A Great Sage and A Rascal Named Doku

by Vivek Rajan Vivek

A Manuscript on Prosperity. For those who have just begun, for those in-between and for those who have tried everything and failed.

"A Great Sage and a Rascal named - Doku is uplifting, enriching and deeply thought provoking. A must read for all those who are interested in living a life overflowing with abundance".
~T. Harv Eker -  Author, #1 NY Times Bestseller Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

"This book gives you a proven, practical, step-by-step process to develop the essential "prosperity consciousness" that leads to wealth."
~Brian Tracy - Author, Million Dollar Habits

"A rare abundance parable that pairs a recommendation of owning up to one's own greatness yet applying that greatness in continual and joyful service to others, and many other complimentary wisdoms to live a life of inner and outer wealth."
~Kerul Kassel, Ph.D - Award winning author of Stop Procrastinating Now and Productive Procrastination

This self help book effortlessly introduces you to deep eastern concepts in the form of a witty, delectable and charming parable. Nestled high up in the mountains, in an ashram, a Master educates (draws out from within the student) innate wisdom already present in every human being. These concepts which are inspirational and motivational have stood the test of time, not for centuries but millennia.

Kindly click on the "Look Inside" feature which lets you browse through the Table of Contents and the first few chapters for FREE.

In this book you will discover the following and much, much

- How Spiritual Life and Wealth are truly joined at the hip
- A deadly sliver of doubt that shreds your dreams, drives and ambitions to pieces
- How to make money, it has nothing to do with Wall Street, gold, real estate, sales or marketing
- The virus that corrupts the pristine operating system you were born with and how to kill it
- An answer to the question "How do I go beyond forgiveness?", liberating you instantly
- Success in one sentence, the twin peaks of failure and the art of getting the right answers
- How can I exercising without moving; the role that food, clarity, creativity & sound play in your life
- What is fear and how do I overcome it?
- Do Soul Mates Exist and how do I get out of bad relationships?
- How to see through the illusion called time management?
- Gardening your consciousness, is happiness possible?
- The ultimate secret, few know this, and even fewer know how to use it effectively

By understanding and embracing these simple yet profound concepts, those all over the world can easily achieve happiness, wealth and success without breaking their backs, ruining their health or ending up in a mental asylum.

This book is meant for people of all ages and all cultures, who regularly ask themselves this question - How do I become a millionaire or how do I get rich? Many have commented on the fact that this book is worth many times the price it's being so sold for.


About the Author
Vivek Rajan Vivek has been researching life and people for close to 20 years. He is an engineer, tinkerer, inventor, teacher, mentor, investor, learner, believer, observer and author. He has traveled extensively the world over and loves the open road; he genuinely likes people, loves good food and good music. He enjoys working with those who are sincerely looking for a better way to live, from all walks of life , all over the world, empowering them, to raise their consciousness to the next level.

Genres: Self Help

200 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2013

About the author

I'm a regular guy who has been researching life and people for close to 20 years. I am an engineer, investor, learner, observer and author.

My short fuse has lengthened considerably and my gigantic ego has shrunk proportionately. Wisdom has dawned and the intellect is sharper but pranks and everyday stupidity continue unabated!

I have traveled extensively the world over and love the open road. I genuinely like people, love good food and good music. I enjoy working with those who are sincerely looking for a better way to live, from all walks of life, all over the world, empowering them to raise their awareness – to the next level.

Reviews

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Great Sage and a Rascal Named Doku: A Book on Health, Wealth and Success" by Vivek Rajan Vivek was a surprise find for me. The story of a Master teaching a simple man is a wonderful classic concept and one that does allow for a lot of parabels and episodes of instilled wisdom.
Vivek has inserted quite a multitude of stories and segments that allow for a lot of food for thought and stimulation. In terms of plot it enables a very gradual transformation of the 'rascal' as well as of the reader. I found it difficult to proceed too fast with this book as there were so many stimulating ideas, some more, some lesser known, to digest.
Vivek lightens up the deep and meaningful messages with his humorous and witty tone. This is a far cry from dry philosophical rambling, this is entertaining classic story telling.
Some of the segments reminded me of Eastern philosophies and spiritual concepts, some Buddhist and Tao teachings but the main message of the book, and one that I full heartedly support, is to be open.
Much of life is your ability to interact, to listen and not to close ourselves. To feel and to dare to feel are essential parts of what it is to be human and to be an aware human being.
Thank you for reminding us of some valuable lessons, teaching us many new ones and to make them so palatable.
A great book that I can highly recommend.

