How often do we hear people fret about stressful life situations! So were the characters of the Songs of the Mist, to begin with. However, how often do we hear such people making a journey towards the Himalayas, the abode of self-realization? That's where our characters make a difference.
If you are in the process of finding a book written with practical wisdom to aid your spiritual quests, be sure you've already reached the first step in your quest. Songs of the mist shall clear the initial mental anxieties that a seeker faces, shall make one feel consoled that after all, there are several others who are struggling with similar uncertainties of life.
Songs of the Mist: Volume I is the first of the three-part Monk Key series.
Honestly, it was difficult to turn over the first few pages. My mind couldn't get connected to what my eyes were reading. I am unable to point out whether it was the long passages or the uncommon page format, but I had to force myself to read, initially. Magically, from the moment Ashutosh begins his journey with the Monk, the resistance got settled down. Perhaps, the character of the Monk was built with such profundity that regardless of being a factious one, He could impact the readers' mind significantly. Ashutosh, after facing extreme heart-breaks in life, meets the Monk.Ayan, a scientist from Geneva inquisitive to find data for his research and meaning to a recurring dream since childhood, meets Ashutosh. There is a unique plot that runs between the few characters. Yet, the journey they take in the Himalayas is what one would feel prominent, while the subtle plot takes a back seat. I re-read the last few lines on the last page to cherish in the moment of Ayan's realization again and again. The book answers questions that we struggle to frame, at the first place, in our everyday lives. As I continued reading, I realized how many questions that one would identify as 'Yes, this is what I want to know too' have been discussed. At a quick glance, though the long passages may appear like random philosophical ideas compiled into a book, when one follows the conversations closely, the subtle depth of the explanations can be perceived rightly. Having said that, be aware that it is not a brushing-through-the-pages kind of a book. It demands sincere investment of time and thought process to reap the real benefits that the book intends to shower.The descriptions of life at the snow-peaked mountains, wandering monks, nature, village rituals and stories of Lord Buddha were admirable. Beware, you might long for a nomadic life in the Himalayas after reading this book :) Something that put me into a light shocking state was the casual usage of a sacred mantra (Page 76, 122) that I had received from a learned Guru through a formal initiation (diksha). Perhaps, I wasn't aware that it isn't a secret mantra that requires formal initiation from a Guru to be chanted.
A few excerpts:
"Are you traveling alone? You are carrying just a cloth bag." (Asks Ashutosh)
"We all do, Son, we all travel alone; but we chose to ignore this fact like all other realities that are uncomfortable to our mind." (Answers the Monk) (Page 36)
"....And I have realized lately that the right path is the one where you feel happy within yourself, at ease within yourself." (Page 95)
Songs of the Mist is not a book that can be written about (though I have attempted here). Rather, it is an absorbing experience that needs to be perceived with a deeper vision. And a book that never reminded me about the author throughout because his content has overtook his self.
Reviewed for Chennai Bloggers Club, CBC
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from Chennai Bloggers Club in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Special thanks to the author for the signed copy.
Title: Songs of the Mist: Volume 1 (The Monk Key Series)Author: ShashiPublisher: Self-published through Notion PressPages:197
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About the Book
A life, less ordinary made extraordinary by the search for the divinity within. Tracing the journeys of people from varied professions, this is a tale of self-discovery, the science of spirituality and long-lost love while a young scientist comes to terms with his childhood dreams.
Join an uplifting narrative crafted by Shashi as he takes you on a journey with the Monk- high on the mountains and in depths of broken hearts.
About the Author
Shashi is a trained engineer, who works as an interior project professional, managing his partnership firm ICUBE PROJECTS. Born in Uttar Pradesh, Shashi studied in New Delhi and has been living in Chennai for around two decades now, though he shuttles around the world on business.
The core theme of this book has been in his heart for over twenty-five years and he has shaped the book with great care. He is a renowned spiritual blogger in India and a prolific writer of the Japanese poetry form – Haiku. An avid photographer, he has shot photos across India's spiritual spots.
This book is his labor of love, and Shashi hopes you will discover the key to your innate divinity once you finish reading the book.
