The Power of Now: My guide to spiritual enlightenment

The past few months had been an awakening spiritual journey for me. First a book and then the meditation retreat. 

My spiritual quest started when I was 18 years old. That's when I attended the 7-day awareness program which thought me about positive thinking, the power of unconditional love, and guided meditation. Ever since that, I've practiced meditation on and off, attended courses on self-awareness, read books on spirituality and meditation, and tried different meditation techniques. I've always been searching for the right answer. And I finally found it from Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now. This book contains the ultimate truth - the simple truth; something that my soul resonated right away. I first read his book The New Earth sometime last year. However, that book didn't have the same transformative effect on me as the The Power of Now had. Probably I wasn't ready to accept the truth then. 

This year has been a tough journey for me emotionally. I felt depressed on some days; and then I'll pick myself up by doing whatever I enjoy doing; and then I'd feel empty again; and the cycle repeated. The fact that I'd left my job and felt lonely was aggravated by my pregnancy hormones. I felt lost and empty. I didn't realize what I was doing to myself and to my husband. Some days I will lie on bed the whole day not having mood to do anything; feeling sorry for myself. I found that it became increasingly difficult to control my negative thoughts - it was spiraling beyond my control; and I was constantly battling against my thoughts - it was mentally and emotionally draining. I felt that I've fallen into a dungeon and there's no one to help me to get out. My husband just didn't know how to help me. I blamed my husband for the way I felt - I didn't realize that my misery was contagious - and he's only human. There's limit to how much he could take - and I continued blaming him for not understanding my feelings. 

It was at this point in time during my emotional downturn that I picked up The Power of Now which has been sitting on the bookshelf for quite some time. Every word, every message in the book pierced straight into my heart - my heart knew that the message is true. Rather than playing the blaming game, I started embracing the way I felt; and that felt so liberating. I could immediately sense the deep-seated peace and joy within me - it's truly amazing. I learned to still my mind and be the silent observer of my thoughts and emotions. It's so powerful I started noticing change deep within me; I started understanding my actions and emotions; I started embracing everything around and within me with love. It's truly liberating, I suddenly felt so alive. And this wasn't the same kind of short-lived euphoria I felt when I read other self-help books. 

Reading the Power of Now felt like going straight to the core of my Being; my being became instantaneously connected with the author's message; the message rang so true to my soul. Probably it's because I was in intense emotional pain; the suffering catapulted me to a new level of consciousness upon reading this book. Rather than dwelling in pain, I became aware/conscious of my pain and began to embrace it unconditionally. And I felt FREE. It also helped me to understand my relationship with my husband better.

However, as Eckhart Tolle pointed out, not all readers might feel the same transformative effects after reading the book. Sometimes, the message from the book will act as the seed of enlightenment/consciousness sometime later in a person's life. After reading the book, I realized that all the spiritual teachers in my life have pointed to the same message (only the way of imparting the message was different) - and I begin to appreciate the unison of message in all the religions and spiritual practices in the world - the message/lesson imparted points to the SAME SOURCE.

I accept that some days are good and there are some not-so-good days. Rather than brooding over the not-so-good days, I've learnt to accept it as it is and it feels liberating. As with all conditioned thought processes and mental habits, change is about taking one step at a time. Whenever I find myself dwelling in the past or anxious about the future, I remind myself to come back to the present moment; the here and now - that's the secret of being.

Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel

After reading Yann Martel's Life of Pi, I had been eagerly anticipating for his next book. Finally, after a few years of waiting, I was exhilarated when I heard of his new release: Beatrice and Virgil. His first book, Life of Pi left me dumbfounded at the end of the story. I recommended Life of Pi to my best friend, Chin Lay and she too gave an excellent review about the story. So did my other friends whom I lent the book to. We eagerly awaited for his next masterpiece. And finally it came. 

I devoured Beatrice and Virgil within 3 days. I was hooked to the story - and more than that I was possessed to read till the end to find out the twist to the story - the kind of twist to the story that Yann Martel had for Life of Pi. But, honestly, I concluded that there can be only one masterpiece created by an artist. For M. Night Syamalan it was the movie Sixth Sense, for Leonardo da Vinci it was the Mona Lisa portrait, and for Yann Martel it is the Life of Pi. 

