“Some years ago, a small bundle of ragged, yellowing papers fell into the hands of the Delhi Historian, Dr Narayani Gupta. They were 55-year old copies of a modest informal monthly bulletin called Garden Chat brought out by Alick Percy Lancaster who was then the Superintendent of the Horticultural Operations, Government of India”.

Thanks to the efforts of the Professor, who had preserved all the original copies of Percy Lancaster’s monthly bulletin, we get to read this delightful book – A Sahib’s Manual for the Mali.

For those who want to start gardening, want more from their gardens or see more flowers and fruits of their efforts, this is the book to read and implement. Devoid of gimmicks and gloss, this book packs in substance and practical information, in the simplest of manner. A Sahib’s Guide for the Mali is a month-by-month gardening manual – a must read for gardeners and flora lovers of India.

A Sahib’s Manual for the Mali is a lovely compilation of monthly instructions and experiences, articles, tips, quotes and poems, written and collected by Alick Percy Lancaster, who was then, in charge of beautifying India’s capital and keeping it resplendent and stunning. Thanks to him, India has some of the finest and huge gardens, laid out in the most aesthetics and scientific way.

Alick Percy Lancaster, whose job profile ranged from planting and maintaining thousands of avenue trees, miles of green hedges, to laying out and caring for gardens, has shared is experiences, experiments, insights, suggestions and learning in a month-by month format.

This is one of the rare sepia-tinted books that has the beauty of eloquent English (as it is written by a old British man who worked in India). The language is pure delight. Deprived of slang, and modernism, it reads like fresh air. Akin to reading Jane Austen works, Percy weaves his tendril magic with words.

There are stories and surprises around every nook and corner. Practical wisdom laced with soul warming thoughts makes this one hard-to-put-down book, esp. if you are in love with plants.

Apart from the instructions for the month, there is information on vegetable gardens, planting trees, weeding, fertilizers, potting and repotting, dealing with pests, making tree guards, ideal tree heights, compost making, organic practices (from the good old days) and more. Needless to say, this book is a lot more relevant in today’s world as we try our best to go-green.

Garden Chat pages were composed in the by-gone era, almost 60 years back. He wrote it in an era wherein onions were 5 annas per seer – the currency and weights that we have no idea of.

Indeed, a lot of time has passed by, garden species have evolved, and our environment has gone from bad to worse. But the book shines through from the sepia tinted era. It re-iterates that there are no short cuts to gardening. And that some things, like love, do not change and last forever.

If you are a farmer, botanist, urban dweller or balcony gardener, this book has a lot of time-tested wisdom by the person who was a garden lover himself. Midst the seedlings and mud, he shares many poems and quotes, the most famous of them being:

“The Tree” by Joyce Kilmer:
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

This book weaves the magic of the bygone era of colonial buildings, the fascinating flora, the excitement of discovery of new species, the humble pride of labour, and lot more. His writings, essays, month-by-month guide, tips, observations, comments, and collection of poems and quotes make this book a forever pocket companion.

You do not have to read the entire book at one go. A chapter a month is good enough to keep you on your toes and your garden brimming with bounty of plants, fruits, flowers, vegetables or whatever you may want. The book gives information on what, when, where, how and sometimes why you should plant or do a certain thing.

From dreamy poem to the math of planting potatoes and peas, he has a lot of things to say. There is so much botanical and scientific information in this book but the manner in which it has been written and shared wont weigh you down. From January to December, it is technical knowledge in the garb of poetry. Its food for the body that becomes food for soul.

The book was written by someone who found his calling in the plants, who loved his job, loved nature and life. And to read his thoughts in the form of a book is a rare gift indeed. The way it reads, we live.

A Sahib’s Manual for the Mali is for those whose soul is steeped in damp earth and eyes wake up to sights green. You can buy a copy from Amazon here:
A Sahib’s Manual for the Mali: Everyday Gardening in India

Or you can read a few pages on Google Books:

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield is a novel about ancient manuscripts unearthed in Peruvian rainforests. They contain messages and secrets of mankind, their evolution and their spiritual advancement. The nine insights, suppressed by government and church, continue to intrigue all those who have many questions in their life, but no answers.

