Books and Books and Books

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Memorable Passages-20: from THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV (2)

“It's just the same story as a doctor once told me,” observed the elder. “He was a man getting on in years, and undoubtedly clever. He spoke as frankly as you, though in jest, in bitter jest. ‘I love humanity,’ he said, ‘but I wonder at myself. The more I love humanity in general, the less I love man in particular. In my dreams,’ he said, ‘I have often come to making enthusiastic schemes for the service of humanity, and perhaps I might actually have faced crucifixion if it had been suddenly necessary; and yet I am incapable of living in the same room with any one for two days together, as I know by experience. As soon as any one is near me, his personality disturbs my self-complacency and restricts my freedom. In twenty-four hours I begin to hate the best of men: one because he's too long over his dinner; another because he has a cold and keeps on blowing his nose. I become hostile to people the moment they come close to me. But it has always happened that the more I detest men individually the more ardent becomes my love for humanity” - THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky - translated by Constance Garnett

Monday, September 19, 2011

Memorable Passages-19: from THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV

Fear nothing and never be afraid; and don't fret. If only your penitence fail not, God will forgive all. There is no sin, and there [pg 051] can be no sin on all the earth, which the Lord will not forgive to the truly repentant! Man cannot commit a sin so great as to exhaust the infinite love of God. Can there be a sin which could exceed the love of God? Think only of repentance, continual repentance, but dismiss fear altogether. Believe that God loves you as you cannot conceive; that He loves you with your sin, in your sin. It has been said of old that over one repentant sinner there is more joy in heaven than over ten righteous men. Go, and fear not. Be not bitter against men. Be not angry if you are wronged. Forgive the dead man in your heart what wrong he did you. Be reconciled with him in truth. If you are penitent, you love. And if you love you are of God. All things are atoned for, all things are saved by love. If I, a sinner, even as you are, am tender with you and have pity on you, how much more will God. Love is such a priceless treasure that you can redeem the whole world by it, and expiate not only your own sins but the sins of others - THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky - translated by Constance Garnett.

Monday, September 5, 2011

My Books-5: "The Christ We Adore" by Swami Ranganathananda

This is actually a booklet, a great one. The swamiji, who was a President of the Ramakrishna Maths and Mission and who lived up to almost 100 years, was a world-renowned scholar. He provides some deep sights into the words of the Bible. For example, 'Love thy neighbour as thyself'; because at the core of being, you and your neighbour are not different and when you hurt your neighbour you are hurting yourself. So when you love your neighbour, you are loving yourself. It is also a good book teaching Religious Tolerance and Universal Love.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

My Books-4: "Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World" by Louis Fischer

Gandhiji is a great hero and role model for me. After reading his Experiment with Truth, I picked up six sets of maxims to follow. They are:

Truthfulness in Thought, Word and Deed

Non-Violence in Thought, Word and Deed

Universal Love

Simple Living and High Thinking

Non-covetousness and Non-possessiveness

Selfless Life and Selfless Service

It has not been easy for me and I have not progressed much, still I keep these maxims are guiding lights of my life and my brother, Nellaiappan, has also taken up these for his life guidance.

Now, in this book on Gandhiji, by Louis Fisher, you can a lot of insights into the life of Gandhiji. In the coming days, I shall record some of these.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Quotes on Books-4:

From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other. But when books are opened you discover that you have wings - Helen Hayes