Beatrice and Virgil revolves around the story's two characters, i.e., Beatrice the donkey and Virgil the howler monkey - and I am not going to disclose any more information - that would really spoil the suspense. My personal opinion is that the synopsis on the book's cover gave away too much information - thus, spoiling the suspense. I kind of expected the suspense to 'pop' out from the story at the end - but I ended up disappointed. Probably my expectation was too high - but I would still blame it on the too-much-information-revealed in the synopsis of the book. However, the characters in the book and its plot and  the story's ending was fantastic; but it doesn't resemble the same effect that Life of Pi had - which was hands down the author's masterpiece.

If you want a real suspense, don't read the synopsis. Read this book with an open mind and expect the unexpected - then you would really appreciate the story and you would really be taken aback with the ending of the story - the twist to the story. Basically, in both his books, Yann Martel's way of writing revolves around using animals to examine our humanity. He has an ingenious way of writing that ruptures the division between the real and the imagined.

Everyday Greatness by Steven Covey

A great book with many inspirational stories which highlights the human spirit and the power of the mind. The stories featured in this book exemplifies people overcoming adversity and challenges in their daily lives. The collection of inspiring stories are compiled from the Reader's Digest archives. Most of the stories focus on various aspects of living a fulfilling life - searching for meaning, taking charge, starting within, creating the dream, teaming with others and overcoming adversity. Many of the stories touched my heart deeply and inspires me to lead a more purposeful life. Lately, I've been really slacking and have been lazing around alot. Reading these types of books gives me the push to strive harder. But then, like all things, even motivation can fade off - and the best thing to do for yourself is keep perservering.

River Dog: A Journey Down the Brahmaputra by Mark Shand

I recently finished reading Mark Shand's River Dog and it was an excellent book. This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for a very LONG time - I got this book as a present back in 1993 - and it has collected dust ever since. I don't know why I didn't read it until now - it is one of the best non-fiction adventure books I've ever read. It's filled with adventure, humor and the antics of a dog - which turns out to my best combination of genre in a book.

Mark Shand tells the story of his journey down one of India's sacred rivers, the Brahmaputra in a touching, eloquent and entertaining way. His journey starts from Tibet across Arunachal Pradesh to the Bay of Bengal on the mighty Brahmaputra in the company of his Indian hunting dog Bhaiti. His attempt was to trace the source of the sacred river - and boy, what an adventure it was - all of it told with humor.

In this book, he gave many historical accounts of India and the beauty of tribal cultures in some of the rural areas in India. It is interesting to learn the tribal culture and their way of living - and the importance of regulations to preserve their culture. The last part of his journey ends in Bangladesh - and it was a poignant account of the sufferings of the people there after being hit by a massive flood, brought on by the river. Despite the devastation brought on by the river, the people there did not blame the Brahmaputra - instead they blamed the government for not providing immediate relief and support. They described the river as sacred and that we should never blame nature.

Next, I am looking forward to reading his earlier book - 'Travels on My Elephant' in India - should be fun!

The Shark and the Goldfish

The shark and the goldfish: Positive ways to thrive during waves of change by Jon Gordon is a good read. This interesting fable about a goldfish who has always been fed and the shark who looks for his food teaches an invaluable lesson that in the face of adversity, the difference between a full belly and an empty stomach depends solely on your faith, beliefs and action. A recipe to attain the life you dream of consists of taking the following actions:

• Embrace and ride the waves of change.
  
• Have positive thoughts, beliefs, and actions.
  
• To thrive, work hard.
  
• Focus ---> tune out distractions. Ask "What do I want in life?" and maintain focus.
• Always improve yourself ----> don't settle for being average.

A delightfully simple and easy read with powerful lessons in life.

So, it's important to pause and ask: "Are you a shark or a goldfish?" and assess the quality of our life.

