REVIEW OF MICHAEL TOBIAS' NEW BOOK
A new book by Michael Tobias: CHATEAU BEYOND TIME, published by Council Oak Books, hardvoer, 256 pages, March 2008. An Essay by Michael Pastore.
Michael Tobias is our greatest living author. He has not only forged the conscience of our race, but challenged us to hear and respond to the slumbering consciences deep within each one of us. In 2006 he blessed the world with an 1,800-page novel, The Adventures of Mr Marigold, a masterpiece which, in my opinion, stands beside Don Quixote as one of the world's funniest and wisest books. His next work, Donkey, filled with extraordinary photographs and illustrations (and co-authored with Jane Morrison), is a passionate tribute to a lovable and under-appreciated beast. Tobias's newest book, Chateau Beyond Time, is an environmental thriller, a Utopian novel that artfully blends fiction and facts, a page-turner with a plot so intricate and ingenious that I could not put it down until the final mystery revealed itself.
Chateau Beyond Time might be read and admired for any number of reasons: its crisp dialogue, its stunning European settings, its flashes of humor, its superb literary style. Lovers of nature -- or lovers of art, history, music, literature, philosophy, Utopian studies -- will be amazed at the author's encyclopedic knowledge of these realms. And technophiles will enjoy reading how the latest technologies -- computers, information databases, and extraordinary gadgets -- are utilized, by rogues and poachers to profit from the natural world, and by scholars and law-enforcement persons to preserve it. CONTINUE
The 20th Century -- with its violence and wars, its loss of religious faith, its growing social problems and ecological catastrophes -- has been called "The Age of Disillusionment." As we begin the 21st Century, we have entered "The Age of Illusion": countless human beings attempting to escape from themselves and from the world's unpleasant realities, via electronic entertainment, or material possessions, or artificial stimulants. For the most part, our writers have failed to understand (and then assume) the tremendous responsibility of the literary artist. Most of our authors have failed because they give us either superficial stories to amuse and distract us, or novels saturated with pessimism, despair, futility, and hopelessness. Fifty-four years ago, the great American critic Van Wyck Brooks, pre-envisioned a new species of writer, when (in The Writer in America) he wrote: "I suggest that we need above all at present those who can restore for us a feeling for the true aims of living, who can remind us of the goodness in men, bring back the joy of life and give one a sense of human hope."
Tobias is one of the rare authors who can accomplish this kind of literary miracle. For the past ten years I have been reading his books for three reasons: for the pure pleasure of the reading experience; to tap his Goethe-like knowledge of the worlds of books, nature, and men; and for the humanizing vision imbued in every word. His secret can be epitomized in the poem by Sengai: "Every stroke of my brush is the overflow of my inmost heart."
And this inmost heart -- as you will find in the works of William Blake and Percy Shelley and Walt Whitman and Nikos Kazantzakis -- emanates from what Erich Fromm (and later, E. O. Wilson) have named "biophilia". Albert Schweitzer calls it "reverence for life".`
Chateau Beyond Time -- essential reading for everyone who cares about preserving biodiversity and protecting endangered species -- can be read purely for enjoyment. And those of us who are seeking something more -- from life and books -- will find that "more" on every page. Tobias brings us a novel and enlightened slant on the perennial philosophy of that ancient philosopher who encouraged us to live heartfully, with a planetary consciousness that makes us fully human. And what is that precious perennial philosophy? ... "When we have learned to love not our separate life, but all living things, then at last we shall find peace."
-- Michael Pastore
+++
EXCERPT OF JAIN MASTER CHITRABHANUJI'S TALK FROM HOMEPAGE
July 20, 2005: HIGHLIGHTS from Gurudev’s talk on: OM Mangalam, OM Kara Mangalam…
Opening to the blessing of loving vibrations
Human life is a gift—and there is no other gift that can compare with it. This teaching is over 2000 years old and yet it remains as fresh as a flower. It is now or never. See where you are and that you have an innate and infinite ability to make your life into mangalam: a blessing, a benediction.
