Photo courtesy of www.eckharttolle.com

Well, I’ve suggested to all of my friends and readers of this site to take advantage of one of the best books I’ve ever put my hands on…and that too by chance. I tried to think back how and when I came to know about this book and how I became interested in it which led me to buy this amazing book and the webcasts on Oprah.com simultaneously! I couldn’t quite figure out what led me to this, other than it was meant for me to read it, that I was ready to be awakened and was ready to absorb what Eckart Tolle had to say in this book. I believe you stumble upon things that are meant for you to experience and the finding of this book is one such incidence. I have always been interested in spiritual reading but I have never read a simple, clearly written book like “A New Earth…Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.” I recently finished reading the book and I loved it. I immediately wanted to start reading it over again the second time because there must be some things in it that I may have missed. There is a lot of good to take away from this book and I am sure I will discover new things as I read it again. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Read the first chapter and see if it grabs your attention. If if does, read on, if not, then you are likely not ready yet. The webcasts are still available on Oprah.com as is on iTunes for download. These are interesting segments as the author, Eckhart Tolle and Oprah discuss each chapter of the book. I feel that I was to read the book because I discovered his first book “The Power of NOW”, heard the audio version of it a couple of weeks before this one and then very soon after, heard about the webcasts on Oprah.com. It fell into place nicely and I really enjoyed the experience.

Photo courtesy of www.exoticindiaart.com

If you’re of an Indian origin…or Indian, you’ve often asked yourself this question. Or better yet, you’ve wondered why your fellow Indians are the way they are! After all, that is what this book is about - lack of self-regulation and pouring all the obligation on others and not taking responsibility for change. Written by V. Raghunathan, an academic at IIM ( Indian Institue of Management), Ahmedabad for two decades. He uses the props of game theory and behavioral economics to give an insight into this most difficult question: Why are we the way we are?

“Game theory is nothing but economists’ term for what psychologists call the theory of social situations. And behavioral economics is the interaction between psychology and economics that tries to explain how human limitations and complexities affect choice.” In the book, our rationality, irrationality, selfishness, egotism, competition and our aversion to cooperation and collaboration are explored and discussed. He talks about how a little self-regulation can change the face of the largest democracy in the world. Why are we so individually smart and collectively naive?

This is a very interesting book and a quick read which will satisfy the soul such as mine who has always wondered if there was anyone out there that wondered and asked the same question? Well, there is and I am glad! The author discusses why we cut queues, throw garbage in our neighbor’s yard, drive with high beam at night, cut red traffic lights and other interesting queries. Check out the book if you’re curious - it’s available from sellers of Amazon.com!

Based on a true story. After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life. This is one of the best films I’ve seen and loved every minute of it! It is one film everyone must see as we tread through this materialistic society, world and everyday life searching and acquiring for things that we perceive to fulfill our void, not knowing the void. It is a pit that is never filled nor satisfied and we are trapped in a whirlwind of “fitting in” type of society. I was ecstatic as I watched this film. I couldn’t believe there is a movie I would love so much. It coincides very well with the topic of my site, in particular, with “simple living.” It is right in line with Oprah and Eckhart Tolle’s webcast every Monday night on Eckhart’s book “The New Earth.” I wonder what else I will discover in the coming weeks that repeat the same message to me!?

Year: 2007
Director: Sean Penn
Cast: Emilie Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone

Photo courtesy of www.mastermindnewmedia.org

I have been thinking about podcasting since I first heard/encountered them on various websites. I found them to be very interesting little pieces where instructions, stories, real conversations were recorded and uploaded to the web much like any written content or article. They are not very difficult to create and a lot of fun if you like to add some “life” to your message. Vocally, you can add tone and facial expressions which will come across to listeners.

So, here is my first podcast I created where I am reading a miniature Zen story. Do you have any ideas on the type of podcasts that might be interesting, beneficial and worthwhile? Your comments are always welcome!

What is obesity? Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person’s weight is greater than what’s considered healthy for his or her height. Consider calculating your BMI, Body Mass Index. The BMI is one way to determine whether or not an adult is overweight. BMI assesses height and weight; muscle mass is not a part of the equation. You can calculate your BMI through an online calculator.

Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might tip the balance include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods and not being physically active.

Being obese increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and some cancers. If you are obese, losing even 5 to 10 percent of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases.

There are many reasons why obesity occurs. Some are medically uncontrollable and others are simply due to eating more calories every day and not burning them. These are accumulated over weeks, months and years even if the extra calories per day were just a couple of hundred. The weight loss journey is a long one whether you need to lose 2, 5 or 50 pounds.

Recent advances in medicine have helped many people become determined to change their lives and their health on a long-term basis. Of late, weight-loss surgery has become a positive choice for weight-loss as well as extreme health benefits for a longer, healthier life. The first step you can take is to realize you CAN improve your health, and make an appointment to talk to a bariatric surgeon to find out whether you are a good candidate for weight-loss surgery. Also, become informed as much as you can about what it is, its advantages and risks. There are some criteria such as you should be at least 100 pounds overweight and have one or more diseases related to weight such as diabetes, Sleep Apnea or high Tryglycerides or any others. This may improve not only your weight issue but may reverse some of your diseases if diet and exercise regimen is followed post surgery. One bariatric surgeon I personally recommend is Dr. Vishal Mehta of the Mehta Bariatric Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.A. He specializes in weight-loss surgery including the minimally invasive LAP-BAND placement surgery. Talk to the doctor about what surgery might be right for you. He holds seminars to educate the public regarding these procedures and attending it can lead you to a better life for yourself and your family! His staff is very friendly, helpful and some of the staff have the surgery themselves and are a very good source of information and comfort.

