A Modern Quest For Eternal Truth

A Spiritual Adventure Memoir that Can Change Your Life

By the author of Spirituality For Dummies
and Secrets of Spiritual Happiness

In a larger sense, this memoir is a dialogue between Indian spirituality and Western psychology. The question that Janis answers is: "Can a westerner come to know Indian spirituality and flourish in its depths, even when it is alien to western ways of knowing?'" She answers with a resounding "yes."   – Publishers Weekly

A MODERN QUEST FOR ETERNAL TRUTH weaves a tapestry of consciousness-expanding philosophy, spirituality, science, and psychology with colorful, humorous, inspiring, and autobiographical stories that reveal the humor and pathos of a vibrant spiritual quest.

A beautiful and poignant spiritual odyssey that is equally provocative and touching, informative and enlightening, humorous and heartbreaking. Sharon Janis writes with an admirable clarity, and her lightness of spirit in the face of adversity is exemplary for us all. 
                     – Joseph Chilton Pearce,
                     Crack in the Cosmic Egg, The Magical Child, and Evolution's End

Sharon shares her insights through autobiographical teaching stories – not as a guru, but as an artist and friend on the path – giving readers the tools and encouragement to also unfold deeper meaning in their own lives.

These enticing stories from one woman's journey speak to some of life's most delicate topics. Sharon Janis writes with humor, insight, and a storyteller's talent for engaging the reader. Never to Return holds great value for anyone with an interest in personal growth and self-help, spirituality and the "inner journey."
                    – Midwest Book Review

Humorous and pognant stories from the author’s eclectic upbringing with atheist psychology teacher parents include taking a three-month course on hypnosis at age seven and lecturing in her mother’s high school classes about dream symbolism at age nine.

The true story of one woman's spiritual adventure beginning with sneaking away to church at age two and a half to spending ten years of monastic life in an Indian Ashram to a materially satisfying Hollywood career. Sharon shares her powerful inner quest to remember what she had once learned but had since forgotten with humor and clarity.  She is a charming storyteller who invites you to drink of her deep experience with Indian spirituality and her search for truth in a world obsessed with appearances.
                         – Magical Blend Magazine

Janis goes on to study neuroscience and film-video at the University of Michigan, beginning a practice she calls, “Exploring the Unconscious.” 

I just finished your book Never to Return and would like to tell you how much I liked it.  It is not often that one finds a book of this spiritual depth, that even a beginner can get into.  It starts like an easy read, and then turns out to be a rather advanced course for beginners. I loved your book.
                         – Mark B., Fairfield, IA

Through a university course, a surprising twist brings the author to live a decade of powerful monastic life in an Indian-based ashram, where she lives, serves, prays, meditates, studies, and chants Sanskrit texts for nearly a decade.

 

A Modern Quest for Eternal Truth

 

 

 

 

Click the play arrow to view a video of Janis chanting the first verses of the Shree Guru Gita from a Sacred Music Concert in the Sun Valley Opera House

If you don't see a screen, CLICK HERE to view on YouTube

Kumuda (aka Sharon Janis) became familiar with the syllables and sentiments of this chanting prayer text during her decade of monastic life in the Siddha Yoga ashram of Baba Muktananda and Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. Early every morning, the ashram residents and guests chanted this text as the main ingredient in a daily, hour-and-a-half devotional chanting session.

Janis’s humorous, insightful, and honest stories of her life in the ashram give the reader a precious vicarious experience of living an actual guru-disciple relationship in an Indian-based ashram wonderland of spiritual teachings and practices. 

It's a good story, and for those of us who are interested in what exactly goes on in those ashrams, it's hard to put down. And --- if we believe her, and there's little reason not to --- it is just what you'd think it is, only better: moments of total ecstasy, followed by petty battles with other ashramites, alternating encouragement, love, paradox, and caustic insult from the masters. Few writers so far have told the tale of what it is like to live and study, heart and soul, with the likes of Muktananda.. 

         – RALPH: Review of the Arts, Literature, Philosophy and the Humanities          (Formerly the Fessenden Review)

From the ashram, the author’s direction shifts again when she moves to Hollywood for an award-winning career as producer and editor of popular television shows, including X-Men, The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, and many news-based shows, for which Janis would be honored with local, national, and international awards.

Inspired by deep guidance and inner listening, this book aims to bring readers to "a sense of wonder and respect for their own journey" and a greater regard for others on their paths.   – NAPRA ReVIEW

It is a book that is very difficult to put down—the kind that keeps you up at night beyond your bedtime.  – 21st Century Books