THE MORAL LAW

A spiritual commentator blends traditions of the East and the West in this eclectic analysis of moral law.

In its broadest sense, argues Sivanesan in the book’s preface, spiritual philosophy “asserts that your existence is no accident and has been brought about by a supreme cosmic intelligence.” This sets the tone for an in-depth exploration of morality from a perspective that blends Western and Eastern spiritual traditions. De-emphasizing the importance of religious theology and doctrinal rigidity, the author highlights commonalities shared between Hinduism and Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Indeed, Sivanesan asserts, if one focuses on the mystic branches of Abrahamic faiths (such as Gnosticism, Sufism, and Kabbalah), they all “unite” under a “single metaphysical truth.” The author interrogates prevailing moral theories such as utilitarianism (which focuses on the consequences of one’s actions), deontology (which focuses on the inherent rightness or wrongness of one’s actions), and virtue ethics (which focuses on the moral character of the person acting rather than specific actions). While Sivanesan’s reassessment of moral law is nuanced and defies simplistic generalizations, at its heart his formulation blends the teachings of Jesus—particularly the idea of loving one’s neighbor—with the Eastern notion of karma, concluding that “a good person performs good acts due to a good nature.” While moral law takes center stage in the author’s analysis, Sivanesan also addresses a host of tangential issues related to spirituality, from a defense against common “misunderstanding[s]” of India’s caste system to the role of suffering in human existence. Well versed in both Western and Eastern spiritualities—it’s not uncommon for both the Bhagavad Gita and Thomas Aquinas to be cited on the same page—Sivanesan, a former medical doctor and author of multiple books on spirituality, has a firm grasp on the philosophical and religious literature at hand, as evidenced by the book’s ample footnotes. Despite the text’s relatively short length, this is a dense read designed not to be consumed in a single sitting, but to be meditated upon.

An even-handed, nonsectarian reflection on morality.