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Escaping Maya's Palace: Decoding an Ancient Myth to Heal the Hidden Madness of Modern Civilization
A celebrated saga from ancient India tells of a young king who mysteriously shifts character and gambles away his kingdom. By unraveling this legend’s secret meaning, "Escaping Maya’s Palace" launches a sleuthing expedition into a distortion in psychological and spiritual growth that lies buried deep at the root of modern civilization. Today this undetected malady contributes to woes ranging from opioid addiction to social alienation, the rise of authoritarian populism, and environmental catastrophe.
Informed by long-lost wisdom from the "Mahabharata," one of the great epics of world literature, award-winning author Richard Sclove explains how our civilization descended into this blighted condition. Integrating a missing psychological dimension into social theory and world history, this intellectually daring and engrossing work clears a path for remaking modern politics and economics, social movements, and daily life. This book’s profound insights offer renewed hope to a world in crisis.
Informed by long-lost wisdom from the "Mahabharata," one of the great epics of world literature, award-winning author Richard Sclove explains how our civilization descended into this blighted condition. Integrating a missing psychological dimension into social theory and world history, this intellectually daring and engrossing work clears a path for remaking modern politics and economics, social movements, and daily life. This book’s profound insights offer renewed hope to a world in crisis.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 20, 2022
This is an odd book: sort of a mix of a literary analysis of the Mahabarata, coupled with a transpersonal psychological (I had to look that up) or maybe Buddhism analysis of ego being focused on at the expense of community, along with a sort of Marxian political/philosophical/sociological analysis of our messed-up world. Lots of charts and graphs that he thinks illustrate his point scientifically.
I mean, his point basically is that capitalism is psychopathological for society and for individuals, and he seems to think no one has ever made this point before. Is that true? It seems obvious, but has no one written a book on that before? Well, if not, then we should get going on it!
The book is really strange - I don't think I can recommend it for reading, maybe for skimming through? But it does make me want to read the Mahabarata or at least the Bhagavad Gita.
I mean, his point basically is that capitalism is psychopathological for society and for individuals, and he seems to think no one has ever made this point before. Is that true? It seems obvious, but has no one written a book on that before? Well, if not, then we should get going on it!
The book is really strange - I don't think I can recommend it for reading, maybe for skimming through? But it does make me want to read the Mahabarata or at least the Bhagavad Gita.
September 27, 2022
CAN WE ESCAPE DOOM?
Are we humans, arguably the brainiest, most creative species on this planet, doomed? We have achieved a level of consumption that annually produces billions of tons of pollutants to the air, the seas, and the land, destroying hundreds of thousands of fellow-organisms and species, and undermining the basis of our own livelihoods and well-being.
Richard Sclove’s analysis of how we have arrived at this critical juncture is presented in his brilliant and profound book, Escaping Maya’s Palace: Decoding an Ancient Myth to Heal the Hidden Madness of Modern Civilization.
The book documents how the last four centuries created modern civilization through mass production, initially by enslaving and bringing Africans to the new world to produce what are essentially opiates: sugar, rum, tea, coffee, tobacco, and the rapid uptake of their consumption in Europe. That was followed by the mass production of cotton, ever more demand for fashionable apparel, and higher levels of consumption by a rising middle class and the wealthy. The book explores how, as one’s social status was increasingly defined by how one lived, what one wore and ate and drank, this increasingly distorted what Sclove describes as our psycho-spiritual development, by enthroning insatiable consumption at the center of our identity and consciousness. It is also the basis for ranking nations’ status and power based on the growth of Gross National Product (GNP)
Do we have a choice to change this mindset and this practice at this stage in our history? Sclove is cautiously optimistic that, in recognizing the self-inflicted disruption of our true capacity for psycho-social wellbeing, we do have the capacity to choose aright. We can reassess the assumption that human beings are incorrigibly selfish and aggressive, and take a path leading to environmental recovery, justice, world order and peace. To do that requires an understanding and acknowledgement of our present crisis, the realization that humankind has the capacity to change course, and, in Sclove’s words for the final chapter heading, “Making Civilization Safe for the Soul”. How do we do this? A good start would be to read this magnificent book.
Are we humans, arguably the brainiest, most creative species on this planet, doomed? We have achieved a level of consumption that annually produces billions of tons of pollutants to the air, the seas, and the land, destroying hundreds of thousands of fellow-organisms and species, and undermining the basis of our own livelihoods and well-being.
Richard Sclove’s analysis of how we have arrived at this critical juncture is presented in his brilliant and profound book, Escaping Maya’s Palace: Decoding an Ancient Myth to Heal the Hidden Madness of Modern Civilization.
