An enthusiastic friend encouraged me to read this book, which takes its title from a line of Kabir's poetry: "Student, tell me, what is God? He is the breath inside the breath." In their exploration of what it means to be fully human, something holy happens in the 134 meditations collected here. Each has the potential to "cut through" to the inner search for meaning and truth, honesty and integrity in our lives (p. 212). Swami Chetanananda teaches us that "it is the heart that illumines the mind, not the other way around" (p. 55).
The heart governs our entire experience of life (p. 5). Success, we're told, is not measured by the amount of money we earn or recognition we receive. "Rather, success is the degree to which you mobilize the resources within yourself, and the degree to which you allow those resources to manifest. This is success. This is fulfillment" (p. 20). Swami Chetanananda encourages us to continually become aware "of the essense of your own life" and then learn to live "from that essence whether you're walking, riding the subway, working in your job, or doing anything else" (p. 26). "I tell people simply to do good work, whatever that work is," he says. "Care about the quality of your work in your science, your study, your profession, or your relationships. Do well. Don't be lazy. Care deeply. If you care, then ultimately, you must come to an understanding of the immense importance of spiritual growth" (p. 239).
This book is like a breath so deep that it shifts your heart's chemistry around. It will appeal to anyone interested in learning how to experience life more fully from the heart.
G. Merritt
Among this American-born, India-traveled meditation master's several books, this is one of my favorites (I haven't read a few of the latest). It is a simple compilation of short essays taken from his informal talks to his students (his center is now located in Portland, Oregon). Being an American, "swamiji," as his students like to call him, is good at expressing deep-seated ideas, techniques, fears, and so forth, many of them based on ancient Indian philosophy and religion, in straightforward--and sometimes even irreverent--American venacular. In sum, this is a highly readable blend of spiritual thought, practical advice ("One thing you can do when you start to feel anger welling up is to notice where in your body you feel it."), psychological insight ("Fear is something that arises for most people. The reason for this is that any time a new area opens up for us, we recognize that allowing ourselves to flow into it will change us completely..."), and personal conversation and confession ("Some people tell me they have a nagging feeling that something is missing in their spiritual practice..."). Each 200-600-word essay expands with sincerity and lightness on such a thought
