Mira Prabhu's Blog, page 45

“Are you angry with God, dear one?” Mother Bannister asked Pia.

Day 13 of a 30-day viewing of   Krishna’s Counsel   on Kindle Scout!  N ominate   Krishna’s Counsel   ,   and if Kindle Scout takes it on, you will not only get a free version but you will also warm the cockles of my heart.  P lease click on this   link below — and   if you like what you see, be kind enough to nominate me: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 13:

Pia blew her nose hard. Not just Lila! she longed to shriek. I can’t stand Magdalena Mary’s tripe! Yet she remained silent, not wanting to hurt Mother Bannister, who, as the story went, had left Scotland decades ago blazing with the love of Jesus to instruct upper-class Indian girls about taking a righteous pathway in life. She admired the kindly nun for several reasons. First, Mother Bannister spoke a smattering of Kannada, Tamil and Hindi with a decent accent for a white person. Second, after a group of seniors had been disciplined for some infraction, Mother had confessed at Morning assembly that she too had been born with a rebel streak until a vision of Christ had subdued her wildness. Third, causing a stir among Roman Catholic authorities, Mother began Morning Assembly with a Sanskrit chant in order to remind the girls they were inheritors of what she’d come to believe was the world’s richest spiritual culture. Standing before three hundred students of different faiths, her tall figure stooped over the podium and her plain face radiating love, Mother chanted this verse from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, making the girls repeat each line after her.

Asatoma Sat Gamaya

Tamasoma jyothir gamaya

Mrithyorma amritam gamaya

She ended by giving them her favorite English translation of this verse—favorite since it simultaneously praised and beseeched the Mother of all Creation, whom she considered to be no other than the blessed Virgin Mary.

Oh Mother!

From untruth, lead me to the truth,

From darkness, lead me towards the light,

From death, lead me to eternal life.

“Are you angry with God, dear one?” she asked Pia now.  Of course I’m angry with God! Pia longed to shriek.

Please do me the massive favor of visiting my campaign page to NOMINATE this mystical thriller! You would also make my day if you share or reblog this post. Here again is the link:  https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Greetings from Arunachala, Shiva in the form of a hill, who challenges us to fight our own darkness so we can realize our awesome divine potential!

 

TRUE CONFESSION & KRISHNA’S COUNSEL

True confession—I LOATHE self-promo with a passion! I don’t enjoy nagging and equally shy away from those who badger others to get what they want. If you too were born with a thin skin, I bet you would empathize. Being hypersensitive and hyper-empathetic is not always an asset in a world where external success often hinges on chest-thumping and being pushy.

Anyway, years ago I decided to write in order to channel my turbulent energies. You see, as I studied the nature of both absolute and relative reality, millions of thoughts kept bubbling up from the seething cauldron of my unconscious into my conscious mind, and yet I feared no one person would have the patience to really listen to me. So I melded my love for verbal self-expression with my passion for mysticism and decided to write a series of novels whose theme is enlightenment—and The Moksha Trilogy was born. (https://miraprabhu.wordpress.com/2014/11/16/a-trilogy-of-light-mishi-bellamy-artiste-extraordinaire/)

This is a trilogy only because the same theme runs through each of three novels—moksha, which means freedom/liberation in Sanskrit. Each of my protagonists is an Indian woman who faces horrendous obstacles on her journey towards merging into that inner ocean of peace and love that is our inherent nature. She gets into ghastly predicaments along the way, and just when you think she’s really in for it, she somehow pulls through. Now I know many great authors write novels that end bleakly; I admire them for doing so, but I don’t travel that route myself. While I consider suffering a necessary part of spiritual evolution, I want my writing to inspire those on the inner path. As a result, each of my three novels ends in light.

Whip of the Wild God, my first novel, set in ancient India and enlivened by the ancient philosophy of Tantra, took me 20 years to complete! During that time it went through about seven major rewrites. (Whip has been getting 5-star reviews which you can check out on Amazon.com or on my blog). Krishna’s Counsel began as a seed sometime in the mid-90’s and has just been completed. Copper Moon Over Pataliputra woke up with a roar during my adventurous years in the foothills of the Himalayas and is almost done. Yes, each of my novels represents an immense labor of love.

Many have supported my creative journey—gurus, family and friends, beta readers and editors. Once a psychic called me from London during a phase when I had given up on Whip to tell me that, while he was in meditation, a voice asked him to call me and order me to finish it! Another friend shores me up in a myriad ways despite his crazy work schedule. Yet another rare being who insists on anonymity—since he cares nothing for applause—provides me with technical and other support. Mishi Bellamy offered to do all my book covers. And every one of these beautiful people have helped me for free—since they are aware that the downside of self-pubbing is that the author earns a wee percentage (at least with print books) of profits. I honor these allies by viewing my work as a collective effort.

