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HOW TO LEAD A SATISFYING LIFE: Eleven Universal Lessons From The Gita
All of us seek happiness, but invariably we face challenges on our journey. At those moments, we seek advice which can be trusted, and not just some quick fix. Shiv Harsh has used a time-honored epic from India to highlight the chief ingredients of a happy, satisfying life. The Gita is a classic among books on philosophy and religion. It discusses the true nature of yoga, the relationship between a perishable body and an immortal soul, and the connection between God and man. It outlines the role of unchecked desire in destroying happiness, emphasizes the wisdom of anger management, and offers many practical tips. The Gita is part of a larger text, the Mahabharata, which traces the history of ancient India through the story of the related Kaurava and Pandava clans. The Kauravas’ lust for the kingdom rightfully belonging to the Pandavas brings the families to the brink of war. In the middle of the battlefield, prior to the start of hostilities, the brave and just Pandava warrior Arjuna suffers from pangs of anxiety, insecurity and severe doubt about the wisdom of fighting against, and killing, those near and dear to him. Fortunately, his charioteer is none other than the Hindu god Lord Krishna, who soothes Arjuna’s anguish, answers his pointed questions, and offers him counsel. Their dialogue forms the body of the Gita. In this book, Shiv Harsh chooses a selection of verses from the Gita to highlight the dilemmas human beings faced in ancient times, and continue to face today. He translates the original Sanskrit to everyday English and uses examples drawn from modern life to illustrate the principles of dharma, or duty, and karma, or action. He explains how to maintain a sense of focus, steadfastness, and tolerance and how to avoid going down the slippery slope of ever-increasing frustration, anger and dissatisfaction. Shiv Harsh reminds us through the Gita that the common problems human beings face are universal, and so are their solutions.
86 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2015
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26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 25, 2015
Shiv Harsh’s “How to Lead a Satisfying Life: Eleven Universal Lessons from the Gita” is an interesting book. I guess in a way it could be called a self-help book, only it isn’t; the author interpreted eleven lessons from the “Gita”.
“…The Gita is part of an epic, the Mahabharata, written thousands of years ago, which traces the history of ancient India and its royal families. The Pandavas are cheated out of their rightful claims to rule over a vast empire by their cousins, the Kauravas. Negotiations fail, and war breaks out. This is where the Gita begins...”
Not having read the Gita I thought that this is a fitting beginning. War is when we get challenged by life, when we have questions, when we are jubilant about successes “in the battle” and upset about “lost battles”. But, as Harsh explains it’s not about the battle but about our whole life, which at times can feel like war.
The book‘s charms lies in the presentation, it doesn’t just throw out slogans like self-help books by American authors often do.
Of course, it is nothing new that we, the people who live in the Western world are often fascinated with the seemingly much more spiritual teachings of the Eastern world. I really liked that the author writes a simple language. The book speaks to the reader like an uncle or a grandparent would speak, without any pushing or slightly demanding tone a parent might have, but instead with the wisdom of the ages.
“…Things are transient. Look around you. The ten-year-old beat-up sedan you see on the highway was once a shiny object of desire for someone. Go to the junkyard: every clunker there was once coveted by its brand new owner. Things do not last forever...”
My great grandfather used to speak like that. I remember one day, when I was about ten years old and he was almost ninety, we met a really old lady, with whom he chatted for a few minutes. As we walked off great-grandpa said, “She used to be a phenomenal dancer.” Naturally, as a ten year old I could not even imagine that this old lady danced at any time. “Well,” great-grandpa, “all of us were young at some time.”
And, that’s what this book is all about. How do we maneuver through life, from being a young person, eager to conquer the world (and to dance) to becoming an older person, who should not fear death because our souls are “… permanent, and cannot be modified. It is ancient and eternal. It always was, and always will be…” (Nainam chindanti shastrani nainam dahati pavakah na chainam kledayanty apo na shoshayati marutah (Gita 2: 23))
5 stars and highly recommend.
Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
“…The Gita is part of an epic, the Mahabharata, written thousands of years ago, which traces the history of ancient India and its royal families. The Pandavas are cheated out of their rightful claims to rule over a vast empire by their cousins, the Kauravas. Negotiations fail, and war breaks out. This is where the Gita begins...”