[Anastasia Kallah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I shelved this book under "books too stupid to finish reading."

A Great Sage and A Rascal Named Doku by Vivek Rajan Vivek is the author's first attempt at a novel, and is full of pseudo-eastern mysticism, only he totally got it wrong. I didn't read the whole book. I didn't even read HALF of it. I stopped reading at point in which the author expressed that it is only in giving into our base desires and materialism can we possibly achieve spiritual enlightenment and fulfillment. I can't imagine anything more absurd. Admittedly, Maslow tells us that all humans must have their basic needs for human survival met before claiming the pyramid towards enlightenment, but that's not what the author was getting at. An excerpt from the book tells us

"Many highly evolved souls come from wealthy families. This has been well-documented by historical research. There was nothing wrong with wealth. Those who experienced wealth were unaffected by it, because wealth, like all other objects of desire, ceases to mesmerize you once you attain it."

Really?!

Historical research? Would you kindly cite your sources, sir? Because I'm calling "shenanigans" on that one. Have you never seen a badly behaved celebutante or been exposed to Miley Cyrus' twirking or any of the other shocking adult Disney princesses in action?

And while I'm at it, would you mind sticking to a tense? Past or present, its all the same to me, but switching back and fourth within few brief lines is sophomoric, at best.

And while I'm on my soap box, this book supposedly has no dogma or religious content, but the cover has a pic of Buddhist Mala beads. No bueno.

Gaaaaah. What a waste of an advance copy.

[Boyko Ovcharov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Wisdom Clearly Told!

I liked this book because it presents a different point of view regarding success, wealth and prosperity in connection with some personal and psychological principles, backed up by long-standing wisdom and practical experience. It refers to everey person's inner self as part of the universe, part of the whole humankind. In fact, the concept of being prosperous and rich, even happy, is correlated to being a better person. The author uses very simple and clear examples in the form of stories that are useful and meaningful. These are allegedly applicable to various cultures, times and locations. What more could a reader want to know indeed? Perhaps if that may work for them. Maybe that is the easiest bit, just try, why not!

[Rebekah Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Great Sage and a Rascal Named Doku is a book with an interesting premise. Doku, the rascal, is apparently the most selfish, self-absorbed, failure of a human being who finds himself on the doorstep of a Master Philosopher (the Great Sage) who agrees to take him in and teach him the secrets of life. The book is essentially a series of teachings from the Master to Doku with an occasional question or reaction from Doku.

The author clearly desires to teach principles and beliefs that he has developed, obviously, with much study. Mr. Vivek is passionate and articulate regarding those beliefs and I would guess he has a good heart to want to share what he's learned. But he uses a "story" approach to teach these philosophies and that is where this book fails. The story is too underdeveloped, making this a self-help book, thinly veiled as a story.

The mechanics of a good storytelling are missing. First, there is very little movement in this book. It's essentially the same thing in most chapters with no real climax. The narrator/author begins the chapter (or ends it) with an expository passage, often several pages long and at some point, without clear transition, this morphs into the Master speaking to Doku. We know this because quote marks appear, to signal the Master is now the one speaking to us. From there, the Master may ask a question or he may delve right into his lesson, again several pages long. These pages are not true dialogue. They are more of a monologue with an occasional reaction or question from Doku. We don't see Doku growing. We simply are told that he hears something and believes it.

It is also unclear whether the author wishes to tell his story in present or past tense because he switches back and forth repeatedly, often within the same chapter.

