Life is Elsewhere ~ Milan Kundera (12 of 24)

 

Story and Content of Life is Elsewhere by Milan Kundera

Milan Kundera’s novel Life is Elsewhere (La Vie est ailleurs, 1973) is a satirical and philosophical exploration of poetry, revolution, and the illusions of youthful idealism. It tells the coming-of-age story of Jaromil, a young poet whose life is shaped by romantic illusions, political fanaticism, and the influence of his overbearing mother.

The novel is a critique of poetic sentimentality, showing how youthful idealism can be manipulated for totalitarian purposes. It is set in Czechoslovakia during the communist revolution, and through Jaromil's life, Kundera explores art, politics, and the dangers of blind idealism.

Plot Summary

1. Jaromil’s Birth and Childhood – The Mother’s Influence

Jaromil is born to a dominant and possessive mother, who sees him as her life's greatest achievement.

His father is largely absent, leaving the mother to shape Jaromil’s worldview.

She treats him as a genius from childhood, nurturing his poetic aspirations while keeping him isolated from reality.

Theme: Overprotective love stifles true personal growth and keeps Jaromil trapped in immaturity.

2. The Romantic Poet – Idealism vs. Reality

As Jaromil grows up, he idealizes poetry and revolution, believing that art can change the world.

He idolizes Romantic poets like Rimbaud, seeing himself as a visionary.

However, his poetry is shallow, and he struggles to make a real impact.

His love life is disappointing—his relationships with women fail because he lacks true emotional maturity.

Theme: The gap between artistic ambition and real-world experience leads to frustration and disillusionment.

3. Political Awakening – Poetry and Totalitarianism

As communism rises, Jaromil is drawn to political ideology, believing that poetry and revolution go hand in hand.

He joins the communist movement, eager to prove himself.

However, his poetry is co-opted by the regime, turning him into a propagandist.

He betrays a friend to the authorities in an attempt to demonstrate his loyalty to the system.

His poetic dream becomes a tool of oppression, and he fails to realize how he has become a pawn.

Theme: The seduction of totalitarianism—how idealistic youth are manipulated by political systems.

4. The Fall – The Tragic End of Illusions

Despite his efforts to conform, Jaromil remains insecure and unsatisfied.

He realizes he is not a great poet, but he cannot admit it.

His relationships with women, the revolution, and his mother all fail to give him the purpose he seeks.

In the end, he dies young, symbolizing the ultimate failure of his romantic and revolutionary illusions.

Theme: The death of youthful dreams, and the realization that "life is elsewhere"—meaning true life is never where we expect it to be.

Major Themes in Life is Elsewhere

The Illusion of Romanticism

The novel critiques Romanticism and its belief that poets and revolutionaries are heroes.

Jaromil wants to be a great poet, but his life is built on delusions, not real experience.

The Role of the Mother

Jaromil’s mother dominates his life, shaping his self-image but also trapping him in immaturity.

She represents the suffocating influence of authority, much like the political system he later serves.

Poetry and Totalitarianism

The novel shows how art can be corrupted by ideology.

Jaromil's poetry, meant to express freedom, is used as propaganda for an oppressive system.

Betrayal and Cowardice

Jaromil betrays a friend to prove his political loyalty, showing how blind idealism can lead to cruelty.

His cowardice and insecurity make him an easy tool for the totalitarian regime.

"Life is Elsewhere" – The Search for Meaning

The title reflects disillusionment—Jaromil is always looking for meaning in poetry, revolution, or love, but never truly lives.

His failure suggests that real life is never found in abstract ideals—it is found in human experience and self-awareness.

Conclusion

Life is Elsewhere is a satirical and tragic novel that critiques poetry, idealism, and political manipulation. Jaromil, the young poet, represents the dangers of naive revolutionary enthusiasm, showing how blind faith in ideology can lead to personal and artistic failure.

Testaments Betrayed ~ Milan Kundera (11 of 24)

 

Milan Kundera’s book Testaments Betrayed (1993) is a collection of essays that explore themes of betrayal, art, literature, music, and the nature of the novel. It serves as a defense of the novel as a unique literary form and a critique of the ways in which writers and artists are often misrepresented or misunderstood. Kundera discusses authors such as Franz Kafka, James Joyce, and Flaubert, as well as composers like Stravinsky. He also delves into the dangers of interpretation, political appropriation, and the erosion of artistic integrity.

Key Themes in the Book:

The betrayal of artistic intention by critics and interpreters

The sanctity of the novel as an autonomous form of art

The importance of polyphony in literature and music

The dangers of reducing a writer’s work to political or ideological purposes

The ethics of translation and biographical misinterpretations

Chapters in Testaments Betrayed:

The book is divided into nine parts, each functioning as an essay that interweaves different ideas about art, literature, and betrayal. While the exact chapter titles vary by edition and translation, the main sections cover topics such as:

1. The Betrayal of the Novel

Kundera begins by discussing the novel as an autonomous art form, distinct from ideology, philosophy, or politics.

He criticizes critics and interpreters who distort a writer’s intentions, turning novels into moral or political statements.

The chapter emphasizes the novelist’s responsibility to protect the form from being reduced to mere commentary on society.

Kundera sees the betrayal of the novel as a failure to appreciate its unique artistic essence.

2. Kafka’s Trials

This chapter explores how Franz Kafka has been misinterpreted and politically appropriated, particularly by Marxist critics and existentialists.

Kundera argues that biographical readings of Kafka’s work (e.g., seeing The Trial as a reflection of his personal life) are misguided.

He also critiques how Kafka’s letters and diaries have been used to define his fiction, rather than allowing his work to speak for itself.

Kundera believes Kafka’s novels should be appreciated for their humor, structure, and narrative complexity, rather than being reduced to symbols of alienation or oppression.

3. Music and the Polyphonic Novel

Kundera draws a parallel between polyphony in music and in literature, showing how composers like Bach and Stravinsky influence the structure of great novels.

He praises novelists like Joyce and Broch, who use multiple voices, perspectives, and interwoven narratives to create a rich, layered reading experience.

The concept of polyphony in literature refers to how different characters and perspectives exist without being subordinated to a single truth.

Kundera argues that a great novel, like a great symphony, contains a plurality of voices and meanings.

4. Stravinsky’s Scandal

This chapter discusses Igor Stravinsky as an artist who was misunderstood and criticized for betraying artistic conventions.