Not having read the Gita I thought that this is a fitting beginning. War is when we get challenged by life, when we have questions, when we are jubilant about successes “in the battle” and upset about “lost battles”. But, as Harsh explains it’s not about the battle but about our whole life, which at times can feel like war.
The book‘s charms lies in the presentation, it doesn’t just throw out slogans like self-help books by American authors often do.
Of course, it is nothing new that we, the people who live in the Western world are often fascinated with the seemingly much more spiritual teachings of the Eastern world. I really liked that the author writes a simple language. The book speaks to the reader like an uncle or a grandparent would speak, without any pushing or slightly demanding tone a parent might have, but instead with the wisdom of the ages.
“…Things are transient. Look around you. The ten-year-old beat-up sedan you see on the highway was once a shiny object of desire for someone. Go to the junkyard: every clunker there was once coveted by its brand new owner. Things do not last forever...”
My great grandfather used to speak like that. I remember one day, when I was about ten years old and he was almost ninety, we met a really old lady, with whom he chatted for a few minutes. As we walked off great-grandpa said, “She used to be a phenomenal dancer.” Naturally, as a ten year old I could not even imagine that this old lady danced at any time. “Well,” great-grandpa, “all of us were young at some time.”
And, that’s what this book is all about. How do we maneuver through life, from being a young person, eager to conquer the world (and to dance) to becoming an older person, who should not fear death because our souls are “… permanent, and cannot be modified. It is ancient and eternal. It always was, and always will be…” (Nainam chindanti shastrani nainam dahati pavakah na chainam kledayanty apo na shoshayati marutah (Gita 2: 23))
5 stars and highly recommend.
Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
May 19, 2015
Makes you feel calm and positive about life and yourself
Shiv Harsh invited me to ‘Look inside. Step away for a moment from the hustle and bustle, the noise and the chaos of daily life. Take a deep breath in. And look inward.’ Then, like a spirit guide in a fantasy novel, he interpreted eleven key tenets from the Gita’s ancient wisdom to help me live better and be happier.
Such personal directness is one of the engaging qualities of this little book. It is deceptively easy to read and understand but the author’s selection and translation from the Sanskrit original show the expertise which underpins this attempt to bring the Gita to a modern audience, particularly young people.
Easy to read, yes, but the call to ‘right action’ requires self-discipline. Shiv Harsh gives many examples of why this way of living leads to greater happiness and his voice has the ring of truth and experience. I liked the way he offered the Gita as an underlying way to live, open to people of any religious faith, or, as in my case, complete aversion to organized religion. This is about personal choices within any belief system and many of the tenets struck a chord with me.
Sometimes the truth can be so simple. ‘Most people know instinctively what is good and what is bad’ cut short all the equivocation that could come from a debate and got to the heart of what we do about that knowledge.
I enjoyed the relation of modern sayings to similar advice in the Gita. Human nature really doesn’t change. ‘If your mind is full of self-doubt, if you are plagued by a poor self-image, your performance in all fields of life will suffer.’ Of course but what do we do about this? The Gita’s advice is clear.
I’m not young, I’ve never wanted a posh car, a rich man or a trophy wife, but I am guilty of attachment – wanting some things too much. I felt calm, re-balanced after reading this book. I thought about some of the tenets and felt there were paradoxes, advice that clashed with my romantic tendencies. I wanted to discuss the book – and so did the author, on his blog, on his website, on twitter. ‘People have been discussing the Gita for centuries’, he told me. This book embodies one of its own lessons. ‘Intensive effort and practice make things look easy.’ An ebook doesn’t do it justice; it should be printed with illuminated margins on cream vellum, to sit on a bedside table and be re-read before the good sleep it advocates.
Shiv Harsh invited me to ‘Look inside. Step away for a moment from the hustle and bustle, the noise and the chaos of daily life. Take a deep breath in. And look inward.’ Then, like a spirit guide in a fantasy novel, he interpreted eleven key tenets from the Gita’s ancient wisdom to help me live better and be happier.
Such personal directness is one of the engaging qualities of this little book. It is deceptively easy to read and understand but the author’s selection and translation from the Sanskrit original show the expertise which underpins this attempt to bring the Gita to a modern audience, particularly young people.