The moment you open to the universe, the universe opens to you. This world is nothing but an echo point; it is all vibrations. If material things have vibrations, surely the spirit does too. But to experience this, both sides must be open: the sender and the receiver. When you meditate, you realize that you are nothing but a powerhouse. Then you will not narrow yourself by putting yourself down or creating limitations. Then wherever you go, you will be at home. And wherever you are, you are happy. This is meditation—finding the core of your potentiality.
The greatest harm we do to ourselves is through wrong beliefs. People wait for somebody or something to save them—but nobody can save you if you don’t save yourself. And now is the moment. To live is to give wings and a voice to your self. There is a spirit in you that is waiting to fly. How long you live is not important; how you live is what matters. Every human being has the capacity for achievement if they awaken to their own spirit and the energy that animates us all.
This is the power of vibrations. Love begets love. When we are sure we are pure; we have the inner conviction that we are atma. Then you live the life of the spirit—without the need to win or come first. This is the victory and equality of love. We are all winners.
Make a commitment to bring mangalam to yourself every morning. Then you will get glimpses of what you are; then you will blossom.
HIGHLIGHTS of Gurudev’s talk from Aug 10, 2004
Breath and the art of prioritizing
One of the best ways to reach a state of meditation is through the breath. This is also a way of enhancing the power to manage your life. But we are burning this power without awareness. Once you understand the power of your breath, you will prioritize.
The secret of life is prioritizing. What is important in your life? When you pay attention to this, you will not waste time on that which is unimportant. Then you will know how to manage your time—and you will always have some. Think about how much time you waste on useless things. Set limits. Condense your points. Don’t spoil the present by dragging in the past or flying into the future. But first, prioritize the breath. Learn the art of silence: when to speak, where to speak, how much to speak. Focus on the breath and you will gradually bring focus to the mind. In meditation, two things happen: physically you are relaxed but mentally you are alert. Cultivate the mind and you can control the body. When the mind is engaged, you can sit comfortably for hours. Learn this and you can do your work with clarity and ease. Do one thing at a time, but do it with excellence. It is not about quantity; it is about quality. Live a qualitative life—in your business, in your marriage, in your relationships. If we know how much to talk and when to talk, we will save a lot of energy.
When you pay attention to each word that you say, it becomes a prayer—an expression of your consciousness. Step by step you reach the stage of the seventh chakra and from there you see more of life because you have a better view. From there it is panoramic. To see more in life is the height of meditation. A person at the second or third stage sees the death of a caterpillar; a person at the seventh sees the birth of a butterfly. When you see an entrance, you don’t worry about the exit.
If you want to worry, there is always something to worry about. But there is something lofty in you. Invest in your spiritual wealth. Don’t live for money or position or possessions—this will lead to worthlessness. Live for life. Focus your attention. Don’t allow the day to go without celebrating. Count how many times you have been touched or touched others. Learn how to relax and filter what comes into your mind before you speak. Gradually you will see more; gradually you will achieve the power and potential to experience the eternity of life.
HIGHLIGHTS of Gurudev’s talk from July 14, 2004
Not to know oneself is pain and rejection. Once we know who and what we are, even a wilderness is paradise. But there is no room for “I”. If there is the presence of “I” it will need someone to feed it. Ego will take your peace away.
The cause of suffering is karma. The cause of karma is our aversions and attachments. The cause of aversions and attachments is ego. The cause of ego is not knowing oneself.
The cause of karma is our aversions and attachments. The cause of aversions and attachmetns is ego. The cause of ego is not knowing oneself.
We are here to love and listen, without giving too much advice. Just listen. You have your Self. Take the time to know your Self; this is self-realization. What you are searching for is already there. You are searching for the light—but it is already in your eyes. It is already yours.
