life's amazing secrets
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Life’s Amazing Secrets by Gaur Gopal Das | Points to Ponder

I firmly believe that we don’t choose books. It’s the other way around. Books choose us just at the right time. Just as this book landed in my hands just at the time when I was seeking answers to several questions this book addresses. Here’s my review of “Life’s Amazing Secrets | How to Find Balance and Purpose in Your Life”

I am not a follower of Swami Gaur Gopal Das. In fact, to be honest, I thought of him as a “fad guru” when a relative sent me one of his popular YouTube videos. I admit I was extremely judgmental of him since I did not watch the videos. (It was only after reading the book that I watched some of his videos). Needless to say, I did not go looking for this book. I bought it on a whim because Amazon offered it as a good “combo deal” with the other book I actually intended to buy. So my opinion of the book is absolutely free of prejudice of any kind.

About the Book

If you have seen any of his videos, you’d be aware that Swami Gaur Gopal Das is known for using humour to get his messages across. He is animated and often uses witty anecdotes to simplify complex ideas. The style is not different in the book. He writes just like he speaks, using simple words and short sentences.

Das narrates stories and experiences from his own life and interactions with people all over the world. He brings them all together in one story with two imaginary characters: Harry and Lalita Iyer. In the story, Das visits the couple’s home for lunch and then the interactions take place between Das and Harry in latter’s car while navigating their way through Mumbai’s traffic.

It is an interesting way to bring it all together. One thought leads to another making it an easy read. However, some bits seemed very forced and I thought limited his thoughts to a certain extent. From purely story point of view, I found the end message a little disappointing and forced. But, to me, that was not the purpose of the book. The spiritual message came through nevertheless.

Das talks about balancing the four wheels of life. For a car to run smoothly, all the four wheels must be regularly checked and maintained. Similarly, there are four principles that form the foundation of a happy life, writes Gaur Gopal Das.

Wheel 1: Personal Life

This section of the book emphasizes the important aspects to be happy in our personal life. Personal happiness is impossible to strive for without a grateful heart. “We must find positivity in the bleakest situations and life by the principle of gratitude,” he writes. He further urges the reader to stop and reflect on your life. Press the pause button to practise gratitude. Worrying in any situation is not going to help. Finally, spiritual practice is highly essential in guiding us in times of turmoil.

Wheel 2: Relationships

Relationships constitute the second wheel in the metaphorical car of our lives, according to Das. The first chapter in this section talks about the significance of speaking sensitively to not just people but also objects. An anecdote he shares left a deep impression on me. He talks of how one morning he was getting late for going to Borivali to deliver a talk. He had to wash his clothes before leaving. In a rush to get things done quickly he kicked the bucket under the tap and started washing clothes. A senior watching his actions came and intervened. “What are you doing,” he asked. Puzzled Das said he was just washing his clothes. The senior then pointed him to the act of kicking the bucket. He said:

“Gaur Gopal, I want to share with you what I have learnt about relationships. When we treat inanimate objects, like buckets or our possessions, with disrespect or insensitivity, we will end up treating people the same…. Insensitivity becomes part of our general attitude, and our instinct does not discriminate between things and people. Hence, when we treat our things badly, we might notice insensitivity gradually creeping into our relationships with the people around us.”

Gaur further stresses that it’s not the act of kicking per se but the attitude towards an object that matters.

Apart from other things, Das talks about the importance of forgiveness, perceiving the good in others, and having a spiritual component in our relationships.

Wheel 3: Work Life

This section of the book stresses on finding your ‘Ikigai’. The word has no direct English translation, but is understood to mean ‘a reason to live’ or having a purpose in life. Das also talks about dealing with unhealthy competition and politics at work.

Chapter 15: Decoding Spirituality at Work resonated the most with me. The chapter clears several misconceptions about spirituality and ambition. The two can co-exist, he writes.

