Book Review: Into the Great Heart

Book: Into the Great Heart

Author: Kamla K. Kapur

Publisher: Jaico Books

Genre: Religion & Philosophy

Pages:280

Price: 399 INR

Blurb

Into the Great Heart carries forward and concludes the stories of Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana, his favourite minstrel, from the first volume of the Sikh saga, The Singing Guru. History, legend and fiction merge to populate this book with fascinating personalities from Sikh history. Pivotal to this narrative are forgotten female luminaries such as Guru Nanak’s wife, Mata Sulakhni, his sister, Bebe Nanaki, Bhai Lehna’s wife, Khivi and daughter Amro. Brought to the foreground, their wisdom and insights as they overcome obstacles to spiritual growth embody the basic tenets of Sikhism in everyday living. They enhance Guru Nanak and Bhai Lehna’s tale with their diverse approach to life

A book that fills your heart with an abundance of solace

There are some books that can answer your questions and fill your heart with an abundance of peace. 

What is God?

Where can one find God?

What does one need to do for God realization?

Why do good people suffer?

How to deal with the difficult moments of life?

What is death?

How can you be a yogi while sitting on a throne?

If you have contemplated about at least one of these questions in your life, "Into the Great Heart" by Kamla K. Kapur will definitely provide solace to you. It's a book that has the power to change you, your life, and the way you see the world. 

The book starts with Bhai Lehna meeting Guru Nanak and how their meeting transforms the former in incredible ways. The way Lehna is enthralled with Nanak's understanding of God is beautiful. 

"The sky is the plate; the moon and stars are the lamps and jewels; the forests of sandalwood are the temple incense; all the plants and flowers of the earth are offerings to you, O luminous Beloved, Lord of the Universe, destroyer of fear!"  

Instead of Guru Nanak's sons, Bhai Lehna becomes the successor of Guru Nanak who names him Guru Angad. In the scenes between Guru Nanak and Bhai Lehna, one can see the immense dedication and unflinching faith of a student towards his guru. The way Bhai Lehna surrenders himself to Guru Nanak so that his guru can mould his soul and enlighten him touches the right chords.

The book is sprinkled with stories of Guru Nanak's life shared by Nanak's friend, Mardana and Buddha, a young boy and follower of Nanak. Each of these stories has nuggets of wisdom that one can apply to his or her life. I loved the way death is compared to the wedding with the Lord of the Universe. 

"In that house where the praises of the One are sang and the Doer of all is contemplated and celebrated, pour oil on the threshold for the pre-ordained wedding and sing songs of union with the Beloved. Bless death, which is a wedding. The summons comes for all. Remember the Summoner, and turn your sorrow into praise." 

The character of Guru Nanak's sister, Nanaki touched my heart. Her devotion towards Nanak and her metaphysical experiences were a treat to read. She and Nanak had a connection that was beyond words. Her wisdom, patience, and compassion are beautifully encapsulated in some of the chapters. 

"Within and beyond the whirling, sorrowing, conflicting, noisy circumstances of our lives, at the very center of it," Bebe Nanaki began, "is a holy place which is calm, unruffled, steady, and beyond birth and death. This place, within us, is the truest temple of all, the home of the Beloved, the only place worth making a pilgrimage to. All geographic pilgrimages to manmade places of worship are trivial and meaningless compared with it."

I loved the character of Aziza, a young Muslim girl who faces oppression in her own family. When her freedom gets curbed, she transfers her love and energy to two things: music and God. I loved the friendship of Aziza and Buddha. The scenes between them were innocent, heartfelt and serene. The character of Bhai Lehna's daughter, Amro is equally beautiful. I loved the way she found a balance between her love for Maa Durga and her acceptance of God as formless. She did not abandon one belief for another. She harmoniously blended them with love. 

Although there is so much to learn from the book, the tone of the book is not preachy. With beautiful narration and skilful writing, the author has done a brilliant job with the subject of the book. Highly recommended. I am going with 4.5

'I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.'

