Australia Books

A VISION OF THE SACRED: My Personal Journey with Krishnamurti By Sunanda Patwardhan Ph.D.

Reviewed by Satish Telgar Ph.D.

J.Krishnamurti the peripatetic teacher who ever since his apostasy from the Theosophical Society in the 1930's traveled around the world and talked to thousands of people touched and transformed many lives. Mrs. Sunanda Patwardhan the author of this wonderful little book A Vision of the Sacred had the rare privilege of being his close friend and confidant, records in it in a frank and candid manner the number of conversations and anecdotes that she was privy to. As she says in the introduction to the book the reason to write it was an earnest wish to share with the reader the events, insights and conversations with Krishnamurti and how it helped her face her own conflicts and begin her inward pilgrimage. The book has yet another lofty purpose, which is to communicate the sense of the sacred she witnessed in the remarkable presence of Krishnamurti. She hopes as she says in the introduction that a reader in the next century, which is upon us now, should be able to get a glimpse of this sense of the sacred that radiated from Krishnamurti by reading the book.

Those of us who tend to think of metaphysical and religious truths as `distant' and `inaccessible' without undergoing rigorous practices of meditation will be surprised to discover that much of it has to do with observation of one's daily life with its attendant conflicts and problems. Time and again the reader is offered with anecdotes and suggestions which point out the need to be aware of what is happening to oneself as the key to unlock the unknown.

Mrs. Patwardhan refers to an incident where Krishnamurti admonishes her and refers to her vanity and the need to be aware of it. Through careful observation one can see the self as it is instead of resorting to speculation. Speculative thinking brings into play in its wake the deeply encrusted thought process and distorts our perception. Intellect is the main instrument of speculative thought. Krishnamurti urges us to transcend the intellect as he is quoted saying, " You have sharpened your intellect. It is capable of analysis, clear thinking. That's enough. Now turn to other direction, the unexplained part, an explosion of silence in the mind". Silence and solitude are an essential part of Krishnamurti's teaching. One is reminded here of what the Buddha said that despite the fact that he had taught for nearly forty years yet he was in silence.

Every now and then as one reads the book one gets a glimpse of Krishnamurti's probing mind. In one such revealing conversation, in response to a query from Krishnamurti, Mrs. Patwardhan refers to how in her own life through perception she was able to negate formation of things in her mind and accomplish this in a successive manner with other perceptions as well and thereby gaining insight into the ending of time. Krishnamurti points out that by going from one act of perception-negation to another it becomes a process and so it is still in the realm of time. He goes on to add through an exhortation, "....... Stop saying, ` I know, then the process ends'". To someone like me, who teaches philosophy, that statement resonates and reverberates with an ever-deeper meaning. In the Apology of Plato one of the great texts of philosophy in the western tradition, Socrates says that all he knows is that he does not know. Plato's dialogues may be seen as an attempt to understand this great utterance of Socrates.

There are many interesting anecdotes and passages in the book, which will hold the attention of the thoughtful reader. One such passage is Mrs. Patwardhan talking about her many miscarriages and her failure to attain motherhood. This leaves a great sense of void. Talking about it to Krishnamurti she says that she has accepted her inevitable fate of not being a mother and in a sense made peace with herself. Krishnamurti's response to this is very revealing. He raises many interesting questions all calculated to expose the deep lingering desire to have a child and the consequent frustration of not having one. He asks if she has observed very clearly her inner reactions when she sees photographs of lovely children, sees a mother being tender to her baby etc,. The moral of this story is clear; it is not a matter of acceptance or rejection but deep and careful observation. It is only through deep and careful observation that the hidden and buried content of our consciousness can be eviscerated to clear view.

The book is divided into convenient sections covering a wide array of topics ranging from Mrs. Patwardhan's first impressions of Krishnamurti and her own brahminical background to the subject of social change, tradition, education, living and dying, inner revolution, and theosophy. The language of the book is simple, direct, clear and straight from the heart. Some of us who are fortunate enough to have known Mrs. Patwardhan personally will immediately sense the gentleness and openness that was so characteristic of her personality as we read the book. The fact that Mrs. Patwardhan was a fine stenographer as well and kept scrupulous notes makes the quotations from Krishnamurti all the more authentic. The book is a great contribution not only to those who are discovering the teachings of Krishnamurti anew, but to others as well who have been familiar and who cannot afford to lose the ever renewing challenge of the vastness and depth of a great body of teachings that Krishnamurti has left behind for posterity.