Recently one of these friends suggested I try out Krishna’s Counsel on Kindle Scout but warned me that getting a contract is a “crapshoot.” Why? Because Kindle does not rate your book purely on merit but rather on how many nominations a writer can get! What happened to the good old days when an agent or publishing house pored over your manuscript, appreciated your investment of effort, research, skill, time and love, and took it on, lock, stock and barrel, leaving you free to write? Today, unfortunately, a writer has to wear too many hats, and since I refuse to leave this little town, I cannot do what a traditionally published author is obliged to do—which is to attend book signings et cetera and promote my work in person. So the best strategy for me is to self-publish, and to do my best, no matter what.

Hours after we uploaded it, Krishna’s Counsel was accepted into the Kindle Scout program! Since then it has been on the Hot & Trending List (which is no guarantee that Kindle will take it on). Only a deluge of nominations can win me a contract, but I’m taking the chance because should Kindle happen to miraculously take it on, I will be able to focus on writing. So if you have not nominated Krishna’s Counsel already (I thank the many who already have done so), I request that you: 

Go to miraprabhu.wordpress.com
Click on the large red button on the right hand side. It will take you directly into the Kindle nomination site.
Click the blue button that reads ‘Nominate Me’. That’s it.

Please do me the extra favor of sharing these three simple steps with friends who might enjoy diving into a mystical saga of obsession and illumination. You will be nominating a novel you have not read, so let me assure you that I have poured my heart into Krishna’s Counsel, which is a patchwork of a thousand stories. Its theme is Lord Krishna’s message to Prince Arjuna on the ancient battlefield of the Kurukshetra—that a spiritual warrior must do the right thing, no matter her personal likes and dislikes, no matter her up-and-down emotions, and with no fear of the consequences.

So here I am, becoming that nag I so hate to be—and, in the process, burning down that insidious sense of mini-me that cares so much about ephemeral things like external success or failure. As Pierre de Teillhard Chardin says: when you have done your best, await the results in peace.

Greetings from Arunachala on this quiet morning, Shiva the Destroyer in the form of a hill whose sacred vow is to help us destroy all that blocks us from realizing our immortal and blissful Self!

Photo Credit: Berndt Kalidas Flory

Then a great horror disturbs their peace as Brahma creates Ushas, the Dawn, and the Rishis see their father fall in lust with his beautiful creation.

Day 12 of a 30-day viewing of   Krishna’s Counsel   on Kindle Scout!  N ominate   Krishna’s Counsel   ,   and if Kindle Scout takes it on, you will not only get a free version but you will also warm the cockles of my heart.  P lease click on this   link below — and   if you like what you see, be kind enough to nominate me: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 12:

“There’s a myth that explains Shiva’s power,” Uncle continued. “Picture this: Brahma the Creator is lonely so he conjures up the Rishis, who sit in blissful meditation by the banks of the Saraswati River. Then a great horror disturbs their peace as Brahma creates Ushas, the Dawn, and the Rishis see their father fall in lust with his beautiful creation. Brahma is on the verge of committing incest, a blunder bound to arouse Maya the Enchantress and to restart the cursed wheel of samsara, but being pure meditators themselves, what can they do to stop Brahma? So they concentrate the power of their minds and evoke Rudra the Howler, wildest of all the Gods and precursor to Shiva, the only force who can tackle Brahma.”

Interest stirred within Pia, shoving her up a few notches from apathy. Uncle certainly knew how to dress up a tale! Bright images formed in her mind’s eye as he described the grand scene.

“Brahma is about to penetrate Ushas when he sees Rudra, armed with a gigantic bow and lethal arrows flying towards him from across the universe,” Uncle ran on. “Brahma knows he’s met his match. He begs Rudra not to kill him and Rudra agrees, on the condition that Brahma spares Ushas and gives him, Rudra, control over Earth. Brahma has to consent, for Rudra is as unmanageable as the elements. As for Rudra, he continues to threaten the Creator until he wins dominion over the entire universe.” Uncle grinned at her. “Now there’s a hero for you, Pia!”

Please do me the massive favor of visiting my campaign page to NOMINATE this mystical thriller! You would also make my day if you share or reblog this post. Here again is the link:  https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Greetings from Arunachala, Shiva in the form of a hill, who challenges us to fight our own darkness so we can realize our awesome divine potential!

The Meaning of the Term “Ji” in the Indian Culture: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

For a true devotee, change of name and dress for outward show is not important. Real spiritual growth and Self Realization have absolutely nothing to do with such things…thanks Harsh Luthar! I wrote a post about this aspect from a different angle – Speaking of Robes, Broken Vows & Imperfections – check out:

https://miraprabhu.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/2690/

Luthar.com

In the Indian culture, we sometimes add the word “ji” at the end of someone’s name to convey respect.

