Some Readable Books

Hi Folks !

Today is a beautiful day, a milestone of a night.

It is the full moon of the month of Vesakh,(the second month of the Hindu almanac) and it was on this day that Prince Siddhartha was born in a Royal family.

He left his palace at 29 years of age to find out the root-cause of suffering and after 6 years of intense efforts and meditation, on this full moon night, he unravelled all the mysteries of the universe,the way out of the cycle of birth and death and thus became The Buddha.

Having attained Enlightenment, he freely taught the technique to all, irrespective of gender,caste, colour,class and race for the next 45 years and left his body again,on this same full moon night at the age of 80.

What a fulfilling life - ! For himself and for all those who walk on the path he so clearly directed!

It is a powerful time to take stock, to be quiet, to be with oneself and to be at peace.

If you want to know his technique as he had taught it, in its pure form, go and do a 10 - day course in Vipassana.


So how's Life, otherwise?!

Fastbilla has asked for names of some more books.

I am soooo glad you have started reading 'Old Path White Clouds' !

Read other books by Thich Nhat Hanh.

There is 'Zen for Beginners' with a lot of illustrations and lovely anecdotes and tid-bits.

It is by Judith Blackstone and Zoran Josipovic.


Then there is an absolutely wonderful humorous writer called Andrew Matthews.

He has written 'Being Happy' and 'Making Friends'.

Both are simly awwwwwwesome.

He is an excellent cartoonist, and the headings of his topics are like -

'SO NOW THAT I KNOW WHERE I GOT MY POOR SELF-IMAGE, I CAN BLAME OTHER PEOPLE, RIGHT?',

'THE WORLD OWES ME A LIVING SYNDROME',

'WHEN SPENDING TIME WITH MISERABLE PEOPLE',

'HOW CAN I BE CAUSING WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?'

and so on!

He dishes out a lot of intelligent stuff in the most appetising way.


There is Anthony de Mello who wrote many books with a lot of wisdom in anecdotes.
There are many small books by him, all eminently readable.


Then there is

'The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying'by Sogyal Rimpoche,

'A Search in Secret India' by Dr.Paul Brunton and

'Many Mansions' by Edgar Cayce.

There is Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross aho worked tirelessly to change western mindsets regarding death, and all her books are inspiring.



I did Reiki about 15 years ago and gave it up a couple of years later.

But it made me experience energy at my physical level.

Louise L.Hay is a respected name in healing at a different level.

She says that she 'doesn't really heal anyone but her book awakens within the person the ability to contribute to one's own healing process'.

Her book has three columns -
1. Problems
2. Probable Cause
3. New Thought Pattern

So , suppose you have a problem with your sore throat - no , let's take something more interesting!

Stiff Neck!

The probable cause given is Unbending bullheadedness!

(WHO, ME?!)

And the affirmation which you have to say in your own mind with awareness is quite beautiful and non-threatening-

It is safe to see other viewpoints.

The book has a long list and is not very expensive.

Try these out, I shall share something else based on similar lines next time.

My next time might be a little late, not exactly after a fortnight.

I am doing a month's wonderful course which however keeps me out 8.30 am to 9.30 pm 6 days a week!

I shall tell you all about it once I complete it.

Till then, Happy Reading!