In addition, it is impossible to figure out who's Point of View this story is from. We jump back and forth between a narrator, the Master and Doku. Here is an example of three points of view used within the very same passage:

(Master's POV) "After having drilled home the point, that one's resistance was one of the prime reasons for one's state of affairs, it was now time to tell Doku, how one could overcome this hurdle. (Now switching to Doku's POV) Doku looked forward with eagerness to this week's lesson. He thought he was going to get a complicated discourse on the inner workings of the human psyche. However, he was in for a surprise (now no longer Doku's or the Master's POV, more of an omniscient narrator POV). The simplicity of today's teachings would empower him beyond his wildest dreams, and stay with him forever."

In regards to the characters, there is very little development. Most everything is told to us and we are given very little opportunity to see the characters interacting with each other and their environment.

Bottom line, in my opinion, this just doesn't work as a story. I think that Mr. Vivek could probably write a great non-fiction book imparting his wisdom. He is a good writer. He knows how to use language to paint a picture or to evoke emotion. But it's one of those, "go big or stay home" kind of things. Throwing a story in without developing the characters, settings, etc. detracts from the information Mr. Vivek is trying to impart. I was so frustrated with the lack of good storytelling that I couldn't concentrate on what was being said. I think this either needs to be a non-fiction self-help book or a novel. Somewhere in-between doesn't work.

[Hock Tjoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book evokes for me a fragment of a song from long ago--"Turn off your head and float downstream..." In that mode or spirit or aspect of mindfulness, the book reads well and is delightful.

Aphorisms abound: "a still mind travels faster than light"; "count your blessings instead of your shortcomings"; "always be content ... always be joyous ... that is your default state." "Laughter is the best medicine." (One person's aphorism may be another's cliche.) Some teachings are more easily paraphrased: everything is on loan from the universe, but the universe is like a bank and will check to see if you qualify. The first step to "waking up" (enlightenment?) is complete surrender. A spirit of devotion is essential and makes for effortless learning.

But one cannot help noticing that this is neither a story nor a lesson. It is neither akin to Hesse's Siddartha nor the (condensed/pop version of the) teachings of Hinduism/Buddhism. The choice of the name for the Great Sage, Artha (a Sanskrit word referring to material prosperity), might be significant, but given this book, who can tell?

Therein lies the rub. When one tries to evaluate this as a literary work, the results are not so good. But it does not work as one of those "self-help" or gospel-of-wealth books or as spiritual uplift either; Doku's story gets in the way. In addition, excursions into DNA or the mapping of brain functions or the harmonic qualities of various materials tend to be controversial.

Finally, the formatting of the text bothered me; sometimes the text is centered, sometimes it is justified. The paragraphs are not indented consistently. I confess that all these considerations seem petty when the general message seems to be "why-worry-be-happy." As the squirrel said to the mountain, "I can't carry a forest on my back, but you can't crack a nut."

Three stars, for the uplifting messages.

[Susanne Leist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the eyes of Doku, a lost soul, the book provides a unique road map on how to reach one’s potential and to live life to the fullest. Doku receives instruction from Panini and the Great Master.
The Master believes that we are all born complete. If we act with an open mind and a positive attitude, then the Universe will reward us in kind. We must meditate to find our purpose in life. We should become one with the universe. Our conscious and unconscious decisions must be made in unison. We should bring love and joy into our lives. If we act selflessly and give out positive vibes, then the universe will send positive vibes back at us.
Having spent years in a religious school, I have found that most of the Master’s words follow my religious beliefs. I was taught that the more we give, then the more we get. We shouldn’t lie or gossip. “Do onto others as you would have them do to you,” as per The Master. That is how I try to live my life.
It is hard to mix science and belief. To absorb the beliefs in this book, one must put science aside and revel in the beauty and serenity of the words. If you are a good and selfless person, help others, be tolerant of others, you will be at peace with yourself. This will bring you all the wealth that you could ever need in this world.
I enjoyed reading the book.

