A book on love, hope & joie de vivre.

While we heartily pursue the habit of reading, it is solely for the joys that it can bring to us by populating our world for whatever brief time, with the lives of others. If you look back that is why the thought of authors of our childhood still bring back such lovely memories. Another matter is the thing about writing well. John Sheffield once said that of all those arts in which the wise excel, nature's chief masterpiece is writing well. We thrill to a well-written book; but only rarely do we associate a sense of pride with it. And its with pride that I approached the counter of the D.C.Stores Cochin last evening, for billing a particular book of which I have had the pleasure and privilege of befriending the author. The wait for this book had been excruciating owing to the fact that it hadn’t been available in Kerala until now whereas it had already hit the stands everywhere else.. and I have since long always preferred buying a book directly from a store rather than from the web. Finally the wait has come to an end and I now have it in hand.

The cover page of the book I’m talking about, runs thus:

34 bubblegums and candies - Preeti Shenoy.


Considering the contents of the book, one is inclined to think that Preeti’s active avocation is to observe people and acknowledge the blessings of life, sitting on her hammock in her home, and recording her observations on her laptop. And her notes have always been sharp, precise and witty which is a joy to the reader. If you look at her blog, you can see the sincere effort to do that. There are accounts from her personal life, and the little things in life which so often go unnoticed. And she narrates it with her distinctive style and humor which is unique.

34 bubblegums and candies, as very rightly mentioned in the back cover page, brings out the essence and flavour of the journey called life. The ‘bubble gums’ implore the reader to sit back and reflect at life and injects the stimuli to live life to the fullest. And if you believe that there have been books in the past which does just the same, let me tell you few areas where Preeti easily wins over any of them. You can read her book while waiting for your cooker to whistle; you can read while your washing machine is churning to its conclusion; and of course you can read while traveling! The book is, to quote a newspaper headline that carries a review, refreshingly simple. Its an anytime pick which would prompt you to reflect at life, urging you to capture the sheer joy of living life to the fullest. The book is not over-theorized, and it gives enough room for the reader to breathe.

And delving into the candy jar in public may be a bit risky! Because when you delve into it, you are sure to go ‘HA HA HA’ thereby letting others see your throat and the entire universe within, like little Lord Krishna’s mother saw, long time ago! Well, sorry for the PJ, but let me tell you something which is not a PJ – reading this book in public is a bit risky because of the sudden guffaw that would have people staring at you. The candies are deliciously hilarious!


I needn’t say the obvious that a lot of effort has gone into the construction of this book. You can read here how few of her well meaning friends including Satish (her husband) have directed their energies towards the fructification of the book. And such a cute gesture from Atul& Purvi, her two lil kids, who so thoughtfully created personalized bookmarks for her blog readers who attended the launch events.


Preeti writes on her website that one day she hopes to land on a rainbow. Well Preeti, you already have. The wave of appreciation which you get from the media and the crowd abounded at the book meets, the smile that lights up on the faces of your friends and fellow bloggers as they pick up their copy of your book from the store – these are the different colors and hues of the rainbow you have just landed on!

Several months ago, last Dec to be precise, I had written Preeti a testimonial in orkut where I had mentioned that I’d definitely get a copy of her book once she intends to publish it. And now as I type this I see a book staring at me, just besides me.

The book titled 34 bubblegums and candies. The author - Preeti Shenoy ! :)

This is just a beginning. Just a beginning of many more to come from a very promising young author.


-Balu

Thanks 'unpret' for your comments to my previous post. I had drafted this as response to your comments but as it was getting too lengthy, thought I’d put it up as a new post :)

As you said, there must be some reason behind telling that we are not supposed to read/write during Saraswathi Pooja. Old customs do have a purpose. Maybe it is to acknowledge man’s dependence on the natural forces and bounty of his existence. Ancient people instinctively recognized the debt and reverence owed to a higher force and intelligence working beyond the physical dimension. Hence such customs have come into existence I guess.

I do believe that mantras have a meaning. No question about that. It can have an effect. But just reciting the mantras without understanding the context and the proper meaning – would that serve the purpose? A student can study by-heart computer programs in C, Java, etc without understanding the proper concept. It might help the student pass the exams, but would fail to serve the purpose of moulding him into a successful engineer – which is the ultimate goal. God is not a supermarket where you can get anything you want by chanting mantras. Praise and persiflage works with us humans, but would it work with HIM who is beyond all ego? Isn’t God an ego-less entity?