The Celestine Prophecy is a work of fiction by James Redfield and is one of the best selling books. The reason why it continues to attract so many people and attention is because it deals with topics such as evolution of mankind, spirituality, modern world issues, and most importantly, ancient manuscripts with answers to the question which we all seek.

The Celestine Prophesy by James Redfield

The Celestine Prophecy contains messages and secrets that are changing our world and the way we think. Based on ancient wisdom and drawing it inspiration from it, the book urges you to make connections among the events happening in your own life right now. The book says that whatever is happening in your life is not a mere coincidence but a message or indication from a different energy level. And it also lets you see what is going to happen to you in the years to come.

The Celestine Prophecy predicts a massive evolution and transformation in our society and it is predicted to take place sometime in the last decades of the 20th century.

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield is an enlightening piece for literary work. It is about an ancient manuscript that is discovered in the rain forests of Peru. This ancient manuscript fascinates all those who read. It helps them make a cross over from this world to a mentally enhanced and spiritually aware state. However, this kind of cognizance is not well received by the Church and the Government who seek to suppress it as they believe that the nine insights are misguiding the people and they would move away from the teachings of the religions. However, there are a few people who secretly support the manuscripts and help them reach the mankind, much to the chagrin of the authorities.

The Celestine Prophecy revolves around the central character whose life seems to be going nowhere. An old friend calls him out of the blue and tells him about the secret manuscript and his interest in them is kindled. He embarks his journey to learn more about the manuscripts and the ancient wisdom, hoping that it can tell him the meaning of life. Interlaced with drama and dramatic twists, step-by-step he gets the nine insights and the clarity required in his life. As the novel progresses, he experiences new wisdom, a new lightness, enhanced spiritual awareness, and a lot more.

The nine insights he comes to know and experience are:

The First Insight of The Celestine Prophecy
Co-incidences happen by a larger purpose in life. You have the option of acknowledging them and acting accordingly or ignoring them. One should be aware of the little happenings in life that happen. And they happen for a purpose; as a guiding signpost for events in life to come. One has to be aware of the “coincidences” in one’s life. There is a new kind of spiritual awakening happening all around. It is a collective experience of mankind and a journey ahead where we are led forward by mysterious coincidences.

The Second Insight of The Celestine Prophecy
We should be aware that the man has evolved continually and will continue to do so. Change sweeps across mankind. We have graduated from collectively to more mature and spiritually aware states. We are in a technological revolution where we have been seeking material security and comforts. This state is evolving as we are continually asking questions to ourselves if it is correct or not. We are asking questions about the purpose in life. With these mass thinking and continues questioning and searching, will continue to evolve towards a better spiritual state. We all will experience a heightened understanding of world history and human evolution. While this technological preoccupation was an important step in our evolution and has brought in a lot of benefits, our awakening to life’s coincidences is opening us up to the real purpose of human life on this planet, and the real nature of our universe. We should keep ourselves open and should be ready to receive.

The Third Insight of The Celestine Prophecy
We should be aware that all living things have energy fields. Be it yourself, the plants around you, animals, or any living being. It has energy and you can train yourself to see it. We can focus our energies on the things we want to and vice-versa. With every attempt to focus our energy into a particular direction or being, we not only create an environment conducive for such an act but also influence other energy systems to make it happen. We should be aware that we do are not living in a material world and materialistic universe, but in a universe of dynamic and sacred energy.

The Fourth Insight of The Celestine Prophecy
Human beings and all living things are energy. What you express to others and what you receive from others is energy. Little do we know that we are such a great source of energy for our Mother Earth. We are failing to recognize our potency in channelizing our energies or receiving them from other sources. We should be aware that we live on others energies as much as we give them. We all are so cut off from our own energies and end up feeling low and depressed. Sometimes we try to gain energy aggressively and this upsets others energy balance. When we dominate others by way of talking or actions, we are in fact seeping their energies and creating an imbalance. We are competing for more energy for ourselves at the expense of others and are therefore creating conflicts.

The Fifth Insight of The Celestine Prophecy
We should realize that our behavior is because of the control we try to assert on others. We should realize that the real cause of tension, restlessness, anxiety, troubles and mental conflicts are because of the mental dramas we unleash on others or receive from them. We should realize that these negative energies and control dramas do not help you or others. When we are connected with our inner selves, our insecurities, feelings of violence, stress, and all the negative emotions are wiped out. A sense of well being, lightness, and brightness is felt, which is best described as love, pure love.