Stravinsky was accused of betraying Russian music and his own origins, much like how novelists are accused of betraying their national or political identities.

Kundera draws a connection between Stravinsky and Kafka—both were victims of misinterpretation and ideological distortion.

The chapter argues that true artists do not owe loyalty to any single tradition, and instead, they must remain free to experiment and innovate.

5. The Art of Translation

Kundera explores the problems and betrayals inherent in translation, particularly how literary works are often distorted by translators’ biases or lack of sensitivity.

He critiques how some translations fail to preserve the rhythm, humor, or tone of the original work.

The chapter highlights the difficulty of translating polyphonic novels, where multiple voices must be carefully preserved.

Kundera suggests that translation is an art in itself, requiring careful attention to nuance rather than just linguistic accuracy.

6. James Joyce and the Novel’s Evolution

This chapter focuses on James Joyce as a writer who expanded the boundaries of the novel.

Kundera praises Ulysses and Finnegans Wake for their linguistic and structural innovations.

He contrasts Joyce’s experimentation with traditional forms of storytelling, showing how modernist novels create new ways of seeing reality.

Like Stravinsky, Joyce was also accused of betraying literary traditions, but Kundera argues that such betrayal is essential for artistic progress.

7. The Trap of Biography

Kundera critiques the modern obsession with an author’s life story, arguing that an artist’s work should be separated from their biography.

He believes that reading a novel through the lens of the author’s personal experiences is reductive and limits its artistic value.

He warns against biographical determinism, where critics assume that every aspect of a writer’s work must be traced back to their personal life.

This chapter aligns with the earlier discussion on Kafka, emphasizing that a novel should be judged on its own merits, not the author’s life story.

8. The Political Hijacking of Art

Kundera discusses how literature is often misused for political or ideological purposes, distorting the novelist’s original intentions.

He critiques regimes and movements that force writers into ideological categories, whether nationalist, Marxist, or otherwise.

This chapter reinforces his central argument: art should not be reduced to propaganda.

He defends novelists who resist such pressures, even when they are accused of being detached, apolitical, or even traitorous.

9. Final Reflections on Betrayal

In the final chapter, Kundera brings together the book’s major themes: betrayal, artistic integrity, and misinterpretation.

He argues that betrayal is often a necessary part of artistic creation, as great writers must "betray" traditions in order to innovate.

He also suggests that betrayal is inevitable in the interpretation of any artistic work—whether through criticism, translation, or political appropriation.

However, he sees this as a tragic yet inescapable part of art’s evolution, leaving the reader with a nuanced view of artistic freedom and responsibility.

Final Thoughts

Milan Kundera’s Testaments Betrayed is ultimately a defense of the novel as a complex, autonomous art form. He challenges biographical interpretations, ideological distortions, and the failures of translation, while celebrating polyphony, artistic innovation, and the freedom of the novelist.

1. Franz Kafka – Discussed in Chapter 2 ("Kafka’s Trials")

Kundera defends Kafka against the ways his work has been misinterpreted.

He critiques Marxist, existentialist, and psychoanalytic interpretations that turn Kafka into a symbol of oppression, alienation, or neurosis.

He argues that Kafka’s novels should not be reduced to his personal anxieties or Jewish identity, as many critics have done.

Kundera emphasizes the humor and narrative complexity in Kafka’s work, which is often ignored in favor of tragic interpretations.

Key Idea: Kafka has been betrayed by critics and biographers who impose their own ideologies on his work.

2. James Joyce – Discussed in Chapter 6 ("James Joyce and the Novel’s Evolution")

Kundera praises Joyce as a pioneer of literary polyphony, comparing his work to musical composition.

He highlights how Joyce’s Ulysses and Finnegans Wake expand the novel’s boundaries, introducing new narrative forms and linguistic experimentation.

Joyce, like Kafka, faced accusations of betraying literary tradition but, in Kundera’s view, this "betrayal" was essential for artistic progress.

He contrasts Joyce’s innovations with traditional storytelling, showing how modernist literature creates new ways of seeing reality.

Key Idea: Joyce transformed the novel by introducing radical narrative and linguistic techniques, making him an important figure in its evolution.

3. Gustave Flaubert – Discussed Throughout the Book

Kundera repeatedly refers to Flaubert as a writer who pioneered the novel’s autonomy.

He praises Madame Bovary for its precise, detached narrative style, which allowed the novel to move beyond moral or political concerns.

He criticizes how Flaubert was put on trial for obscenity, showing how literary works are often judged unfairly based on ideological standards.

Like Kafka and Joyce, Flaubert was a victim of misinterpretation and censorship.

Key Idea: Flaubert helped liberate the novel from moralistic and ideological constraints, a legacy that later authors, like Joyce and Kafka, would build upon.

4. Salman Rushdie – Discussed in Chapter 8 ("The Political Hijacking of Art")

Kundera discusses Salman Rushdie’s experience with censorship and persecution, particularly after The Satanic Verses.

He sees Rushdie’s case as an example of how literature is politically hijacked, forcing writers into ideological battles they never intended.

He argues that Rushdie became a symbol in a political and religious conflict, rather than being recognized purely as a novelist.

This aligns with his broader critique that writers should not be judged as political figures but as artists.

Key Idea: Rushdie’s experience illustrates how artistic freedom is threatened when literature is forced into political and ideological debates.

Final Thoughts on These Authors

Kundera’s analysis of these writers aligns with his central argument: literature should not be reduced to ideology, biography, or politics.

Kafka was misread as a tragic symbol of alienation.

Joyce was accused of betraying literary tradition but revolutionized the novel.

Flaubert fought against moralistic censorship.

Rushdie became a political target rather than just a novelist.

English: Now Official language of US

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/trump-declares-english-as-us-national-languagewhat-it-means-for-india/articleshow/118712955.cms

 In his 40 days in office, President Trump has delivered a veritable blitz of actions, orders, statements, threats and sanctions which have tended to ruffle feathers  and even threaten livelihoods. Yes, all across the globe, in keeping with his status as the world's most powerful man.

Now  he has come forth with an order that will bring undiluted joy to millions of Indians whose main asset visavis our global competition  is the command over the English language that the educated among us, possess!

In the international arena of jostling for advantages in every sphere, ... markets, jobs, AI, Science & Technology, Politics.. it is our proficiency in English that has kept us ahead in the race. 

Particularly in the "5 Eyes" nations.

