Review
If one were to describe a book which simplifies the vast knowledge contained in the Bhagvad Gita with illustrations, you would be inclined to believe that he or she were referring to one of the many comic books that most of us read as kids. However, although Indian American author Satya Kalra s first book, My Questions and God's Answers, is a simple, easy-to-read, illustrated blueprint of the Holy Scripture, it is anything but a comic book. A new age, up-to-speed guide that manifests the author s knowledge, personal experiences and understanding of the original manuscript with the use of flowcharts and Post-it-type notes for important messages and concepts contained therein, the book is a perfect read for even those who don t like to do just that, i.e., read. When I was asked to read the Gita I did not understand how it relates to my daily life. I felt disconnected. Once I simplified the concepts and drew parallels with day-to-day events my life was more organized, Kalra told India-West. I became a happier individual; one who had the ability to overcome challenges more easily; one who could enjoy life. This inspired me to write a simple, step-by-step spiritual version of the book. The introduction to the book, where she explains the practice of the three different types of yoga using a diagram, gives the reader a taste of what to expect through the sumptuous 18-chapter course that the author serves up with consistent simplicity in a question-answer format. According to Kalra, a biochemist with degrees from Gwalior and the University of Illinois-Chicago, and business management education from UC Berkeley, she felt like the character of Arjuna from Mahabharata, who was guided through the epic battle of Kurukshetra by Lord Krishna, when she was writing the book. My Questions and God s Answers refrains from preaching and making philosophical commentary. Instead, the core message contained in each chapter is outlined at its very start, followed by an overview of the chapter, topical questions and answers from the verses and lessons to learn and practice in our daily life. The two separate indexes, one for content and the other for the pictures, flowcharts and poems, makes Kalra's book an easy reference guide that comes in handy if one needs to refresh his or her memory without having to read the entire book again. In addition to chalking out a roadmap to reach one s unlimited potential, the book paves the way to attaining eternal happiness and peace, said Kalra. While there have been many versions of the Bhagvad Gita that have been published in the past, not many have the ability to interest both readers and non-readers alike as much as Kalra s book, which was launched April 4 at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Rishikesh by Indian political leader L.K. Advani in the presence of several saints. Kalra, founder of the Path to Anandam Foundation and former CEO of Biogenex, is currently the chief coordinator in the United States for the Divine Shakti Foundation and is the author of the Path to Anandam book series, Enjoy Worry Free Life in 30 Days, Lasting Forever... Birth, Death and Beyond and Prosperity Forever through Art of Work. Her book is available at pathtoanandam.org --India West, issue 10.29.10
--India Current, October, 2010
I C spiritual excerpt Excerpts from MY QUESTIONS AND GOD S ANSWERS by Satya Kalra. Diaamond Books. Hardcover. 426 pages. $40. In today s world, man is very inquisitive but, due to his busy lifestyle, he needs quick answers to his questions. Therefore, I have prepared this spiritual guide My Questions and God s Answers, Guide to Eternal Happiness, Peace and Anandam. The entire divine dialogue of the Gita is based upon Arjuna s questions and Lord Krishna s answers. Therefore it also encouraged me to prepare the Gita s message into a question and answer format so that readers may easily understand these teachings and get answers to their questions about different situations in daily life. ... What is the central message of the Gita? The central message of the Gita is: You have a right to perform your work (duty) only but no control or claim over its results. The fruits of work should not be your motive and you should never be inactive. (2.47) Your duty (righteousness) is your dharma. By doing your duty, you can attain freedom from miseries and liberation, (moksha, self-realiza- My Questions and God s Answers tion, purpose of life). The Gita starts with the word Dharma and ends with the word Mama (My duty svadharma). Dharma (Duty) + Mama (My) =My Duty (Svadharma) Eternal Happiness, Peace and Anandam(Bliss.) By performing your own duty, you will develop self-confidence, self-contentment and divine qualities. You will purify and transform yourself, be enlightened as Arjuna, and live in peace and Anandam in this materialistic world as well. What does the Gita teach? The Gita is a spiritual instruction manual to operate our daily life skillfully. It teaches us how to convert every activity of life into sadhana(spiritual practices), and attain self-realization while living in a materialistic world. The Gita is a conversation or samvad between two good friends and not an argument (vivad.) One person is talking and the other person is listening quietly. This is the very first teaching of the Gita, how to listen to and communicate with each other. Lord Krishna is not just Arjuna s friend, He is our friend too and He talks to us at all times though our intuition. Our job is to just listen to Him as an obedient student and follow His guidance. The Gita teaches us how to apply its teaching in our lives, fulfill our daily responsibilities, remove our doubts and confusions and attain everlasting Peace, Prosperity and Anandam (Ultimate Bliss). n --India Current, October, 2010
About the Author
Satya Kalra, founder of Path to Anandam, is a Bhagavad Gita scholar, seeker and international lecturer, popularly known for the spiritual practice and body of work she calls the Anandam Lifestyle (Blissful Living). A simple seven-step method for self-realization, the Anandam Lifestyle is a series of techniques including the Anandam Meditation and other spiritual practices for unifying the body, mind, and spirit. She uses her practice of Anandam Meditation in personal consultations to guide individuals to strive for excellence and live to their highest potential. Satya s personal mission is to live in love, peace, and bliss Anandam leading, practicing, and propagating spiritual living and helping others become more self-dependent and self-reliant especially destitute women and children. Satya has been practicing meditation for over 32 years and studying the Bhagavad Gita for over 18 years. For more than 15 years she has taught and promoted the awareness of spirituality and the effulgent wisdom of the Gita and its applications in daily life, family, business, and community matters. She has lectured on diverse topics at various spiritual gatherings, temples, spiritual conferences, and business forums. Satya was born in India to a spiritual businessman father and a wise homemaker mother who counseled the community. Satya came to America in 1969 with her husband Krishan Kalra to pursue higher education. Having already completed her M.S. in Organic Chemistry from Gwalior, India, she received yet another Masters degree in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois. She also continued her business management and marketing education through the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to developing Path to Anandam, Satya Kalra worked in the biotech industry for 35 years as a visionary, entrepreneur, scientist, founder, CEO, president, and chairperson, and continues to be a dedicated mother to three beautiful children, a wife, and a committed social worker. An energetic and lively person, Satya served as a Committee Co-Chairperson of the conference "Reconnecting Spirituality and Technology, held at Stanford University in 1998. She is also a chief U.S. Coordinator for the International Divine Shakti Foundation (founded and inspired by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President/Spiritual Head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh, India and Founder/Chairman of India Heritage Research Foundation). Today, Satya spends most of her time in the company of saints and seers, motivating and uplifting others, propagating spirituality, and doing pilgrimage. Addition to My Questions and God s Answers - Guide to Eternal Happiness, Peace Anandam, she has also published three of the Path to Anandam book series Enjoy Worry-Free Life in 30 Days, Lasting Forever...Birth, Death and Beyond; and Prosperity Forever through Art of Work.
