tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56480788014604089422024-03-12T19:23:04.073-07:00Books Come To LifeDivyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-63106248545627670722020-04-06T20:24:00.001-07:002020-04-06T20:24:31.123-07:00Topics of Conversation by Miranda Popkey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="freeTextreview3234605721" style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">A very unique book - I’m not sure I “enjoyed” the experience, but it was addicting and compelling enough for me to keep picking it up until I had read all of it. And I must say, it was worth it! While I can understand how there might be some who won’t like this book (unusual, crass, even repulsive at times), there is a lot of merit between its pages too. The narrator/protagonist definitely has her flaws, as do a lot of the other characters we meet, but there is something so fundamentally “real” about them all; conversations that feel vulnerable, relatable, and unearth the deepest thoughts a lot of us might have that we never really bring up!<br /><br />The journey of the book almost felt “Kerouac-esque” to me, but with majority female characters with a few sidelined male characters peppered through. A quote towards the end of the book made me pause, and think upon the lines I had read as well as what the book was attempting, and it all made sense: “The writer who depicts an abhorrent male character still demands that the reader pay the abhorrent man his attention” - similarly, how many abhorrent women have we, as readers, been demanded to pay attention? I believe this book attempts to do just that, and with that in mind, I’ve determined that it was a pretty good read!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com0Orange County, CA, USA33.7174708 -117.831142832.8714443 -119.12203629999999 34.5634973 -116.5402493tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-85398799027917930562020-04-03T21:15:00.000-07:002020-04-03T21:15:01.551-07:00The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Adunni's journey is harrowing and unique. The troubles she faces are monumental, especially for someone her age (14). However, the driving force in this novel is Adunni's spirit. She never gives up, is the strongest version of herself at each step, and meets a fate that her determination and strength deserve (if not a lot more). In recent years, my reading has increased quite a bit - from health issues keeping me at home, to lunch hours escaping from the work day, to my book of the month membership and some amazing debuts to all the book clubs I'm a part of - whatever the reason, my reading has gone from 10-12 books a year to almost 40! And I must say, at the pace of 30-40 every year for the past 3-4 years I've met a lot of characters, fallen in love with a lot of books, and overall had great impressions left upon my heart and soul. However, I cannot recall ever meeting a character like Adunni. She has become one of my favorites. A character that I know will stay with me for years to come. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">An excellent read that deserves all the stars and one that I highly, highly recommend! If you only pick up one of my recommendations this year, please make it this one!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">In parting, I would like to leave you with one of my favorite quotes from this book: </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">“Everybody in the whole world be speaking different...We all be speaking different because we all are having different growing-up life, but we can all be understanding each other if we just take the time to listen well.”</span><br />
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Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com0Orange County, CA, USA33.7174708 -117.831142832.8714443 -119.12203629999999 34.5634973 -116.5402493tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-19867706014605522142020-02-26T17:25:00.003-08:002020-04-03T20:28:05.700-07:00Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have pondered and mulled. I have waited and watched my thoughts come and go. This book - this amazing, powerful book has made a lasting impression, and I (for once) am at a loss for words. The glimpses into the characters' lives, the moments - fleeting, yet telling of events that shaped and molded.<br />
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The story line, at first, seemed simplistic and even over-done. The back of the book, the side flaps - don't even begin to do this book justice. The layers peel off slowly, like those of an onion, and reveal insightful, poetic, deep rumination on life and what it means to live. Live for oneself - live for others - just live. Love, loss, oh my goodness - so much loss. And yet, there is a hopeful undertone. I have no idea how Ms. Woodson has pulled this all off! </div>
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Readers, I hope you will pick up this book. I don't think I can speak much of it - you will have to give it a chance all on your own. All I can say is that it will remain with me for a long while. Hold on to your hearts and emotions too, this book sent me all over the place (in the best way a book can)!<br />
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Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-11678424373006284802020-01-23T14:07:00.000-08:002020-01-30T10:06:10.876-08:00Fair Play by Tove Jansson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2u1HxAQ-H5Y/XioY4Z6ifMI/AAAAAAAAfkk/OGBgiC1gI5E-taxvsYYgSpKeWGKMY917QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2020-01-23_14-05-47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="345" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2u1HxAQ-H5Y/XioY4Z6ifMI/AAAAAAAAfkk/OGBgiC1gI5E-taxvsYYgSpKeWGKMY917QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2020-01-23_14-05-47.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">On a bright Saturday afternoon, as I unwrapped the package from New York Review of Books - not knowing what was to happen to me that evening - out came the three books I had ordered at the end of last year. I flipped through each of them and toted them up to my bookshelves to shelve away into the massive TBR piles I have amassed. But as I entered my room, I ended up being enticed by my desk and the (very) comfortable desk chair and promptly plopped myself down with these books among others already on my desk. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">As I opened the first pages of one of the books, I had no clue that I would read it straight through - and that a few hours later be closing the last page with a deeply satisfied sigh and a strong desire and premonition of re-reading this book for many years to come. How poetic, how lovely - one of the first books that has made me write down quotes and go on writing long musings about life and such! My journal was quite happy with the time I spent with it as well! With you, my reader friends, I share this beautiful book “Fair Play” by Tove Jansson and the quote that prompted me to fall in love with it: “do not tire, never lose interest, never grow indifferent - lose your invaluable curiosity and you let yourself die.”</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I am quite glad it is the first book I completed as this new year began. 2020 is good, will be good, will be what I/we make of it. This book felt melancholy, yet so hopeful. Pregnant with possibilities, bursting with beautiful writing and filled to the brim with characters I felt like I knew. The time and place fell into the shadows, the depth of the story and human condition at the forefront and the universality of it all brought me into a mood of well-being. I hope this is a symbol - a symbol of similar great reads to come this year. A symbol of a beautiful new start. A symbol of finding myself as a reader, a writer, as a kind human being. A symbol of hope.</span></span></span><br />