The Sixth Insight of The Celestine Prophecy
We should be aware that we all have a purpose in life. We all have a dream and a destiny to fulfill. Nobody’s life is without a purpose. And life is all about finding it and fulfilling it. We all have a spiritual mission and we all are seeking. We have to stay connected at all times, to be in tune with inner self. We should clear our past and be connected with ourselves. We should be aware that when we are under stress, we tend to lose connection with our inner selves, and this makes our energy sap. We become vulnerable to others control dramas or our energy is taken away by others.

The Seventh Insight of The Celestine Prophecy
We should be aware that many of our thoughts and actions are guided. We get messages, coincidences, indications and more that we should heed to for nothing in this life is without a purpose. If we know our mission in our life, we will be guided towards our destiny with dreams, thoughts, messages, intuitions and more. All these lead to a situation where your intuitions are synchronized with others and wisdom follows. Your heart and mind will know it, if you are open to receiving such messages.

The Eigth Insight of The Celestine Prophecy
We should be aware that answers to our questions come in most myriad of forms. We must be aware that a certain person whom you encounter in your life holds that answer for you and you have met that person because you seek and answer. You should be aware that other people sometimes provide the answers that you seek. Therefore you should be open to people who in turn can help more. You can increase such encounters in your life and thereby enriching it with wealth of guidance and knowledge. We should be careful of not loosing our connection with our inner selves in times of serious involvement with any issue or person. Children should be treated as individuals and should be respected for who they are. True knowledge should be imparted to children and they should be spoken in the way they understand best.

The Ninth Insight of The Celestine Prophecy
We are moving towards a spiritually advanced state. This is happening all over. We should understand that humankind is on a journey towards living in perfect harmony with each other and nature and our world will eventually evolve into an Eden-like paradise. The technological evolution and growth would have propelled man to a self-sufficient state where there are no worries of livelihood and security. This kind of technology advancement will move mankind to higher energy states and more spiritually focused beings. This will lead to a state where the cycle of birth and death will be ended and the bodies will unite with the spiritual dimension.

The story revolves around the above messages or insights and how the central character discovers them step-by-step. The characters in the book are very sketchy and loosely connected. It is quite evident that the author is not a master story-teller but is sincere in his effort in bringing out the nature of co-incidences in the book.

The most endearing messages are about saving our forests and mother earth. The fact that our vibrations and energies are heightened in the virgin forest settings is absolutely true. I have experienced it myself. There is no need for anyone to talk or communicate for most of vibrate on the same level and have close to the same feeling.

The book has upset a lot of people and communities, but also continues to inspire many. Spirituality is, not doubt, the next boom for mankind. And this book may have flustered some dormant minds. There are more books by James Redfield on the same subject. The other books are regarded as a continuation to these insights.

The most fascinating part of the book I found was related to the Mayans disappearance from Earth. I did not expect such a wonderful mass exodus. I do not acknowledge or support it for there is not evidence or indication of such a thing happening but I enjoyed reading and visualizing it. Moreover, this now a revised interest in the Mayan Civilisation and Mayan Calendars are they foretold the events centering around year 2012, where according to the Mayan predictions, all the planets will align on a single plane… the consequences of which cannot be estimated at the moment.

The Celestine Prophecy is also made into a movie, release around May 2006. I would love to watch the movie and to see the book come alive. More than anything, I would be looking forward to the visuals of the greenery, forests, the research labs, Machu picchu, Celestine ruins, and other beautiful places mentioned in the book. I am hopeful that the visuals would be good. It would be an exhilarating experience to watch those scenes.

We must not forget that The Celestine Prophecy is a novel. It is a work of fiction. Instead of going berserk over this piece of work, we should be thankful to the author, James Redfield, for putting this wonderful piece of deep fiction together

What we can really appreciate is the fact that this book is very uplifting, inspiring and motivating. It inspires us and affects our daily life. It opens new waves of thought process and makes us a little more aware of what we are doing and whom we meet.

