Book Review: InnerEngineering and Think Like a monk

 

Just completed Inner Engineering and Think like a monk by Jay Shetty, Both the book are beautifully, explained  but I  would prefer reading Inner engineering  to enhance my lifestyle. Both the book at first talks about the author’s spiritual journey which was quiet interesting and  aimed for enhancing lifestyle by cutting out negativity in life

What I felt Sadhguru has a beautiful way of explaining the things with little stories  which are always funny and obviously with  logic and science behind it.  What is true is explained here, and I could completely connect with what he said. Finding Joy in life doesn’t need one to follow spiritual path. But at times his thoughts contradict with what we have read in BhagavatGeeta.   So you may get confuse which one to follow. 

For example

“One of the biggest problems in the world today is loneliness. It is quite incredible. The planet is teeming with seven billion people, but people are lonely! If someone enjoys being alone, there is no problem at all. But most people are suffering because of it! They are going through serious psychological problems as a consequence. If you are lonely, it is because you have chosen to become an island unto yourself. It doesn’t have to be this way. “I am not responsible” makes you unwilling to get along with anyone—until you can’t even get along with yourself. It often comes to a point when you believe you are not even responsible for what is happening within yourself!”
― Sadhguru,  

The practical exercise are good enough for any individual who wants to discover oneself, but please don’t read the book in hurry. Read slowly and highlight line which  touched you. Sadhguru’s inner engineering have touched that one nerve in me, who now wants to try out the programme in the ashram. I hope one day when my daughter  grows up, I would definitely try doing the course, not because I want to be a monk or want my  thoughts to be like a monk but I want to explore more of science and technology and the uncharted terrain of Inner dimension and this only possible with live road map  Aka Gurus.

 JayShetty’s think like a monk is written in very simple English compared to Sadhguru’s Inner Engineering but I didn’t find anything new or engrossing like Sadhguru though he tried to connect many things with Bhagavad Geeta but I wished it  had more substance to it which are yet to be discovered by readers. 

“Your identity is a mirror covered with dust. When you first look in the mirror, the truth of who you are and what you value is obscured. Clearing it may not be pleasant, but only when that dust is gone can you see your true reflection.”
― Jay Shetty, 

Did the above books help me in finding peace and contentment? 

No not yet, but hope reading it regularly the highlighting points may bring some change in me some day.

BOOK REVIEW: IKIGAI By Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

IKIGAI — The Japanese Secret to a Long Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles

My 2020 starts with reading a peaceful book in the midst of the chaos,happening in our country. A very good healthy living manual which should be given especially to people who are elderly, retired, who feel depressed, lonely, an prone to living unhealthy life after retirement.

It is often seen that after retirement people starts to age rapidly. It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease .It also effect the person mentally. It is often seen ,especially in India where retirement age is 60, that people  tends to have decision paralysis,loss of self trust, death anxiety, empty nest syndrome and henceforth.

The book contains 9 short chapters with valuable information regarding this concept. It shares a research on Japanese island Okinawa where there 24.5 inhabitants of age more than 100yrs  for every 1,00,000 people. The island practice the art of staying young even with the growing age.The book has  short chapters with valuable information on long healthy life.


What surprised me is the mention of Yoga  as a part of healthy living mantra, which we Indians ( many of us)  do not do , while the Japanese do.
Keeping oneself active in work, is the main point in this book after retirement for long healthy life.

It is seen Indians are more prone to health issue after retirement than any one in the world. How this can be overcome is by having ones own Ikigai. Keeping  oneself engage ,happy social life, stay away from too much stress, Eat healthy , no meat consumption , no alcohol,  , no smoking ,  green tea, exercise  and you are perfectly on the road to score 100.
The book has many more detail about the life of Japanese people and also flow of positivity in life in a very simplified form

An extreme delightful read

Rating: 4/5

150 Brilliant Ideas to Keep Young minds Fit and Fine

This book is written for the self contradictory,and the unique breed The teenagers and the preteens.

The catchy title 150 brilliant Ideas to Keep Young minds Fit and Fine made me grab it to know how to maintain a positive lifestyle when you have a teenager at home . This 128 page book by Neera Maini Srivastav is full of positive ideas to nourish  insecure minds.

Teenage or Preteen is such a time when a child crave for acceptance and face a lot of peer pressure. They are full of intense emotion and conflict.This is the most challenging time period for any parents and this book suggests healthy way of living.

The book is divided in three sections which includes topics like:

Mind your Body

Mind your Mind

Mind your Spirit

Under each topic there are 50 thoughts and advice to stay positive in life both mentally, spiritually and physically.

What I like about the book is that the writings are short  precise and simple making it interesting for impatient minds.  It is almost like the author is having conversation with the readers without being preachy.

What I didn't like about the book

 Some of the topics has been repeated in different pages example Sex education.

Some topics I felt are irrelevant for teenagers like playing outside in the sun for Vitamin D or dare to speak the truth  is more suitable to teach a  child than a teenager.

Lastly I think it is difficult to tame a raging hormone. As a parent it is better not to act impulsively, adding fuel to the fire  and creating more problem.

Rating:3/5