BookFest @Malaysia 2009

This week was my book-shopping week @ BookFest 2009 held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. To encourage people to come in on weekdays, they had massive discounts for selected books - it was a great bargain. So, from Monday to Friday this week, I was happily bounding to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, which is just a stone's throw away from our place. Only at these times I appreciate living in the centre of the town! No traffic, no rush.

The books that I bought over the weekdays:

My two most favorite books on the list: Planet Earth and National Geography's Journeys of a Lifetime - RM 29.90 for each - a great bargain! Even the cashier exclaimed "Wah, so cheap ah!". These books were selling out like hot cakes. For its brilliant photography and narratives, it is definitely the best buy.

Compulsive Book Hoarder

I have been on a compulsive-book-buying-spree lately. And it took me a while to notice my burgeoning shelf - loaded with books, some of which I have yet to read. So, I told myself to stop hoarding books for the time being (although I was tempted many times). Since I take a very long time to finish reading a book, I resolved to stop the buying and read the books that I have yet to read, which are seating there in the shelf gathering dust.

Books that I have yet to read:
1. The White Tiger
2. A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
3. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
4. Outliers: The Story of Success
5. Buyology: Truth and Lies about Why We Buy
6. The God of Small Things
7. Now is the Time: Spiritual Reflections
8. Brida
9. Do Dogs Laugh?: Where Dogs Come from, What We Know About Them, and What They Think About Us
10. Dewey

April Read: The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

It has been quite some time since I last read fiction, with the exception of Paulo Coelho's writings. Most of the non-fictions that I read require some contemplation and some time to appreciate the phrases - that's why I find non-fictions give different insights each time I read it, over and over again. This book is a different genre altogether from my usual reading. A book on romance - an easy and entertaining read - laced with some humor - a heart-warming love story. I was hooked to the book till the end. I guess this is the first book that I finished reading so fast. For some light reading, I'd definitely look forward to reading Nicholas Sparks' other books.

March Read: The Witch of Portobello

I have been a fan of Paulo Coelho's writings ever since Chin Lay introduced me to his masterpiece - The Alchemist. After that, I took interest to read his other books - Veronica Decides to Die, The Eleven Minutes (although I didn't finish reading the book - because it was just too much emotions for me to handle at that point in time), and The Zahir. With the exception of The Alchemist, I found his other books to be a little depressing at the beginning. But then, his message is profound and some of his statements ignite some thinking and realization - to look within ourselves and to find the missing link - and to live life to the fullest - pursuing the dreams we hold back in the name of societal norms and conditions. And the author always adds a twist to the story's end.

I particularly love his message advocating freedom in pursuing dreams and to enjoy the miracles of life. The Witch of Portobello is another one of his excellent writings - advocating about loving unconditionally and to embrace life with an open heart. Some of my favorite lines from the book:

~ When we step out of our normal world and leave behind us all the usual barriers and prejudices, we tend to become more adventurous ~
~ Everything is worship if your mind is focused on the present moment ~
~ Start doing what you want to do, and everything else will be revealed to you ~
~ Why do people prefer to believe in something far away and forget what is there before their eyes, a true manifestation of the miracle? ~

The statement from the author that strikes me the most - Love simply is - there is no reasoning, no judgment and no authority involved.

I've always pondered on my religious direction and as time passes, I've come to realize the distinction between religion and spirituality; that I am more inclined to explore on the spiritual plane. I've come to realize that the road towards the spirituality quest grants more freedom on what I choose to believe and how I choose to worship the divine force. Every act of mine now carries more meaning and significance than before. And every ritual that I practice now comes from my heart and have a life of its own. And as time goes by, I am learning more and more on the things that drive me forward and am convicted that I am on the right track - the path towards a spiritual journey - filled with love and contentment. I've wondered what faith or religion would I impart to my children - and as I learn more, the answer is gradually becoming clearer to me.

February Read

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons for Women - 7 Essential Ingredients for a Balanced Life by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Stephanie Marston

My best friend, Chin Lay gave me this book a few years ago when she went to London and only recently I managed to finish reading it. It's my bedtime book. Truly inspiring words to read before dozing off. It's enlightening to read the stories shared by strong-willed women and the healing power of prayers and hope and the miracles of everyday life - and also the courage to follow our dreams. Some of the stories strengthens my belief and faith on all the wonderful things to come and keeps me going through tough times. I think this kind of books should be read more often to get us back on track whenever we feel lost and to be more aligned to the purpose of life - enjoying every minute of it.