The book documents how the last four centuries created modern civilization through mass production, initially by enslaving and bringing Africans to the new world to produce what are essentially opiates: sugar, rum, tea, coffee, tobacco, and the rapid uptake of their consumption in Europe. That was followed by the mass production of cotton, ever more demand for fashionable apparel, and higher levels of consumption by a rising middle class and the wealthy. The book explores how, as one’s social status was increasingly defined by how one lived, what one wore and ate and drank, this increasingly distorted what Sclove describes as our psycho-spiritual development, by enthroning insatiable consumption at the center of our identity and consciousness. It is also the basis for ranking nations’ status and power based on the growth of Gross National Product (GNP)
Do we have a choice to change this mindset and this practice at this stage in our history? Sclove is cautiously optimistic that, in recognizing the self-inflicted disruption of our true capacity for psycho-social wellbeing, we do have the capacity to choose aright. We can reassess the assumption that human beings are incorrigibly selfish and aggressive, and take a path leading to environmental recovery, justice, world order and peace. To do that requires an understanding and acknowledgement of our present crisis, the realization that humankind has the capacity to change course, and, in Sclove’s words for the final chapter heading, “Making Civilization Safe for the Soul”. How do we do this? A good start would be to read this magnificent book.
August 25, 2022
I recently read a book titled, Kalila and Dimna, based on India and Sanskrit folk lore. The backgound of that book; layed a foundation (for me) this book. The stories are from the Mahabharata, and by offer an understandong of why we do the things we do and how (thanks to insights from the stories) we can change and influence society as a whole.
I found parts of the book time consuming as I either; had to reread or look up the footnote. I really recommend reading this in print form and not electronic, as I feel, it would be much easier to look at the references.
I found parts of the book time consuming as I either; had to reread or look up the footnote. I really recommend reading this in print form and not electronic, as I feel, it would be much easier to look at the references.
September 25, 2022
I paused before reading this book because it felt complicated and overwhelming. I was wrong! If you are wondering why, as one of the richest cultures in the world, our people have such high rates of depression, addiction, and life-threatening physical ailments, I would point you to Escaping Maya’s Palace for answers. This unusual treatise addresses these issues using the lens of the oldest and longest book ever written, the Mahabharata, and skillfully applies the lessons learned from that text to modern western civilization. A must read!
October 2, 2022
This is a radical book. Radical as in getting to the very root of our current crises.
Sclove's diamond-like insights cut through - and across - disciplines to illuminate: what we are missing, how to find it and apply the sacred wisdom of spiritual awakening to heal a world in need.
I especially enjoyed the friendly tone of what could have become a pedantic text. Sclove is a wise and welcoming guide who brings clarity to complex and interwoven issues of consciousness, culture, and nature. Amazing.
Sclove's diamond-like insights cut through - and across - disciplines to illuminate: what we are missing, how to find it and apply the sacred wisdom of spiritual awakening to heal a world in need.
I especially enjoyed the friendly tone of what could have become a pedantic text. Sclove is a wise and welcoming guide who brings clarity to complex and interwoven issues of consciousness, culture, and nature. Amazing.
January 23, 2023
"Escaping Maya’s Palace" explains the market driven life that most of us have accepted as normal, healthy, optimal…even inevitable. In it, Richard Sclove examines the deleterious consequences of the global market economy and the vicious self- perpetuating cycle it creates. Still, it is a book of hope, not chastisement. This is a book for anyone who would like to take the time to understand our consumer culture , the restraints it places on us and the path to improving our personal lives, the lives of others and our planet. It is thoughtfully written and worthy of your time and reflection.
September 25, 2023
Somehow Richard Sclove is able to weave in, lessons from the Mahabharata, with early modern European history, and for that matter, world history. What a magical book to be able to magically fuse these trends in early history to talk about/connect the blunder of Yudhisthira, with mass consumerism, the dramatic surge in drug food intake, addiction, and finally, the incredible explanations re: socially disorienting and disruptive trends, that obviously impact those in the lower social stations. Incredible work of art. Well done @ Richard Sclove Marcie Sclove. Truly stunning work !!!
November 20, 2022
Richard Sclove brilliantly weaves intuition and love into revealing the timeless teachings of the Mahabharata and using them to illuminate the hidden psychological roots of modern societal ills. He is an inspiration. Escaping Maya’s Palace is a call for the necessary action of critical thinking and awakening beyond the illusions of our modern day conveniences The book is a catalyst for personal and collective transformation.
November 1, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the best interweaving Eastern wisdom traditions with Western critical social science and psychology that I have come across. It does not just tell us what is deeply wrong in the world today, but points to how individually and collectively we can go about fixing things.
September 21, 2022
I loved this book. Richard Sclove has used a parable from the Mahabharata to illustrate the ways in which the structure of our society has derailed psychospiritual development. Sclove's framework integrates a vast body of knowledge from history, economics, political science, psychology, sociology, spiritual texts, and contemporary culture. His use of the parable and his gentle humor keep the reader engaged in this wide-ranging and intellectually stimulating book. It will appeal to readers with a broad scope of interests.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews