Apr 19, 2002 06:29 PM
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(Updated Oct 09, 2002 01:39 PM)
This review would probably have been my debut one, if this trilogy would have been listed at mouthshut.com twenty days ago. Just as well, it wasn’t, as I wouldn’t have done full justice to it in my first review.
Firstly, I will like to clear any misconceptions that anyone might get after reading the title of this book. It is not a religious book, preaching morality and good values. On the contrary it wouldn’t be surprising if after reading them, you would feel like throwing away your Bible, Geeta or Koran into the dustbin. Secondly it is also not some dry philosophy on esoteric matters, but addresses real issues of life in a lively humorous manner.
Neale Walsch, the author of this trilogy wrote them in moments of inspiration, after coming out of long stages of depression, frustrated by his repeated failures in both his career and relationships. Unable to understand why life has been so unfair to him, he demanded answers, and one fine day god decided to answer his questions and also questions of all mankind, which have been plaguing us from times immemorial.
<b>Are these books really dictated by God?</b>
Of Course not, but it dosn't really matter. What matters is the wisdom contained in these 900-odd page trilogy, a wisdom that comes from the highest source, a wisdom that all of us have inside us, but which the world takes away from us.
For more details of the structure of the book, read Raghav2k’s review at: https://mouthshut.com/readreview.php?rid=21064
The god of these pages is the personal god of the author, who answers each and every question that all of us have asked at some point in our lives. It even answers questions that most people don’t even bother to question. One can say it is the most comprehensive Q&A session of all time. And what makes it a thoroughly enjoyable session are the witty exchanges between the two characters of the book.
What makes it a good read is that, no matter what religion or belief system you have, it makes sense to all of us. It makes sense to us, because everything in it sounds so true and logical, everything that we inside our hearts know is right, but our social structures and education systems make us feel is wrong. One realizes how we have been brainwashed into following illogical value systems and screwed up everything that is good and natural, replacing them with artificial structures that prevent us from reaching our highest goals.
“Our earth is not a school and we don’t have to learn any lessons. All we have to do is remember who we are and experience it. The only purpose in life is to experience who we are and the reason for all material existence weather on earth or any other planet is because only material existence provides the duality necessary to experience who we are. In more simple words, if we want to experience love, we also need to experience lack of love, which is only possible in a material environment.”
<b>So what’s new? Haven’t we heard this all before?</b>
Sure, we have, but never in one single book has so much knowledge and wisdom been ever packed. Never before, the contradictions in various philosophies and belief system been explained so beautifully in such an entertaining fashion. One gets a complete overview of the universe – the micro and the macro of it in one plate. It is like reading -A brief history of Time and Plato or Osho together. Compared to this wonderful dialogue, the Krishna-Arjuna dialogue seems puny and confusing.
This book is also a tremendous healing experience. Ever since it was first published in 1992, millions of people have read it (the book was on New York Times Bestseller list for more than 100 weeks) and have undergone a personal transformation. In the words of the author <i>“People were moved. And they cried. And they laughed for the joy and humor in it. Their lives were changed, they said. They were transfixed and empowered. Some said they were transformed” </i> and “<i>these books will be read and studied for decades, even for generations. Perhaps for centuries. Because taken together, this trilogy covers an amazing range of topics from how to make relationships work to the nature of the ultimate reality and the cosmology of the universe”</i>
A must-read, mind opening book!
