Less a narrative per se than a set of riffs, of traces, each distinct but also joined at a layer underneath the surface of the text. If this is the case with all literature, all art—which is, after all, essentially reflective of its creators’ fascinations and fixations—it is also harder than it looks ... Building a volume out of his own loose notes from three decades of practicing silence, one that eschews resolution as an aim.
Iyer’s intimate, memoiristic essays steadily chronicle his accumulated observations and journey into the self during these quiet moments within the monastic community ... The powerful, centering silence of reflection and contemplation helps him meet various life challenges.
A nice addition to the literature on the blessings of quietude. Iyer’s observations about people, places, and himself are beautifully written and may offer readers some reassurance about these troubled times.