Leaving aside peerless Dr Shashi Tharoor, whether it is Indra Nooyi, Satyam Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Leo Vadkar, Rishi Sunak or Vivek Ramaswamy, it is their extraordinary communication skills ( in English!) that has elevated them skyward.

And English has clearly emerged as the lingua franca in every field,  with most global leaders attempting to use it in order to be more direct and effective. Just look at poor Zelensky trying hard to counter Trump/Vance directly, instead of using the roundabout interpreter route.

We sincerely hope that  Trump's action will put a dampener on the arguments/efforts of those in India who want to get rid of English as a "foreign language" and put a quietus on their saturnine attempts to rid the country of what is its biggest global asset today ... English !

J P Alexander

Psychological Safety vs. Performance Standard

 

Financial Success

 5 Skills needed for financial success:

• Networking : Associate with right people - it's your net worth. 
• Negotiation: If we are able to negotiate, we can achieve anything.
• Time Management: All of us have it same, how we utilise is what matters. 
• Continuous Learning: You will never be stuck.
• Risk taking and Risk Management: With minimum risk, make most, master the art. 

EBITDA vs. Cash

 

EBITDA doesn’t pay your bills.

Cash flow does.

And where does cash flow come from?

Operations.

There are 3 main cash flow drivers you need to understand:

✓ Revenue Growth

✓ Operating Profits

✓ Working Capital Efficiency

Let’s break it down:

1. Revenue Growth

Revenue growth is the starting point for cash flow.

But here’s the catch:

It’s not just about selling more—it’s about selling smart.

What drives it:

✓ Sales volume: Increase the number of units sold.

✓ Pricing strategy: Optimize prices for maximum value.

✓ Revenue growth feeds your cash flow engine, but that’s just the first step.

2. Operating Profits

Margins are essential.

Revenue means nothing if you can’t convert it into profits.

What drives operating profit:

✓ Lower COGS: Renegotiate with suppliers or automate.

✓ Reduced SG&A: Eliminate waste in marketing, payroll, and overhead.

✓ Healthy margins = healthy cash flow.

3. Working Capital Efficiency

This is where businesses lose or win.

Why it matters:

Efficient working capital means you’re not tying up cash unnecessarily.

What drives it:

✓ Inventory turnover: Move products faster by stocking what sells best (lower DIO).

✓ Receivables: Collect payments faster from your customers (improve DSO).

✓ Payables: Manage payments strategically with your suppliers (extend DPO).

An efficient cash conversion cycle keeps cash flowing where it’s needed most.

The Reality:

EBITDA might make your quarterly reports shine,

But it’s useless for paying bills, funding growth, or repaying debt.

If you want to build a thriving business,

Focus on what really matters:

Cash flow from operations.

You can't take EBITDA home.

Let’s get real:

You can’t pay taxes with EBITDA.

You can’t pay dividends with EBITDA.

You can’t service debt obligations with EBITDA.

You can’t buy inventory, equipment, or fund growth with EBITDA.

Why?

Because EBITDA is not cash.

Here’s the problem with relying on EBITDA:

↳ Cash tied up in unsold inventory or uncollected receivables isn’t available to pay suppliers or taxes.

↳ Maintenance CAPEX (required to sustain output) eats into cash that could’ve been used to repay debt or invest in new assets.

↳ Tax payments deplete cash that could’ve gone into expanding sales, R&D, or marketing.

So, what can you actually do with EBITDA?

↳ Use it for trend analysis and tracking company performance over time.

↳ Use it to calculate debt service ratios (if your lender requires it).

↳ Use it to compare companies—cautiously—while accounting for differences in CAPEX and working capital requirements.

But here’s what you shouldn’t do:

🚫 Don’t use EBITDA for performance management without accounting for CAPEX required to sustain output.

🚫 Don’t assume EBITDA shows your ability to service debt without adjusting for cash taxes, dividends, CAPEX, and working capital.

🚫 Don’t use EBITDA for valuation without a DCF analysis and a Quality of Earnings report that adjusts for management’s accounting policies and working capital needs.

Remember:

EBITDA may be a helpful tool, but it’s not a financial strategy.

If you’re basing critical decisions on EBITDA alone, you’re missing the bigger picture—and that could jeopardize your company’s future.

Cash Flow is King and Queen alike. 

EBITDA is just one piece of the puzzle.

Lalitha Tripura Sundari

 

🌺।।Lalitha Tripura Sundari : According to the Tripura Rahasya, only goddess Tripura Sundari existed before the beginning of the universe. She created the Trimurti and began the creation of the universe।।🌺

Do you know?

Lalitha Sahasranamam is the only Sahasranamam composed by vagdevatas under Lalitha’s direction.

UK books and readers

 

Fragments of an Unbroken Mirror ~ Santanu Sinha Chaudhu

 

