Ratanjit Sondhe believes the key to a happy life can be summed up in one word: TEA.

It’s an acronym for a personal philosophy, one he’s laid out in the book “TEA: The Recipe for Stress-Free Living.” It stands for “truth,” “erroneous expectations” and “acceptance.”

“The basic message is to realign our purpose in life,” Sondhe said. He urges a focus on our spiritual side. “I am a spiritual being having a human experience.”

Sondhe moved to the United Sates in 1968 to attend University of Akron, where he studied polymers. In 1973, he founded POLY-CARB, headquartered in Solon and with a plant in Macon, GA. The business makes commercial polymer products like adhesives and coatings, the scientist said studying forced him to ponder more personal questions.

“They cooked my brain, All I’m left with is my heart.”

“TEA” is told as a series of dialogues with the fictional Swamiji, a calming and intellectual

character. After the initial idea struck, Sondhe spent a mere week writing the book.

To avoid the self-help label, he calls the book a novel.

Of course, there was another reason to attach the word “novel” to the title.

“We were afraid this would be put in the food section.”