Know Thyself
| Author | Gian Kumar |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Spirituality |
| Publisher | Leadstart Publishing |
Publication date | 2011 |
| Pages | 336 |
| ISBN | 978-93-52013-72-2 Search this book on  . |
| Website | giankumar |
Know Thyself [1]is a 2011 book written by Gian Kumar.
Summary[edit]
In the first[2] of his series of 3 books, the author Gian Kumar answers our questions related to spirituality in a simple and seamless manner. From time immemorial, people have been searching for definitive responses to questions such as: Who am I? Where do I come from? Does God exist? What is the essence of my relationship with Him? Gian’s thoughts are an amalgam of Science, Spirituality and Philosophy. He believes that once we discover our true selves, our lives can be freed from stress, depression and misery. The core of this series is based on the absolute reality of life – Oneness between the Self and the Universe.
Plot[edit]
To know oneself is the most challenging task. It involves accepting our alter ego or shadow self. When we understand and accept who we really are, in totality, we have a better chance of achieving what we want from our lives. There is no dearth of information on the subject today – books, lectures from spiritual Gurus, media, internet, etc. What differentiates Gian Kumar from the rest is this; he guides us on the ways to depend solely on oneself, to understand that there is no need to seek outside ourselves. Whatever we seek is within. As he says,”…when we introspect or contemplate, we discover a subtle witnessing force within. It runs parallel to our perceptive thoughts, but is a separate composition, originating from our experiences…….” These are what make us who we really are. Ego and consciousness are essential parts of who we are. Without the former, latter would not exist. The author shows us that “Consciousness, through awareness and experiences, awakens us to the reality that we are not just the body, mind or a bundle of desires. We are one, indivisible energy in which oneness has been separated into two……” Science has shown us that all matter is just energy; it is our thoughts that divide and rule, making us live in dualities, positive and negative. We are to accept both with grace and awareness, while reminding ourselves of the totality of oneness in this existence.[3] Today Scientists, physicists and doctors consider both, science and spirituality, to be complementary. Research is being conducted as to how the brain functions during spiritual experiences; in fact treatments in some major diseases incorporate meditation practices as they calm the minds of patients and positively affect the efficacies of these treatments.[4] During his study on Spirituality, Gian Kumar referred to ancient Indian scriptures like the Upanishads, which are relevant even in these modern times. For instance, he quotes from the Mandukya Upanishad which says, “Enlightenment is a state of freedom from the ignorance that causes suffering. We may not attain belief in God, but it is essential to have the profound knowledge of the truth behind the concept of God.” The differences between religion and spiritualism have been discussed in this book. The main difference Gian says is that religion instills fear of repercussions in not following dogmas and rituals; whereas spiritualism teaches that all enlightenment comes from within the self and not outside sources. Each of us has divinity within; we just have to get rid of polluted thoughts and conditioned responses from our past and worries about the future. Gian Kumar takes us such a journey which awakens in us the truth about the realities of life, where there are no more paradoxes, dualities or illusions of ego.
Extract[edit]
“When Life is submerged in the trappings of materialism and existence revolves around ‘me, mine and myself’, we experience the hollow feeling that all that is ours today is ephemeral – both the emotional and the material. There exists an emptiness which we cannot define, a feeling of incompleteness. We wonder what we really want from life. Questions trouble the mind and we begin seeking new directions. We crave the true meaning of life, in its totality.”
Review[edit]
- ↑ "Book Nook - 16-03-2015". www.afternoondc.in. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
- ↑ Kumar, Gian (2014-12-25). Know Thyself - Book 1. Leadstart Publishing PvtLtd. ISBN 9789381836873. Search this book on
- ↑ madhurivarma.wordpress.com Book Review by Madhuri Verma
- ↑ RakhiJayashankar.blogspot.in Book Review by Rakhi Jayashankar
External links[edit]
- GianKumar.com Official Website
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