One gets the impression from reading this Wonderfull book that Sunanda was a warm hearted, sincere and intelligent seeker of spiritual truth.

Since her first meeting with Krishnamurti in 1947 to her death in 1999 she did a lot of work for Krishnamurti and the Krishnamurti foundation in India. This book is a collection af meditation on the Spiritual Search and the influence of Krishnamurti and his Teaching on her. She says that she often got a sense of the Sacred around Krishnamurti and in situations like that it's so easy fo fall into the Guru trap and to stop thinking for oneself and just relying on the words and influence of others, But as Krishnamurti said to her " I can tell you that there is a lovely garden beyond the hill. I can hold your hand, But You have to walk and climb the hill."(p-11).

This book is inspiring and gives one a lot to think on, and her writing is Poetic and Clear.

Also recomended are the Krishnamurti Biograpy's by Pupul Jayakar and Mary Lutyens and some of Krishnamurti's books like his Notebook and Freedom from the Known.

Mark's autobiography of how he achieves his dreams allows the reader to experience his hard work and victories. He teaches us about how everything is born through a dream. To grow the seed into a definite stem requires visualization, determination, persisting through challenges, and taking control. Without these, Mark would never have become the hero he is today. It would be a remiss to any Canadians to not know about Mark Tewksbury's success. This book is a astonishing book that shows how an ordinary human being can bring upon his unique characteristics to become a hero. You learn that everyone is a hero within, as long as you can dream, that is. I would recommend this book to anyone out there who is still in search of a goal, or currently working on one. You may, in the end of the book too find your dream. Or, perhaps take Mark's success and strategies to encourage and motivate yourself to overcoming challenges.

Mark Tewkbury is not only an increadible athlete, but an excellent motivational speaker. He takes everything he know about life, lessons we all should learn, and puts them into this book, together with his autobiography, he tells the reader how HE learned those lessons. Also, you can real it for the wonderful and inspiring story

In this book The Wanderer. Two Main characters named Sophie and Cody travel across the ocean along with there family crew Mo, Dock, Stew, and Brian. Sophie lives in Ohio and moved from the coast sides of Virginia. The only water she has near by known is the Ohio River.
Sophie is an adopted child and is getting ready to set sail with the family crew to see there Bompie (Grandfather). While being on the ship they have to teach each other things like Sophie tells stories she remembers from when she was little being told by her Bompie. Cody being stupid juggled like a clown. This book was awesome. The book has everything in it. It is really descriptive. Anyone will enjoy it. I'm not the type of person who reads but this book caught my eye. In the story some pretty weird things happen while on the ocean. To find out you must read.
Reading this story helped me get into reading and become better at reading. If I could I would read it again and again. The book has several pages but short chapters. The Chapters are mainly by Sophie and Cody. In this Story Sophie and Cody's chapters are like journals of there trip for memories much rather to share with there family and friends. I enjoyed reading this book because it's not all girly girl and it's not more of a guy book but simply in the middle. The Story has a lot of great chapters and some are just okay. For the most part it is excellent. The Story is so realistic to things that others do and have done. My favorite character I would have to say is Sophie. Sophie has a unique person but proves she is just as good as a guy.
The Wanderer will make you Ponder. What is going on, where are they, who do they see, and are they going to get caught are some thing you might think of. This book is awesome!! Like I said you want to read a great book this is the book for you. Read the book.

THIS BOOK WAS ONE OF THE BEST EVER. IT HAD EVERYTHING I WOULD EXPECT IN A GOOD BOOK. THE CHARACTERS WERE REALISTIC. MY FAVORITE WAS CORY. THE BOOK HAD A GREAT PLOT, AND IT WILL MAKE YOU THINK. YOU COULD NOT JUST READ IT TO READ IT. YOU HAD TO PUT THE BOOK DOWN AFTER AWHILE AND PONDER OVER WHAT YOU JUST READ.