*Fragments of an Unbroken Mirror*
  -Santanu Sinha Chaudhuri
An enchanting book that transports the reader to the slow paced, simple Calcutta of the 1950s and 60s. It's almost impossible to believe that the author didn't start writing a diary when he was a child - he can recall places And people in such vivid and minute detail. He writes in a simple, straightforward style, with honesty. Living with his parents, older sister and grandmother in the heart of the city, he grew up absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of Calcutta, and he shares them all with us.
The city was slowly emerging from the trauma of the Bengal Famine, the brutal Partition and the entry of a sea of refugees from East Pakistan. The author describes these harrowing chapters of the recent past quietly and effectively. As he was growing up, the city was shaking off those painful memories and creating an environment that encouraged eager youngsters from every corner of the country to come and try to earn their livelihood, maybe make their fortunes too.
The writer's parents both hailed from across the border but had reached Calcutta earlier, his father to try his hand at various forms of business that rarely succeeded and his mother to work as a school teacher, providing the slender income that kept the family going. Though the writer had only an older sister and no friends nearby, his life was populated by an array of men and women, his father's various assistants, his mother's young friends, relatives from far and near, and various tradesmen.
We meet many of these characters, Rajenda, Subhash Kaku, Sudhadi, Motilalda. The author draws portraits with warmth and compassion.What strikes one is the fact that most often, they could barely make ends meet, but never complained, and faced the daily grind cheerfully. A lesson that was instilled was that material possessions don't define success, and don't guarantee happiness.
Middle class families invariably ate very simple meals, with mutton being a Sunday treat, but visitors and guests were always welcome to share the meal. Things like pressure cookers and fridges were rare, and children made their toys with discarded material. A boy who possessed a football was envied by his classmates  : what a far cry from today's children who are spoiled for choice!
School brougt it's own trials and triumphs. Most of the teachers were very good , some were excellent, and corporal punishment was rare. Friends settled differences with their fists at times, but still stayed friends. Good teachers " continue to live in our collective memory. Some teachers are like parents. They continue to live after their death ".
The Calcutta of those days was smaller, not so crowded, with cleaner roads washed with water jets in the morning and a number of lovely little parks. People were closer to each other: even the rich went to the government hospitals. A major difference was that children were not the centre of the family and parents left them to their devices. There was no pressure to excel at school, or at sports and other activities.
Calcutta was home to Kabulis from Afghanistan, Sikhs, Chinese, Marwaris , Gujaratis, Nepalis, people from Orissa and Bihar, an array of South Indians... A truly cosmopolitan city where people could find employment and thrive.
After school, the next step was joining a green and beautiful campus, Santiniketan, that looked more like an ashram. The writer studied physics at Visva Bharati university, but the memories that linger are of the glorious days of freedom at the hostel, the great artists and intellectuals on the campus and othe ferment of communism.
The Naxalite movement had gripped much of the countryside, leading to a violent backlash. Thousands of bright, idealistic young men and women were killed in cold blood.
However life at Santiniketan proceeded calmly. Holidays would be declared when all the young boys and girls would walk to the river Kopai, singing songs. It was a change to be among so many charming girls after studying in a boys' school!
The campus was home to celebrities like painter Binode Behari Mukherjee, sculptor Ramkinkar Baij and classical musician Dhrubatara Joshi. However the allegiance to Communism created a barrier between the young idealists and the rich cultural life of Santiniketan. Still, the author cherishes the introduction to the lives and homes of poor peasants, which instilled in him the respect for all human beings despite class and caste.
After the first year, the writer moved to the hostel called Dashachakra, in a circular courtyard, a lively, friendly place with a motley group of young boys. Among them were the undercover Naxalite who didn't believe in violence, Tarapada Guha ( not his real name) and the gifted singer Anupam.
Midnight excursions in the beautiful Birbhum countryside were occasions when they were mesmerized by the kind of ethereal beauty that is rarely glimpsed in life. Sunrise at Tiger Hill in Darjeeling was another such experience.
An unforgettable character from college days was the scholar Shubhendu Sekhar Mukhopadyay, who was an authority on Tagore studies and a variety of other subjects. A rare soul who was indifferent to worldly comforts but prized dignity, and always lived with his head held high.
There were blissful encounters with Bauls and narrow escapes from getting mowed down by trains while walking on railway tracks.
When the author visited Santiniketan after fifty years, there was no Dashachakra. It was in ruins, and was later demolished. As he observes, " Fortunately, no authorities can ever demolish memories ".
The two chapters on Raghupati which are introduced as fiction and not memories, are a puzzle, as they are very similar to other stories and don't contribute anything to the steady procession of anecdotes on places and people.
At the end of the book, one shares the aching sadness of the author who finds his childhood home no longer exists. But we have been gifted with a storehouse of arresting memories that take us back to a vibrant Calcutta and it's gracious men and women, for which we salute him.

A Little Princess ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett 10/24

 Captain Ralph Crewe, a wealthy English widower, has been raising his only child, a daughter named Sara, in India where he is stationed with the British Army. Because the Indian climate is considered too harsh for their children, British families living there traditionally send their children to boarding school back home in England. The Captain enrolls his seven-year-old daughter at an all-girls boarding school in London and dotes on his daughter so much that he orders and pays the haughty headmistress, Miss Minchin, for special treatment and exceptional luxuries for Sara, such as a private room for her with a personal maid and a separate sitting room (see parlour boarder), along with Sara's own private carriage and a pony. Miss Minchin openly fawns over Sara for her money, but is secretly envious and dislikes Sara almost from the outset.

Intelligent, imaginative and kind, Sara sees through flattery and remains unspoiled; she embraces the status of a 'princess' accorded by the other students, and lives up to it with her compassion and generosity. She befriends Ermengarde, the school dunce; Lottie, a four-year-old student given to tantrums; and Becky, the stunted scullery maid.

Four years later, Sara's eleventh birthday is celebrated at Miss Minchin's with a lavish party. Just as it ends, Miss Minchin learns of Captain Crewe's unfortunate demise due to jungle fever. Furthermore, the previously wealthy captain has lost his entire fortune, investing in a friend's diamond mines. Preteen Sara is left an orphan and a pauper with nowhere to go. Miss Minchin is left with a sizable debt for Sara's school fees and luxuries, including her birthday party. Infuriated and pitiless, she takes away all of Sara's possessions (except for an old black frock and her doll, Emily), and makes her live in a cold and poorly furnished attic, forcing her to earn her keep by working as a servant.

For the next two years Miss Minchin starves and overworks Sara, turning her into a menial servant and unpaid tutor, with the prospect of turning her into an under-paid teacher when she is old enough. Most of the students take their tone from Miss Minchin, but Sara is consoled by her few friends and uses her imagination to cope with her bleak existence. She continues to be kind and polite to everyone, even her abusers, in the belief that conduct, not money, make a true princess. On one of the bleakest days when she herself is ravenous, she finds a coin and buys six buns, but gives a starving beggar-child five of them.

During this time Mr. Carrisford moves into the house next to the seminary. He is an extremely wealthy invalid come from abroad and retains Mr. Carmichael, a solicitor who lives nearby. Sara has often observed Mr. Carmichael's big and loving family, whom she has dubbed the "Large Family" – while they are equally curious about her and call her "the little girl who is not a beggar".

Mr. Carrisford is revealed to have been Captain Crewe's partner in the diamond mine venture. Thinking all was lost and both suffering from severe illness, Carrisford abandoned Captain Crewe and wandered in a delirium. When he recovered, it was to find Crewe dead – and the mines a reality. Extremely rich but suffering both ill health and pangs of conscience, he returns to England and makes it his mission to find Sara, though he does not know where to look.

Meanwhile Ram Dass, Mr Carrisford's Indian servant, climbs across the roof to retrieve a pet monkey which has taken refuge in Sara's attic. He sees the poor condition of her room and, touched by her courtesy and demeanor, sets out to discover her history. To distract his master from his own sorrows, he tells Mr Carrisford about the "little girl in the attic". Between them they devise a scheme whereby Mr Carrisford becomes "The Magician", a mysterious benefactor who transforms her barren existence with gifts of food and warmth and books – snuck in by Ram Dass.

