D – ‘Dialogue with Death’ by Eknath Easwaran #AtoZChallenge
“We can find our centre of gravity within ourselves by simplifying and slowing down our lives.” ~Eknath Easwaran
When I saw this book on a friend’s list of recommended reading for personal growth, I said to myself ‘Talking to death already? Not so soon.’ To let the curious cat out of the bag, I bought it anyways. Only to discover later that this book was more about living than it was about dying.
If we have noticed a sport well -it is towards the last few minutes that the players are suddenly more energetic, playing their best foot forward and going all out. Reaching closer to a deadline creates a sense of urgency. Just the same way, it is the eventuality of death that makes us conscious about our existence. Who are we really? What are we here for? If we could live for an eternity, there would be no urgency in finding these answers. We would simply be living without ever having to worry about an end. It is indeed death that questions our very life!
Thinking about death is to be alert about having first lived well! Wake up and take a look at your life before you look at death. ‘Dialogue with Death’ will compel you to live before you die.
Key Highlights:
We begin to take life seriously when we take death seriously
‘Everything passes. You haven’t got much time.’
‘The human being needs meaning in order to live and meaning cannot come from events outside us. It can only come from within, from the way we see the world.”
“We are all involved through the web of karma.”
Take a look at more books from Eknath Easwaran here:
This post is part of the #AtoZChallenge 2017 Blogging from AtoZ: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/
This book is about awakening – beginning with the recognition of your own awakened or unawakened state of mind. Eckhart throws light on our ego-based state of consciousness and gradually leads us to an entirely new understanding of ourselves. We are not our egos but we do not realise it is our egos that make us miserable. If you are spiritually open and ready, a shift in consciousness will take place while reading this book. You will awaken to a lot more within than just your life’s purpose!
‘Opening Doors Within’ is a divine journal that offers an inspirational message for every day of the year. The author Eileen Caddy received personal guidance from a still voice within her, a source she calls the God within. These celestial messages are like your meditations for each day – simple and practical teachings that bring hope, faith and inner peace.
Just while I was enjoying these daily teachings, comes along another similar gift, this time from my Dad – ‘Each Day a New Beginning’ by Karen Casey, Hazelden Meditations. It consisted of daily meditations especially meant for women. This book too had a message offered for every day, along with a quote from well-known women.