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Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-61377823482747659722017-01-03T14:51:00.000-08:002017-01-03T14:51:27.457-08:00Gift from the Sea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As the year ended, and a new one began, I slowly worked my way through a beautiful little book titled "Gift from the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. She was the wife of the aviator, Charles Lindbergh. An aviator and author herself, Anne penned many books. However, this was the first one by her I ever came across. And it certainly grasped me in, shook up my feelings and thoughts, and left me a changed (for the better) woman!<div>
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My initial reaction to this volume is that every woman should read it. It beautifully doles out advice on life and marriage - our roles and "breaking the glass ceiling" - and so much more important ideas and concepts every woman should ponder. However, there are many more layers than what first meets the eyes. </div>
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The next level is to recommend this piece of work to men as well. To understand how many, many women feel - especially those in marriages and other very close intimate relationships. Space is a concept that is very delicately and boldly handled throughout. And something said men would benefit from understanding. </div>
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The final layer that I recognize and want to fully react to is what a poetically written book this is! I have to say that everyone who loves words must give this a go. I found myself doing something with a book, that I have only ever wanted to do with poetry before now - read with my lips and not just quietly with my mind! The words, the flow, the feelings it wrings out - I don't think I have enough of a vocabulary to accurately capture the emotions. </div>
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I am glad to have found this book - happy accidents in life happen mostly with books for me - and for that I am ever grateful. It was the perfect end to a tough year; a beginning dripping with hope; a few words that for a short period of time took over my life and for which I am now a better person! </div>
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Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-23151648572128841492016-02-27T12:20:00.001-08:002020-01-23T13:23:50.873-08:00Serving Crazy with Curry by Amulya Malladi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't done this in a while. A lot has happened, and at the same time nothing has changed. I'm still me - a little more reading done, a little more life under my belt - but still me. And that's the best part.<br />
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I recently finished reading a book called "Serving Crazy with Curry" by Amulya Malladi. This is an author I discovered a few years ago and this is the third book I read by her. What a versatile writer I must say - each book so unique. This particular one dealt a lot with healing through food. Cooking food, understanding how flavors that don't belong together actually go well together, healing and realizing that life events that shouldn't have happened to us do happen and sometimes make us who we are.<br />
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Food is really such a deep analogy for life. It makes us who we are, it defines our culture, it defines our personality. What we eat, what we try, what we despise. These are such personal choices, and yet they are in large part influenced by society. Our experiences are similar - very personal and yet society dictates how we should feel, how we should cope - what we should do to make things "better".<br />
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But just like with food, we have to learn to sort through the "acceptable" and find the "this works for me". For a long time now I haven't been able to write on this blog or on any public media. My thoughts, feelings, ideas have become very personal - I have been writing, but just for myself. I think this is the next step in my healing though, I'm finally ready to get back to this. To get back to writing for you, reader. My writing is still very deeply personal, but I'm a little less afraid now, I'm a little more ok with sharing now. Life certainly has changed, but still I am me, and I am back.</div>
Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-13841556850375927472014-04-24T15:09:00.000-07:002014-04-24T15:18:08.288-07:00And More Than a Year LaterHave you ever had that year where you look back and are shocked at how it started and how it ended? Are you surprised at how many things happened and just how far you have come? Well, that has been the past year for me. Through the thickets of work life and personal life I have travelled - and ended up in sunny California! I never imagined I would live on the west coast, but nonetheless here I am, and I know in my heart of hearts, that this past year could not have turned out better. Funny how things are sometimes, eh?<br />
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Well on my journey of sorts I did not let go of my inner journey nor my reading. Too many books have come and gone since the last time I wrote - and mainly I must say, each found its way to me when I needed it the most. Queen of Dreams (Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni) came when I was searching through my own dreams for what it was I really wanted. The Storyteller (Jodi Picoult) came to me at a time when I needed to understand people and stories, and how life really does go full circle sometimes. And the Mountains Echoed (Khaled Hosseini) - by far the best novel I read in 2013 - touched me in a way I know I will never forget. The beautiful story, the beautiful characters - the name, Pari - will never leave me. The love - so innocent, so simple, will forever resonate in my heart. And lastly, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith) and the Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck) came at a time when I most needed to hear about hard work - when I most needed to know not to give up. Looking back I truly feel these books came to life for me, they came to me, not me to them - they found me, one way or another - they helped me and got me through. IF I stop to think about it, how can anyone ever be lonely when the right book is in their life? And on that note, let me tell you a bit about what I just finished reading and what I have been up to this year.<br />
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Towards the beginning of this year I read a very poignant little book called "I am Malala" - it is about a little girl who spoke out and was shot by the Taliban. Her story is so ordinary and yet so extraordinary it left me in a bit of awe. This girl is simply put, brave - she is a role model to girls all around the world, and I hope to hear many great things from her. We really do need such strong female leaders in this world - and it's a shame we don't have more of them! I was quite conflicted during this read though - I constantly felt affronted with my religion and race being so different than Malala, and being mentioned as such. But I chose to go to a deeper level - a humanistic level. She was not a Muslim girl, or even a Pakistani girl to me - she was simply a girl - and now that I think of it, simply a human being. It was a human being's story I read - a real one at that, and one that teaches us to speak out, one that teaches us to be brave, one that teaches us that if one so young can be bold, then why not us? Are we less bold as we grow older because we understand consequence? Are we less bold as we grow older because we have more responsibilities? Well - Malala understood these consequences and responsibilities and chose to speak out despite them. And her purpose? Education. I think she hit it on the nose!<br />