One night the monkey again visits Sara's attic, and she decides to return it to Mr. Carrisford next morning. He learns that Sara is Captain Crewe's daughter; Sara also learns that Mr. Carrisford was her father's friend – and The Magician.

Miss Minchin pays a visit to collect Sara, but is informed that Sara will be living with Mr. Carrisford from now on; not only is her fortune restored, she is now heiress to diamond mines. Miss Minchin tries to retrieve the situation, going so far as to threaten legal action if she does not return to the school, and that she will never see any of her friends again, but Sara refuses and Mr Carrisford is adamant. Becky becomes Sara's personal servant and, with her newfound wealth, Sara makes a deal with a baker, proposing to cover the cost of food given to any hungry child.

Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life ~ Dr.Wayne W. Dyer 9/25

Legend has it that Confucius was so impressed by Lao-tzu's influence that he sought him out for consultation on etiquette and rules, which was the major focus of Confician philosophy but considered to be hypocrisy and nonsense by Lao-tzu.  Through the Tao Te Ching, Lao-tzu gives us insights into the 'Way' to confront the winds of and clouds of time and space. How to stay connected to the Source of love and well-being in the face of adversities. 

Five hundred years before the birth of Jesus and Mohammed a God-realized being named Lao-tzu in ancient China dictated 81 verses, which are regarded by many as the ultimate commentary on the nature of our existence. The classic text of these 81 verses, called the Tao Te Ching or the Great Way, offers advice and guidance that is balanced, moral, spiritual, and always concerned with working for the good.

In this book, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer has reviewed hundreds of translations of the Tao Te Ching and has written 81 distinct essays on how to apply the ancient wisdom of Lao-tzu to today’s modern world. This work contains the entire 81 verses of the Tao, compiled from Wayne’s researching of 12 of the most well-respected translations of text that have survived for more than 25 centuries. 

 

This has been my third read of this book. Applying all in daily life is an uphill task though not impossible.  For a personal reminder and for those interested am also sharing each of the verse a day in Instagram. The classic text of these verses, called the Tao Te Ching or the Great Way, offers advice and guidance that is balanced,  moral, spiritual and always concerned with working for the good. This is a work to be read slowly,  one verse a day.

Bhima Line Warrior ~ M T Vasudevan Nair 8/25

 

 Read Randamoozham today morning. I have already read it a long time ago and it's totally worth the re-read. The writer tries to fill the gaps that he feels Vyasa left. He also removes every supernatural aspects of the tale in his re-imagination

Reading between the lines, especially about Dharmaputrar being Vidurar's son. He had written about it somewhere

After reading Randamoozham, I realized that Bhima possessed remarkable character depth, which is rarely depicted in any Mahabharata-related works ever written.

After reading many novels and short stories of MT, I read Bhiman in Randamoozham as a repetition of his typical protagonist. If we compare him with Chandu of Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, both are essentially same person placed in different eras. In Asuravithu or Kaalam also we find the same person appearing as protagonist, with same anguishes, solitude and inferiority complex. 

I don't remember who, but someone called his Bhiman as 'Bhiman Nair'.

Alternative readings... Strangely, I found V.S. Khandekar's Yayati to be above this. Narratives from the perspectives of three people, making us see each perspective and making them all human beings like us feet of clay.

Chaava

 Chaava, is a captivating period drama film based on the life of Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The movie was a thrilling experience, thanks to Laxman Utekar's brilliant direction, which brought this historical masterpiece to life. Vicky Kaushal's portrayal of  Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was outstanding, as he seamlessly embodied the character's spirit. His action scenes, dialogue delivery, and expressions were truly impressive, and his entry scene was breathtaking. Rashmika's performance was equally impressive, as she conveyed emotions with remarkable depth. Akshay Khanna's depiction of Aurangzeb was chilling, and his transformation was unrecognizable. The supporting cast, including Ashutosh Rana and Divya Dutta, delivered strong performances. The music, composed by A.R. Rahman, was mesmerizing and added depth to the film. The action sequences were meticulously designed, and the war scenes were visually stunning. The VFX, cinematography, art direction, costumes, and jewelry were all top-notch, reminiscent of films like Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat. The climax was outstanding, and the scene where Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is captured while fighting his enemies was heart-wrenching, almost everyone must have cried in theatre !! Overall, Chaava is an  inspiring film that is definitely worth watching. 

The Unbearable Lightness 7/25 of Bei

A young woman is in love with a successful surgeon; a man torn between his love for her and his womanising. His mistress, a free-spirited artist, lives her life as a series of betrayals; while her other lover stands to lose everything because of his noble qualities. In a world where lives are shaped by choices and events, and everything occurs but once, existence seems to lose its substance and weight - and we feel 'the unbearable lightness of being'.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

It is a sensual love story about a divorced Chech surgeon, Tomas, and a charming and attractive waitress, Tereza. The story is set during the crisis when the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia in August 1968, and the Russians started spying and terrorising the elites and educated masses. Mr Kundera has beautifully illustrated the fundamental distinction between true love or Romance and physical desire or sex.

Another interesting part of this book is the other characters: Sabina, an ex-mistress of Tomas and Franz, a lover of Sabina, tomas son Simon and a female dog, Kerenin, which the author weaves perfectly and skillfully.

The end of the story was very touchy and thoughtful.

I don't understand why the author has to explain the philosophy of the characters' thoughts and deeds. He should have left it open for the readers to scrutinise.

I felt Mr Kundera was already mentally prepared to impose his ideology on his readers.

It was like an overenthusiastic newly recruited professor coming to the postgraduate class and starting to explain the complexities without even questioning the students.

Overall, it is a fantastic read.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being encompasses passion and philosophy, infidelity and ideas, the Prague Spring and modern America, political acts and private desires, comedy and tragedy - in fact, all of human existence.

‐---------

Since man only has the opportunity to try one path, to make one decision, he cannot return to take a different path, and then compare the two lives. Without the ability to compare lives, Kundera argues, we cannot find meaning; where meaning should exist we find only an unbearable weightlessness. The uncertain existence of meaning, and the opposition of lightness and heaviness, the key dichotomy of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, sets the stage for the entire novel.

