Book Summary
“Clarity is the Only Spirituality” is a deeply introspective and thought-provoking collection of spiritual reflections and essays inspired by the teachings of J. Krishnamurti, to whom the author was closely connected and have written 7 books on him. It explores the essence of spirituality not as a set of rituals or beliefs but as the simple, undistorted perception of truth.
Key insights:
1. Spirituality Is Not Separate from Daily Life
The book emphasizes that spirituality is not found in isolation, temples, or retreats—it is present in every action, thought, and moment of our daily existence. It is expressed in the way we speak to people, how we handle conflict, how attentive we are while eating or walking. The author invites us to see the sacred in the ordinary — not through rituals, but through living with full awareness. True spirituality arises when one lives with awareness, attention, and integrate stillness into daily chaos, making each moment meaningful.
2. Clarity Over Confusion
The central thesis of the book is that clarity — inner and outer — is the heart of spiritual life. Clarity arises when we observe ourselves without distortion, without trying to change what is seen, and without justifying or condemning. Confusion stems from conditioned thinking, belief systems, and borrowed truths. Clarity means freedom from illusion — not through intellect but through silent observation. This clarity brings intelligence, which is not knowledge but the capacity to see things as they are.
3. Rejection of Organized Religion
Weeraperuma critiques religious institutions for trapping people in systems of belief, ritual, and hierarchy that often block direct perception of truth. True religion, he argues, begins only when there is an end to fear, authority, and blind faith. Spirituality is not something that can be followed; it must be discovered freshly, moment to moment. This echoes the call for inner revolution — breaking away from dependency on priests, gurus, or dogmas, and relying instead on direct insight into one’s own consciousness.
4. Importance of Solitude and Simplicity
The author highlights solitude not as escape, but as the fertile ground where one can begin to observe the self honestly. In silence, the psychological noise of society can fade, and space opens up for understanding. Simplicity, meanwhile, is not just material minimalism but psychological decluttering — dropping ambitions, fears, and constant desires. Together, solitude and simplicity create the inner space necessary for insight to arise naturally.
5. Meditation as Silent Awareness
In Weeraperuma’s view, true meditation is not a technique or practice done for a result. It is choiceless awareness — simply being with what is, without judgment or resistance. This means being aware of one’s breath, thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without trying to change them. When thought slows down without effort, when there is deep silence without control, meditation happens. It’s not about becoming calm; it’s about watching everything arise and pass, revealing the vast stillness beneath.
6. Freedom from the Ego
The “self” or ego is portrayed as a bundle of past experiences, memories, and identifications — a psychological fiction that perpetuates suffering. Weeraperuma calls for careful, nonjudgmental observation of this process. When we see how thought creates the self-image — and how we defend, compare, and suffer because of it — the illusion begins to dissolve. Real freedom isn’t about building a better ego; it’s about seeing its unreality and awakening to awareness free of ‘me’.
7. Love, Compassion, and Inner Transformation
The author conveys that love is not an emotion or dependency, it is a state of being that arises when the self is quiet. Love cannot coexist with fear, attachment, or possessiveness. Compassion is born when the mind is no longer concerned with its own becoming, when it no longer seeks to change others or accumulate experiences. Transformation, then, is not gradual or effortful — it happens instantly when truth is seen clearly, when the observer and the observed are one.
Final thoughts
Though deeply spiritual, the book is not mystical in the conventional sense. It aligns more with radical non-duality and self-inquiry traditions. There is a strong emphasis to direct experience, rather than dependence on scriptures, teachers, or dogmas.
It is a quiet yet powerful call to wake up, to see life as it is, and to live with integrity, presence, and love. It invites readers not to become seekers of spiritual experiences but to become clear observers of reality, where all spirituality begins and ends.