Book Review: My Friendship with Yoga

Book: My Friendship with Yoga

Author: Revathi Raj Iyer

Publisher: LiFi Publications

Genre: Non-Fiction | Health and Fitness

Pages: 185

Price: 240 INR

The perfect book for yoga aspirants and yoga enthusiasts!

"My Friendship with Yoga" by Revathi Raj Iyer is a very well-written book that will help yoga aspirants, beginners, and yoga enthusiasts. The book is divided into three parts. In the first part, the author talks about her foray into yoga and how yoga can help you lead a beautiful life. Her experience at the Sivananda Ashram was beautiful to read. In very simple and engaging language, the author has acquainted the reader about the monkey mind, bandhas, meridians, and chakras. The author has included some beautiful quotes and interesting anecdotes to make the readers get interested in pursuing yoga.

"There is no fetter like illusion, no force greater than yoga, no friend greater than knowledge and no enemy greater than ego."- Gheranda Samhita 1:4 (Page37)

In the second part, the author talks about the several asanas in a very simple manner. The language is easy to comprehend and the illustrations given for each asana makes it easier for readers to understand. After mentioning the steps for every asana, the author has talked about the benefit of each asana in detail. I enjoyed reading the benefits of each asana as they enhanced my interest in many asanas which I have never tried yet.

I am doing yoga since 2016. Yoga and meditation are a huge part of my life. They help me lead a holistic life, but sometimes I miss my yoga regime for weeks when I have a lot of work. This book was the perfect thing that a yoga enthusiast like me needed.

In the third part, the author has shared her yoga regimen. This section is extremely helpful for people who want to have a disciplinary approach towards yoga. There is a regimen for each day of the week. Following the Monday to Sunday regimen will help you stay fit and healthy always. The tips mentioned at the end of every regimen is very helpful. 

Overall, this is a book that should be read by anyone who is interested in yoga. Even if you have never done yoga but find it fascinating, you must read this book. It will instill your interest in this holistic practice. The best thing about the book is its friendly tone. You will feel that a friend of yours is holding your hand and guiding you to embrace the world of yoga. And trust me, you will enjoy it! I am going with 5 stars. 

Remember yoga is a dance- practice it with grace, poise and fervour (Page 161)

Book Review: The Wise Man Said

Book : The Wise Man Said

Author: Priya Kumar

Publisher: Books That Inspire

Genre: Fiction | Spirituality

Pages: 180

Price: 299 INR

Blurb:

Sammy is an 80 year old billionaire, who finds himself at the peak of his success built on a mountain of sacrifices. He decides to participate in a life he missed to live. Eleven months in a year he leaves behind his identity and money and allows his curiosity and his willingness to experience anything—death even, to take him on life changing adventures and experiences across the world. Loaded with wisdom, surprise, humor and an eagerness to embrace life, The Wise Man Said is a collection of twelve such adventures of Sammy, where his journey becomes his greatest achievement—a life well lived.

A book that can change your life!

I have read Priya Kumar's "Calling" which is a beautiful book on spirituality and about understanding the calling of your heart. Therefore, when I was approached to review "The Wise Man Said", I was extremely happy. I had high expectations from the book and I am glad to announce that the book was beyond my expectations. 

After reading "The Wise Man Said", I will say that Priya Kumar reminds me of Paulo Coelho. Her wise words can change something very deep within you. The best thing about her writing is that she derives the extraordinary things from the simplest of circumstances and narrates it in such a lucid way that it touches the right chords. 

"The Wise Man Said" starts with Naina, an established writer who is on a writer's block. She had been delaying the submission of her manuscript for six months. When her editor gives her a deadline of 24 hours to submit the story, she feels overwhelmed as she doesn't have a story to tell. She is lost in her life and feels clueless about penning a new story.

She goes for a walk and meets an eighty-year-old man, Sammy. His white robe and red Nike shoes make him look endearing. Naina gets bewitched by the old man's wisdom as they start chatting. She starts finding her own self as she talks to Sammy. Naina dozes off on the meadow after some time and when she opens her eyes, the old man is nowhere to be seen. However, he leaves his brown leather book on which the word "Wanderer" is engraved. 

