The plot of the book is built around Matilda's retrospective look at a life that has been filled with pain and loneliness. It seems she herself consciously chose this difficult path, for otherwise the life her parents were prepared to provide for her in her youth could have been quite orderly and peaceful. The dominant feeling when reading the book is sadness...
A year ago, when I purchased this book by Radislav Gandapas, it never even occurred to me that this year I would have the good fortune to attend a training session led by him in Moscow. Back then it was the book's subtitle that spoke to me - "Ten chapters on how to gain and provide maximum pleasure and delight when speaking in public"; now I was fascinated by the author's ability to hold an entire audience at the peak of interest for a whole day.
One wants to read books when feeling a little lonely and sad. A conversation arises with the characters the author has created, a conversation with the angel and the demon within oneself. Another insight: we do not truly choose books - they choose us. The right book arrives like a sign, like an answer to your questions, arrives at the right moment when you can devote enough attention to it.
The last time I chose two books - the first by flicking through it and understanding from a few text fragments that it would be quite engaging; the second feeling intrigued both by the blurb on the back cover and by the fact that the book could not be opened - it was wrapped in cellophane. This brought to mind the thought to observe how people actually choose books to read.
When I began reading OSHO's book "Joy", I could not for a long time come to terms with many of the thoughts expressed there. The book simply irritated me. I think a similar feeling might overtake many readers, especially those who know little about Buddhist philosophy. Nevertheless, guided by curiosity, I studied the book carefully - through a critical lens, it must be said.
She revealed herself to me as a woman who made her mutilated body an icon and her pain into art. This explains the many self-portraits, most of which were made lying in bed, where she imagined herself torn apart, with her insides laid open, overgrown with grass and vines.
Reality is like a stage where a specific action takes place at a specific moment in time. The stage has attributes and sets characteristic of a particular event. The development of the scenario is determined by energy - what lies within a person's power is to give that energy a direction.