[C.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would classify this a self-help book with a fictional flair. The rascal Doku is similar to a journalist who asks many question. The Great Sage is the celebrity with all of the answers. Even though this book is not Christian (and it doesn’t claim to be), the emphasis on money reminds me of the "prosperity gospel" promoted by evangelists like Joyce Meyers or Joel Osteen, where if you put out the correct kind of energy into the universe, the universe will reward you with cold hard cash. Even though it's pointed out that wealth can be measured in different ways, the great emphasis on personal financial gain is what draws in so many followers. A better comparison to the master, might be Dr. Dwayne Dyer, because he doesn't attempt to Christianize the prosperity philosophy.

I think this book would appeal to those who prefer not to attach the “god” label to the higher power governing their lives. It has a New Age feel as it speaks of karma, the source, vibrating to higher frequencies, the collective consciousness and a purpose driven life. While the fictional premise is thin, I found it a clever way to liven up the religious lesson. Few visuals are given in the way of setting. The plot is Daku’s seeking of enlightenment in the form of asking many questions. If you’re looking for this type of spiritual enlightenment, this book presents it in a more entertaining way than most.

A word of caution though...the supporting science seems to be mere author opinion. For instance, in chapter 18 the master says, “When a woman is stressed, a lot more blood flows into her brain as compared to a man. Also, men can stop the flow of thought more easily than women...a woman’s response to stress is far more powerful, even for the smallest of problems; with men, the response is powerful only when the problem is big.” Oh, yeah? Some medical studies backing this claim, a footnote at least, would help here.

The master also says this, “Genes are not hardwired, you are in complete control of them...people say that they are diabetic because their parents were diabetic...The reason these people become diabetics is because they believe that they are genetically hardwired to catch the disease, this very belief triggers these genes and they end up diabetic,” said the master. “There are children in orphanages who were born to diabetic parents, but since they have no recollection of their parents or the diseases they had, they go on to live perfectly healthy lives. The same is true for any and every disease in the world; the erroneous belief that diseases are hereditary ...is how you manifest the disease.” This is so much against the grain of current medical opinion, such a assertion absolutely needs documentation to back it, but the reader is expected to take it at face value. These kinds of claims made me doubt the master’s great wisdom across the board.

His view about poor people made me sad. “When you are emotionally bankrupt, when there is little love in your life, when your heart and mind are closed...this is the internal state of those who have very little money and those who run after it.” Throughout the book, and maybe it’s just my perception, I had the feeling that the master looked down on poor people. The master seemed to be implying that the poor are poor because they have a bad attitude. It’s they’re fault. The rich are rich because they have a good attitude and deserve to be wealthy. Surely, in some cases this is true, but I cannot accept the master's wide and sweeping judgment.

There was missing and misused punctuation throughout the text, but this didn't detract from the author's highly readable writing style. Even though I didn’t buy into the master's core teachings, there were nuggets of good advice throughout. I can agree with gems like love is the supreme energy, holding grudges will inject you with poison, what you give comes back to you. I really enjoyed some of the stories the master told. I loved the one about the man in a big hurry to get to a job interview. I think about that one often, which is a sign of a skilled storyteller. Good job.

[Jacqueline Boss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not what I was expecting: I thought I would be reading more step by step guidelines (do this, then do that), but what I read was the story of Doku, who completes all the steps himself. Rather than telling us outright what steps need to be taken on this very spiritual journey, the author allows us to watch and learn from Doku-- from his mistakes and his successes.

Now I am not personally a spiritual person, and in fact I have gone out of my way to avoid books like this in the past. I am the type who learns better through sarcasm, humor and wit, then through language dressed up with romantic spirituality. I do actually agree with most of what is being said in this book, as I think all people should seek to recognize their own faults and become happy with themselves-- those who don't are missing an important part of the puzzle of life. That being said, I can certainly see why someone who is truly interested in analyzing and improving him or herself in a thoughtful and spiritual way would turn to this book and be very happy with what they find inside.

I thought the story of Doku was well written and well paced, and it almost felt like poetic prose. Doku's journey was laid out very neatly with clear milestones and though, like I said, this isn't a step-by-step to-do list, it is clear what actions the reader can take in order to produce the same outcomes as Doku.

