Written in an unassuming conversational style, this book is easy to read as compared to some of the other spiritually inclined books I have read and that’s the whole point of this book. Enlightenment isn’t about complex, understandable quotes, crystals, ceremonies and rituals. You don’t get enlightened magically by denouncing creature comforts. worldly pursuits and your family and friends.
Enlightenment is about finding out the truth. The truth that all you have ever believed to be true is a lie. Truth is who you really are after shedding what you have come to believe and is about getting to your core.
The author argues once you know who you really are, you would not feel the need to prove anything, compare yourself to others or keep ‘playing’ the role you have been playing in the world. I liked the dream analogy that is mentioned throughout the book comparing our beliefs to dreams. We think everything in the dream is real and we experience real sensations but it’s not the truth. That got me thinking about all the unnecessary stuff we worry about in our lives and how futile such pursuits are.
I, however, disagreed with the idea that we should pursue a state of no meaning and purpose.
Our lives and time on this planet might be insignificant in the grand scheme of things but to us, it is all important and all-encompassing. Perhaps, this is the ego he is asking us to shed and it is probably beyond the realm of my understanding. I personally do feel, life is about finding meaning and purpose while embracing the insignificance of it all.
I couldn’t help but relate this book to ‘Sapiens’ that I read recently. I think ‘Sapiens’ might have colored my thoughts in which I viewed the ideas of this book. Especially the part where the author points out that all belief systems are nothing but stories and mystical ideas.
The author does not present an overarching framework for attaining enlightenment. He rightly says, at least as I understand it, that enlightenment can’t be taught in seminars, lectures or zen retreats. Everyone has to follow their path to find out who they really are and what is it that fulfills them.
This has a lot of gems especially from the teachings of The Bhagwad Gita, Budhism, Taoism and some fine lines from Walt Whitman. I enjoyed it overall and do recommend it.
Guidance for thriving in the professional world 