Book Club: Eat, Pray, Love: 25-27

The second book in our book club series is Eat, Pray Love. Is it a Hindu book? Not exactly, but it is very relevant to the experiences of non-Indian Hindus. The author has a Hindu guru (whose identity has been rather easily found out by those familiar with the world of Indian gurus). Julia Roberts after playing the author in the movie, claimed to have become a Hindu. So I think it will be worthwhile to examine the experiences and stories that led these women towards Hinduism…

Bead 25

The way Gilbert describes Rome as so self assured is something to aspire to as a human being. “But Rome, it should be said, has not bothered to joint he race for status. Rome doesn’t compete.” At the end of this section she talks about the mausoleum built by Caesar Augustus and how much it has changed over the centuries. There are layers and layers of history and meaning. It is also a spookily quiet area in the midst of Rome’s bustle.

“The Augusteum warns me not to get attached to any obsolete ideas about who I am, what I represent, whom I belong to, or what function I may once have intended to serve. Yesterday I might have been a glorious monument to somebody, true enough–but tomorrow I could be a fireworks depository. Even in the Eternal City, says the silent Augusteum, one must always be prepared for riotous and endless waves of transformation.”

Bead 26

I like this brief section about Gilbert’s missing books. This actually reminds me of India too. There are things that can’t be forced and we Americans tend to make ourselves mad with anxiety trying to control all circumstances. Many of us, certainly me, have trouble going with the flow, which sometimes takes us not where we were intending to go. One of the things I loved about being in India was that I found it much easier there to surrender. Here at home I can’t seem to let go of control, but there I could let things be what they were and not worry about it. I strive to get that attitude even at home. When I see parents rushing their kids and growing impatient with their doddling, having places to be, I hope that when I am a parent that I instead slow down, look at what the child is looking at, take time to examine it just as she is.

Gilbert also realizes that she doesn’t need her books. She doesn’t need to research and intellectually examine Rome, she just needs to be in Rome.

Bead 27

This book makes me hungry. And hungry for real, good, authentic food. Not what I usually eat, which is whatever scrap of something I can find in the back of the pantry. I don’t take much care with my food, but I’d like to change that. I think our bodies run best and get to the best weight by eating only great food, only food that is something we can savor, love, and enjoy completely while we’re eating it.