MUSINGS BY VIKRAM KARVE ON THE ART OF LIVING
My name is Vikram Karve. I’m 50 and live in Pune, India. I love reading, writing and blogging and have a philosophical attitude towards life. Here are a few links to my musings on various aspects of the art of living. I trust you will enjoy and derive benefit by reading them. Do send me your comments and feedback to:
vikramkarve@sify.com
vikramkarve@hotmail.com
TEACHING STORIES
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/09/two-teaching-stories.htm
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/11/the-sweet-chillies.htm
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/10/a-room-with-a-variable-climate.htm
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/09/teaching-stories-part-4-by-vikram-karve-on-teachers.htm
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/09/teaching-stories-part-3-by-vikram-karve.htm
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/08/teaching-stories-part-2-by-vikram-karve.htm
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/08/teaching-stories.htm
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2005/10/a-teaching-story-by-vikram-karve.htm
Book Review of THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVING by LIN YUTANG
[A book that shaped my life and taught me the art of living]
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/01/the-art-of-living.htm
http://karve.wordpress.com/2007/01/05/the-art-of-living/
THE ART OF HAPPINESS
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/11/the-art-of-happiness-by-vikram-karve.htm
http://karve.wordpress.com/2006/11/23/the-art-of-happiness-by-vikram-karve/
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/01/happiness.htm
THE ART OF EATING
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/11/the-art-of-eating.htm
http://karve.wordpress.com/2006/11/08/the-art-of-eating-by-vikram-karve/
HOW I QUIT SMOKING
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/12/how-i-quit-smoking.htm
http://karve.wordpress.com/2006/12/22/how-i-quit-smoking-by-vikram-karve/
THE DAY AFTER I QUIT SMOKING
http://karve.wordpress.com/2006/12/29/the-day-after-i-quit-smoking-by-vikram-karve/
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/12/the-day-after-i-quit-smoking.htm
DO YOU WANT TO QUIT DRINKING?
http://karve.wordpress.com/2006/12/22/force-field-analysis-helps-you-quit-drinking/
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/10/want-to-quit-drinking-.htm
TIME MANAGEMENT – SPEND TIME ADD VALUE
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/11/time-management.htm
A SENSE OF VALUES
http://karve.wordpress.com/2006/11/08/a-sense-of-values-by-vikram-karve/
THE MAP IS NOT THE TERRITORY
http://karve.wordpress.com/2006/11/23/the-map-is-not-the-territory-by-vikram-karve/
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/11/the-map-is-not-the-territory.htm
THE SWEET CHILLIES
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/11/the-sweet-chillies.htm
COOSING THE RIGHT CAREER
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/11/choosing-the-right-career.htm
EPICTETUS – THE ART OF LIVING
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/10/the-art-of-living-a-book-review--2.htm
80/20 LIVING
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/10/a-book-review-80-20-principle.htm
A TEACHING STORY
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/10/a-room-with-a-variable-climate.htm
BOOK REVIEW – A SOLDIER’S STORY
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/09/book-review-a-soldier-s-story.htm
ORIENTAL STORIES – A FASCINATING BOOK
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/09/a-fascinating-book.htm
KNOW YOUR VALUES FOR HAPPINESS AND HARMONY
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/09/know-your-values-for-harmony-and-happiness.htm
HURRY SICKNESS
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/09/hurry-sickness.htm
BIBLIOTHERAPY
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/09/bibliotherapy.htm
LIFE PROCESS OUTSOURCING (LPO)
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/08/life-process-outsourcing-lpo.htm
BOOK REVIEW – THE PETER PRINCIPLE AND PETER PRESCRIPTION
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/08/book-review-the-peter-prescription-the-peter-principle.htm
ETHICAL FITNESS
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/07/ethical-fitness-2.htm
THOUGHT CONTROL
http://karve.wordpress.com/2007/01/05/be-happy-and-healthy/
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/06/monday-morning-rumination.htm
HAIKU
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/06/haiku-minerva-moment-by-vikram-karve.htm
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2005/12/the-art-of-eating-an-affair-to-remember-by-vikram.htm
MANAGEMENT OF THE ABSURD – A book review
http://karve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/09/management-of-the-absurd.htm
MAHARSHI KARVE – BOOKS ON HIS LIFE AND TIMES
http://karve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/08/maharshi-karve-books-on-his-life-and-times.htm
I hope you enjoyed these articles and look forward to your feedback. I’ll keep on posting.