We read the wise man, Sammy's book along with Naina. There are 12 chapters in the book which are basically Sammy's experiences as he travels the world. But, what was truly remarkable in those 12 chapters were Sammy's perception about the experience in hindsight. Each chapter has a section called "What I missed seeing then" after each experience where I read some of the best words of wisdom.

The book taught me to use the power of hindsight. When you are going through a bad or challenging experience, you might wish for the experience to end and never remember it. 

But, what if, you thought about that experience later and can see something beautiful that can be learned from it? If you write about your experiences, your hindsight can bring a karmical liberating conclusion to even the most difficult days. 

All the chapters in the book are thought-provoking and taught me something about life. My favorite chapters are "I am skipping now", "Come find me", "The lost purpose", "The Man God" and "The future that wasn't."

There are so many brilliant quotes in the book that it's hard to choose the best among them. Here are some quotes from the book:

1. "All answers are within, O' Dear One. You can travel the world twice over, you will not find the answers outside, you carry them with you, everywhere you go."

2. What we take for granted no longer serves us-our lives included.

3. Your soulmate is not necessarily your lover. Soulmates always find each other. You will know when you do.

4. Purpose leaves clues. The fact that you are alive is a clue to your purpose. 

5. Leave notes of faith for people. Leave notes of hope for people. It will make your own suffering worth it if someone else can be saved from it."

I can definitely go back to "The Wise Man Said" again and again. If you are looking for a book that can change your life in a positive way, you must pick this one. 

I am going with 5 stars. 

I got a review copy from the author for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Tantric Curse

Book: The Tantric Curse

Author: Anupama Garg

Publisher: Rupa Publications

Genre: Fiction| Thriller

Pages: 280

Price: 295 INR

Blurb:

On an amavasya night, eight-year-old Rhea mysteriously lands at the doors of Shaktidham, a Tantric house of worship, in a trance. Realizing that she is blessed with unusual faculties, the guru of Shaktidham, Satya, chooses her as a disciple over his own son, Krishnam, to carry on his lineage, a privilege previously bestowed only to males. But the lineage has been cursed for generations, and it is up to Rhea to either break the curse or perish in the attempt.
Will she succeed in her endeavour? Will her love for Krishnam become an obstacle in her path? The Tantric Curse, an unusual story set in the world of Tantra that aims to dispel most of the myths about the practice, will keep you spellbound till the very last page. 

My Review:

There are some books that stay with you long after you have finished reading it. They inspire you, they thrill you and they enlighten you. “The Tantric Curse” is one such book.  Reading it was an enriching experience.

It is not only a thriller set in the world of Tantra that tries to dispel all its myths, but is also a beautiful love story that will touch your soul. The story starts in Shaktidham where a little eight year old girl, Rhea lands when her parents die in a road accident. She meets the guru of Shaktidham, Satya who chooses her as his disciple. 

Rhea can see future events in her dreams since childhood.  Satya chooses to teach her about Tantra as he believes that she is gifted and can reach the heights of sadhana that no one ever could. Satya has a son, Krishnam who is a few years elder to Rhea.

Rhea and Krishnam grew up together. Since childhood, they are inseparable. They couldn’t realize when their friendship gradually blossomed into deep love.

They got separated when Rhea became victim to the misuse of Tantra. But does separation means end of love? How long can a woman wait for her love with the conviction that he will come back when it is time? The author has beautifully portrayed the profound relationship between Rhea and Krishnam, two highly evolved souls who loved each other unconditionally despite not being together for as long as eleven years. The telepathy between them is beautifully shown.

The book also talks about Rhea’s long journey as a sadhak in Shaktidham to working with Dr. Vishnukant as a spiritual counselor in UK. As I read the book, I was completely fascinated with the character of Rhea and deeply invested in the love story. I loved Rhea’s answer when a friend asks her who Krishnam is:

“The core that remains stable within me, in spite of any peripheral movement. Some people, whether they are there or not, are still a part of you. A part that lives until you are alive. He left, but still he never left. An effortless saint, who is content, steadfast in every situation and loves me the way no one can. He is the man who possesses me in every way, without possessing me physically.”