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I recently finished Ellen DeGeneres's "Seriously.. I'm Kidding". While a hoot and a half, I'm not sure it had much substance to it. A lot of chapters, a lot of paragraphs started out with a theme or a thought that was pretty cool or interesting, but soon went off in a tangent that while funny, caused the original thought to lose its meaning. I find myself wishing Ellen had developed some more of her thoughts in a complete way. Alas, I did finish the book, and I did enjoy it in terms of the jokes and laughter it brought me (probably its' purpose), but I would be hesitant to recommend it because I think there could have been so much more, and yet there was not.<br />
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And lastly, I have started the Power of Myth. It is a dialogue between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. I'm only a handful of pages in, but I must say it is beautiful. The topics they discuss move at a rapid pace, but the thoughts they hit upon leave me in awe and my mind whirring with ideas! I will leave you today with a quote of what Campbell says in one paragraph, and come back another day to give you a full post of my musings on this particular read.<br />
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"And that's what meditation is for. All of life is a meditation, most of it unintentional. A lot of people spend most of life in meditating on where their money is coming from and where it's going to go. If you have a family to bring up, you're concerned for the family. These are all very important concerns, but they have to do with physical conditions, mostly. But how are you going to communicate spiritual consciousness to the children if you don't have it yourself? How do you get that? What the myths are for is to bring us into a level of consciousness that is spiritual." ~ Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth<br />
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<br />Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-74774485797987259732013-01-30T20:40:00.001-08:002013-01-30T20:40:29.527-08:00The Diamond & Heart SutrasSo I have been procrastinating on this post for a while. And here is why: This particular read has hit a place so deep within me I didn't even know that place existed. How do I talk about something like that? I honestly can't - I still don't know a way how, so I am simply going to share a bit of the background on what I read, my reactions to it (the ones I can put in words - barely) and let you read it and think for yourself on this one.<br />
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Book #3: The Diamond Sutra<br />
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The Diamond Sutra is a discourse given by the Buddha to one of his elder disciples, Subhuti. It was a writing that was found in 868 and means "Perfection of Wisdom." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Sutra) I am not sure what the title means but I wanted to offer some background, so there it is. The Sutra is relatively short (25 pages) and uses simple language (this is to encourage you to read it) and can be found at multiple places on the web. As a side note, you should never really have to buy books or pay to learn about the Buddha's discourses - that is not what they are meant for - and most monasteries and websites true to that do hand out free literature for you to study and read and merely ask for donations - from the goodness of your heart and nothing else. When I see Amazon charging a lot of money for these same books/discourses it kind of makes me sad because that's not what these writings are meant to encourage. Side note over.<br />
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I think it is a very small statement to say that the Diamond Sutra has changed me. It is brought life - mine and in general - and the happenings of the world into a new light, a new perspective for me. This seems like the sutra that can lead you wherever you want it to with your interpretation. However, I did some research and it seems that many monks have revered this sutra and hold it to be one of the most profound and important ones there are. And all of this research was conducted after I reached that conclusion myself. One of the things the Buddha would say to his disciples was that he was telling them of enlightenment and giving them the dharma as he knew it, but it was up to them to find the truth in what he said and to reach their own conclusions.<br />
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Last week I started a free online course on Buddhism given by Bikkhu Bodhi because I wanted a source to learn and take notes on the foundation of Buddhism as an "ism." One of the things that stuck was how I was told meditation is important, and dharma is important, but each are incomplete without the other - how can you have knowledge without practice, and how can you practice without knowledge? I thought it was odd because usually only one or the other is encouraged - but it did resonate well with me and the concept stuck. And then came along the Diamond Sutra, it was briefly mentioned in Book #2: The End of Your Life Book Club and so I sought it out from the myriad of Buddha dharma books on my shelf. As I read the sutra one morning, in one sitting, I let the words sink in and I saw just how true it is to have both knowledge and practice.<br />
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All this time whenever I have meditated I have followed a certain path, a certain technique, and it has seemed to work for me, but other than some peaceful moments, I'm not sure what I have been looking for or waiting for. But this sutra showed me just that. It showed me the point of meditation, it showed me what I want to look for, it "opened" my eyes and mind a bit. There are a few lines in the sutra that brought me to that point: "should thus develop a pure and clean mind which should not abide in form, sound, smell, taste, touch and dharma. They should develop a mind which does not abide in anything." That's the key of meditating - to develop a mind that is free, a mind that does not attach itself to anything. What confused me a little bit was the mention of keeping your mind clear of "dharma" - but I had been thinking that keeping that in your mind was the point all along. So I read on and I found some more lines that confused me further.<br />
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These lines went, "these particles of dust are not (real), (but) are (merely) called particles of dust. The Tathagata says the universe is not (real), but it is (merely) called the universe." It is a paradox really - there is no "is" but there also is no "is not" to put it in basic terms. To take it further out the lines refer to the universe - there is no universe, and there is no not universe - it simply is a term. Similarly, there is no suffering, and there is no not suffering - it is merely a term - and so simply, with such brilliance this thought brings you to the principle of Buddha dharms: to understand that the root of everything is suffering, to acknowledge suffering, and to walk the path to the cessation of suffering. Think about the fact there is no suffering or not suffering - this that these are just terms, and feel the pressure of suffering, the depth of suffering disappear for a moment. And in the next you forget about the is and is not and you are back to our reality. The answer: meditation.<br />
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But it really is not that easy. In order to walk the path of Enlightenment we must let go of our attachments. But here is the tricky part - in order to get to "truth" we must give up attachment to "non truth" as well. So we meditate and observe but let go - we sever our attachments and let go of the "non-truth" (ego). But then we find this "truth" and attach to it! That makes it the non-truth again and we find ourselves back where we began. What this sutra is essentially telling us is that we cannot attach to anything - not even the truth, not even dharma, because attachment in any form is still attachment and it will still lead to suffering. To really get to the truth we must perceive it through meditation, watch it, understand it, and then like all else during true meditation - let it go.<br />