Easy to read, yes, but the call to ‘right action’ requires self-discipline. Shiv Harsh gives many examples of why this way of living leads to greater happiness and his voice has the ring of truth and experience. I liked the way he offered the Gita as an underlying way to live, open to people of any religious faith, or, as in my case, complete aversion to organized religion. This is about personal choices within any belief system and many of the tenets struck a chord with me.
Sometimes the truth can be so simple. ‘Most people know instinctively what is good and what is bad’ cut short all the equivocation that could come from a debate and got to the heart of what we do about that knowledge.
I enjoyed the relation of modern sayings to similar advice in the Gita. Human nature really doesn’t change. ‘If your mind is full of self-doubt, if you are plagued by a poor self-image, your performance in all fields of life will suffer.’ Of course but what do we do about this? The Gita’s advice is clear.
I’m not young, I’ve never wanted a posh car, a rich man or a trophy wife, but I am guilty of attachment – wanting some things too much. I felt calm, re-balanced after reading this book. I thought about some of the tenets and felt there were paradoxes, advice that clashed with my romantic tendencies. I wanted to discuss the book – and so did the author, on his blog, on his website, on twitter. ‘People have been discussing the Gita for centuries’, he told me. This book embodies one of its own lessons. ‘Intensive effort and practice make things look easy.’ An ebook doesn’t do it justice; it should be printed with illuminated margins on cream vellum, to sit on a bedside table and be re-read before the good sleep it advocates.
May 16, 2015
Shiv Harsh’s How to Live a Satisfying Life is a book on self-control, focus and the belief that you can be your own best friend. Its a motivational book, taken from the Gita and the true nature of Yoga. It’s positive, life-changing and fun to read. Especially helpful to those in the Arrivals Lounge of life with less confidence, little or no motivation, and whose parents persist in telling them they must do something with their lives. ‘What thing?’ they ask. Anything. Because humans have an inherent wish to be active.
Harsh also says ‘Although you can’t control results, results often take care of themselves: if you keep doing the right things, and keep doing them well.’ I don’t know how many times I heard my father tell me to give it my best shot. My father also believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just as I do. He was also very philosophical, kind, nurturing and successful. He had what I call, a conquering spirit. He once said, ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.’ It look all the stress out of whatever it was I was doing, because it left room for a fall now and again. Instead of stressing over the process, I actually enjoyed it. Whether I win or lose, I go in knowing it’s a win-win situation because along with prayer, I'll give it my best shot.
I like that Harsh says success and failure are inevitable, that even during a dark period if we hang in there, the tide will turn. We mustn’t spend precious energy feeling sorry for ourselves—rather spend time analyzing reasons for our failures and try to correct them. Practice makes perfect, especially if you believe in God. He tells us about tolerating adverse events, what makes us strong for the challenges that lie ahead. He talks of staying in the game while others are at the movies and the self-control that drives that decision. He tells us how to grab the breeze.
There is great humor in this book and great wisdom too. It will help steer you in the right direction if you let it. The question is, do you want to be a success? Do you want to stamp out those nasty little demons of doubt, of self-loathing, of negativity? I thought so. How to Live a Satisfying Life is well worth the read.
Harsh also says ‘Although you can’t control results, results often take care of themselves: if you keep doing the right things, and keep doing them well.’ I don’t know how many times I heard my father tell me to give it my best shot. My father also believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just as I do. He was also very philosophical, kind, nurturing and successful. He had what I call, a conquering spirit. He once said, ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.’ It look all the stress out of whatever it was I was doing, because it left room for a fall now and again. Instead of stressing over the process, I actually enjoyed it. Whether I win or lose, I go in knowing it’s a win-win situation because along with prayer, I'll give it my best shot.
I like that Harsh says success and failure are inevitable, that even during a dark period if we hang in there, the tide will turn. We mustn’t spend precious energy feeling sorry for ourselves—rather spend time analyzing reasons for our failures and try to correct them. Practice makes perfect, especially if you believe in God. He tells us about tolerating adverse events, what makes us strong for the challenges that lie ahead. He talks of staying in the game while others are at the movies and the self-control that drives that decision. He tells us how to grab the breeze.
There is great humor in this book and great wisdom too. It will help steer you in the right direction if you let it. The question is, do you want to be a success? Do you want to stamp out those nasty little demons of doubt, of self-loathing, of negativity? I thought so. How to Live a Satisfying Life is well worth the read.
