"Samsara is defined as the 'round of rebirth' or 'perpetual wandering'
... a continuous process of ever again and again being born, growing
old, suffering and dying." --Buddhist Dictionary by Nyanatiloka
Mahathera In Kagan Goh's debut memoir, he recounts his struggles with
manic depression, breaking the silence around mental illness. From an
honest and personal perspective, Surviving Samsara traces Goh's
experiences as he wanders through the highs of mania, the terrors of
psychosis, and the lows of depression. From the welfare office to the
hospital ward and many places in between, Goh struggles to discern the
difference between mental health breakdowns and spiritual breakthroughs.
Facing his experiences with courage and authenticity, Goh shares
memories of family altercations, pushed to the brink of living on the
street, and psychiatrist visits. He explores his diagnosis of bipolar
mood disorder not only as a medical condition but as a spiritual
emergence--a vehicle for personal growth, healing and transcendence.
With raw language and deep insight, he combats the societal stigma,
prejudice and discrimination people with mental health challenges face
on a daily basis, and exposes the further damage it can do. Writing and
sharing his story of living with a mental illness began a form of
self-therapy, and now illustrates Goh's transformation from victim to
survivor to activist. Surviving Samsara tells a deeply personal story of
recovery, acceptance and unconditional self-love and humanizes the
challenges of those living with mental illness.