“There are many misconceptions when it comes to being a spiritual-minded person and being successful in the world. One is that spirituality kills our ambitions and zest to achieve. This is false because spirituality just changes our motive to achieve. It makes us want to be hugely successful so that we can have the resources to help others…. Another is that spiritual people get walked over in business because of their values. [But it is possible to] stick to our values but be meticulous and straightforward in business.”

When things are beyond your control and there is nothing you can do, why worry?

Wheel 4: Social Contribution

The reason I found this book very apt for current times is because of this section. At a time when the entire world is dealing with a severe pandemic, there is a need for each of us to understand the need to make a social contribution.

You can be completely selfish, completely selfless, or any of the combinations in between. Life is a journey from being selfish to becoming selfless.

The philosophy of ice cream is – Enjoy it before it melts. The philosophy of a candle is: Give light to others before it melts. In order to be happy, we should shift our attitude from being an ice cream to a candle, from being selfish to selfless. 

Gaur Gopal Das

The journey of selflessness from ice cream to candle must start with family. Our circle of selflessness should then extend to our community, city, or even nation.

It is also vital to find joy in serving others. Right intention is of significance here. “Serving others because ‘we have to’ or because ‘it’s the right thing to do’ is good, but it’s not the same as serving from the depths of our hearts”, he emphasizes.

The book ends with 2 worksheets: a Forgiveness worksheet and Ikigai worksheet giving readers space to think over and write down thoughts to help find balance and purpose in life.

My Review of the Book

I recently read the book Ikigai The Japanese Secret to Long and Happy Life. The philosophy of Life’s Amazing Secrets is very similar to that book. So, I found some bits of it repetitive. But in a way, a reiteration of some ideas has been useful for me.

Written in simple and short sentences, it is an easy-breezy read. I am a slow reader but still managed to finish it in a day and a half. I recommend the book to anyone looking for a light self-help book. As mentioned above, the last part of the book resonated with me the most at present time. I’m sure a lot of people will find it relevant in current times. Reading it right at the time when I have been deliberating over my purpose in life, this book has certainly nudged me in a direction where I hope to find the answers I am seeking.


Quotable Quotes by Gaur Gopal Das

“We have to understand ourselves to be able to compete with ourselves. What are our tendencies? What do we like? What do we not like? What are our tendencies? Where do we want to be in future? These are only a few preliminary questions we need to answer to succeed. And this process of inquiry begins our journey of self-discovery.”

“Meditation can help us embrace our worries, our fear, our anger; and that is very healing. We let our own natural capacity of healing do the work.”

“People with a closed mindset want to grow by beating others in their field. Open-minded people, on the other hand, grow by developing themselves.”

“Gratitude is not a feeling; it is a state of mind that be developed, and it allows us to tap into a reservoir of unlimited positive energy.”

“Compassion fatigue is a state of stress experienced by those who help others to the extent that they start suffering because of their preoccupation with the suffering of others. Therefore, we need to be slightly selfish to start our journey on a sure footing in order to reach the stage where we can afford to be completely selfless without causing damage to our own well-being.”

“You can be completely selfish, completely selfless or any of the combinations in between. Life is a journey from being selfish to becoming selfless.”

“Having a friend to listen to your problems and discuss them with you is the beginning of finding a solution.”

Buy it from Amazon

Do read it and share your feedback in comments below. Which is your favourite spiritual book?

Purva is the co-founder of Blue Sky Dreamers. A journalist with 11 years of experience, she also freelances as a content writer & editor.

7 Comments

  • Lyosha Varezhkina

    the book looks very curious! i do want to take a closer look to it and read it for myself now

  • CA

    From your review, I already love the book. I am currently fixing my current issues within myself so that I will have better relationships outside, better decisions at work, and yes to make a contribution to the world. But all in all, I need to start within me first.

  • ninaklan

    I agree with what you wrote at the beginning – books find us when we are ready for their messages. Thank you for introducing us to this book Life’s Amazing Secrets: How to Find Balance and Purpose in Your Life, I will keep it in mind.
    Nina

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