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So it is letting go of all attachments that leads us to the Buddha - to Enlightenment. But what about non-Buddha, what about non-Enlightenment? The path takes us further than simply letting go of attachments. The path is to perceive and not attach. The path is to meditate and observe the fleeting thoughts - to perceive the truth and non-truths alike. Enlightenment is just a word too, it is not the path. It is a path of perceiving and letting go. But it is the perception that is critical - we must meditate to get to the perception, and maintain it to let go of what we see, of what we wish to attach to next.<br />
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The Diamond Sutra has a "follow up" sutra - the Heart Sutra. This sums up the Diamond Sutra and allows the way to the cessation of suffering. This is what happened to a Bodhisattva: "he investigated and perceived that the five aggregates (skandhas) were non-existent thus securing his deliverance from all distress and sufferings." If everything is non-existent, and the names are just given by us as names and nothing more, then when you let go of attachment to these things that exist only in names, there leaves no such thing as "suffering" because there is no suffering and no not suffering - these are just left as words that are illusions.<br />
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From what I reflected reading this sutras, I formed a path - a way to possibly practice these sutras. It is to meditate - to sit and reflect. Detach. If a wandering thought comes - let it - observe it but then (and this is crucial) let is pass! Don't hold on to it, don't engage it, don't do anything - just let it pass.<br />
1) Acknowledge<br />
2) Observe/Perceive<br />
3) Let it go<br />
Because eventually the wandering thoughts will stop. Eventually there will be no fleeting moments, eventually that moment of knowing there is no is and no not is will come and stay. And once that nothingness is there, that will be the end of suffering. A quote from the Heart Sutra sums it up perfectly:<br />
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"Because of gainlessness, Bodhisattvas who rely on Prajna-paramita (the sutras), have no hindrance in their hearts, and since they have no hindrance, they have no fear, are free from contrary and delusive ideas and attain the Final Nirvana."<br />
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And finally, a mantra to take with you, something to remember the Diamond sutra, the Heart sutra, to repeat and understand, to always remember what was said and observed in these sutras: <u>The Prajna-paramita mantra:</u> "Gate (pronounced "gathay"), gate, paragate, parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha"<br />
(Translated by the Dalai Lama as "<i style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">go, go, go beyond, go thoroughly beyond, and establish yourself in enlightenment" </i>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Sutra)<br />
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<br />Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-34608997767146220682013-01-22T14:50:00.003-08:002013-01-22T14:50:39.157-08:00The End of Your Life Book Club<span style="background-color: white; color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Book #2 for my 2013 Book Project is "The End of Your Life Book Club" by Will Schwalbe</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">What makes a book "good"? This is a very personal and subjective question. The story that doesn't leave you when you close your book at the end of the night. The characters you can almost hear in your mind. The emotions the author manipulates you into feeling. The book that is always on your mind and you can't wait to get back to. The one that asks tough questions and makes you ponder over your own life and choices. The one that changes your life just a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"The End of Your Life Book Club" is definitely a good book. It did for me all the things I mentioned and a little more. The story itself was touching - a son writing about the years in his life where his mom was diagnosed with cancer and then slowly passed away. The story is of a man who loved and admired this woman whom he had a hard time picturing not being in his life. And it made me think of life without my parents and I cringed as many times as the thought crossed me. No matter what age we are our parents have a special place in us. They gave us our life and taught us the first few things in life - they are our guardians, friends, and loves forever. But what happens when we start getting to that age when we have kids and grandkids? Does it mean they mean less to us? Does it mean just because we are all older it doesn't matter whether they are not around? None of the above. I think we progressively get closer to our parents with age and time. Because we slowly start to arrive in the places they have already been - we go through experiences they have already had. We understand them, gain a bit of their wisdom, and mainly learn to appreciate them.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Schwalbe did just that - he appreciated his mom - through the book he wrote, through the books they discussed, through the illness she developed and had to fight hard against. Their relationship in her last years was based on the books they read together. The books are all mentioned in this book and sort of guide them through the </span><span style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">tough times. Books are such an important part of our life. They come at these moments when we need them the most - some to cheer us up, some to give inspiration, and some to humble us. Books give us direction, give us hope, guide us and slowly shape us. The books we read and the way we think of the stories contained within these books - fiction or nonfiction - in a way define who we really are. Can we experience the emotions, can we understand the human behavior expressed, can we sympathize? These are the questions certain books ask us - and by reading and feeling a certain way, we learn something about ourselves.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">There were a lot of moments in this book where I paused to think about a particular comment Will or his mom made about a book - where I looked up the book they were talking about and added it to Amazon wish list - where I just had to underline the passage because I didn't want to forget it. One such passage towards the end had a profound effect on me. It mentioned something about all of us being in "it" together. That you never knew what would be the last book you read, the last conversation you had. This made me think of the cliche "Live life like every moment is your last" but it also made me think beyond. As a bibliophile especially it made me stop dead in my tracks to realize that every book I read could be my last. I love my husband, parents, other family and friends - but they know that and I try to mention it to the ones closest to me as often as possible. So that doesn't worry me too much. But what about the books? All of these books I have yet to read. What if the one I read next is my last? Or the one after, or after that? Not only did Schwalbe's book give me suggestions for some great books to read, it made me realize that each book I choose means potentially giving up all the others I could choose. Mind boggling, isn't it? How do you make decisions on what to read after realizing that? Very carefully, indeed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-69610140986744175902013-01-16T07:13:00.001-08:002013-01-16T07:13:22.564-08:00Breakfast with BuddhaBook #1 for my 2013 Book Project is "Breakfast with Buddha" by Roland Merullo<br />
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It's interesting how books come into our lives. I think we think that we choose what to read, but in reality it is the book that finds its way to us at a particular time in our life. Something like that happened when I "chose" my first book this year. While I wasn't a big fan of the writing itself and the book tended to drag slightly, I did enjoy the various thoughts followed in the book. Let me explain a bit further.<br />
