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Soup for the soul

Bijan Anjomi

He looks eerily like Jim Carrey in “The Mask” — his boundless bald head, his gleaming white teeth pinned into a smile like a clothesline, and his photograph in his book “Absolutely Effortless Prosperity” seems to have been set in the slapstick comedy’s manic-green background.

But impeccably dressed in a neat dark suit, author-healer, Bijan Anjomi tells a different story through his warm eyes and simple words, which exude a warmth and peace.

Anjomi is an interesting person — he was born in Iran of Judaic and Christian faiths, moved to the USA when he was 19, and won the title of Mr. Universe-Natural Division in 1993 and 1994.

Non-preachy and meaningful, his book published by Rupa is an absolutely effortless read that makes a lot of sense in our high-stress, money-driven, complicated lives.

And in this convoluted and knotty world, where human beings make life and living appear to be complex and hard, by flocking to self-proclaimed gurus, demi-gods, preachers, and saints to find meaning and solace, Bijan’s words say quite the contrary.

“I find there is energy in India, coupled with a great deal of stress.” He continues: “Like most countries, instead of people getting peace, there seems to be a lot of anxiety and depression even as they search for the truth. Money, good health, relationships are things that don’t come from heaven.”

His book centres on Sigmund Freud’s “Structural theory” when it comes to explaining the aggressive, sadistic and selfish ‘ego’, the unattainable world or inner peace, in how we choose to speak, hear, see, give, receive and open our minds. He writes: “All of our history dictates war and separation in the pursuit of peace; the belief system on this planet is that peace can only be achieved by force and domination.”

Thirty pages that are to be read each day of the month are like clear-cut, basic lines of wisdom. It’s like one of those pocket-size books that make for a short and sweet daily read.

Bijan says, “There is no death — you just leave your body when you’re ready just how you entered it at birth and then re-enter, when you’re ready again.”

He also states some interesting facts on marriage and relationships. “Marriage is not really a delimiting social sanction. It becomes a limitation only when the partners try to control each other and their spaces.”

Drawing two half-moons and two full moons, Bijan makes a strong deviation from the romantic notion that “two halves find a need to come together to form a whole.”

And hence terms like better or worst half! But he says that for two people to have a successful, satisfying and liberating relationship, they have to be two whole, complete individuals.

Referring to his consciousness as his ‘guide’ Bijan consciously takes a long breath and mediates before making that hasty decision or judgment.

And for those who travel far and wide to seek tranquillity and purpose in external man-made sources, beings or books, “Absolutely Effortless Prosperity”, a paperback priced at Rs. 395, will help them open up and find the answers, right in their concealed selves.

AYESHA MATTHAN

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