Another thought provoking mention:

Best of his books is Testament Betrayed, a collection of his essays that discuss novels and music. That book alters the one read literature.

Dan Brown

 Read Da Vinci Code and liked it. Then I read his other books, and the formulaic nature was evident. Also, the liberties he took with physics could not be ignored. It made me wonder whether he did the same with history, and researched a bit about the Holy Grail. Sure enough! That was also full of stupidities like Angels and Demons

Nandakishore Varma says "Dan Brown is a one-trick pony".

Angels and demons was very fascinating was really excited about the plot twists 😁

 Shahid Ameen CBC: "If you liked Da Vinci Code, I would recommend Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln who also sued Dan Brown or his publishers if I remember correctly. This though would be the OG in speculative history that explores the bloodline of Jesus Christ."

Nandakishore Varma CBC  Tcr: "I have read the book. But it's full of bogus scholarship. It has been thoroughly exposed."

 Shahid Ameen CBC: Da Vinci Code extensively borrows from it

Nandakishore Varma: He stole even Baigent's name and made an anagram of it 🤣🤣🤣

 The best novel to go for if anyone likes conspiracy theory fiction is 'Foucault's Pendulum' by Umberto Eco. It's a lot though. 

 J P Alexander

Of all Dan Brown books, it is "Da Vinci Code" which truly fascinates me because  of the interesting links which he makes to the  2000 year old legend of Mary Magdalene and her flight to Europe, following the crucifixion of Jesus. 

Yes, Jesus's followers were prosecuted by the Romans, though some like "brother James" stayed on till Titus's Destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.

 For example, Mother Mary, according to some accounts lived in a cottage on Bulbul Mountain near Ephesus which hundreds of pilgrims visit daily. The fact that all the Popes since Pius X, more than a century ago, have made  this pilgrimage, lends credibility to the story.

Dan Brown in 2003 borrowed heavily from well-researched "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" which had fascinated me in the 1980s. Michael Baigent, Henry Lincoln and Richard Leigh worked assiduously to fill up the gaps in this 2000 year old story.

Pierre Planchard de Saint Clair ( a descendant of Mary Magdalene ?) who died in 2000 wielded immense influence in France and even Charles de Gaulle consulted him during major crises. Well-known historical figures like " long haired" Merovingian monarch Dagobert II and Godrey de Bouillon are introduced to lend  authenticity to the unbroken lineage. (Duke Godfrey of Boulogne in Belgium was a surprise choice as King  of Jerusalem when the 1st Crusade took the city in 1098. But the book claims that his descent from Mary Magdalene was the key factor.

The Grail, in quest of which Arthur's knights ... Percival, Galahad, Gawaine, Lancelot ... journeyed afar, wasn't the Chalice at the Last Supper, but the sacred bloodline of Jesus! 

Sang-real = Blood royal.

This was protected by the Templar Knights, Rosicrucians and the  the Priory of Sion whose Grand Masters included prominent figures like Sandro Botticelli ( Birth of Venus), Leonardo da Vinci, the Constable de  Bourbon, Robert Boyle, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, Charles Debussy.. ( OMG!)

" Da Vinci Code" begins in the Louvre Museum, Paris with the murder of curator Jacques Sauniere.

 It also ends in the Louvre, with Robert Langdon speculating about Mary  Magdalene's body being, interred below the massive Entrance Pyramid. When I visited the Louvre in 1977, there was no pyramid.(I M Pei's grand work came up only in 1984).

In the short time available, I did manage to see Mona Lisa (sans bulletproof glass) and 3 of Da Vinci's  other masterpieces.

 Also "Venus de Milo" and  "Nike of Samothrace " ... altogether just an infitesimile part of the vast museum.

The visit of Robert Langdon and Sophie  to London's Templar Church was action packed.

What was even more  thrilling  was our vist in 2017 to mysterious Rosslyn Chapel, near Edinburgh, which was built by Sir William St Clair in  1446. Thanks to the book, there was a veritable horde of visitors and not even enough space in thev car  park.

As a "Da Vinci Code" aficianado, the icing on the cake was our serendipitous visit to  St Clair estate ( founded by Graeme St Clair in 1874) as we traveled through Srilanka's Central Highlands. We bought a pretty good painting of the lovely St Clair Falls (above) for a "humungous" Rs 1500 ( Srilankan!). Life was cheap a decade ago. Maybe it still is, in Srilanka.

 

Confidence

 

The Bridges of Madison County

 

The Bridges of Madison County is one of the greatest love stories ever told. So I believed. 

I had read the famous love story in a Mumbai local on a Sunday morning, and I remember getting teary eyed in the end. Many years later, I watched the movie, directed by Clint Eastwood. 

The movie tells the story of a beautiful and bored housewife who lives in a remote village in America with her ex-Marine husband and children. Once when they are away for a short trip to the city, she decides to spend 3 nights with a  documentary photographer visiting her village. The photographer offers to marry her, but she refuses to go with him. She instead chooses to stay in touch with him through letters and gifts, which are found by her children in a suitcase after her death. 

Meryl Streep nominated for an Oscar for her role as the bored housewife named Francesca. Clint Eastwood played the photographer, Robert Kincaid. A little known actor called Jim Haines played Meryl Streep’s husband, Richard, an dungree wearing simple bald man, who appears for a few minutes on the screen. He loves his wife, works hard on their farm and his kids love him. 

For years I believed that Francesca was the victim of a bad marriage. I believed that Robert and Francesca had every right to have an affair, since he was single and handsome and she was bored and beautiful. 

Today, I believe that the hero of the story is the unsuspecting husband Richard Johnson, who spent his entire life loving his wife and children.

Cheating, no matter what the circumstances, is fundamentally immoral. While marriages may face challenges and lack passion, it does not justify infidelity. You can part ways if things are not working. The problem is that infidelity is a gutless act where the person doesn't want to leave a dead marriage or tell their partner that they are no more interested in the relationship. 

The Bridges of Madison County romanticizes infidelity, and in doing so, it undermines the integrity of Richard, a man who remains faithful to his wife despite the flaws in their relationship. 

 

UK - GB - London

 Blessed to have lived to see this view.

LONDON IS NOT A COUNTRY

Most people think London is a Country of it's own .. That's not true. London is the capital of England UK  🇬🇧 and there are four countries in the UK with each having their capitals.

Some often confuse England, United Kingdom 🇬🇧 and Great Britain.

