Book Review: Most and More by Mahatria Ra

Mostly Motivational:

I have read somewhere the Dalai Lama saying: "Go out of circulation, once in six months!" What he means is to travel out of your city/town/home to break the routine life and connect with Nature. Else the mind in its natural course will set a 'concrete context for life', particularly if you are living in a concrete jungle!

If Corona has constrained your travel, alternatively why not pick up a book that expands your worldview to take stock of your life story? Here's a short review of the wise book, "Most and More" from Mahatria Ra, the well-known modern sage.

It's a packed-power-punch. Gulp it to strengthen the soul.

If a senior trainer and Guru of Gurus in Indianoil like Shri K M Krishnakumar, former Chief HRD Manager, Indianoil-SRO, blesses you with a book-gift, it is only your duty to cherish reading it. And I did. Though I have seen the witty video wisdom of Mahatria Ra, in the WhatsApp world and mostly (rather, more not less, going by the unique title of the book) enjoyed it, reading is a different cup of tea. 

The book is so well printed with strong binding, superb quality paper and nice fonts with spacious lining and pagination, you love holding it in your hands. Only bookworms will empathize with me on this. But reading is also so fast like a river that flows smoothly and the expressions clear like crystal that its pleasing. 

A warning: Don’t expect humor in this book, thinking that the new age Corporate Guru will crack a joke or two as he does in his discourses. Rather its serious wisdom packed particularly for a student emerging out of college or young employee needing clarity of purpose in his/her life.

Unlike the other modern gurus who come in Q&A format, Ra has made it a direct advisory and hence comes across like a bolt from the bullet. ‘Most and more’, is a one-way-talk, hardly allowing the other characters to open their mouth to discuss issues (who have been deliberately brought in only to spice the story), the monotony bothers many times. However, the book brings along ALL the wise words that you may have heard or read somewhere and contextually packed for each chapter. 

The central hero Avyakta resembles the guru mahatria in his demeanor as you just can’t avoid the strong white-kurta-clad background image foreshadowing in mind as you read along. In fact, like many authors, Ra ‘speaks through’ his hero Avyakta to the other people around, viz., his son, daughter, wife, followers, students, coworkers and mentees in various life-settings. Literally, it is a ‘Talking Book’ replacing the video format. 

The areas of human predicament in one’s life such as, success, habits, discipline, expectation, trials and tribulations, doubts and beliefs, all come in pleasant sequence in the book ending at spirituality, to expand the reader’s understanding. That is, if he can stand the advisory tone, as Avyakta all along talks down non-stop to his fellow beings. For a reader of over 1000 best books of humanity like me, it is a challenge but for a beginner of life or person perturbed by life’s challenges thrown at him, the book is a packed motivational dose of help. 

Some of the chapter-beginnings or end-highlights are really succinct and capsule-type to swallow straight away. For instance, what is the hallmark of greatness? In the speaker’s words, “Consistency is the hallmark of greatness. Anyone can perform an occasional act of greatness. Truly great are those who can consistently perform acts of greatness. You will not be remembered for what you do or did once in a way, but for what you do and did all the time.” 

In the end, I would say, ‘Most and More’ from Mahatria Ra is a heavy dose of life-straightening-awareness book. If you look for serious learning and immediate application in life, pick it up and consume it in few short sittings. But if you want entertainment and fun blended with wise thoughts, rather watch his videos. 

As he says, it finally boils down to “who you are rather than whatever you do!”.