A River Sutra

by Gita Mehta

This book was great. Very vivid descriptions, interesting comments on culture, expectations, and the nature of the human heart. It was like a portal into rural India. I really enjoyed the book, and it was one of those where as you draw near the end of it, you wish that there were more to go. Incidentally, someone at work saw the book title and asked if it was like the Kama Sutra, and indeed, it is not. Actually, it's a real example of how those old posters that teachers have of how "Reading Can Transport You" (or something like that, making reading posters look like travel posters) actually do have a basis in literature, and how reading makes you feel. Maybe it's because so many people in the book are on journeys, it also somehow reminds me of Canterbury Tales (though this one is infinitely more readable).

C. was once talking about how books tend to find you, rather than you finding them, and about how important when you read them is to your understanding of them. At first, this jarred with my idea of me being ready for anything, whenever, but I think, in a larger sense, it's true. I probably would have gotten different things from this book a year ago, and had I not read certain books yet. I guess that goes toward the time honored tradition of re-reading one's favorite books, and the idea of balancing new input with enjoying expanding upon one's current resources. Only so much time in a day though.

"The monks enclose me in a circle until the crowd no longer knows which one of us has renounced the world today. In that closed circle I can hear the monks chanting:
'You will be free from doubt.
'You will be free from delusion.
'You will be free from extremes.
'You will promote stability.
'You will protect life...

And now, my friend, my brother monks are waiting for me in Mahadeo.
No, I cannot stay longer. You must find someone else to answer your questions.
If I am late, they will leave and I shall have to join a new sect of mendicants.
Don't ask me to do this, my friend.
I am too poor to renounce the world twice."

"I stared at him in astonishment, and Mr. Chagla's smooth face wrinkled with the effort of making me comprehend. 'It is not a woman who has taken possession of Mr. Bose's soul, sir. How can such a thing ever happen?'
'Then what is all this goddess business?'
'Sir, Really, sir.' Mr. Chagla sighed in frustration. 'The goddess is just the principle of life. She is every illusion that is inspiring love. That is why she is greater than all the gods combined. Call her what you will, but she is what a mother is feeling for a child. A man for a woman. A starving man for food. Human beings for God.'...'It is Mr. Bose who is making no sense, pretending desire is some kind of magic performed with black arts. But desire is the origin of life. For thousands of years our tribals have worshipped it as the goddess. you ahve heard the pilgrims praying ''Save us from the serpent's venom." Well, sir, the meaning of the prayer is as follows. The serpent in question is desire. Its venom is the harm a man does when he is ignoring the power of desire.'"