Use the power of the third eye. Then you will know what to say and what not to say. You will have command of your thoughts and emotions. It may close again, but it is progress. Now you know your own mind. When it is under the control of the third eye, it is in the light of awareness and it will not harm you or others. It watches and allows impulses to subside. This is a lifetime process. As long as you are living in a human body you will have the idiosyncrasies of the human condition. Accept your weaknesses. This is an honest way to live. Ask yourself why you are losing a sense of your own nature and be humble enough to say you are sorry. The third eye creates a sense of space—for you and for others. Commit to using it to dispel negativity and suffering.
HIGHLIGHTS of Gurudev’s talk from May 25, 2005
On achieving balance…
The world is only a reflection of our own thoughts. When you are in balance, what you see brings you happiness; when you are out of balance, the same thing brings you unhappiness. But when your soul or spirit is well nourished, outer things will not upset you. You know how to tune your perceptions just like a radio. You know how to float in the world and remain untouched.
This takes practice. You must make your mind your own friend. The mind holds negativity much longer than positivity.
You are punishing yourself. How much willpower we have to make ourselves unhappy! This is especially true of the educated. Does our education make us more aware of ourselves? In meditation, you understand yourself. You become your own friend. You erase the hurt as if it were on a blackboard.
Weigh your words. They should be kind. Speak less and listen more. This is the art of listening. We see the container, not the stuff that is contained. Relationships blossom when you see that which is contained. Once you know how to see that you are content. The art of breathing takes you there; it takes you to your heart. Breath is the most precious thing in life. Practice and you will feel the smile and joy of Mahavir.
Limit your demands and you will be happy with what you have. Live in the world but be not of it. This is lotus consciousness. This is balance. Unburden yourself. Relax. Breathe.
Highlights of Gurudev's lecture, June 9, 2004: OVERCOMING FEAR WITH THE POWER OF FAITH
Fear is mainly of the unknown. It weakens usand takes away our energy. It upsets the creative gift that comes from fearlessness. Even our preparations contain an element of fear and they send an invitation. If you want to work on this or any kind of apprehension, you have to confront it.
Meditation is to know that you have the power to create your whole world—but it must be complete faith. When you have faith in yourself and your expression, that is the presence of God. God is the unity of body, mind and soul. Is there the presence of unity, harmony and music in what you say? Without that unity there is dichotomy, a hole in your faith. When it is healed, you will attract others with this trinity.
When you go with love it becomes a circle of protection. It is subtle but it is very potent—and greater than any weapon. When you believe in it,it will protect you. Peace is a very powerful place to come from; use these vibrations to heal. Have faith in them. Peace creates a state of fearlessness.
We are nothing but spirit. Use meditation to find the reasons for your fears and take responsibility for changing them. Be the change. This is your homework. Come in touch with the energy of the spirit and you become aware of your invisible power. Then you go without fear.
Highlights of Gurudev's lecture, July14, 2004
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF EGO THRU MEDITATION
Not to know oneself is pain and rejection. Once we know who and what we are, even a wilderness is paradise. But there is no room for “I”. If there is the presence of “I” it will need someone to feed it. Ego will take your peace away.
The cause of suffering is karma. The cause of karma is our aversions and attachments. The cause of aversions and attachments is ego. The cause of ego is not knowing oneself.
The cause of karma is our aversions and attachments. The cause of aversions and attachmetns is ego. The cause of ego is not knowing oneself.
We are here to love and listen, without giving too much advice. Just listen. You have your Self. Take the time to know your Self; this is self-realization. What you are searching for is already there. You are searching for the light—but it is already in your eyes. It is already yours.
Use the power of the third eye. Then you will know what to say and what not to say. You will have command of your thoughts and emotions. It may close again, but it is progress. Now you know your own mind. When it is under the control of the third eye, it is in the light of awareness and it will not harm you or others. It watches and allows impulses to subside. This is a lifetime process. As long as you are living in a human body you will have the idiosyncrasies of the human condition. Accept your weaknesses. This is an honest way to live. Ask yourself why you are losing a sense of your own nature and be humble enough to say you are sorry. The third eye creates a sense of space—for you and for others. Commit to using it to dispel negativity and suffering.
212 - 362-6483 
