Shraddha Friend is in a cult.
It's a cult of Free Will, Free Choice, Self-Determinism, Individual Freedom, and Inescapable Personal Responsibility. It's a cult of Peace, Love, Understanding, Compassion, Freedom, Truth and Joy.
In this jaw-dropping, gut-wrenching, and humorous memoir, Shraddha, a previously cynical woman, chronicles her journey to Faith, a spiritual path guided by Maitreya, the Friend of All Souls. Set in Southern California, her story explores enlightenment, overcoming childhood traumas, and the spread of her community's foundational beliefs.
Shraddha's memoir is a joy to read, a voice to be heard, and a story you won't want to put down. She is by no means a saint, nor a perfect disciple. In fact, Shraddha-whose name means 'Faith through Experience'-is one of the most human people you will ever meet-on paper or otherwise. She makes inappropriate jokes at even more inappropriate times, she has a temper that she attributes partly to her Irish blood, and an at-times unforgiving criticism of our world today.
But despite all of her human attributes, Shraddha can be brilliant. Her memoir is a Whitmanesque narrative in which you will discover the principles of the Maitreyians and reflect on Faith, mistakes, and the joys that shape us all. But more than that, you will learn to love Shraddha-a flawed yet inspiring individual whose humor, humanity, and unwavering beliefs will stay with you long after the last page. Let us hope she learns to love herself now too.