January Read - The Economic Naturalist

I've decided to switch from fiction to non-fiction readings recently - I must say that I enjoy reading non-fictions the most since it depicts reality from which I can gather knowledge and gain some wisdom. A few days back, I ordered 2 more books - one is a Vegan Cookbook and the other one is on the power of prayers. There are just so many new books awaiting in my bookshelf to be picked up and read. Firstly, I tend to take my own time to finish reading a book; and secondly, time!

I've just finished reading "The Economic Naturalist" by Robert Frank a few weeks ago - and I find it an easy and interesting read for anyone who is interested to understand economics in a practical form. I've been teaching Microeconomics course for a few years now and I find the examples given in this book interesting from a standpoint of a student attempting to understand economic theories in a laymen term. At times, it gets daunting trying to explain certain economic theories which most students find difficulty to relate to.

In this book, numerous economic theories are simplistically explained using many real-world examples which all of us come across at some point or the other. Some of the questions posed in this book boil down to basic common sense - but then, how many of us examine everything around us from a standpoint of an economist - it's pretty interesting, actually.

A New Earth

This book gave me a deep insight on certain spirituality questions that I had. And I realised that understanding spirituality lies not in the understanding of thoughts and words, but it's the feeling of the consciousness of the eternal power that created us; which lies within us. And often times when I dwell on the past or focus on the future, I realise that I lose the precious present moment in which I am in NOW - and time just slips through - no wonder we always exclaim on how time just flies.

I've always questioned the concept of religion and God; religions and worshipping acts never seemed to convince me of the conceptualization of God. Along the way, I am learning that all religions point to the same awareness and it is all ONE. I never wanted to believe in one religion and downplay other religions. Which is why I find the teachings in Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam - to be kind to all sentient beings - has universal effect and it all signifies the same message - however we choose to look at it.

I learnt that I should try not to personalize anything and learn to let go of attachments and live with conscious awareness on how my actions affect not only me but others as well. Acceptance, if you have to go through it, you just have to go through it willingly - it is easier that way. And we dont need anything to define ourselves.

This is a book to read - to awaken from the dreamlike-state of humanity.

The Life of Pi

I just finished reading ‘The Life of Pi’ by Yann Martel; this book was presented to me by Alfred when we first started dating. I must say that the story in this book aptly describes the hunger in me that I am still seeking - studying animal behaviors and the realm of spirituality - the two themes in this book – the two topics that absolutely fascinate me which I wish to dwell further on in my life.

It’s a story about a boy and a tiger stranded in the middle of Pacific Ocean after a shipwreck and how they survived the ordeal of living day in and day out without a proper source of water and food - and also surviving the attack of the Bengal tiger in the lifeboat.

It’s a story about courage which reinforces the belief in God and how ingrained we all are with wildlife and nature. It is truly an amazing story – a story which leaves you to interpret life in the ways that you choose to interpret it. One of my favorite parts is on how the author aptly describes on the will to live by saying “Only death consistently excites your emotions, whether contemplating it when life is safe and stale, or fleeing it when life is threatened or precious”.

Interesting Read

Today's email from MyDaily Insights with a heart-warming story:

MY FRIDAY STORY

The Seven Wonders of the World
by Author Unknown

Junior high school students in Chicago were studying the Seven Wonders of the World . At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World . Though there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt 's Great Pyramids
2. The Taj Mahal in India

3. The Grand Canyon in Arizona
4. The Panama Canal

5. The Empire State Building

6. St. Peter's Basilica

7. China 's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to touch...

2. to taste...

3. to see...

4. to hear... (She hesitated a little, and then added...)

5. to feel...

6. to laugh...

7. and to love.

The room was so quiet; you could have heard a pin drop.

May this story serve as a gentle reminder to all of us that the things we overlook as simple and ordinary are often the most wonderful. Enjoy your gifts!