"In these nine stories, McKenzie skirts the edge of the fantastic, from virtual reality to hidden patterns in paintings to the afterlife, to see what lessons are to be learned there...fans of a certain stripe of mysticism-tinged fiction will find much to enjoy." -Kirkus Reviews "McKenzie spins an eclectic batch of tales that are insightful, revealing, and at times enigmatic...Seekers will relish this." -BookLife
From the author of Samsara and The Wisdom Teachings of the Bhagavad Gita comes a unique collection of short stories inspired by ancient wisdom texts. Seldom are aspects of eastern philosophy so lucidly presented in a story format that both engages the intellect and fills the heart. Hair on Fire promises to not only entertain, but to reveal something about the very nature of reality. For serious seekers only!
CHAPTER SUMMARY
"A Ghost Story"
A solo retreat to a small coastal town turns into something else when a yogi suddenly finds himself in the role of guru to a strange spirit trying to find his way out.
"The Day the Children Remembered"
What if children all over the world began to remember their past lives? How would it effect society and the individuals who see themselves as victims and perpetrators of past injustices?
"The Allegory of the Virtual Reality Headset"
With the development of virtual reality and the metaverse, it won't be long until people are able to experience other worlds that seem very similar, if not the same, to our own. Plato's Allegory of the Cave may, then, no longer be just an allegory.
"Like a Man with His Hair on Fire"
A desperate seeker who wishes to see reality as it is, gets more than he bargained for when Maya, "The Great Illusionist," grants him his wish.
"The Poverty of the Old"
What do you do when old age arrives and you find that all the juice has been squeezed out of life?
"Cliffhanger"
Most days the world feels like we're all on a bus to nowhere driven by a crazy old man who refuses to let go of the wheel.
"The Last Time"
A yogi visits his father on his death bed and asks him if he has learned anything.
"You Might Get Bored of Heaven"
What begins as a family reunion in heaven, ends in a shocking realization for the recently departed.
"The Portrait Artist"
An accomplished painter teaches his young student that everything is just patterns, and that we're all more similar than we would like to believe.