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The main character has lost his parents and has to go down to their farm with his sister in the Dakotas and wrap things up. His sister sends a "rinpoche" (spiritual leader) with him instead. The entire book is about this road trip and the food stops they make (the main character is a food book editor) and the "philosophy" they discuss. I use the term "philosophy" very loosely here because their discussions are mainly buddhist principles and that is a way of life more than a philosophy. I didn't enjoy the story line much and found myself annoyed at the main character's personality, but there was an idea that was brought up in the book that stuck with me and is perhaps the reason this book came to me.<br />
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This idea is about our future being up to us. There is a question posed about good and evil and how people become one or the other or if they are destined to be. The answer is something about controlling our own destinies by the choices we make. Everyone at all times has to make conscious decisions. This or that, A or B, 1 or 2 - and it is these choices that lead us to good or bad. It is how much we can control our urges towards bad and make the good decision that leads us further into our path and guides our destiny.<br />
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I'm at a crossroads right now too. I'm in a new city, a new marriage, and a new life, and in between all of that is a job search I have been carrying out for a few weeks. I had fallen of my path however, and this book brought me a way to clearly see what I wanted. There is another idea from the book that stuck with me. There is a particular scene where the Rinpoche is explaining to Otto (the main character) how to see clearly. He takes a glass of water and adds a lot of dirt to it. He then proceeds to mix the water vigorously so the dirt clouds the glass. He asks Otto if he can see through it and obviously he cannot. After some time of leaving the glass, the dirt settles and now you can see clearly through the glass. He compares this to our mind. If we shake things up and have scattered thoughts it is very unlikely that we can see a situation clearly. But if you calm yourself and let the dust/dirt settle, there is more clarity in your life. I kept letting my mind be full of this dirt floating around - I kept questioning and doubting my choices in career and wanting to change things. And after a lot of frustration and unhappiness, I read this idea in this book and I decided to give it a whir. I worked on some meditation to calm my mind and I took a few days to let the dirt settle and gave a peek inside my mind. And it was clear as day. I knew the path I had chosen was for a reason, and when I clearly remembered my reasons I realized I was on the correct path and just needed to get back on it with a positive attitude and a desire to do my best. I saw clearly my past when I had been really good at everything I had done. I thought back to days where I excelled because I worked hard. I wondered for a brief moment what had happened to that person I used to be and realized what a crappy statement that is! I am still me - so what if years have gone by and situations have changed? Yes I am sure I have changed too, but that doesn't mean that the excelling hard-working part of me doesn't exist, its there, for sure its there - its simply dormant inside of me!<br />
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And so I decided to get back on my path - wake my dormant motivated self and made a conscious decision. And everything started falling back together after that. Moods improved, attitude improved, my confidence returned, and I knew I couldn't have done it without this advice on clarity from the Rinpoche in Merullo's story. Like I mentioned I am now at a crossroads. I have come to a point in my career path where because of my confidence I now have options for the first time. Several job offers - many positives and several negatives to each. A lot of nervousness on my part to make the right decision. A lot of nervousness on my part to find the right fit. And like that first idea that stuck - whichever I choose will determine my destiny. I have the power to take my life in whatever direction I want, and I have the options to pick between that can take my life in many different directions. I would have never thought of these decisions like this before - I would have just picked whatever offered more or seemed nicer - but now its about the future. It's about the choice that will lead me correctly.<br />
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It amazes me how books find us in the most opportune time!<br />
<br />Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-11290274199893361852012-10-31T16:51:00.000-07:002012-10-31T16:52:23.812-07:00Poetry for Dreamers - in publication!Hello Again Bloggers -<br />
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Today has been quite productive!!<br />
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I'm now officially published :)<br />
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I am thrilled and humbled at the same time that I have taken my first step towards realizing my dreams of being a writer.<br />
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Here is the link for my book, I hope at least some of you will check it out!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-for-Dreamers-ebook/dp/B009Z71DX2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351727333&sr=8-1&keywords=divya+mirchandani">"Poetry for Dreamers" (sold by Amazon)</a>Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-50942940047490398022012-06-01T13:40:00.001-07:002012-06-01T13:41:35.124-07:00Black Like Me - John Howard GriffinI haven't done this in a while, but one of the books I'm currently reading has compelled me to do so. This book is "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin. I heard of this book many years ago when I used to watch the show, Boy Meets World. In it, the English teacher assigns it to the class and using the concept the main characters do a parody to teach some guy a lesson and call it "Chick like me." Needless to say when guys dress up and pretend to be girls, it is quite funny - as was that episode of the show.
However, the book is anything but funny. This is a very serious book - and no, the way it is written and the language used flows quite easily and it's a simple book to read. But the meaning of everything, the truth of the matter, when these things sink in you, it leaves you with a pit in your stomach and an urge to be nauseous. I have only gotten 20% into this book (gone are the days with page numbers when you use a kindle to do reading), but already I know I'm going to have to be strong to get through this book. I'm going to have to keep believing in humanity and have faith in the good of people while reading this book. Because I know it's going to shake me. IT is one thing to know what used to happen (or what might still happen) - to have some vague concept - but to actually read it, to be swept away into a book is an experience matched by no other.
Let me leave you with a gist of the book, something I'm sure the flap of the book will tell you too, but put it together with my initial reaction and you will be compelled to read this book sometime in your lifetime too. John Griffin is a white male writer from Texas in the 60's - he wanted to know what it was like to be a black person in the South in that time. He finally got frustrated with the urge to know and decided to do something about it. He died his skin black and went and lived in the deep south (New Orleans, Mississippi, etc.). His experiences and findings were published as research elsewhere - This book was his personal diary (yes, perhaps a little reminiscent of Anne Frank, but very different).
