The Oath of The Vayuputras (Shiva Trilogy #3)

by Amish Tripathi

‘Often, our immediate reaction to a sudden crisis helps us save ourselves. Our response to gradual crises that creep up upon us, on the other hand, may be so adaptive as to ultimately lead to self-destruction.’

weak people never admit that they are responsible for their own state. They always blame either circumstances or others.

Ati sarvatra varjayet. Excess should be avoided;

excess of anything is bad.

universe is trying to maintain balance, we must aid this by ensuring that Good is not enjoyed excessively. Or else the universe will re-balance itself by creating Evil to counteract Good. That is the purpose of Evil:

it balances the Good.’

Our relationship with nature is different from that of other living creatures. Others have nature’s will forced upon them. We have the privilege, at times, of forcing our will upon nature.

‘Sometimes, faith can lean towards over-simplicity.’

‘Maybe simplicity is what this world needs right now.’

It meant that it was better to commit mistakes on the path that one’s soul is meant to walk on, than to live a perfect life on a path that is not meant for one’s soul.

‘Rather than the destination it is the journey that lends meaning to our lives, great Neelkanth.

we should be under no illusion that we are in control of our own breathing. We should realise the simple truth that we are “being breathed”; we are being kept alive because our journey serves a purpose. When our purpose is served, our breathing will stop and the universe will change our form to something else, so that we may serve another purpose.’

‘A man becomes God when his vision moves beyond the bounds of victors and losers,’

‘There is always unity at the end,’ said Ganesh, ‘and it brings a new tranquillity. But the meeting of two worlds causes a lot of temporary chaos.’

‘We don’t become gods because we think we are gods,’

‘That is only a sign of ego. We become gods when we realise that a part of the universal divinity lives within us; when we understand our role in this great world and when we strive to fulfil that role.