The Celestine Prophecy sells. Like it or not, believe it or not, love it or hate it, it is an all time best seller. People are reading it, and people are buying it. You can only read it to find out why. And I dont mind reading it once again

Many Master

Many Lives, Many Masters was lent to me by one of my friend and I did not bother much about it. The first page of dedication to his wife got me hooked. It was a wonderful sentence and the most unusual to read. I could almost connect with that sentence because at that point of time I craved for something beyond space and time. It felt surreal and I wanted to go onto the next page. Then I could identify the general theme and settings and could feel it more. After that, there was no looking back.

Many Lives, Many Masters is about a young patient named Catherine who was troubled with many fears, phobias and anxiety. She seeks psychiatric evaluation and Dr. Brian Weiss, a psychiatrist assists her in her therapy.

During the course of treatment, Dr. Brian Weiss stumbles upon some astonishing details that he himself finds it hard to believe. Raised in a medical and clinical environment, these findings do not come easy on him. He himself is shocked beyond measure. While one side of him demands clinical proof and validation, the other urges him to probe on.

With every session he has with Catherine, he discovers more and tries to unravel more of the other world that he never knew about. Through his patient, Dr. Brian Weiss discovers that there is a different kind of life, on a different level, that is always there. He discovers amazing messages and truths. His skepticism disappears only after he started to get the messages from the other side of the world, the space between lives. He learns about his life, his dead son and more. His faith in this grew when he came across some revelations about his family and son. He documents his findings and discoveries. He tries to fit himself in the universal phenomenon. By encouraging Catherine to relive her past and painful experiences, he begins to cure her. In the process of her cure, Dr. Weiss discovers the true meaning of life. It changed him forever.

And now this book, Many Lives, Many Masters, changes our lives. I can’t remember how many times I might have been misty eyed reading the simple messages of the masters. I think I had been waiting for something like this all the while. And I read it. I still read some of the messages from time to time.

It is very hard to comment upon a book that has touched you deep inside. I can only say that it was one of the most amazing books that made me cry. It is simple, concise, neat and wonderfully narrated.

Being a voracious reader, I had laid my hands on many kinds of books. Very rarely does one come across a book that makes your totally fascinated, engrossed and awed, all at the same time.

Many Lives, Many Masters has made me humble. It made me think beyond the worldly life.

Though it deals with subjects like re-incarnation and past life regression, it fell easy on my eyes and psyche. Growing up in an orthodox belief of one life and nothing beyond, this should have shocked me and made me reject the entire concept. But it did not. The more I read, the more wonderfully the book unraveled itself in front of me. It did not challenge my belief system. It just made me more appreciative of the life I lead. It made me look forward to everyday of my life. It helped me make peace with my state of mind and the problems I face in my daily life. It helped me grasp the meaning of misery I faced. It helped me come to terms with universal justice. It made me less finicky and more spiritual, with time.

I have read the author’s other books too. I find Many Masters Many Lives to be his best work till date. I am yet to come across such an engrossing and enlightening piece of work. I hold this book close to my heart.

I also belong to the medical and health fraternity. I can understand Dr. Brian’s skepticism and the quest for validating his findings. But I am also a great believer in the after-life, and the other part of the world which I do not fully understand at this point of time. I know that with time and perseverance, we all will find the real answers to the problems rocking our world today. I know that science and art will join hands to touch upon this wonderful and enchanting world that it still beyond our reach. I know that our souls will collectively reach there, soon. And the book confirms my beliefs.

Many Lives, Many Masters is truly a spiritual classic. It just teaches you to be simple and to love simply. It has some of the most beautiful, simple yt profound messages I have come across. I know its the easiest thing for us to follow the messages but at the same time, it is not. We have built walls around ourselves and our psyche, in order to survive in this world.

This book has touched everyone who has read it. When I lend it out to my friends, I get such wonderful feedback and they ask me for more.

The book says that it is ‘The true story of a prominent psychiatrist, his young patient, and the past-life therapy that changed both their lives’. It has changed mine. And it can change yours too, if you believe.

Memoirs of a Geisha - A Book Review

Memoirs of a Geisha is a story about a young girl called Chiyo Chan who lives in a village along with her parents and sister. Poverty coupled with mother’s illness forces the father to sell his children to an acquaintance. The girls believe that they will be adopted by another person who is good. Only later do they realize that their world has fallen apart as they both are sold, separated and sent to different geisha houses.