Meagan discovered her fiance in their bed with a bimbo six weeks before their marriage and dumped him . The next day, her boss told her that she was to replace the Managing Director's secretary at a very important 3-day business conference with a Japanese delegaton. She was seduced and as she was on the rebound , she did not mind this interlude but refused to continue seeing him afterwards. He discovered hinself in love with her and set out to win her. Passion sizzled between the two but the heroine refused to compromise -- it's either all or nothing. A very enjoyable read.

The story goes that the heroine has just dumped her fiance and is looking for that elusive "perfect" hero. The hero has had his eye on her for a while, and ends up proposing marriage to keep her. And this is where she has to make sure he will still be interested in her forever. Emma Darcy has made her heroine, as always, a strong woman who is not afraid of the hero just because he has power. She gets what she wants i.e. the hero, through a combination of humour, determination and making sure he won't stray, by giving him what they both want..... This book is well written, and the happy ending makes all their doubts and fears vanish with the "I do's". The book is a keeper.

Having some years ago identified the stunned mullet syndrome affecting the cancer patient upon diagnosis I welcome Joel Nathan's "What to do when they say `It's cancer" as the most steadying influence the patient (and family) could be given at this point. His first advice is `to press the pause button', regain control, don't rush into treatment. Having also known the indignity of the experience, he knows the value of dignity, and the importance of hope - early. The subtitle's claim of being "A survivor's guide' is a very modest one for it provides more common-sense, practical, useful information than has so far been assembled. The bibliographical notes indicate a more than unusually informed mind on the wide scope of this subject. Writing out of experience as a three-time survivor, first with leukemia, 13 years later with lung cancer, and then with a recurrence of his leukemia, and altogether free from any hint of `schmaltz', Nathan has avoided the all too often extravagant claims of other survivors who maintain their way is the best way, even the only way. The book is not hyped as ` inspirational'. It has substance, pabulum. This is a very readable book, but it is not only for the patient. The author's insights into the professional world of the practitioner, of all brands, is extremely useful, with much to be learned by those who rely only their skills and knowledge and who lack awareness of the significance of the right relationship with the patient. Nathan's advice is to find the right door, get a second or third opinion. In this area, as throughout, there are specifics, practical down-to-earth ideas and observations. The book has a very balanced chapter on alternative medicine, the author's wisdom born from his own struggle with leukemia. In desperation he had been induced to try dozens of alternative treatments, so he has an understanding of the cancer patient's vulnerability. His advice is wise and uncompromising: demand the facts, the evidence; be warned of the consequences of abandoning conventional treatment; know the myths, the origins and the track record. It would be difficult to suggest any area of the cancer patient's needs that has not been addressed. Diagnosis and treatment are only two of the matters the patient is concerned with. Within those two headings there are sub-headings of great significance: psychological reaction and understanding your feelings, options and alternatives, patient's rights, side-effects, collaboration with your medical team, sexuality, stress and the immune system, caring and support, death and dying, living in the meantime. This a readable, informative, practical book that will be of immense value to all involved in the care of the cancer patient. It provides the information and wisdom to prevent drama turning to tragedy. The sooner people read it, the better. Not only the patient; the husband of a patient recently said of the chapter on carers, `I wish I read it 18 months ago'.

The author - a three times cancer survivor - faces the hard questions and myths confronting every cancer patient with honesty and common sense. Through his own considerable experiences and those of his patients, he helps remove some of the panic and show how people with cancer and their family members can take control from the start. It is an easy to read book and covers all the issues that occur during the critical weeks and months after a diagnosis of cancer. It is written in five parts: Part 1 deals with understanding and confirming the diagnosis, why you need a cancer specialist and how to find one, and very importantly, how to break the news - especially to children. It lists key questions to ask your doctor and how to go about getting a second opinion Part 2 deals with how to be a survivor, weighing up alternative treatments, and describes the various treatments available and their side effects. I was particularly impressed with the author's sensitivity in the way he discusses the issues of sexuality and feeling. Part 3 deals with your rights, what are you entitled to in law, and the hotly-debated issue of euthanasia. Part 4 deals with the mind-body connection,the impact of stress and how to deal with it. I was particularly impressed by the author's meditations and the manner in which he presents them. How to make the most out of life in the face of death is, for me, the most compelling part of this book. Part 5 provides a list of notes and resources that can be used as reference. To make it even easier for the reader, it is also well indexed. I have read many books on cancer, and this is, to my mind, the best.

