I am a member of a library which is very old. The books are stacked at great heights and I have to climb built-in ladders to search for the titles I need. One day I was looking for a book on the Art Of Living (AOL). The catalog showed about 6 authors having written on the subject. I found an AOL book written by a Dutchman translated into English besides into other European languages. I was browsing it when another book on the shelf tumbled down. I came down and picked up the fallen book. Before replacing it on the shelf I opened it and read the title; WHY DO WE NEED AOL BOOKS? written by one Silesius Angelus in German. The blurb said “The author’s name is a pseudonym of a young German philosopher. He was only 18 when he wrote the book and was quite surprised to find it had become a best seller. Besides into English, it has been translated into Nordic languages. A translation into Japanese and Mandarin and even Swahili were scheduled. The following are some of the opinions about the book:

 ‘Seek roses in December, ice in June/Hope constancy in wind, or corn in chaff/Believe a woman or an epitaph/But doubt not if critics rave about the book. – Cleveland Examiner.

“The book really shows the way almost like in Buddhist scriptures. We suggest a translation into the Pali language.’-Lama Bikku.

“Publication is for a man what is child birth is for a woman. Angelus has produced a first class work early in life. – Youth Review

“The book eliminates all works of AOL and shows the way to live.- TLS.

I was convinced about the writing by the author and the book itself and immediately borrowed it. Sitting at home I carefully went through it. The first chapter answered the question about the need for help to live. It said “People jump to buy books on AOL which are quite unnecessary. There are millions who have never heard of such books and have lived perfect lives. You must face the problem and solve them. Why do you need help? I can site a parallel: Do you really need help to get married and proceed further? Haven’t people before AOL, succeeded in producing thousands of progeny?”

The next chapter asked why do you go for help to live? That is because we have no confidence in ourselves. We are unable to face life. Merely buying an AOL book supposedly gives you confidence to face life. Even ancient tribes had problems in facing life. They chose astrology, witches etc for guidance. Said a tribesman, “My wife isn’t true to me.” What does the witch advice? “I’ll give you a love potion which has two effects. It will improve your performance with her. I’ll recommend she wear amulets and other adornments as charms which will satisfy her vanity. These will make her accept you and avoid her straying.” True the ancients had no books to consult, but they had solutions. Now with increased awareness we should know how to recognise or overcome dissatisfaction in ourselves.

You may have a problem of competition in your workplace. You wish the competitor X was dead but he is alive and is highflying! It is called luck. You can do nothing about it. May be the boss likes X’s smiling obeisance possibly more than yours. You can do nothing about it even if AOLs suggest some form of guidance. You can only wish X or the boss leave the organisation or even better die of Covid!

Angelus continues in the same vein. You have probably written a book. It was your ambition. Nobody asked you to. You seek advice about publishing and sale of your work. You didn’t take the sane comment that books were written by men of letters and read by the public, but now the public write books and nobody reads them. AOL won’t say it was your fault. They will ask you to re-read the matter and polish it. They will say things could change in your favour some day. Another said “You shouldn’t have written it in English. Now that you have written it get it translated into the vernacular.” What he didn’t say was “Whatever you do the book won’t sell.” Another who followed AOL said “Your book is good. It could be converted into a movie. Who knows? It could get an Oscar awards. More kindling of ego! Don’t get fooled. The person who advises knows movie halls are either closed or have no attendance due to Covid. A director could even bloat your ego further by saying “You’ve done a good job. This is exactly what directors seek as script.” He may actually have several movie scripts waiting to be exploited!

You want to build a house of your own near where you have been living. You see the ads and consult a builder. He may say “There’re many homes which are ready built waiting for you.” You get interested. He may say “The best with swimming pools and having a golf course nearby are available. Tell me when you’ll be free and I’ll take you there.” He may name the locality where the house is available, and you may wonder if houses are built 50 kms away from civilisation! From now on you can be sure you’ll be reminded by the builder about your expressed interest. You may be shy to tell him you have a few square meters of land on which you wanted to build a house with your meagre resources. Your embarrassment can be understood, but AOLs say “Be bold. Say you don’t want to spend so much money.” At once the builder may be called away to meet someone else! Anticipate what could happen and decide. It could even happen you are told by someone a bank would give you a loan to build your house. Bank officials are singularly unresponsive about granting loans unless large investments are envisaged. You are helpless. AOL may also turn you down! You may end up like a certain arrogant bigwig saying “You’re seeking a building site. Get your son married and let him produce children” Why? He says “So that the ambition lives on.”

I continued to read the book. It was interesting. It ended saying AOLs can’t help you. Accept the facts of life and be conscious of your limitations. Then your ego won’t be bruised. Omar Khayyam has said in his rubaiyat “But leave the Wise to wrangle, and with me/The Quarrel of the Universe let be:/And in some corner of the Hubbub coucht/Make game of that which makes much of Thee. I was glad I had stumbled on this book instead of an AOL book .I was truly enlightened by this book and whole heartedly recommend its reading instead of AOL literature.

IED

NOTE: Please don’t look for WHY DO WE NEED AOL BOOKS? by Silesius Angelus. It is a figment of the imagination!

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