The separation led to Chiyo’s entry into the Geisha household (also known as Okiya). This is the turning point in her life. Here, she gets her name ‘Sayuri’ and begins to lead a life totally alien and intimidating to her. Step by step, she comes to terms with the hardships. Little by little she understands her plight, her misery, helplessness and the mysteries of life.

In the Okiya, she learns about what a geisha is. She slogs in the house, works endlessly, gets beaten up, and is treated badly by Hatsumomo, another geisha of the house. Though she is fascinated by the dress, makeup and lifestyle of the geisha, she has her share of bitterness and misery.

The turning point in the story is when Sayuri meets a man who says some kind words to her. She remembers him fondly throughout her trials and trysts with life. She hopes to meet him someday. She does not know if she loves him but she hopes for him endlessly. In the meanwhile Sayuri is taken under the wing of another geisha named Mameha, who teaches her the finer life and living of a geisha, all the while plotting the downfall of Hatsumomo.

The rest of the story goes on describe how Sayuri transforms in a beautiful geisha. Her transformation is complete. She is introduced to the tea-houses. She meets people and gives them company. Mameha ensures that Sayuri is well taken care of and continually teaches her the fine nuances of being a Geisha.

Memoirs of a Geisha is a fictional story intertwined with facts. The period in which the story was set was turbulent. There were difficult times when the geishas did not have enough to live properly. Their funds and resources were incredibly low. Being a Geisha or a princess, the trials and tribulations of life do not excuse anyone. Even in the rich brocade ensemble is the trial and tryst of the poor young woman. With no one to look back to or ahead for, the reader can sympathize with Sayuri. Not because she is the central character of the book, but for the fact that she is a human too. A human being who has been subjected to a world she would have never wanted to be in.

The book is a wonderful narration of the life of a geisha. It begins slowly and ends beautifully. The book is always better than the movie as it lets you weave your own imagination.

The character of Sayuri has been sketched wonderfully by the author. Sayuri is one personality you will be completely sympathetic to. Her life, trials, trysts, dreams, wishes, and fantasies become yours. The book is about the 25 years of her life. From being a small village girl, thrown into painful circumstances, brought up in the geisha’s house, slogging under the okiya, and becoming a geisha herself, you feel and empathize with sayuri. Her helplessness, her anger and bitterness are felt. There is so much emotion that gets conveyed that you almost feel she had been with you all the while.

Memoirs of a Geisha gives us a new perspective of life. Life of a geisha is not roses and voilets. They cannot have their own will. Half their life goes in getting beaten up and trained and another half goes in taking care and training the other one. It is cruel by circumstance. There is not much money or wealth left with them as most of their earnings go to the upkeep of their ‘mother’ or ‘the okiya’.

It gives a new perspective about the life of Geishas whom I erstwhile thought to be premium prostitutes. It is a fine dividing line.

Geishas are not exactly prostitutes but a companion who comes at a price and with whom the men can spend time with. Geishas are exclusive women with training in finer aspects of life such as art, tea-ceremonies, singing, etc. But there are some geishas who sell themselves. We do not know if all geishas are like that. Geisha are mostly in the company of men but utterly lonely. More often than not, they are being paid to be in the company of men and serve them, and this does not relive them of their loneliness. Their only other company is other geishas who are competitive themselves, to the extent of being cut-throat. And they are not supposed to be having boyfriends, companions or husbands. This makes their life all the more pathetic.

Memoirs of a Geisha does full justice to the life of a geisha. It does not malign them nor ridicules them. It celebrates the uncertainness of life.

This is one of the most painful yet hopeful novels I had come across. All the while I read, I hoped that Sayuri’s life changes or that she dies to escape her painful life. I kept hoping that things would be better for her. Her pain was indeed painful and there was no reason why she should be suffering so much.

But as we draw close to the end of the book, lovely surprises await. Suddenly there is so much hope and happiness in her life that you cry out of joy. The last few pages of the book were indeed soul warming. You could feel her love and longing.

Memoirs of a Geisha is one of the most heartening novels I had come across. I recommend this book to anyone who would be interested to know about Geishas, Japanese Tea Ceremonies, Second World War Times and its difficulties, and the general scenario in Japan.

Memoirs of a Geisha gives us a fascinating insight for those who are not well versed with the Japanese culture and helps us appreciate it.

Memoirs of a Geisha has also been made into a movie by Sony Pictures.