There were also other useful and entertaining breaks from the main story-- my favorite was a lovely tale about a family and three birds: Love, Wealth, and Success. It was almost like a fairytale (or perhaps it was a fairytale) and even though it was short, I enjoyed the moral and the chance to read about a journey other than Doku's for a bit.

You will also find a few images in this book, including hand and finger positions to use during meditation.

In a nutshell, A Great Sage and A Rascal Named Doku encourages you to do good (and shows you how), and promises that good will come to you in return. While I don't agree that this is necessarily the case, I do think this is a good read for those who believe, or want to believe, that it is.

[Shawn Otomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a lover of self-help books and in general tend to avoid them. However, I have to say that I found Vivek Rajan Vivek's approach to this genre unique and rather ingenious. Instead of pounding the reader over the head with the lessons that he wants them to learn, the author wraps up his ideals in the story of Doku, a man who endures self-inflicted suffering, but eventually learns how to transcend his suffering through his experiences with Artha, a great sage who becomes Doku's master. For me, this made the life lessons perpetuated throughout the book much easier to digest as I was able to first associate them with the character of Doku before applying them to myself. I found the author's narrative to be engaging and the teachings of each chapter to be well incorporated into the the story of Doku, something that I would find to be quite difficult myself.

The only negatives I found within the book was that there were a few grammatical errors and the use of bold. The author uses bold to highlight the teachings within each chapter, but I found that it was used a bit too extensively for my tastes and was a bit distracting. However, this might just be a matter of personal choice.

Overall, I felt that A Great Sage and A Rascal Named Doku was a good read, and would be a great introduction to the self-help/inspirational genre. It eases readers into the genre with its narratives, yet keeps the lessons intended clear enough that they don't get lost in the actual story telling. Definitely recommended for those interested!

[Sarah Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, breezy, but lacks proper sourcing.

This book follows the journey of a "rascal" known as Doku as he embarks on a transformative journey via the teachings of one referred to as "the Master." The majority of the book is light and palatable, broken into short and easy-to-read chapters. The material focuses largely upon visualizing one's reality and encouraging the reader to focus on the single area of life one has control over: the internal self.

While I enjoyed this uplifting and meditative take on self-improvement, eventually it became clear that certain principles are predicated upon claims that smack of superstition and sexism and this hindered what else I might've gleaned from the text.

For example:
The assertion that DNA has no actual power over ones health, that without the knowledge or belief that one is genetically pre-disposed toward some disease (the author cites diabetes) one can avoid diabetes entirely. I suppose the adage, "what you don't know won't hurt you," might be the application, here. Additionally, the claim that women are more likely to stress over many issues both "large and small," while men "only stress over big things," denotes more personal bias (if not worse) against women. The author should take care with these claims and provide necessary sourcing where possible, as they will certainly alienate key markets.

[Anne Carlisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivek has rounded up several impressive testimonials from best-selling authors in the field for his work, A GREAT SAGE AND A RASCAL NAMED DOKU, which is aptly described by one author as "a rare abundance parable." I'm grateful there is no religious dogma within the pages. We would all like to get rich and be all that we can be, right? So I tucked into this short consciousness-raising piece with some skepticism but great personal interest. Doku is an ordinary yokel, Artha, the sage, and Panini, the go between; the sage's lessons and the interactions of these fictional characters in the ashram illustrate the author's philosophy, which is particularly strong on mitigating against self-blame. The writing is not flawless, but I enjoyed its simplicity. For example, "Doku's mind was buzzing like an airplane engine" is charming. In the end, the work does what it sets out to do, leading the reader to a "prosperity consciousness." Vivek's work is cumulatively evocative and inspirational. It is worth taking a look at and passing on to friends who need a boost. Four-and-a-half stars!