England is a country just like Kenya🇰🇪and its capital is London just like Nairobi is the capital of Kenya 🇰🇪

Or Uganda as a country and Kampala as the capital of Uganda.

Great Britain is a collection of 3 countries which came together as one country and has its capital as London. Those 3 countries are:

1. England,

2. Scotland

3. Wales.

When you include Northern Ireland to these 3 countries, they become United Kingdom (Union of four nations)

1. England,

2. Scotland,

3. Wales, and

4. Northern Ireland.

That is why it is referred to as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Collectively, the four are taken as one country. London is its capital.

These four individual nations all have their own respective capitals.

Accordingly, the capital of

Scotland is Edinburgh,
Wales is Cardiff;
Northern Ireland is Belfast.
England is London.

Additionally,
England,Wales and Northern Ireland uses "pounds" as their official currency

Scotland uses "pounds sterling"

Both pounds and pounds sterling are of the same value but different prints.

No knowledge is a waste ✌️

The Mehta Boys ~ Boman Irani

Veteran Bollywood actor Boman Irani is not only his amazing and unique self, that we see in the movies,  but has revealed his other facets in his directorial debut movie 'The Mehta Boys'; where he is also the writer and producer.  An interesting story, filled with sentiments, emotions,  fun and humor revealing the universal truth 'Child is the father of man'. 'Children begin by obeying their parents, after a while they judge them.' As they grow older there could be differences and may not be able to forgive them. But they will always have their parents in them. Father  will always remain father. 

Avinash Tiwary as Amay Mehta was great. The changing view of Mumbai, making it similar to other cities and the father's statement '“India does not look like India anymore”, gives a boost to the otherwise underconfident son. 

Boman Irani delivers a splendid performance as a heartbroken elderly man who clings to his old-fashioned ways, a reflection of his decades in cinema. However, Avinash Tiwary completely overshadows him with his sincere and nuanced performance. Every son will be able to relate to his struggle and the barely visible internal struggle with himself while dealing with his stubborn father.

Shreya Chaudhry as Zara a supportive  trusted work colleague  who forms a wholesome bond with Shiv and facilitates Amay in taking care of his father and Puja Sarup as Anu, sister are the other main characters,  there is boss of the company Sen and son and other work colleagues.

The unpretentious yet deeply moving drama explores the complexities of a father-son relationship shaped by unexpressed love, hidden affection and differences. Boman Irani plays the rigid father, Shiv, who is dealing with the loss of his wife, the love of his wife. He has two kids, a daughter Anu (Puja Sarup) and a son Amay (Avinash Tiwary). Anu is settled in America while Amay moved to Mumbai to work as an architect. The kids return to their childhood home to be with Shiv and grieve their mother’s death. We see palpable tension between the father and the son right off the bat.

Anu plans to take her father to America with her. But destiny had one last plan to mend the father-son’s relationship. Due to a series of events, the father and son are forced to live together after a decade..

Shiv’s flight tickets are rejected at the counter, forcing him to stay with Amay for two days until his next flight on Monday. Anu leaves for America to be with her kids. Meanwhile, we see the depths of Shiv and Amay’s stiff relationship in its ultimate raw form.

Amay brings his father to his shabby apartment in Mumbai’s Lower Parel. Shiv huffs and puffs while picking up his suitcases, refusing any kind of help from his son. Amay enters his well-lit house but Shiv immediately complains that he left the lights on before leaving the house. Amay promptly replies that he does not like coming home to darkness. Shiv refuses to acknowledge his son’s response and turns off all the lights anyway.

We see their dynamic relationship unfold as they try to live together in peace and not get in each other’s way. There is a scene where Shiv notices a photograph of Amay with Anu and his mother on the side table. His heart breaks to know that his son never kept his picture in the house. His face turns pensive as if reflecting on all the memories with his son and where things went wrong.

They share many bittersweet moments while staying together. In one of the scenes, the father-son duo sits down on the balcony to share a drink together. Shiv asks Amay about his job. The seemingly simple conversation takes a serious turn when Shiv condescendingly taunts Amay on his reliability on the laptop. Shiv comments that all the buildings in modern-day look the same and “India does not look like India anymore”. The comment triggers Amay who retaliates by commenting on his father’s job as a typewriter. The evening ends on a sour note.

Shiv’s passport gets stolen

Amay gets a call from Anu who reminds him that it was his father’s birthday. Ridden with guilt, Amay decides to take his father to a swanky restaurant to celebrate. Shiv demands to meet with Zara who he believes is Amay’s fiancée. He also offers to pay the bill which Amay begrudgingly accepts. They get to the restaurant and Zara immediately wins over Shiv’s heart. As they engage in a wholesome conversation, Amay slips away to ask the waiter to give them half of the bill, reasoning that his father is not aware of how expensive the restaurant is. The waiter calls him a good son and Amay feels better about himself.

During the conversation, Shiv recalls a fond memory of his beloved late wife. He recalls buying her an expensive saree and not caring about the money as long as it kept his wife happy. Amay realises that perhaps secretly paying half of the bill was not such a good deed after all. Before he could do anything, the waiter brought out the bill. Shiv realises how Amay insulted him and announces that the beautiful night has now been ruined.

The ride to the airport is silent and tense. After reaching there, Shiv realises that his suitcase containing his passport and his wife’s saree has been stolen. They fail to find it at the restaurant, forcing Shiv and Amay to stay together until a new passport has been made.

How Shiv helped Amay progress in his career

While Amay deals with his stubborn father at home, he also deals with the pressure from his boss to present him with a ground-breaking design to win a deal. He works day and night to come up with a design but fails to satisfy himself with his creation.

Meanwhile, Amay and Shiv get into a serious altercation while in the car on a rainy night while returning from the passport office. The heated argument between Shiv and Amay exposed the conflicts of their bond. Amay feels undervalued and under-appreciated by his father regardless of his achievements. On the other hand, Shiv reveals that Amay broke his mother’s son by separating from them in pursuit of freedom. It leads to a minor accident and Shiv takes off. Amay reaches home and gets a call from the hospital. Shiv gets into a minor accident while hallucinating about his wife. Zara reprimands Amay for being irresponsible about his father. At the hospital, Amay reveals that Shiv’s passport has been retrieved but Shiv refuses to stay back with him.

