Customer Reviews

I Have Become Alive

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Is it possible to attain spiritual liberation in this lifetime? The author, a great yogic master who brings the ancient wisdom of India to the West, answers with an emphatic yes! He himself has done so, and in this book he enthusiastically shares his vast knowledge of the path to liberation with serious seekers in lively answer and question sessions. What I learned is that the search for spiritual liberation is not necessarily a haphazard activity leading invariably to dead ends. Instead, the author shows that there is a carefully laid out path, with clearly marked road signs and a detailed roadmap. I am convinced of the truth of his teachings because my daily meditations have already improved greatly. I also recommend his three earlier works that are written in the same format, entitled "Conversations with Swami Muktananda - the Early Years" , "From the Finite to the Infinite", and "Where are You Going".

The words of wisdom coming from a great Self-realized yogi are always welcome and so is this book. The book is written in the question and answer format. The questions cover very wide topics relevant for a day to day life. There are also many stories told by Swamiji which are entertaining but there is nothing new in them to one who has elementary knowledge of Eastern philosophy. These stories can be found in many other books with some small differences in detail. The crux of the matter seems to be self-improvement rather than trying to improve the world. This has been told so repeatedly that during the latter part of the book I knew what the answer could be to the question asked. This book is not written by Swami Himself but the answers have been compiled by someone else. Anyone who has no idea about Eastern philosophy may enjoy this book immensely but who is already conversant with its nature will not find anything new in it. As against this anyone will enjoy the earlier book ' Play of Consciousness.'

This book is very helpful. I only disliked 1 place, where he said that people NEEDED a guru - and a physical one, as in another human being. I wish he perhaps said it was very very helpful, to have a guide, but not absolutely necessary. So if I am stranded alone on an island or live in circumstances where I can't find a guru, or am so unique and different... Then what, it's hopeless? Of course it's not. Life is the best guru, as long as you really sincerely have a with to grow - you are covered! Of course he specifies that the inner Guru is essential. There was just this 1 place in the beginning that almost made me put the book down. Ignore that place, if you think like me, and carry on - you will find many good wisdom spots that will keep giving you insight long after you finish the book.

It's not insanely mind-blowing, but it's very helpful in a earthy gentle way that you appreciate over time. But I have yet to find a book I can call "insanely mind-blowing", lol. Jonothan Livingston Seagull did something like that to me, though.

Good luck!