I hope to get through this short book soon to see how these experiences changed Griffin - could you just imagine if your skin color changed, how would people react to you? What would it be like to live life as someone whom you have only observed? If someone did this today, would it make a difference? Are we still racist or just stereotypical towards different races? So many questions and yet the answers could go on forever.Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-17295480081743995802011-10-22T09:06:00.003-07:002011-10-22T09:18:05.923-07:00Tina Fey and BuddhismMY two recent reads have been as follows: Bossypants by Tina Fey and The Basic Method of Meditation (A small book-let from the Chuang Yen Monastery.<br /><br />I've decided that the Meditation book is best left for my Soul Searcher blog (the-soul-searcher.blogspot.com) and will be appearing there in a post very soon because this reading was not so much about the reading as much as it was about discovering the world of meditation and contemplating what the monk in the book had to say. So be sure to check out why this book had now joined my favorites list! :)<br /><br />On to Tina Fey!! Where to begin I wonder? Let's start with FUNNY. This book of hers, as well as Tina Fey, are immensely FUNNY. Now, I have never watched 30 Rock nor Saturday Night Live (Yes, I live in a cave). All I have seen of Tina Fey are a couple of movies - Mean Girls and Date Night to be specific. However, this book of hers has single-handedly allowed me to form a very strange opinion of her (not bad, just strange)in which the first impression was "FUNNY!!!!" This book of hers, Bossypants, is laugh out loud hilarious. There are no "she's trying too hard" jokes or any forced comedy - it's just plain and honest and makes you smile, nod your head in agreement, and even chuckle sporadically through. <br /><br />My favorite part of the book and my strongest emotion towards the strange opinion of Tina Fey? She is one heck of an honest woman! I LOVE that! There are so few people out there that have the spine and the guts to lay it out the way it is for all the world to see/read. I'm sure most of us out there will agree with a lot of what Tina Fey has to say about women, girls, self-esteem issues, "mean girls", etc. but not a whole lot of us will have the honesty to repeat it and stand by the wrongs of society. And Tina Fey really strikes a balance - a comedian by profession, a wife and a mother, and still honest about the issues that really seem to effect hers and most women's lives. <br /><br />At the surface of it I really enjoyed the read because it gave me a behind the scenes look at Saturday night live and 30 Rock - two shows that I now want to watch. I did end up watching the SNL 2008 campaign episode on netflix and it really is everything the book says it was. Except now you know what they were really trying to do and so the show makes sense! :)<br /><br />If you feel like giggling and reading an honest memoir about someone who is really an average (which is awesome) woman, take a shot with this book.. you might enjoy it and learn some stuff too!Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-77602413924605326802011-09-27T14:09:00.003-07:002011-09-27T14:18:00.016-07:00Wuthering HeightsAfter a bit of a hiatus, I'm back!<br /><br />My life-long dream of having a book club has recently taken off and I've gotten through 2 successful meetings!! I decided that the CPA exam was not going to take over my life, and since I won't start a full-time job for another month or so I decided to go ahead with the book club idea. In August we read "The Count of Monte Cristo" - this monstrous book is 1300 pages and after about 300 or so pages I was quite done with it. Those who attempted an abridged (600 page version) were able to make it through. But let me tell you, unless you are really into classic adventure, this book really doesn't offer much literary merit. The story moves fast but the writing is so common and kind of "blah" it doesn't easily take you through the 1300 daunting pages. <br /><br />Our second book, for September, was "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. And here is what I feel after finishing it:<br /><br />This book is the first I have ever read in my life that I have immensely liked and passionately hated at the same time! What an eloquent writing - the words just flow so beautifully and capture you into the characters' lives like you have never experienced before. But those characters!! OH my GOODNESS - I hated almost all of them! They are odious people that you have but momentary sympathy for. Their characters are so dark and eerie that you are gripped to know more but repulsed by their actions/behaviors/thoughts at the same time. No wonder this book is a classic. This is a dark, dark, dark book - but every page kept me going back for more - it was almost irresistibly dark. As much as I love Jane Austen and her almost poetic-like beautiful writing and her wonderful flowery stories - this book, in my opinion, proved to be a more literary classic than any of her works I've read so far. Although written many years ago, and living in an age of terrorism and other terrible human traits, this book goes to the core of the darkness and evil that can be within a human spirit - terrifying but exciting read all in one!!Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-29904936732532103062011-04-19T07:24:00.004-07:002011-04-19T07:42:17.246-07:00Life Changing ReadsYet again, here I am, a changed person.<br /><br />I do believe that in the last few months, the books I have read have made me laugh, moved me deeply, and have become a part of my life. Today, I want to share a little bit with you all about these three books I encountered:<br /><br />"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" - Amy Chua<br />"To Kill a Mockingbird" - Harper Lee<br />"The Hindi Bindi Club" - Monica Pradhan<br /><br />MY first book - Battle Hymn - is the one that made me laugh, and nod my head along with. I was born in India and came to the United States at the age of 6. SO, in parts I can understand where Amy Chua was coming from, because I think I had her childhood for a part of my life, and her kids' childhood for another part. A blending of generations and countries I suppose. I wouldn't say that this book was well-written, but boy was it a fun read.. you gain quite a bit of perspective on what exactly goes on in an Asian mother's head - a mystery to most I'm sure. This book was a fast read as well, so I'm certainly glad I gave it a go. Not much more substance than the "funny" I suppose - so it was a great "light" read!