VIKRAM KARVE
Pune India
vikramkarve@sify.com
vikramkarve@hotmail.com
Showing posts with label bibliotherapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bibliotherapy. Show all posts
Friday, January 05, 2007
Monday, September 25, 2006
Stories and psychotherapy
BIBLIOTHERAPY
(A fascinating book on my bookshelves – Oriental Stories as tools in Psychotherapy)
By
VIKRAM KARVE
An Eastern merchant owned a parrot. One day the bird knocked over an oil flask. The merchant became very angry and hit the parrot on the back of the head.
From that time on, the parrot, who had previously appeared to be very intelligent, could not talk any more. He lost the feathers on his head and soon became bald.
One day, as the parrot was sitting on the bookshelf in his master’s place of business, a baldheaded customer entered the shop.
The sight of the man made the parrot very excited. Flapping his wings, he jumped around, squawked, and, to everyone’s surprise, suddenly regained his speech and asked the baldheaded man, “Did you, too, knock down an oil flask and get hit on the back of the head so that you don’t have any hair any more?”
This is a story called The Merchant and the Parrot from a delightfully interesting book in my bookcase called “Oriental Stories as Tools in Psychotherapy” by Nossrat Peseschkian. I bought this book on 12 October 1998 from the International Book Service at Deccan Gymkhana in Pune and love to delve into it from time to time.
The book features a fascinating compilation meaningful oriental Teaching Stories – the psychotherapeutic function of stories is the theme of this book. The author, a physician and psychotherapist, emphasizes the fact that long before the development of modern psychotherapy, stories served as instruments of folk psychotherapy and highlights how stories are effective transmitters of messages. He avers that stories have a lot in common with medication and, like medicines, used at the right time in the right form stories can lead to changes in attitude and behavior, but, given in the wrong dosage, told in an insincere and moralizing way, the application can be dangerous.
You can study, scrutinize and critically analyze this book if you are a serious reader and want to go deep into the subject; or like me, you can enjoy and be illuminated by the lovely teaching stories in the book. Teaching stories have a special quality – if read in a certain kind of way they enlighten you. There are three ways to read teaching stories:-
• Read the story once. Then move on to another. This manner of reading will give you entertainment – maybe produce a laugh; like jokes.
• Read the story twice. Reflect on it. Apply it to your life. You will feel enriched.
• Read the story again, after you have reflected on it. Carry the story around in your mind all day and allow its fragrance, its melody to haunt you. Create a silence within you and let the story reveal to you its inner depth and meaning. Let it speak to your heart, not to your brain. This will give you a feel for the mystical and you will develop the art of tasting and feeling the inner meaning of such stories to the point that they transform you.
A good teaching story has several levels of meaning and interpretation and offers us opportunities to think in new ways. At first you may just have a good laugh, but as you think and reflect, the significance becomes more and more profound. Each story veils its knowledge and as you ruminate, the walls of its outer meanings crumble away and the beauty of the previously invisible inner wisdom is revealed, and you begin to identify yourself in the story, and to acknowledge that you too could be as foolish or as lacking in discernment as the characters in these classic tales.
Here is a story called “Fifty Years of Politeness”:
An elderly couple celebrated their golden anniversary…while eating breakfast together, the woman thought, “for fifty years I’ve always been considerate of my husband and have always given him the crusty top of the bread roll. Today I want to finally enjoy this delicacy for myself.”
She spread the top part with butter and gave the other part to her husband.
Contrary to her expectations, he was very pleased, kissed her hand, and said, “My darling, you’ve just given me the greatest joy of the day. For over fifty years I haven’t eaten the bottom part of the bread roll, which is the part I like best. I always thought you should have it because you like it so much.”
I love and cherish this book which has enhanced me in all aspects of my life and browse through the stories quite often; and as I reflect and interpret I feel refreshed, enlightened and wiser. Whether it’s your work, marriage, relationships, children, or any situation or facet of your life, there’s sure to be an apt story in here for you which will put you on the path of self-dicovery.
I’ll conclude with a quote from this exquisite and unique book: Occasionally we can’t avoid science, math and erudite discussions which aid development of human consciousness. But occasionally we also need poetry, chess, and stories, so our spirit can find joy and refreshment.
VIKRAM KARVE
vikramkarve@sify.com
(A fascinating book on my bookshelves – Oriental Stories as tools in Psychotherapy)
By
VIKRAM KARVE
An Eastern merchant owned a parrot. One day the bird knocked over an oil flask. The merchant became very angry and hit the parrot on the back of the head.
From that time on, the parrot, who had previously appeared to be very intelligent, could not talk any more. He lost the feathers on his head and soon became bald.
