Dr: Mrs N Rodrigo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
The Overthinker and the Elephant is a must read for all thinkers - not necessarily “overthinkers”! It is a thought-provoking, honest, humane, soul searching, spiritual journey in the quest for happiness. The narrative is set against the stunning, luminous backdrop of the night sky in the Himalayas, written in a fluid, friendly, down-to-earth style, enlivened with good humor.
Authored by a young second-generation doctor of Sri Lankan origin, domiciled in the UK, it seamlessly intertwines cultural concepts, medical insights and spiritual themes of both the east and west. Although presented as a fictional fantasy, it is clearly autobiographical and is inspired by his own awakening and seeking, highlighted through various personal experiences during extensive travels to challenging destinations. The first-person narration of “My Story” ensures intimacy and easy access to the author’s personal thought processes and perceptions. The intriguing cover design is also his own creation.
Deliberations on ethnic strife, immigrants, “the in-betweens” who lack “Heimet”, the differentiation into “Them and Us” are all emphasised by the story of the “Big Enders and Little Enders”, and group identity is shown up for the illusion it is. The danger of the “smokescreen of collective identity” blocking out the shared soul of humanity is cleverly captured. The intimate personal stories are many and varied, each carrying a different message, with vividly described characters that come alive. The contrasting anecdotes from the experiences of the young medic in Zambia, Nepal, Costa Rica, Dubai, New Zealand and the UK are written with deep insight, empathy and humor. As a first-year medical student, he explores the transient nature of existence and the privilege of dissecting his cadaver which turns out to be Judy - a dignified dynamic old lady. In later years, the heartrending final days of the vibrant young model student Molly on life support machines, stimulated discussions on the miracle of the human body, frailty, futility and meaningless fretting.
The mystic elephant guides him every step of the way as he learns to focus, flow and feel, trusting his own instinct over rational logic. The elephant guru relates just two stories. The first is about crossing the unsafe “Bridge of Samsara”, shedding the shackles of dread and fear, replacing them with acceptance, understanding and endurance, stressing the importance of the process of life - the journey, rather than its final unpredictable destination. The second is on the forge of the alchemist which sets the stage for discussing the 5 elements essential for happiness relating it to our genetic wiring - that of Manu and his tribe - our hunter-gatherer ancestors. The need for 'strife' or 'purpose' in life as an indispensable component is a novel concept in this space. The philosophical arguments for living in the “Amber Zone” in Resonance - a perfect balance between Yin and Yang - are challenging and enticing. Throughout the book, the reader is held in suspense regarding the identity of the elephant and how and why it came into being as sage and mentor. The cleverly contrived end is ingenious, as surprising as it is believable.
So here’s an unusual book with no acknowledged beginning or ending but crammed in between with 555 pages of philosophical debates, heartwarming stories, emotional challenges and spiritual insights, that invites the reader to embark on an odyssey of his own to determine his place in the Great Cosmic Symphony.
