Ummm… how do I say this…. I thought I had a fairly large wardrobe; lots of Indian clothes for teaching, nice kurta-pyjamas for satsangs; dhotis for pujas and ashram, formal office wear for our corporate training programs, and of course lots of sportswear and casuals. But I suddenly realized that I own a far greater number of books than anything else.
I was just packing this morning, as we had a day off and we are moving house next week (close by, slightly bigger apartment); have already packed 4 large cartons and there are still books lying around the house! Feels good though, as a lot of them are extremely rare (I don’t lend them out!) though I sometimes wish I could lock myself in my study for a year or two and just read!!!
There was a time when I used to read about 200 pages a day (excluding schoolwork, magazines, newspapers) and 600 pages on weekends; that’s at least a novel a day. I did this for over twenty years since early childhood. Then after becoming a regular meditator I suddenly realized that I had all this data stored within me but which I was not applying anywhere; so the past several years have been more about assimilating and endeavouring to live the knowledge that had been collected and stored over such a long time!
It’s only in the past couple of years that I have gotten back to reading (though not at such a frenetic pace). Tina, too, has become an avid reader now (says she has a lifetime’s worth of catching up to do) and is rarely seen without a book or an ipod loaded with Guruji’s talks, especially on her sets. My books are like old, cherished friends; I love spending time with them, and wonder if future generations will have the luxury of sniffing through fresh, uncut printed pages, or curling up in bed with a novel which one rereads every year or two. Will it just be ebooks or audiobooks, or will the printed page survive for another decade or two?
Jai Gurudev Bhaiya
Thanks a TONNE for sharing this
I TOTALLY needed this post,
Doing my MA in Literature I have hundreds of books and novels to read in a short time,
With your inspiration, I am sure I can do it
Love you shoooo much
mwah
aaiyooooooo!!! 4 cartons n still more to go?? i dont want u to lend me d books…just give them to me! 😛
bhai-phota nai milega kya?? :PPP
n paperbacks will always rule..u n i r still in this world na! 😛 😀
Vikrambhaiya, I have known the book lovers (am the one too). For those who love reading there is nothing better than the books. Books should always be there.
Still can’t tell about the future generation which grows with these gadgets and computers. Will they love the books ?????
ha i wish i were you! Studying ie picking up a book i am lazy!! 🙂
haha.
Jai Gurudev Bhaiyya,
Wow.. nice read.. great to hear from you..
i have never seen you in formals though..
was just imagining how dashing, awesome you’d look.. pls do post some pics..
Bhaiyya you are really like Superman.. is there something you dont do…
love, kamal
I just don’t get a measure of how one reads an e-book or audiobook! Have tried reading a few of them but it doesn’t come anywhere close to read an (just purchased) old second-hand from college street (maybe after one full afternoon had passed just merely searching and surfing for nothing), where after reading few pages one can keep the book open on one’s face and sniff at the smell of crumbling yellow pages, moth holes, dust, wisdom, past owner’s regards for some lines in underlined dialouges – and then look up at the clouds and forget about the present world !!
Nope sir, no fun like reading Aam Aatir Bhepu (Pather Panchali for children written by Satyajit Ray) in a heated summer afternoon while hearing the crows crow loud and looking for shed and sob like hell when Dugga passes away untimely…or finishing “The Old Man and The Sea” twice in one day or cursing the villagers aloud while reading “Story of a Death Foretold” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez….
Hope whatever genes makes us love this crawling wormlike prints in a handful of pages continue to thrive for generations to come..
Jai Gurudev
Love
Sagar
Just wondered , do you still read the Tennis magazine, which some of your youngest friends would pour over in your absence ?
hey it’s always good to know that people whom you respect and love share the same interest that you have. I have always loved reading. It is something more than a hobby.Though I don’t get to spend much time with my books these days.You could have shared with us what kind of books do you read and from where do you get these books? Like i live in a small town so I always shop for my books when I come to Mumbai or Bangalore.
You are right, books are our best friends!! Books give us those much needed imagination powers and books give us that information…
It is meditation and kriyas that give us the knowledge not quite contained in books..
And yes, a page from a new book is like the fragrance of the earth wet from the first rain….
I do hope more ancd more people realize the joy of reading a book..!! And I’m sure people like you do that little bit which helps..!! 🙂
Jai Gurudev,
Manjari.
Vikram, I saw your Gauri Nandana song in youtube…. and it was absolutely amazing. It seemed like as if you had become one with the song, so beautiful it was watching and listening to you singing. For others who have not seen it, here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDgHb0Zxzbs
Love your blog… wish you would update it more often though.
Bhaiyya, Can you please upload the bhajan “Gam ganapataye namah” sung by you? or share the source on the internet.
Jai Gurudev Bhaiyya…
Was just glancing though google and chanced upon your blog…. “Awesome”… to put the blog in a word…
Wonderful to know about Aditi and Aakshji’s wedding… many congratulations to all of you…
loads of sincere regards…
Ameya
great post bhaiyya. curling up with a book is certainly a form of meditation itself. Re regular books Vs ebooks, dont you think that the book industry is the largest killer of trees on this planet apart from furniture makers ? Ebooks would certainly make it less necessary to kill trees though the power consumption would be enormous. not sure which is more environmentally sound .
Jai Guru Dev,
hmm.what a post..while reading my mind was in the young generation only and in the end i saw ur concern..it is true,,may the next generation is not going to be thatalucky to live with the smell and company of books!!
jai guru dev bhaiya………
hey u really inspired me to read a lot n lot……..i hope dat i also start reading books more than i actually do …….
thanks a lot for sharing all this …..
and your blogs are really very cool n moreover it doesnt give a feeling that you are not here …..
thakns a lot
hope to meet you soon
jai guru dev bhaiya….
Jai Gurudeva
Vikram bhaiya ,
Hi i m Manchit ..do u rmbr me ?? i m from Meerut.
wonderful to find u on the net..
Loads of congratulations to u n ur family …
Wishing a good n happy life to ur newly wed sis..
Jai Gurudeva ..
my id is
manchit18@yahoo.com
ummm hi vikram ji..um abig fan of you..your bhajan are full of devotion and touch my heart..u know what ..ur radhe radhe,,man bole..is too good very moving!
UM sorry um grabbing this opportunity to reach you..ya through ur blog!!!
please read it and if u feel like writing me back my id is sharmaneem14@gmail.com
Though I know u r very busy!!
lots of love
Jai Guru Dev !!!
neelam
one thing more…um in DENMARK..HOW CAN I INVITE U AND GURUJI IN denmark..please give me some tips! please!
i vud jus say…
“GIVE ME A BOOK AND IL FORGET WHO I AM!!!!”
Aito..aar ekta common habit paoa gelo tomar aar aamar….ki moja…
hehehehe…..
How is the new place coming up???…Lets catch up soon…
meanwhile, do visit my blog : http://biprashish.blogspot.com
Hope u find it interesting….do post in ur comments / suggestions…
Luv & Jgd