For example, if someone’s name is Ashok, and we want to convey warmth and respect, we call him Ashok-ji. If someone’s name is Maya, we call her Maya-ji.

However, in the Indian culture, no one will ask or demand that we add “ji” when addressing them to show respect. That would be very uncool. It would actually be humorous. It is up to us when we want to add the “ji” after the name of the person. There is no compulsion that we have to add “ji” to the name of everyone we meet and greet.

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“Goddammit, Pia!” Nick had exploded. “It’s bad luck to ask!”

 Day 11 of a 30-day viewing of   Krishna’s Counsel   on Kindle Scout!  N ominate   Krishna’s Counsel   ,   and if Kindle Scout takes it on, you will not only get a free version but you will also warm the cockles of my heart.  P lease click on this   link below — and   if you like what you see, be kind enough to nominate me: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 11:

“How far to the estate, Dad?” she’d asked fretfully. “Goddammit, Pia!” Nick had exploded. “It’s bad luck to ask!”

Moments later they had heard a terrific thrashing sound; the car slowed to a crawl and began to rattle, as if an invisible giant was giving it a good shake. “Bloody hell!” Nick had yelled like an enraged British General, slamming his foot down on the brake. Easing the rifle out of its groove above the front seat, he’d jumped out and stomped to the back of the car. “Bloody hell!” he’d said again. Kanna had clambered out then, followed by Nina, while Lila and Pia stayed trembling inside. A shot rang out.

“Get Pia out of the car and show her what a jinx she is,” Nick had hissed at their mother. Nina had hesitated before reaching in to carry her outside. Pia didn’t want to see the giant, but it was only a python from the surrounding jungle that had chosen the wrong time to slither across the highway. She saw white matter splattered on the tarred road and whimpered with fear. “The bloody coward,” Nick had spat, disgusted, and Pia had buried her head in her mother’s pliant shoulder and wept.

Please do me the massive favor of visiting my campaign page to NOMINATE this mystical thriller! You would also make my day if you share or reblog this post. Here again is the link:  https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Greetings from Arunachala, Shiva in the form of a hill, who challenges us to fight our own darkness so we can realize our awesome divine potential!

Demons clamored for attention, spitting, hissing, jeering and begging her to strike back…

Day 10 of a 30-day viewing of   Krishna’s Counsel   on Kindle Scout!  N ominate   Krishna’s Counsel   ,   and if Kindle Scout takes it on, you will not only get a free version but you will also warm the cockles of my heart.  P lease click on this   link below — and   if you like what you see, be kind enough to nominate me: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 10:

Exhausted from the physical exertions of her day, Lila slumbered on when Pia carefully crawled in beside her on the double bed. Pia too craved the oblivion of sleep but instead she obeyed Uncle and allowed the mélange of grief, disbelief and outrage churned up from learning just how those evil priests had destroyed the soul of her ancestors to fully rise.

Demons clamored for attention, spitting, hissing, jeering and begging her to strike back; Pia intuited their aim was to keep her entangled in the noxious fug of relative reality, to keep her reacting to the brutality of the Inquisition with eruptions of rage and horror so that her spirit would remain fettered in the chaos of her emotions. But just as Gautama Buddha had remained unshaken by Lord Mara’s multi-pronged assaults, she too stepped resolutely away from the dreadful scenes her mind threw up. Gradually the demons disintegrated into nothingness and she slipped into the luminous realm of the Self, which Uncle had assured her is our true nature, pure existence, consciousness and bliss. It was only when this grueling inner balance was achieved that Morpheus cast his sweet spell over her.

Please do me the massive favor of visiting my campaign page to NOMINATE this mystical thriller! You would also make my day if you share or reblog this post. Here again is the link:  https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Greetings from Arunachala, Shiva in the form of a hill, who challenges us to fight our own darkness so we can realize our awesome divine potential!

“Our real tragedy is that we’ve forgotten who we once were—independent thinkers with a richer heritage than any of those invaders who greatly enriched themselves at our expense.”

 Day 9 of a 30-day viewing of   Krishna’s Counsel   on Kindle Scout!  N ominate   Krishna’s Counsel   ,   and if Kindle Scout takes it on, you will not only get a free version but you will also warm the cockles of my heart.  P lease click on this   link below — and   if you like what you see, be kind enough to nominate me: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 9:

Uncle’s circuitous message seeped into Pia’s dazed head. This was a complex issue, he was telling her and all sides were responsible, in differing degrees, for the resulting mess.

