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| Image Credit: Booku |
Here's an unusual one on Life Wordsmith. After having spent a few weeks doing work I didn't like, and then allowing my head to wrap itself too much around this work I didn't like, I walked into my local library, unsure of which book to pick. I am/was in a stage of reading listlessness - books spoke to me for barely a page before I turned the lights off. What do I spot then at that moment? Right there on the shelf at the front was this book, Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth by Peter Kelder.
There was a time when I used to read a lot of self-help, spiritual books when I was younger and wiser. It's funny how we go through these phases in life - but I can say those books did help. Help enough to help you realize that you are your own help most of the time in life as we stumble, fall stutter and grope through life trying to find a light through the darkness of ignorance we shroud ourselves in. When I saw Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth, I wanted to laugh. I am not trying to get younger - I think I was pretty silly when I was young. Ahem, I think each time I look at my yesterdays, I shrivel and wonder at the follies and flaws I so beautifully exposed to the world. So why would I want to know about the fountain of youth? I don't want to step into that past as much as I don't want to fast forward the future.But what did attract me to that book was that it promised me five ancient Tibetan rites. Right, that sucked me in. Not to become younger, but considering that I am always intrigued by the esoteric, by the unknown and generally anything that comes from that land across India's east, it was an easy pick.
These five rites are supposedly more than 2,500 years old. Kelder introduces the reader to a man known as the Colonel who reportedly stumbled upon some Lamas residing in a remote monastery who were cherishing the secret of youth. A transformed Colonel then returned to the States, where he shared his knowledge of the rites to interested others. The book promises that these rites will help turn your hair from gray to black (wouldn't I want that!), rejuvenate you and promise a fresh lease of life. Not all these claims are true, of course, but exercise of any kind I believe will not harm you. The proven benefits of exercise are already known - performing these five rites will only augment those. So, did I like this book? Yes, I did. Underneath the hyperbole, there is some wisdom. Now if only we can use it well.
Those who are interested in reading the book can read it for free here.
Verdict: Interesting and insightful
Rating: 3/5
Nice review, Soul! At one level it looks like a mystical novel which talks about the mysteries of Tibet. Thanks for the link. I checked it out and it looks like the book is not very long. I will try to read it one of these days. Have you read James Hilton's 'Lost Horizon'? It is on a similar topic - how a group of lamas have formed an ideal community and where no one becomes old - but it is a novel. When I read it, I loved it.
ReplyDelete@Vishy : Not much about the mysteries of Tibet, sorry to disappoint you. :-). I will try to read The Lost Horizon, I have heard Birdy as well rave about it. It's an interesting read this book, that's the best I can say about it.
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