[Marsha Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed "A Great Sage and A Rascal Named Doku" on many levels and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who seeks knowledge spiritually. On one level it is a delightful tale of a "Master" and his student, Doku, told in a classic manner reminiscent of ancient story telling. In a way it is a simple yarn that is easy to read and very charming. But as the student begins to open up his mind and heart, it is clear there is great depth in the teaching. Most of the wisdom he shares are concepts I've read before, but Mr. Vivek has a way of making these ideas seem fresh through the rather innocent way he expresses himself.

This is not a religious book, but is deeply spiritual. Mr. Vivek's approach is full of joy and his writing style has a light touch. He does not attempt to solve the problems of the world, just reveal a thought process for anyone who is interested and ready. That in itself is quite profound.

The byline to his book is "Manifesting Abundance 101." I look forward to Doku's next lesson!

[Boyko Ovcharov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Wisdom!

I liked this book because it presents a different point of view regarding success, wealth and prosperity in connection with some personal and psychological principles, backed up by long-standing wisdom and practical experience. It refers to every person's inner self as part of the universe, part of the whole humankind. In fact, the concept of being prosperous and rich, even happy, is correlated to being a better person. The author uses very simple and clear examples in the form of stories that are useful and meaningful. These are allegedly applicable to various cultures, times and locations. What more could a reader want to know indeed? Perhaps if that may work for them. Maybe that is the easiest bit, just try, why not!

[Julie Savage · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not what I was expecting, especially from a self-help book. Instead of a manual on what to do, why, and what result you'll have Vivek puts the instruction into a story about a man named Doku. Through Doku's experiences the reader learns the self-help steps the Vivek wrote the book about.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the first half of the free excerpt. I am very interested and curious. This is a "self-help" type of book about increasing your wisdom, wealth, and contentment. I believe it may be beneficial to all readers. I intend to finish the book and see if it may be beneficial to me.

[Greg Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. It was succinct, heartfelt and infused with a warm and personal sense of humour. Immensely readable, it imparts a wisdom that quite simply resonates with the truth. Highly recommendable!

[Susan Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book. Perhaps it was just me.

[G.J. Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Great Sage And A Rascal Named Doku is the author's first attempt at a novel and I was not sure throughout the book at whom it was aimed. The simple style and lack of depth of the writing made me suspect, at first, that it was for children. However, the subjects and concepts covered, spiritual enlightenment, wealth and personal fulfilment, are aims to be considered by all adults. It is a collection of the austere and ascetic methods traditionally associated with yoga and Indian philosophy. A succession of aphorisms are propounded in each chapter by the Sage (or Master) to Doku, and thence of course to the reader. These maxims and various lessons in meditation from the Sage are meant to lead his disciple to eventual contentment or fulfilment, which he also calls external energy. It is clear towards the end that for external energy we can read “money, prosperity and abundance”. There are strong implications in Vivek’s book that only by surrendering to one’s base desires can you achieve true contentment – surely a very questionable idea. The Master claims that "Many highly evolved souls come from wealthy families. This has been well-documented by historical research.” I did wonder where the evidence for this came from.

At the start I began to accept the simplistic approach to Vivek’s writing as his method of instruction to the reader as disciple/student, but then the links to Science and God made it very difficult for me even to continue reading the rest of the book. I fell back upon my curiosity to spur me on to the end. As an atheist for almost fifty years and a Science and Technology teacher for almost thirty of those years I found a lot of the assertions in the book, linking woolly pseudo-science and God together, most unacceptable. For example the Master tells Doku at one point: “… the reason … people become diabetic is because they believe they are genetically hard-wired to catch the disease, this very belief triggers these genes and they end up diabetic…” – no comment! While I can respect another person’s right to their religious beliefs, I find it difficult to understand how anyone with any kind of genuine scientific education can believe in an omnipotent entity that has the power to create and exert influence upon the Universe. Although the book claims to have no religious dogma there are many references to the influence of God on the lives of humans.

There was very little reference in the Master’s teachings about the wealth and fulfilment to be found through learning about the marvels of Nature and the Universe; and nothing about the awe and wonder that students can experience through their understanding of such phenomena. I found the book quite well-written as a collection of simple fables for those that need some kind of justification of materialism, and for seeking man-made riches. But, to use a favourite word of one of my grandchildren, it was too full of “gobbledygook” for me to enjoy it.

