STRANDS OF ETERNITY by VASANT LAD

 Reading by Aloysiusi Polintan

Strands of Eternity by Vasant Lad

(Ayurvedic Press, 2004)

Flash Book Review No. 240: "Just as there is a space between the clouds in the sky, there is a space between your thoughts. This space is the doorway to the divine." I admit that when I started to get hooked on reading "serious" canonical works, I also developed an aversion to self-help books. There were occasions when I thought self-help books were just a waste of money and time, or when I pushed myself to think that imposed words of wisdom only exacerbated one's perception of his own daily misery. But this time, I made an exception. I bought and read a copy of Strands of Eternity (Ayurvedic Press, 2004), which compiled the mystical poetry and discourses of the well-known Ayurvedic physician Dr. Vasant Lad. I'm actually getting interested in whatever Oriental philosophy calls for: contemplation, flow, and harmony with the natural world (or I may have lacked access to Catholic readings on such themes). "Pay attention to inattention"—this is perhaps the most iterated line from the book, and it is a sacred order for me to behold and obey if I really want to attain peace of mind and serenity of heart. I learned from this reading experience that too much knowledge is a vehicle for the preoccupations of the body and soul, which may hinder me from staying present, from celebrating the moment, from allowing the Self to blossom, and from making Otherness known to me. The book also recommends promising meditative exercises that do not require intricate methods—"The moment of no movement is meditation." This book makes me yearn for more books on healing—ones that will be loved by people of all religions and walks of life. This experience reinforces the idea that unity is innate in all humankind and that that interconnection must be sought day by day through our thoughts, actions, and habits. Dr. Lad ended his discourses this way: "There are many realities in this world, but truth is one." May the time made available for personal rest and reflection be utilized to the fullest, and may what I have learned from this slim volume of vast wisdom be applied in every second and every moment.

*****

Since 2016, Aloysiusi Polintan has worked as a Senior High School Principal in Divina Pastora College. He started scribbling poems and essays when he was 17 years old. These poems are still kept in a notebook and wait to be revised for future publication. This notebook will be revived and will give birth to language already "lived." That is why his blog is named "Renaissance of a Notebook," a blog of poems, personal and academic essays, and flash movie reviews. His book reviews, which are published and featured in The Halo-Halo Review and Galatea Resurrects, are also to be found on the blog, under the series title "Mesmerized." He believes that the ability to judge or critique a literary piece starts with the reader's being moved and mesmerized by the artful arrangement of words articulating some longing for freedom and individuality. He's now working on a manuscript of 50 poems, with a working title of Brittle Sounds.