Power of words
November 2009
Which book has been the most life-changing for you?
My most cherished book is The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche, as it is a complete book which teaches us how to live every moment of life including the moments of death, peacefully, pleasantly and successfully without a whimper of suffering. To know the various techniques to live happily is only half the job done. The realisation of impermanence is paradoxically the only thing we can hold on to, perhaps our only lasting possession. It is said that one of the most powerful spiritual practices is to meditate deeply on the mortality of physical forms, including our own, that is to say, die before we die.
MURALI KRISHNA MAMIDI, Pune
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne has really helped me a lot in dealing with some of the intricate problems in my life. Besides acquiring a spiritual bend of mind and learning from the various courses of the Art of Living, I have a very open and positive attitude towards life. But, probably for the first time, I was able to understand as to how it works. The subtle messages regarding the availability in abundance of everything in this universe, which is the key to spirituality is also brought out very analytically. I feel this book should be introduced to school and college level students as well.
Commander Dharam Vir Chetal (Retd)
Many books came to my mind after I read this month’s topic – all competing for the favourite book slot. Then it occurred to me, hasn’t my first book of alphabet played the most pivotal role in my life? Would I read all these books from engineering to self-help, from science to spirituality, in Telugu, English, Hindi and Marathi, if I had not known the alphabet, the grammar and the simple sentences? As I work with more and more children and young adults in schools and colleges, this feeling has only got stronger. Language is the vehicle of all learning and so I vote for the first book of language as my most important book!
Uma Garimella, Hyderabad
A couple of years back I discovered The Urantia Book. We as citizens of Urantia (the name of our universe), living in this dimension, space and time, have our advantages as well as limitations. Therefore I am unable to comprehend every sentence or page in this book. Yet, after having read many chapters of The Urantia Book with an open mind, I have finally found wisdom in it and answers to my many questions. I agree with the publishers that this priceless and inexhaustible resource is the ultimate synthesis of “science, philosophy and truth”, of “reason, wisdom and faith”, of “past, present and future”.
Capt Mohan Kuruvilla, Mumbai
My favourite book from what I’ve read recently is You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L Hay. Louise recounts her own life story of a history of abuse as a young girl and her journey to growth and success. The most amazing part of the book is the table listing what beliefs and emotions affect which part of the body and in what way. The table also lists affirmations for each of them. I have practised some of those affirmations for several months and I can say that it has certainly improved my relationship with my body. As I can recall, this is one of the very few books I have read more than twice.
Jenny Bhatt
My favourite book is Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality by Matthew Fox. In Christianity there is great stress given on Original Sin, which makes us strive toward personal salvation. When I consider myself a blessing, I am motivated to work toward collective salvation. When I say ‘I am an original blessing’ there is a synergy flow, and lethargy has no chance.
Maie Vedashini, Mumbai