My 2 1/2 year old adores this book (and Lester's other books) She knows all the characters by heart, and identifies with several of them. The illustrations are fun, and the writing style is unique. Hats off to Lester!!!

Alison Lester would be one of the best children's author/illustrators about. All her books are wonderful! I particularly wanted to comment on this one as we used it to wean our 3 year old son off his dummy (pacificer). For in the book 'at 3, Clive gave away his dummy' - we read the book quite a few times (without making an issue of that particular bit), and lo and behold young son decides it's time to give up his dummy! Thanks Alison. Beautiful illustrations, fun text. Kids and adults all love Lester's work.

This is a fantastic book and this man Colin Mcphedran is a fascinating person.I reccoment to anyone

Colin McPhedran's biography tells the story of his journey from war-torn Burma to peacetime in Australia and from boyhood to manhood. The story chronicles the events in his family, in the world and in his life. It is a story that is rarely told, as so few survived the trek from Burma into India during the second world war. He does a great job of telling the story in a way that is gripping and moving, without being sensationalist. I left the book with a much better understanding of what the lives of refugees can be like; that even those who may have a stable life during peacetime, can lose all they have during war. I was impressed with the way he is able to tell the story in such a straightforward way, explaining the horrors he witnessed, but without over-indulging in the macabre. His stories of pre-indepedence India are also painted beautifully. I couldn't put it down.

If you read this book you get a very good vieuw of the Australian wines and winery's mr.Halliday did,as in his other books,an amazing job. for all the wine lovers out there a must buy

My recent month-plus tour of wineries in Australia and New Zealand was greatly based upon the excellent research,reviews and contacts using this fine reference.As a budding wine writer, collector, and head of a local Enological Society in the Pacific Northwest,Halliday's Atlas has been the virtual bible enabling the design of both the tour and subsequent writing.As my primary interest was a focus upon pinot noirs, my tour began in Australia where I visited Halliday's own Coldstream Hills Vineyard.His work provide a roadmap enabling me to contact other prominent pinot noir producers in the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula-Main ridge, Stonier, Yering Station, Paringa Estates and others.While there, I also made contacts and was invited to a new release winetasting of New Zealand wines held in Melbourne. Quite amazingly, the first person I met was the great James, himself. It was fun and a privilege to share wine tasting experience and comments.
From there, the tour extended to the whole of New Zealand. Again the Atlas laid the groundwork for my visits, enabling me to meet most of New Zealand's greatest owners and winemakers, including John Buck at Te Mata,Kevin Judd at the famous Cloudy Bay,Neil McClallum at Dry River, Grant Taylor at Gibbston Valley and many others.Naturally, covering nine separate wine regions entailed tasting many other prime quality varietals in such warmer climes as Waiheke Island and Hawkes Bay with their magnificent cabernets and Bordeaux blends,plus gorgeous chardonneys,etc. In all cases, the Atlas gave regional and subregional data and exacting descriptions of "terrior" necessary to a serious study.Halliday is, in my book, a more comprehensive writer and reviewer of "new world" wines than even Jancis Robinson or Robert Parker. He also adds the direct insights of his winemaking in Australia and his pioneering of pinot noir developments "down under". His reputation as a critic is simply impeccable and his easily read writing style, while detailed, is at once comprehensive and comprehensible.It is a must read and essential reference for serious oenophiles and fellow wine tourists.

This is a great book. Not only is it quite up-to-date (with tasting of recent vintages), it also covers the majority of the good-to excellent producers. It's written in a 'Parker'-style with many details of the individual wineries - and several of their different bottlings. A (vague) complaint is the absence of general vintage charts. Anyway... definitely recommendable !

Arguably THE book for Aussie and NZ wines, especially good for New Zealand since no major wine magazine has written extensive detail on this region. Great handbook to have. Agree with earlier post that vintage charts by region would be great to have, as well as some index on who the 5* producers are.

A fascinating, and largely undiscovered masterpiece purportedly addressing the Nature of Time. If you've read Grammatical Man, don't let that turn you off. This one reads like a different author

It has been a few years since I read this book. I remember the cover notes saying that I would never look at the world in the same way again and I must say that it fundamentally changed my world view. It is a very intelligent book that is wide ranging in scope but uses time as a central theme. The author convinces us that nothing exists alone and that there are clocks and cycles everywhere. I recommend to any science reader.