"Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India" by William Dalrymple

This book raises the question in relief: what is sacred, what is spiritual, and how do those qualities exist against a backdrop of daily life, its woes and joys, triumphs and travails? Dalrymple seeks out individuals who imbue their lives with their own apprehensions of the sacred.



The book isn't perfect: a couple of the choices are, if not unconvincing, then not up to the standard of the others, but they are the exception.

The nine seekers cover a broad swath of belief systems in India, though sidestep orthodox Muslim and Christians. In fact, they are mostly unorthodox, outside of the mainstream of belief. They need to be, in a sense: if they weren't, their devotion would be halfhearted, not defining. The first chapter, "The Nun's Tale," is powerful and disturbing. The young nun in question is a Jain, a member of the sect that began around 600 BC and which is most notable for its belief in absolute non-harming of other beings. Jains gently sweep the paths they take, to avoid stepping on insects, and will wear masks to protect any flying creatures or even microbes from being breathed in.

Contents
Map
Introduction
Chapter 1 - The Nun’s Tale
Chapter 2 - The Dancer of Kannur
Chapter 3 - The Daughters of Yellamma
Chapter 4 - The Singer of Epics
Chapter 5 - The Red Fairy
Chapter 6 - The Monk’s Tale
Chapter 7 - The Maker of Idols
Chapter 8 - The Lady Twilight
Chapter 9 - The Song of the Blind Minstrel
Glossary
Bibliography
A Note on the Author