If you are an Oprah fan, you may know by now that she and the author of the new book “A New Earth”, Eckhart Tolle is having a web event on his new book. It is a really exciting concept and a very good way to discuss a book by the author. I have read his book “The Power of Now” and it’s an amazing book. It is a tough read, or listen, if you are an avid audio book fan as the concepts discussed in the book regarding achieving enlightenment is of a higher level and leaves a lot of questions for us. It gives you a lot to think about and ways you may have never thought before. I am listening to the book a second time. I feel the second time around I am enjoying it more.

So, if you’re interested in the topic of spirituality and self-development of a higher kind, join Oprah and Eckhart Tolle’s webcast on Oprah’s website and sign up for the web cast which starts on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 9:00pm EST. You will need to create a login and password and install a player for the web cast. It is a 10 week class, every Monday at 9:00pm. I am really excited about it as I think it’s one of the first online interactive event by a talk show host on a worthwhile subject.

Photo courtesy of www.npr.org

Top 10 reasons why you should run for your life now:

1. It is free, accessible and all you need is yourself and a good pair of running shoes.
2. It’s for people of all ages, sizes and fitness levels.
3. It can be done anywhere you are in the world, all you need is some time and the stuff from number 1 above.
4. It can be started at anytime you are ready, but why not now? Right?
5. You can run at your own pace and don’t have to worry about how fast or how long as long as you put one foot in front of another.
6. A great stress reducer and confident booster. Feel great accomplishment and become healthier one step at a time. without worrying about how many calories you burned or how thin you will become. This is about just doing it.
7. Get good at running and enjoy it increasing physical strength and endurance.
8. Increase cardiovascular strength and reap the benefits while enjoying moving your body.
9. Feel the freedom.
10. You can do it!

Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com

Live in the moment, be present. Concentrate on what you are doing at the moment and try not to let your mind wander and think about everything from your past and future and focus on the task, conversation, activity at hand. For instance, when you are washing dishes, feel the warmth of the water on your hands, how you actually do the scrubbing, the sound of the water and the sense of accomplishment as you get the dishes done. Notice how clean the sink looks after you are done! Now you have completely been present. Try these tips to brighten each day:

1. Smile. It is contagious and you will have everyone smiling at you and you will feel really good!
2. Sleep enough. You will feel good about taking on the day with enthusiasm. You need at least 7 hours of sleep.
3. Wear bright colors. Your mood will match the bright colorful outfit you are wearing and project a bright image.
4. Listen to a great song. Listen to your favorite song and pay attention to the lyrics and sing along.
5. Enjoy some silence. Turn off the TV or radio and feel relaxed. Ahh.
6. Close your eyes. Close your eyes for five minutes and let go of your thoughts and become completely relaxed. Breathe deep
7. Count your blessings each day. You will find you always have things to be grateful for.
8. Get moving. Go for a walk or exercise for 15 minutes. You will want to do more and you will feel you’ve just done something really great for yourself.
9. Look at sunshine. If it’s sunny take advantage of really looking out at sunshine for a minute or two whether it’s outside a window or standing outside. In the winter, be surrounded by light for a good part of the day. Keep your home brightly lit.
10. Cuddle up. Cuddle up with your favorite blanket and book for 15 minutes each day before going to bed.

What are your favorite ways to brighten your day?

A classic must read! A book that can be your encyclopedia for living life and dealing with life and the all important - people. Dale Carnegie wrote this book in a simple speaking voice that reaches everyone with astonishment of how easy life can be if we only keep ourselves aware of the basic understanding of human nature and the sensitivities of humans. This will help you in your personal, professional life, relationships, or in understanding yourself and why you behave and react the way you do. It is a compact book packed with some very valuable information. If you haven’t read this one yet, I urge you to do so. If you have read it, tell me what you thought of it!

Well, how I seek these books out, I do not know. However, I stumbled upon the recently published book “The Power of NOW” by Eckhart Tolle. I read some really good reviews about it and then I bought the audio version. The book’s message is simple: Living in the now is the true way to happiness and enlightenment! It’s a spiritual book that has a profound message.

I really enjoyed listening to the book. The author’s voice is soothing and confident. It is an eye opener in the way one will see themselves and the world, however, I found it to be much too indirect. After each chapter, I looked for a “how-to” on all of the principles of his message but it wasn’t as clear as I would have liked. The message and method of attaining and living in the now is one that is complex to internalize without having to understand the meaning of it and how to practice it. The author tells you what you should do to live in the power of now but in his own way which is not exactly how to go about starting it for someone who has never even thought about the concept. He does not give many examples. The overall message is simple but I felt he expects us to understand the deep level at which he understands in attaining enlightenment.

Now, I would like to know from my readers what you thought of the book if you have read it or have heard the audio version. Please share your reviews of the book! This will help all of us, including myself. What are your thoughts on this book?