The book is also rich in spiritual teachings that will inspire and enlighten the readers. I can definitely go to the book again and again. I couldn’t find any flaw in the book and therefore, I would like to give it 5 stars and would like to congratulate the author for writing such a spellbinding story.

Highly recommended! It’s definitely a book to remember. 

I got a review copy from the author for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Calling ~ Unleash Your True Self

Book: The Calling ~ Unleash Your True Self

Author: Priya Kumar

Publisher: Books That Inspire

Genre: Fiction | Spirituality

Pages: 150

Price: 125 INR

Blurb:

The Calling is a spiritual adventure. It is an encounter with the truth, the wisdom and the force that is innate to us all. At the brink of a divorce and personal breakdown, Arjun took a trip into the heart of the Himalayas, on the insistence of a sadhu, who predicted that the journey up to Hemkund Sahib would align him to his purpose and change his life forever. At every turn the mountains holds secrets and tests that urge Arjun to evolve into the person he had denied to be - himself. Pretenses, falsities, confusions and untruths fall apart as Arjun is forced to confront the mess he had created in his life. What started off as an opportunity to escape reality, turned out to be an opportunity to escape from the dwindling spiral of self-created misery. Filled with spiritual insights and sprinkled with light humor, this story will help you find your calling, your voice and who knows, even your true self

My Rating:

Plot: 4/5

Writing Style: 4.5/5

Character: 4.5/5

My Review:

There are some books which you can go back to again, from time to time. The Calling is one such book that makes you think, introspect and enlighten you in the process.

It is the story of Arjun who is dejected and unhappy in life because his personal and professional life is in a mess. He is on the brink of a divorce and feels that life has been cruel to him all along. An accident during a work trip makes him come across a Sadhu who saves his life. The sadhu tells Arjun that the journey up to Hemkund Sahib amid the mountains, will change his life. After Arjun gains consciousness, he cannot find any trace of the sadhu who saved his life. However, he decides to go to Hemkund Sahib to see what destiny has in store for him, defying every logic. 

To know exactly what happens when Arjun embarks on the difficult journey up to  Hemkund Sahib, you have to read the book. I can tell that Arjun's journey is beautifully written by the author where there is adventure, challenges and enlightenment. The book is full of spiritual insights, but not for a second, you will find it preachy. 

The narrative is so strong that the spiritual insights that Arjun gains in his journey blends perfectly with the plot. The author has shown Arjun's journey from a confused, chaotic and broken person to a calm and enlightened soul with such panache that it makes an impact on the reader too. There is a scene where Arjun meets his own self during meditation. That scene is so beautifully written that I cannot help admiring the writing skill of the author. 

I started reading "The Calling" at a time when I was facing a personal breakdown. I was inspired, motivated and enlightened by the time I finished reading the book. If you are feeling lost, you might also find a direction of your life by reading this book. 

Out of the many wonderful quotes in the book, I would like to share some of them.

"Regret is to life like termite is to wood. It will eat you up. Confusion is to life like a parasite is to its host. It will consume you."

"Life is predictable. It won't surprise you beyond your karmic contribution to it. The farmer doesn't reap corn by a fluke. He sowed it. His crop is a predictable consequence and so is life."

"Life doesn't test you at your level; life tests you at a level higher that yourself. You don't choose the test. That way you would have the choice to live small. The test is always a step ahead of you, so that in reaching beyond it, you grow beyond yourself."

The author has not used any fancy words. She has kept the writing simple and powerful. I just felt that the ending could have been better. It appeared to me like a sudden happy ending, which makes it a little less realistic. Apart from that, I could not find any flaw in the book.

This is a book that can be read again and again. I would like to rate it 4.5

Highly Recommended!

I got a review copy from the author for an honest review. The opinions are my own.