Near Enemies of the Truth

Have you ever been told,“You create your own reality”? Have you been encouraged to “be your best self” or “follow your bliss”?

Nowadays these slogans are everywhere, but what if they’re doing more harm than good? After over thirty years as a scholar–practitioner of meditation and Tantric philosophy, acclaimed author Christopher Wallis (also known as Hareesh) explores the most widespread distortions of spiritual teachings present in our world today. Rooted in the Asian wisdom traditions, Wallis’s book uncovers why these oft–heard platitudes are “near enemies” to the truth, often detour us off the spiritual path, and can even cause unnecessary suffering.

In asking us to question what we’ve accepted as “truth,” Wallis reveals how teachings like “become the best version of yourself” may have helped us at one stage in our journey but can ultimately lead us away from self–acceptance and compassion and cause us to prioritize an imagined ideal over true intimacy with reality. Understanding the near enemies is vital for any spiritual seeker who is ready to create a deeper, more fulfilling practice and will help you:

• Distinguish between truth and belief
• Communicate more authentically with loved ones
• Set healthier boundaries
• Be in greater harmony with reality
• Practice radical self–acceptance

Near Enemies of the Truth offers itself as a guide to the pitfalls of the spiritual life. However, it doesn’t focus on the negative. In each chapter, after pointing out how a spiritual teaching can be construed in a non-beneficial way, Wallis focuses on the deeper truth and ancient wisdom underlying that teaching, which is often obscured by its popular bumper-sticker version. Each chapter contains a supportive insight for your spiritual process and/or for your everyday life, including guided meditations and reflections.

Written in a gentle and encouraging tone, this book offers a wealth of insight and guidance for anyone who finds themselves struggling, reaching a spiritual plateau, or simply seeking a more meaningful way forward. This timely companion will help you think differently and see through the smokescreens to what is true.

Christopher Wallis

Christopher Wallis, also known as Hareesh, is a scholar–practitioner with thirty years of experience, having been initiated into the practice of yogic meditation at sixteen.

His degrees include a B.A. in Religion and Classics from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in Sanskrit from U.C. Berkeley, a M.Phil. in Classical Indian Religions from Oxford, and a Ph.D. in Sanskrit from U.C. Berkeley. He currently teaches meditation, yoga darśana (practical philosophy), Tantrik philosophy, Sanskrit, and mantra-science. Hareesh is the author of Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition and The Recognition Sutras: Illuminating a 1,000-Year-Old Spiritual Masterpiece.