<br /><br />"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic for a reason. I first read this book in 8th grade as part of the curriculum. I had fallen in love with the book and it became my favorite, but somehow over time, the memory of the characters faded from my mind and I started wondering what had made the book so great? So, 9 years after I first read the book, I decided to give it another read. I must say, this is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read in my life. And the only book I have read twice. I now understand why it become my favorite, because it has taken the title all over again! I must say though, as an adult I got a profound view from these few hundred pages. I'm in that phase where I question life and the world around me, but with a skeptical view, not a child's innocence. And Harper Lee's beautiful words made me realize that a child's innocence is inherently how the world should be looked at, because without it, we lose all perspective. The simple words of the book, the power of each of the words, the scenery, the characters, and the plot of course could not have been better - this truly is a gem of a book and if I could (I might someday) I would buy everyone I know a copy a of this book - it's that good! :)<br /><br />I think I've saved the best for last - the Hindi Bindi Club. Now, as touching as To Kill a Mockingbird is, and as much as it has become my favorite novel of all time, I must say the Hindi Bindi Club shocked me in terms of how much I enjoyed reading it. As I mentioned, I was born in India and grew up in the U.S. - a combination that gave me a perspective quite unique on this particular book. Three families - two generations - one grown up in India, one in the US - what a combo! There are so many of us today that are part of this combo - yet no book, no words have quite captured our emotions, our trials as well as this book has. At the same time, it quite aptly captures the emotions most folks feel when they immigrate from their home country to a foreign one. Meenal, Kiran, Uma, Rani, Saroj and Preity have become a part of my life - I don't think I will forget them, and I do believe I will visit their story again when I'm seeking comfort from my culture. Because at the end of the day, this mind-provoking, heart healing/hurting book is a mix of Indian spices and American comfort food - an irony isn't it? Oh, and the book has some lovely recipes peppered throughout - something that inspired me to cook some Indian food and enjoy the flavors of the book even more!! :)<br /><br />So, my friends, I leave you here - however, I do urge you to read these three books. All different in their own ways, all lovely in the own ways, all having given me immense pleasure in the same way.. <br /><br />For those of you who have never read "To Kill a Mockingbird" - put down whatever you are doing and read it, you will always be glad you did. <br /><br />For those of you who are of mixed descent, or first/second generation immigrants, or just want an insight into those of us who are - read "The Hindi Bindi Club", trust me, you will make friends with the characters and miss them sorely when you finish!<br /><br />For those of you want advice on what to do (or not to do really) when parenting - go ahead and give Amy Chua's book a try.<br /><br />And here, I do bid you all adieu! :)Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-25524975963511162742011-02-16T19:40:00.003-08:002011-02-16T20:01:01.854-08:00A Part of Me Will Never Be the SameAlas, I am back from my hiatus!! <br /><br />And the only thing that has pulled me back: two very different and very strong books I have recently finished reading. <br /><br />The first of these books is "Water for Elephants" by Sarah Gruen - a book like nothing I have read before. I must admit the writing is very basic and straightforward, but the content, quite unique! A story about the circus - unique. A story that flashes back and forth between youth and old age and captures each emotion vividly - unique. I won't say much about the story because it is worth the read. I will, however, say that I have a whole new persective of the circus and what goes into it, a deeper understanding of love and the need to protect, and a greater respect for those that age and are left behind but are still living beings that need a bit of love and care. I think I've changed a little with this book, in a way that I know I'll never be the same again.<br /><br />Soon after I finished the first book, I started one called "A Fresh of Breath Air" by Amulya Malladi. I have a confession: I have never cried reading a book or watching a movie, and then very silently, this book came into my life and pulled out a few tears from my stoic soul. It was such a simple book, yet so powerful. It was like a Hindi movie, but one done so well and based on such true events that it forces you to get involved. I think the characters of this book will stay with me for a long time - Anjali, the girl who grew into a strong but tired woman; Sandeep, the calm infallible husband who secretly has his insecurities - my favorite character; and Prakash, the one you want to hate, but feel sorry for as well. And of course the other numerous characters that are peppered flawlessly through the pages. Especially the character of Amar, a child whose name turns out to be terribly ironic. <br /><br />I want to say so much more about these books, and go on about the stories and the plot, but that is up to you to read - which I highly recommend. However, I'm going to leave this post here, simply by saying and knowing that I will never be the same again. Not after the experience of these beautiful, heart felt novels!Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-66813373104115235572010-04-26T12:07:00.003-07:002010-04-26T12:24:22.126-07:00Procrastination brings me here..So, as usual, I have procrastinated. And hence, this blog post will have a little bit about the books I have read since my last post. Get Set, Ready? GO!<br /><br />The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari:<br />An excellent book! Although I have to say that the writing style was super simple, and the voice of the book felt as if it was trying to coddle me, the message was brilliant. The meaning and purpose behind this book has had a direct impact on my life (well, at least it's trying to). Without giving away the advice in the book (which is for the book to give and not me!) all I'll say is that I am more productive now, more methodical now. I was before too, but I have realized how to improve on that and how to not let stress get the best of me! Now I know that that has got to make you want to read the book, who knows, maybe your stress will run too! ;)<br /><br />A Still Forest Pool:<br />Great advice from a great monk. Achaan Chah gives very simple, to the point, precise advice on how to go about our daily activities. You don't have to be a buddhist or have to follow all of what he says. Just reading his stories and points make things seem clearer. Especially his analogies - they are so meaningful. For example, he talks about planting a seed, watering it, and taking care of it - but ultimately giving it the space and time it needs to grow. You can sow a thought or action, and take care of it and be mindful, but you can't do much more than that so you have to cultivate patience and let it grow on its own. You can't control time!