“You see the insidious chain of karma?” Uncle rubbed in his point. “If Goa’s Muslim rulers had not cheated those merchants, the Hindus would not have literally handed over Goa to the Portuguese and sealed their doom.” Even in the moonlight she could see the fire growing in his eyes. “There’s little point in hating the stream of bullies who’ve raped and plundered our country over the ages. Why? Because only the omniscient sage can see the big picture—all we ordinary humans can see are pieces of a cosmic puzzle so enormous we simply cannot make sense of it. It is a mystical truth that nothing but nothing happens by accident.” He glanced at her to see if she was following him; Pia nodded, the lump growing in her throat preventing her from saying a word.

 “We Indians have been our own worst enemy,” Uncle added somberly. “And we’ll continue to be so until we destroy the roots of our own dysfunctions. It’s only when we begin to fix the holes in our own souls that the old wounds can begin to heal. No invader would have been able to rape a strong and united India.” He stared up at the millions of stars sprinkled over the night sky.

“What’s the best way for me to deal with this, Unc?” she managed to ask.

“Only a bright star would ask such a question and be prepared to accept a difficult answer,” Uncle praised her gruffly. “At least now you know why so many of us are messed up! Believe me, sweetheart, it is collective denial that has caused us to stagnate, intellectually and emotionally. Our real tragedy is that we’ve forgotten who we once were—independent thinkers with a richer heritage than any of those invaders who greatly enriched themselves at our expense.”

Please do me the massive favor of visiting my campaign page to NOMINATE this mystical thriller! You would also make my day if you share or reblog this post. Here again is the link:  https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Greetings from Arunachala, Shiva in the form of a hill, who challenges us to fight our own darkness so we can realize our awesome divine potential!

Monday Funnies…

Allow Maxine to brighten up your Monday….ha ha ha, and thanks for sharing, Chris Graham!

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

Source: Maxine on Facebook

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Melissa Bowersock’s Author Interview: Mira Prabhu

Today I’m sitting down with Mira Prabhu to talk about her new book, Krishna’s Counsel. The book is a modern epic of a girl growing up in South India during the 1960s, and it brings together a very unlikely but fitting combination of ancient Indian wisdom, the 60’s drug culture and the recovery steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Additionally, it is currently enrolled in the Kindle Scout Program and could be chosen for an Amazon publishing contract. Part of the process involves nominations by readers (like you!), and if the book is chosen by Amazon, everyone who nominates it will receive a FREE e-Book copy. To read the first chapter and nominate the book, go here. This Kindle Scout program ends August 15, 2016.

Mira, when you started writing this book, what was your vision for the story?

MP: I had no intention of writing a contemporary novel until my Manhattan-based literary agent suggested I do so, way back in 1999. Considering the unusual life I had led, she felt I could pull off a contemporary novel about an Indian woman who had moved from East to West and thereby grown in ways she could not even imagine. I mulled over her idea, but nothing happened until many years later when I found myself marooned in a guest house in Rishikesh in northern India: my friends had all left town since the ‘season’ was over and a wild festival raged all around me, keeping me captive in my suite. With time hanging heavy on my hands, I decided to sink my teeth into something that would engage my monkey mind—and in six months, I had written the first draft of Krishna’s Counsel.

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Why had those sadists traveled all the way to her beautiful country in order to perpetrate such evil?

 Day 8 of a 30-day viewing of   Krishna’s Counsel   on Kindle Scout!  N ominate   Krishna’s Counsel   ,   and if Kindle Scout takes it on, you will not only get a free version but you will also warm the cockles of my heart.  P lease click on this   link below — and   if you like what you see, be kind enough to nominate me: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 8:

Sweet suffering god! The titles alone were turning her into mush! Panicked, she flipped to another page. ‘Scholars are generally agreed that the Inquisition of Goa had earned a sinister renown as the most pitiless in Christendom,’ she read, her eyes blinking with terror. Why had those sadists traveled all the way to her beautiful country in order to perpetrate such evil? She stopped at this quote from J.C. Barreto Miranda, a Goan historian. “The cruelties, which in the name of the religion of peace and love this tribunal practiced in Europe were carried to even greater excesses in India, where the Inquisitors, surrounded by luxuries which could stand comparison with the regal magnificence of the great potentates of Asia, saw with pride the Archbishop as well as the viceroy submit to their power. Every word of theirs was a sentence to death and at their slightest nod were moved to terrorize the vast population spread over the Asiatic regions, whose lives fluctuated in their hands, and who, on the most frivolous pretext could be clapped for all time into the deepest dungeons or strangled or offered as food for the flames of the pyre.”

Please do me the massive favor of visiting my campaign page to NOMINATE this mystical thriller! You would also make my day if you share or reblog this post. Here again is the link:  https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/11AA1JA16VAV5 .

Greetings from Arunachala, Shiva in the form of a hill, who challenges us to fight our own darkness so we can realize our awesome divine potential!