Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to continually be part of unanimity.
~Christopher Morley
Among many magazines, I subscribe to a monthly journal from the Ramakrishna Mission which contains articles on spiritualism and religion. In the May 2011 issue, it contained a review of a book which was very intriguing. The review ended with; “The lesson to be learnt is that, an attitude of service above self will find a purpose in life even after retirement, feelings of neglect/rejection being imaginary.”
This conclusion persuaded me to send for the book and I am now very glad that I did.
Once I started reading it, I could not put it down till I finished it. There were just too many similarities between the central character in the book and me though there were a lot more of differences too. Many thoughts that have been troubling me have now taken new understandings. The differences were primarily in the old man’s experiences during his stay at home after his wife’s death when the daughter in law takes over all authority of running the household and his perceived powerlessness and uselessness. The similarities however, are what he begins to understand when he sets out on his journey. Though the background is very Indian, the message is universal.
The author claims that the book is divinely inspired and I can understand that claim. For a lady author to write about a man like that would not have been possible unless of course, she was exposed to a man in a similar situation. Even in the latter case, the insights that she develops are certainly possible only with some Muse working overtime.
Those who are interested in such journeys, that the brief review on the link given for the book talks about, may read it and gain an insight into a man’s journey to find himself.