<br /><br />Five People you Meet in Heaven:<br />This book was everything I had heard it would be. Strong, powerful, great. It was well written, and took turns you never expect from a book like this. The title tells you what to expect, but what you get is far different. The characters are vivid - the writer's expertise should be commended for that one! And the plot seemlessly flows from one part to another. This is a thinker book - I found myself constantly stopping to consider who my five people would be, who I would want to meet, what in my life is meaningful enough. But alas, it is something I will never know, but I did enjoy pondering over the book and my life - taking parallels - getting the message out of it that we are meant to be who we are. That our actions might inadvertently land us into what we will do for the rest of our lives. That sometimes what we think and hope for doesn't happen, and we have no one to blame or thank except ourselves.<br /><br />Animal Farm:<br />A hilarious, satirical, political book by George Orwell. I wish I had read this sooner! Not only is the writing great, but the voices, the characters so real it is hard to not believe it. Of course the story seems ludacrious, but when thought about in depth, one that makes a lot of sense. Orwell wrote this with many current events of his time in mind. But it makes me wonder, isn't this story true to our world today too? A group of people overthrow or run out their leader because they are unhappy, they promise to run a "democracy" but eventually elect a leader to handle the democracy, the leader lets the position go to his head and becomes eventually into the leader that was once overthrown. A vicious cycle, where the people elected might be good, but the position and power corrupts them. How difficult is it in our society to have a fair, good for everyone, leader? Pretty darn difficult I would say! And I don't just mean in politics or in presidential positions - I mean all leaders - political, religious, professional - all of them. Orwell's book makes me wonder if we aren't just like those animals who get fooled by someone amongst their own? Perhaps we are smarter, or perhaps, we just think we are.<br /><br />Well.. that's all folks! :)Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-87850226061270660332009-10-13T20:05:00.005-07:002009-10-13T20:16:06.490-07:00"The Mango Season" by Amulya MalladiI'll be honest: I don't know where to begin!<br /><br />Well, I guess I should start somewhere.. Let me re-introduce the book then!<br />"The Mango Season" is written by Amulya Malladi. It is the first book I have read by her - and I completely have mixed feelings. I agree with a lot of the story, the traditions, the methodology of things she mentions - the book certainly reads fast enough - and yet I'm left slightly unsatisfied. <br /><br />Although Ms. Malladi does a great job developing her characters, and certainly her story - she doesn't completely finish it. I felt like the book could have had another 50-100 pages going into details of how the overly conservative family of American-return Priya actually handles her marriage to a foreigner. Perhaps even a sequel might have done it justice - alas, I was left at the end only guessing how it could have been.<br /><br />This is one of those books I don't know what to talk about - probably because it didn't have such a big impact on me - or any impact for that matter. I certainly enjoyed the story, but didn't find any substance in it. Not all good stories make great literature, and this happens to be one of those - sad, but just the way it is! <br /><br />I do, however, appreciate Ms. Malladi's wit in her writing - I constantly found myself chuckling at her sarcasm and strong feministic tendencies not belonging to Indian society. The twist she throws towards her reader near the end is one that leaves you laughing and in disbelief all the same. I think that right there made this read worth it - not a classic - but something light and enjoyable.<br /><br />Perhaps my next endeavour will be one a little different from this.. perhaps something more along the line of "great literature" - or not - let's wait and see! :)Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5648078801460408942.post-2930251591582769662009-10-04T14:34:00.003-07:002009-10-04T15:15:53.409-07:00The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin HoffTaoism = simple, yet hard to understand for some, philosophy/way of living.<br /><br />Winnie-the-pooh = A.A. Milne's children's book character who is a silly, cute little bear.<br /><br />The greatest teacher of Taoism, according to Mr. Hoff, Winnie-the-Pooh!<br /><br />How?! "The Tao of Pooh" tells us exactly that.<br /><br />This is one of those rare books you come upon: adorable, quick, and soaked with so much meaning. Taoism is this philosophy of nothing-ness. Of not thinking, worrying, just having inner quiet - inner peace. Pooh bear is the ideal candidate for this type of behavior. He doesn't bother about anything, nor does he run around like a chicken with no head just trying to do things for the sake of doing them. He is a simple little bear - just like a true Taoist. I highly doubt that A.A. Milne knew he was writing the world's greatest taoist into his little silly bear's character. But that leads us to ponder - how did Pooh end up being like this?<br /><br />Mr. Milne, perhaps stumbled, or had perhaps known, that the character of Pooh would represent a kind, silly, simple-mindedness. He might not have written it with the Taoist concept in his mind, but maybe he was commenting on society and the roles we all hold within it. Like Rabbit for example - he is the one who most of are like - type A, running around at all times, always trying to get something done, making sure everything is perfect, etc. etc. In today's society don't we all just go about having "no time" and not enough hours in a day to complete our "to do" lists? Sounds just like Rabbit; and take a look at Eeyore - we have all come across (or perhaps even are) the pessimistic sort, the downers, the ones who think the world is doomed from the start. Then there is Owl - the "smart" sort, the know-it-all, or rather the ones who think they know everything and are completely full of it. And although Tigger was a much later character - we definitely have come across his types - the ones who jump around always and try to be the center of attention. Of course I'm leaving out Piglet - the scared sort, not wanting to take chances, ready to take the back seat to avoid confrontation. And then there is Pooh - the empty headed one - deemed as silly, but really simple; he comes up with things unknowingly, and doesn't want much more then just some honey and his friends to keep him happy. How many of these have we come across? Very Very few, and yet, this is the type we all secretly wish to be like.<br /><br />Simple, not worrying, not thinking, living life as it comes, enjoying each day and the beauty within each day. Not waking up to worry about the day's chores, but waking up to the sounds of birds and feeling the sun's warmth. Not thinking about what bird it is, or how warm/cold it is, but just relishing the moment that is life. I do truly believe most of us progress through life without stopping to "live". Pooh bear apparently teaches us this; and Mr. Hoff points that out quite wittingly in his 158 page book of pure, simple silly-ness.<br /><br />Highly Recommended for those who want to be amused, who love Pooh, have an interest in Tao, or simply want to read something that makes sense! :)Divyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381782794993182251noreply@blogger.com2