Shiv returns to his hometown to stay in the house where he’s lived for over 70 years. Back in Mumbai, Amay recalls his father’s words “India does not look like India anymore” and gets a groundbreaking idea for his design. He incorporates the traditional essence and values of Indian architecture in his design and impresses his boss.

He returns to his hometown to meet with his father. Amay shows him his new designs and Shiv bursts into tears. They share an unspoken appreciation and start seeing each other through a new lens. Amay drives Shiv to the airport. Although they do not hug, Shiv plants an affectionate kiss on Amay’s cheek, hinting at the start of their new budding bond.

#TheMehtaBoys #BomanIrani #ShivMehta #AvinasTiwari #AmayMehta #amazonprimemovies #HindiDramaFilm

KumbhMela ~ Ramanand 6/25

Manavta ka Mahasamudra - The Great Ocean of Humanity

A timely read indeed, a book with story, experiences, Mantras, Slokas and Pictures by Ramanand translated by Lakshmi Dayal.

The Kumbh is a Mela in search  of peace, bliss and completion, trying to drive home the point "We are all one, same consciousness is in every human being". Achieving our goals becomes difficult if we stray whilst walking on this path.

For 12 days and nights, the demons continuously chased the nectare obtained churning Kshirsagar, the ocean of milk using the Mandrachal mountain and Snake deity Vasuki as rope collected in a Kumb that is the pitcher given by Dhanvantari to collect water. God's and demons fought a pitched battle for 12 continuous years. The equivalent of one celestial day is one year on earth.

When Demons tried to snatch the kumbh few drops of nectar fell at Haridwar (Ganga), Ujjain (Kshipra), Nashik(Godavari) and Prayaga(Thriveni).

To commensurate this event, Kumbh Mela is organized every 12 years at these sanctified places turn by turn. In Nasik and Ujjain every 3 years, Haridwar and Prayag, Ardh-Kumbh every six years, Purna or full Kumb every 12 years and Mahakumbh in 144 years. The Mela-Fair for Kumbh has certain particular auspicious days.

People gather is a triump of human race helping mankind realize the world is one family.  Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Among the largest group of ascetics who visit are the Nagas smeared with bhabhoot- holy ash, the traditional protectors.The temporary home or retreat of an Ascetic on the Bank of holy Ganga during the month of Magh is called Kalpavas. The rule to abide during Kalpavas is, "I must practice self-control for the welfare of all. I must remain non-violent. I should be broad-minded, generous, liberal and level-headed. Totally engrossed and focused on the truth as it appears, without fear or enmity, always remaining alert to the well-being of all people".

Motto or Mantra : Sarajevo Kalyan. Welfare of all beings.

There are 4 types of bathing - Bhasmasnan, Varunsnan, Mantrasnan and Godhulisnan meaning that with ashes, water, prayer and twilight.

Things to do if at Pyagraj are Ritual bath at SangamGhat, Akshay Vatt the grand old Banyan tree, Samudr Koop, Gangouli Shivalya, Resting Hanumanji, Viraaj Mandapam, Shankh Mahadev, Beni Madhava, Manakameshwar, Alopashankari are places of interest. You will find Prayag Guvas everywhere

#KumbhMela #Timelyread #Book #Ramanand #Prayag #triveni

The Four Sacred Secrets ~ Preethaji and Krishnaji 5/25

 The Four Sacred Secrets: For Love and Prosperity, A Guide to Living in a Beautiful State is a spiritual and self-help book by Indian spiritual teachers Preethaji and Krishnaji, founders of the O&O Academy. Including ancient fables and modern stories that will speak intimately to your heart, this book fuses the transcendental and the scientific, the mystical and the practical, to guide you to consciously create wealth, heal your heart, awaken yourself to love, and help you to make peace with your true self.

Rereading now; earlier review: https://arunoday.blogspot.com/search?q=Four+Sacred

The Beautiful State vs. the Suffering State:

The authors introduce the idea that every individual lives in one of two states of mind: the "beautiful state" or the "suffering state." The beautiful state is one of love, connection, and inner peace, while the suffering state is marked by stress, anxiety, and a sense of separation. The book teaches how to shift from the suffering state to the beautiful state through conscious practices.

These secrets are meant to guide people in transforming their lives and living in what the authors call a "beautiful state." The four sacred secrets are:

1. Living with a Spiritual Vision:

This secret involves cultivating a higher purpose or vision for your life that transcends material goals and focuses on spiritual growth. It's about understanding your deeper intentions and aligning your life with them. By living with a spiritual vision, you move beyond self-centered desires and begin to live in a way that benefits both yourself and others.

2. Connecting to the Universal Intelligence:

This secret emphasizes the importance of recognizing and connecting with a higher consciousness or universal intelligence that guides and influences all aspects of life. The authors suggest that by tapping into this universal intelligence through meditation, mindfulness, and other spiritual practices, you can access greater wisdom, creativity, and insight. This connection helps you make decisions that are in alignment with your true self and the greater good.

3. Awakening to the Power of Consciousness:

This secret is about becoming fully aware of your thoughts, emotions, and actions, and understanding how they shape your reality. By awakening to the power of your own consciousness, you learn to master your mind and emotions, leading to a more peaceful and empowered life. The authors emphasize the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in achieving personal transformation.

4. Fostering the Flow of Love:

The final secret focuses on the transformative power of love in all its forms—self-love, love for others, and love for life itself. The authors believe that love is the most powerful force for personal and spiritual growth. By fostering the flow of love in your life, you can heal relationships, attract abundance, and create a life filled with joy and fulfillment. This secret encourages you to open your heart and live from a place of compassion and connection.

The four life journey covered in the process are:

1. Heal the wounded child
2. Dissolve the inner divide
3. Become a Heartful Partner
4. Emerge into a Conscious Wealth Creator

The easy-to-follow meditations included in this book will transform your experience of reality and open you to the power of creating a beautiful life for yourself.

https://arunoday.blogspot.com/search?q=Soul+sync+meditation

It has four chapters and two sub parts each, Preethaji & Krishnaji go beyond strategies and share with us how to make decisions from a beautiful state and how that creates lack of inner-conflict and a boost in creativity that we otherwise would not be able to access. A whole new way of looking at problem solving and at making choices! The implications that this can have in our life and businesses are enormous.

It is said that if we follow the process we will experience calmness in the mind and stillness of energy in the body. The Four Sacred Secrets eloquently presents much needed WISDOM for the entire world to transcend into a harmonious living.

Whatever we do, be in a beautiful state.