July 9, 2015
Breathe, think and live a better life
Sometimes you just need to read some non-fiction, and you don't want it to be the newspapers, historical facts or guidebooks. You want it to be relaxing, inspiring, and you want it to make you think, but not burden you.
This book is told from a very interesting perspective - explaining the Gita in everyday life situation and terms, as the author Shiv Harsh sees it. It made me remember the saying that you never know anything really well till you are able to explain it in very simple terms. The author manages that admirably. Whether you know the writings or not, whether you are a religious person, or simply a person who likes a pro-active outlook on life, this book will be a good read for you. Although, I have to say, this book would stand its ground even without references to the Gita.
It may not solve the world's issues, or your life's, because it does not profess to do so at all. Do not expect bombastic, magical solutions. It does not preach religion, it does not lay blame, it does not release you of any guilt, nor does it tell you everything will be alright. But if your mind sometimes feels like muddy waters, this will definitely help you clear it out. What I especially like about it is that, despite its seeming brevity, it is so packed with thoughts and lines, that it will make you stop, pause, think and rethink. If you want to get this book's true worth, you will not rush through. Even if you do, you will probably re-read soon enough. I kept wondering if the world would be a dull place if we all had our emotions under control, if we all really persevered in this perfect serenity and moderation. It definitely is something to strive for, for the sake of our own peace. Doing what we dream off doing, no excuses, no delays. Being who we are, respecting what others are. Keeping a healthy mind and soul in a healthy body because we can, not thanks to pharmaceuticals... To be completely honest, there were places in this book where I found myself, and I didn't really want to. But it made me think. The lessons in the final summary all make sense.
I know several people I will recommend this book to. Not to preach, but to inspire them to pause, take a deep breath and decide what they want to remove from their lives, and what to keep steering in or toward. Bit by bit, life by life, is how the world CAN change. We may as well try!
Sometimes you just need to read some non-fiction, and you don't want it to be the newspapers, historical facts or guidebooks. You want it to be relaxing, inspiring, and you want it to make you think, but not burden you.
This book is told from a very interesting perspective - explaining the Gita in everyday life situation and terms, as the author Shiv Harsh sees it. It made me remember the saying that you never know anything really well till you are able to explain it in very simple terms. The author manages that admirably. Whether you know the writings or not, whether you are a religious person, or simply a person who likes a pro-active outlook on life, this book will be a good read for you. Although, I have to say, this book would stand its ground even without references to the Gita.
It may not solve the world's issues, or your life's, because it does not profess to do so at all. Do not expect bombastic, magical solutions. It does not preach religion, it does not lay blame, it does not release you of any guilt, nor does it tell you everything will be alright. But if your mind sometimes feels like muddy waters, this will definitely help you clear it out. What I especially like about it is that, despite its seeming brevity, it is so packed with thoughts and lines, that it will make you stop, pause, think and rethink. If you want to get this book's true worth, you will not rush through. Even if you do, you will probably re-read soon enough. I kept wondering if the world would be a dull place if we all had our emotions under control, if we all really persevered in this perfect serenity and moderation. It definitely is something to strive for, for the sake of our own peace. Doing what we dream off doing, no excuses, no delays. Being who we are, respecting what others are. Keeping a healthy mind and soul in a healthy body because we can, not thanks to pharmaceuticals... To be completely honest, there were places in this book where I found myself, and I didn't really want to. But it made me think. The lessons in the final summary all make sense.
I know several people I will recommend this book to. Not to preach, but to inspire them to pause, take a deep breath and decide what they want to remove from their lives, and what to keep steering in or toward. Bit by bit, life by life, is how the world CAN change. We may as well try!
February 10, 2022
2.5/5
Five things:
- Gita
- Ancient wisdom
- Self-help
- Principles to live by
- Young adult-targeted self help
Five things:
- Gita
- Ancient wisdom
- Self-help
- Principles to live by
- Young adult-targeted self help
October 4, 2015
I am happy I read this book. Mr. Harsh (ironic last name given the soothing subject matter of the book!) offers an introduction into a way of thinking that so many of us need to hear. I found myself rethinking my own habits and ways of thinking, how I make decisions and how I spend my time.
There is nothing negative about this book and I can see it being very helpful to a large number of people. Nicely done!
There is nothing negative about this book and I can see it being very helpful to a large number of people. Nicely done!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews