short takes
Buddha, longevity and clash of values
Reviewed by Randeep Wadehra

Sanatan Kriya: The Ageless Dimension
By Yogi Ashwini. Dhyan Foundation. Pages 228. Rs 1200

Quest for immortality, eternal youthfulness or lifelong good health leads individuals, institutions and governments into investing billions on various research projects dedicated to discovering the ever-elusive formula for agelessness. Our ancient scriptures talk of rishis who had lived for thousands of years. The introduction to this book asserts that vedic rishis were masters of the temporal as well as the spiritual and were capable of controlling prakriti (Nature) and all its manifestations; they had mastered the five elements – mahabhutas – which go into the making of the physical body. In fact, various sages and scientists have been coming up with assorted theories on eternal youthfulness. However, there is a consensus of sorts that yoga helps in achieving good health, which is so essential for an active and long life.

This book takes a look at the ageing process and suggests various remedies for arresting it. These consist of ridding human body of all toxins, and rejuvenating the mental as well as physical faculties by adopting a healthy lifestyle through nutrition, positive thoughts as well as deeds. Written in a coffee-table format, this book is more than a mere drawing room decoration. You would do well to give it a serious reading.

A Cup of Buddha
By Thomas D. Craig. Indiana. Pages 245. Rs 250

A person’s quest for material wellbeing often turns into lucre-mania. One wants more and more of material comforts and luxuries, thus impelling him or her to take ruthless steps to either climb up the corporate ladder or to protect one’s turf. In the process, one joins the rat race. This, in turn, entails compromises, which are made at the cost of ignoring one’s conscience or inner voice. Many prefer a healthy bank balance to a healthy conscience; but there are increasing number of people around the world who listen to the yearnings of their inner voice and opt out of the rat race. This, often, does not happen suddenly although the realisation might… in the form of epiphany of sorts, like it happened to the narrator.

Craig yearns for mental peace, which can be acquired only after discovering the truth, for which he tries out various means. Perhaps, the essence of his realisation can be summed up in his Buddha-inspired observation, "…Our paths are a product of choice. Our thoughts and intentions are a choice that ultimately becomes action. In action we choose to lift ourselves and thus others up or we can choose to bring ourselves or others down…". You will find this book quite thought provoking.

We are familiar with the hoary wisdom that success comes with a price tag. Basing the narrative on this premise, the author has tried to weave a story around certain well-researched facts. The story begins with the conscientious Shravan Pandey who heads a coaching academy for JEE aspirants and believes that one should be really good in the field one chooses to teach in. However, as the story progresses characters with diverse value systems make their presence felt. They are highly skilled in such professions as computer programming, engineering and textiles technology and interact with each other at various levels and in diverse circumstances. Gradually, clear battle lines begin to get drawn between the good and the evil, with the Anna Hazare factor coming into play. The battle for truth and justice involves clash of egos, values and divergent worldviews seasoned with intrigues, ambitions and passions.

The novel is good in patches. One wishes that the author had devoted more attention to weaving some well-known recent events into the story in a subtler manner in order to make it captivating.

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