Caution: this provides a very uncomfortable read! Why? Here I go –As the name suggests, the book is philosophical in nature. But this one stands way away from overly optimistic moral boosting books by management gurus and other motivators. The book is written by Dr. Devdas Menon, a professor of IIT Madras (enough to add credibility to his work).
Content –
The book aims to provide answers like "What happens when big dreams get fulfilled? What happens when you become rich and famous? Will you attain an enduring state of fulfillment? Will you then be able to live happily ever after?". It explains you the ‘practical-in-life’ meaning of awakening, ego-self, enlightenment, etc and being written using layman words and highly illustrative examples, it throws some very very uncomfortable situations to you. Anybody with mere English knowledge can get the message he wants to convey i.e. how messed up life is without awakening and what would an awakened life be like? Grasping of these concepts becomes more incase you have been exposed to fierce competitive systems (benchmark - Indian education system).
"Today's education may give us a livelihood, but not necessarily character."
Post read affects –
I was already on the path of reinventing my soul when this book pre-empted my plans in my never ending pipeline. This book has definitely brought clarity and objective definitions to abstract concepts like awakening, enlightened, suffering and many other concepts related to way of living. Categorization of happiness on the basis of its origin is written beautifully, elaborating scenarios ranging from simple things like sunset to winning a materialistic award. Missing words –
Though the author does simplifies various complex terms of life with layman understanding, he has missed out to present his views on some of the some crucial words like ‘perception’ and ‘failures’. While reading, I had some annoying questions to which I can’t find an answer (sample - “what he thinks right may not be agreeable to me”). Hope that he accommodates these points in his next work.
Recommended for –
People having stormy reckless brain and to those who are just too successful in life yet are in search of contentment. If you are happy, but you don’t feel it – read this surely.
"Of what avail is it if we can travel to the moon, if we cannot cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves?"
The book is not a best seller and may not be available at every bookstore. The book cost around INR 125 (buying advice - Google the book and place your order through some good online bookstore).
Some lines from book –
"The 'joy of learning' is a fine example of this. In such activity, which is quietly performed to perfection, one does not need certification by others to realize the value of one's work."
"The awakened person is alert to the habitual tendency of the go-self to interpret facts by building imaginary stories around them. The stories reflect the 'judgements' of the ego-self, and reveal its fears and desires. There may be some measure of truth in these judgements, but the awakened person is able to view these with detachment and compassion."
“one suffers whenever one is worried, afraid, angry, upset, irritated, frustrated, jealous, hurt, impatient, anxious, agitated, stressed, suspicious, or just plain bored. However, one can truely claim to be totally free of suffering during the few moments when one is drawn into the 'deep sleep' state of consciousness.”
Jesus words – “For what does it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
ps: got the book from Dad :)
pps: I am on my way to Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, hope I am prepared for it! Even if no, let me fake it this time :)
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