Buddha Speaks: To the Buddha Nature Within Hot

When you open Rashmi Khilnani’s latest book, Buddha Speaks, the first thing you realize is that Khilnani received these messages by channeling the Buddha. You’ll almost certainly begin to debate whether Khilnani’s intense meditation experiences emanate from the historical Buddha or from her own mind. The second thing you realize, however, is that it doesn’t really matter where the messages originated. The experienced author knows this and addresses it up front, saying “such a question comes from the mind which seeks division, separation, and definition. In unity consciousness … I become my Buddha Self which is one with the All, and thus this becomes a dialogue with my own Buddha nature.”

With the question of source largely taken off the table, Khilnani lets readers delve into the content of her meditation sessions, which are surprisingly conversational and down-to-earth. In fact, one of Khilnani’s recurring themes is how to bring sacred teachings into the sphere of everyday life. One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is the ongoing conversation about how this bridging of the sacred and the profane might look different today than it did when the Buddha attained enlightenment.

Even when taking on the largest philosophical questions, Khilnani’s Buddha remains accessible to the average reader, especially with the gentle humor mixed into the conversation throughout. Among the responses to questions about the meaning of life, for instance, the Buddha replies with a snippet of the children’s song, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” This playfulness brings a delightful balance to discussions that might otherwise feel overwhelming.

Previous study of Buddhist literature might enhance a reader’s experience, but newcomers are more than welcome here as well.