound wisdom, "I Surrender" is an indispensable read for anyone yearning for spiritual growth, self-realization, or a deeper understanding of the mysteries of existence.
Do you ever feel that everything seems fine on the surface, yet there’s an ache deep within—not in the body, not even in the mind, but somewhere beyond both?
This book gives voice to that silent ache we all carry, without ever naming it. It is the story of Eli—a journey in which you will also find pieces of yourself. His search for peace mirrors the universal longing we all share.
Rooted in spirituality, especially Advaitism, the book doesn’t present God as someone to be found, but as something to be felt—in everything and everyone. It gently reminds us that to love every being is to love God, for all creation is an expression of the divine.
A deeply thought-provoking and soul-stirring read.
Book - I Surrender Author - Sukhdev Virdee Pages - 144 Published - May 9 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 The book follows Eli, a man who lets go of everything he thought he was, and bows into a love beyond all objects, all images, and all religions. What makes this book brilliant is how it's written. It has a story. And yet, it has philosophy engrained like actual teachings. In addition, the writing? It is vulnerable, and makes you feel the same. It holds a certain eerie sense of being lost that carries the book, and holds you in a vice-like grip. The concept of Bhakti Yoga was discussed with care, and with the narrative that Virdee sets, these actually make sense when you're reading them. If you're someone who actually wants to read something that feels fresh to your taste, doesn't pull it's punches and is real, you should give I Surrender a chance.
This is a book on spiritualism and journey towards well being . This book help us to understand bhakti yoga and meditation through the deeper meaning of life . Surender to God and understand that whatever happens is because of the ultimate wish of the God.
This book is less a narrative and more a meditative offering, a quiet invitation to step off the beaten path and into the mystery of spiritual surrender. Sukhdev writes with the cadence of someone who has walked through fire and silence, and emerged with a voice that doesn’t instruct, but evokes. Rather than laying out a structured philosophy or spiritual system, Sukhdev leans into the ineffable. It’s a collection of reflections, poetic insights, and deeply personal revelations that speak to the heart of anyone who has ever felt the pull toward something beyond form, toward the formless, the pathless.