[Adenike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying that I give this book three stars because the information within it was logical and practical. I can see how the data could be applied to everyday life, and for the enrichment ones self if they are truly looking for guidance and direction. This is my first time reading a self help book, and I found that this book to be more of a "gateway" book to other self help books that go deeper in depth on the topics covered in this one. Now don't get me wrong. This book will have you thinking of ways to better your life and the lives of people around you, but I found this book to be so jammed packed with information that you really don't have time to absorb, react, or implement what you've read.

Like I've said, I've never read a self help book, so I'm not certain of the setup or the structure of this genre. This book felt like it was going against the grain and wanting to be a fictional story instead of a non-fictional wealth of data. In my personal opinion, this book should have been set up as a study book with work pages and blank pages to write notes on. I don't think the author should have introduced characters as they felt forced in creation and didn't enhance the information that was given. Since there was an inclination of a story, I found that I didn't like the ending of the book, and I felt nothing for "The Sage" or Doku--- or Panini. I was also not a fan of the note under each the chapter headings asking me not to skip a chapter, as I found and believe that each chapter could stand on its own. I also would have liked to have known how the author came up with or found his information. This book could use some footnotes for some these facts because they were good ideas but it felt like propaganda with nothing to back it up.

Overall this was a good book with a wealth of information to think over and to consider applying to everyday life. The author did a great job of putting his wisdom on paper for the masses to really take a step back and look at their lives. This book could be better if it were a study guide with footnotes, and the removal of the chapter directives.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is perhaps one of the most original and unique reads that I have read in a long time. It is a book filled with vast amounts of metaphors and symbols that draw a picture of simplicity. It is a story about a man named Doku and his journey toward a life of happiness and peace. He is a person that seeks inner calmness and questions why he cannot succeed in everyday transactions. On his journey of enlightenment the readers learn that in order for Doku to truly be happy he must accept himself for who he is. If Doku cannot love himself than he cannot love another. This book was a challenge for me in many ways. It was both a step in the opposite direction of what I normally read or think about in everyday life. I found myself appreciating what the author was writing about and found myself agreeing with just about everything. I believe the author had a very important message for the reader and that is of self-respect. There were portions of the book that were a little more challenging to read, but I managed to pull through and I am glad I did. I do think a couple sections were a little slow, but I still find value in the book. I want to thank both the author and goodreads for sending this book to me. I really appreciate the opportunity to read something different and I plan on passing it on to someone else.

[Mary Banos · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best things about this book is that there is something to gain for every reader, of all backgrounds. Regardless of where you are from, and of your belief systems, there are jewels for you to find in the passages of this book.

Though there were parts that I personally do not agree with, overall I found many refreshing thoughts and ideas shared in this novel.

I enjoyed the messages about the importance of being genuine, the variety of ways we are told to be true to ourselves, to think about the traps that accompany labels, and the chains that are created from intolerances.

My favorite line was in reference to dreams ~ "These desires that are buried deep within their hearts are like seeds buried under mounds of snow. When spring comes, they have no choice but to sprout."

[Jennifer-Eve Workman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a thought provoking book! This book was written sort of like a spiritual parable about a "rascal" who has basically taken life for granted. Who has over-indulged and was very superficial. He came across a spiritual master who helps him understand the depths of life, thus changing his outlook on it.

It has changed the way I look at life and my life energy as well. It is a wonderful guide for those who aren't really into self-help books! I discovered quite a bit about myself and am re-reading it. I find myself researching some of the exercises I found interesting and helpful. I know it's not everyone's "cup of tea" but I certainly feel more at peace after reading it and applying some of the principals to my life.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brilliant little book! I am so happy I read it because I learned a few things I've clearly been doing incorrectly and can now make a few small changes which may have a significant impact! Many, many words of wisdom packed into this engaging story. Well done!

[Carol & Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

liked this book. will read it again. it help clam me down

[MaryEllen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Inspiring and thought provoking.