We worship God in different ways – as the Heavenly Father or Divine Mother, or as a Divine friend like the relationship between Krishna and Arjuna, or as a Divine lover, as a Divine beloved, Divine Master, or a Divine Child. I personally feel God responds to the devotee in whatever aspect the devotee holds dear. But when you pray “God, please help me build a bungalow,” its more an act done out of expectation.. that you already have a self will – that of building a bungalow and you just need the help of God to execute it, just like you seek the help of an architect, except that here God is cheap labour where you expect the work to be done by offering him coconuts. A devotee will get better results if he plunges himself into God’s love rather than thinking like a businessman “I will buy God with such amount of chanting and meditation.” Suppose, if a terrorist chants the same mantra seeking God’s help to kill innocent lives, would the mantra work? Therefore it has to be believed that ultimately it’s our good will and our consciousness which is going to be the deciding factor.


Prayer is important, but when it is used as a short cut only to get your things done, it looses the purpose. Prayer should be a two-way communication where you share your thoughts and feelings openly as if you are talking to an intimate friend. Your thoughts and plans may or may not work out, but God shouldn’t be held responsible if it doesn’t work out. Just like you wouldn’t blame you close friend, say Teena, if you happen to fail in your exam! You will hold God responsible for the bad events only if you consider him to be a superman who is expected to get all your things done. And you just can’t form an intimate relationship with such a superman. You would consider such a superman or God only as living external to you. Instead, when you treat God as a good friend with whom you can share your joy in your successes.. and as an intimate friend or a guide who would remain with you in your failures as well, you are setting yourself to the right tone. Intimacy can be formed only if you treat God as an understanding parent whom you can approach without fear and rest on her lap for consolation even if you fail 100 times. A great friend or a loving master who reassures you that even if you fail, the world is still going to be the same. An intimate friend who gives you the reassurance that no matter whether you win or loose, he would still be with you unconditionally.

You may succeed in your exams or in your profession or in life, or you may fail.. And even if things don’t go the way as you wished, there should be no severance in communication or regard with God. That way, I feel one can take life as it comes – by being never too exuberant in success and never too defeated in failure. And the best prayer or the mantra is “Thank you.” “Thank you for being with me throughout my good and bad times.” Nothing brings more joy than to feel the presence of a master or an intimate friend who’ll be with you throughout your good and bad times.


Why would God need any praise or money? He would be happier if one chooses to praise, without any trace of jealousy, his fellow being who managed to achieve something remarkable. He would be delighted if one chooses to utilize money for the needy instead of excessively spending it on temples.

Isn't it the right perception to feel him as a bliss, welling up from your infinite depths instead of yearning for visions or thriling experiences? The path to the Divine can't really be a circus!

-Balu

During Pooja holidays, the books are supposed be kept in the temple and inside the pedestal for poojas and one is not expected to read/write until Vijayadasami. I've always wondered why is it that you could get into the good books of your school teacher if you study hard during your holidays, but to get into the good books of Goddess Saraswati, you ought NOT read/write during the pooja-holidays until Vijayadasami.

Lot of efforts are being put in to please God. You offer to shave your head if God helps you to pass your exams. But would any God desire that when he himself created the child with beautiful hair? I feel its more like throwing a challenge to God – show your powers and you can have my hair! You enter abstinence for 48 days prior to your Sabarimala pilgrimage and the moment you return after the visit, you indulge in your wildest fantasies. Does it mean that if you make an effort for 48 days so as not to let anything pollute your mind and body, you get the license to be carefree for the rest 317 days in the year? I know people who don't eat beef, the cow being Krishna's pet, but they wouldn't spare fish or chicken. Isn't it the same God who created the cow and the fish?

Why does one have to try so hard to please God when we are just like infants to him ? The purpose of climbing mountains walking barefoot searching for God is defeated at the outset if you don't have the time and patience to listen to your inner self? Its more like climbing an imaginary mountain in pursuit of a hidden treasure that does not exist.We are so caught up trying to find fault with others that we don't have time nor interest to look within. Bhakti is a feeling whereas religion is just a discipline. Bhakti is pure joy. The feeling which you experience by doing any random act of kindness, even if it be a smile at any random stranger you meet on the streets. When Mata Amritandamayi spends 100 crores to the needy, there is Bhakti involved in it much more than in singing bhajans. The smile of God is reflected in the face of a beggar when he receives a hundred rupee note from you, and I personally feel this could move you closer to God than performing a pooja in the temple for Rs.100. You might forget the pooja after a few days, but the beggar's smiling face would keep popping up in your mind occasionally.

Some of us make pilgrimages and prayers as a remedy to the sins we have committed in the past. As a result, we are not reluctant to commit them again as we rest in the belief that whatever wrong we do, God will forgive us if we offer a pooja and a cocunut! Prayer is important, but when it is done just out of fear in order to keep his wrath at bay, are we being really sincere? How can you love your father if you are too scared of him? God is not a goon looking out for opportunities to beat you up.

Would the Gods be angry that I chose to write this on a Mahanavami day when I am supposed to be sitting at home reading nothing and writing nothing ? Nope! I think I'm in tune with the Gods else why should I feel this great joy within myself :-)

-Balu