One day, as the parrot was sitting on the bookshelf in his master’s place of business, a baldheaded customer entered the shop.
The sight of the man made the parrot very excited. Flapping his wings, he jumped around, squawked, and, to everyone’s surprise, suddenly regained his speech and asked the baldheaded man, “Did you, too, knock down an oil flask and get hit on the back of the head so that you don’t have any hair any more?”
This is a story called The Merchant and the Parrot from a delightfully interesting book in my bookcase called “Oriental Stories as Tools in Psychotherapy” by Nossrat Peseschkian. I bought this book on 12 October 1998 from the International Book Service at Deccan Gymkhana in Pune and love to delve into it from time to time.
The book features a fascinating compilation meaningful oriental Teaching Stories – the psychotherapeutic function of stories is the theme of this book. The author, a physician and psychotherapist, emphasizes the fact that long before the development of modern psychotherapy, stories served as instruments of folk psychotherapy and highlights how stories are effective transmitters of messages. He avers that stories have a lot in common with medication and, like medicines, used at the right time in the right form stories can lead to changes in attitude and behavior, but, given in the wrong dosage, told in an insincere and moralizing way, the application can be dangerous.
You can study, scrutinize and critically analyze this book if you are a serious reader and want to go deep into the subject; or like me, you can enjoy and be illuminated by the lovely teaching stories in the book. Teaching stories have a special quality – if read in a certain kind of way they enlighten you. There are three ways to read teaching stories:-
• Read the story once. Then move on to another. This manner of reading will give you entertainment – maybe produce a laugh; like jokes.
• Read the story twice. Reflect on it. Apply it to your life. You will feel enriched.
• Read the story again, after you have reflected on it. Carry the story around in your mind all day and allow its fragrance, its melody to haunt you. Create a silence within you and let the story reveal to you its inner depth and meaning. Let it speak to your heart, not to your brain. This will give you a feel for the mystical and you will develop the art of tasting and feeling the inner meaning of such stories to the point that they transform you.
A good teaching story has several levels of meaning and interpretation and offers us opportunities to think in new ways. At first you may just have a good laugh, but as you think and reflect, the significance becomes more and more profound. Each story veils its knowledge and as you ruminate, the walls of its outer meanings crumble away and the beauty of the previously invisible inner wisdom is revealed, and you begin to identify yourself in the story, and to acknowledge that you too could be as foolish or as lacking in discernment as the characters in these classic tales.
Here is a story called “Fifty Years of Politeness”:
An elderly couple celebrated their golden anniversary…while eating breakfast together, the woman thought, “for fifty years I’ve always been considerate of my husband and have always given him the crusty top of the bread roll. Today I want to finally enjoy this delicacy for myself.”
She spread the top part with butter and gave the other part to her husband.
Contrary to her expectations, he was very pleased, kissed her hand, and said, “My darling, you’ve just given me the greatest joy of the day. For over fifty years I haven’t eaten the bottom part of the bread roll, which is the part I like best. I always thought you should have it because you like it so much.”
I love and cherish this book which has enhanced me in all aspects of my life and browse through the stories quite often; and as I reflect and interpret I feel refreshed, enlightened and wiser. Whether it’s your work, marriage, relationships, children, or any situation or facet of your life, there’s sure to be an apt story in here for you which will put you on the path of self-dicovery.
I’ll conclude with a quote from this exquisite and unique book: Occasionally we can’t avoid science, math and erudite discussions which aid development of human consciousness. But occasionally we also need poetry, chess, and stories, so our spirit can find joy and refreshment.
VIKRAM KARVE
vikramkarve@sify.com
Thursday, August 31, 2006
BIBLIOTHERAPY
BIBLIOTHERAPY
By
VIKRAM KARVE
(Book Review of THE LADIES ORACLE by CORNELIUS AGRIPPA)
Whenever I’m in a blue mood, I browse through my bookshelves and pick up a book. Reading is the greatest of all joys, and the moment I start reading a book I enter a different world, and this change of environment has a positive psychological effect, and lo and behold, my spirits are uplifted. Those who do not have the habit of reading remain imprisoned in their moods and immediate surroundings.
I’ve just picked up a delightful little book called “The Ladies Oracle” by Cornelius Agrippa from my bookcase. Let me tell you about it.
Whenever I buy a book, I write down the date and place of purchase on its first page. I have duly recorded that I bought The Ladies Oracle on 14 February 1989 on the pavement bookstalls opposite the CTO at Fort in Bombay as it was then known.
Let’s get down to using this delightful oracle. First choose a question from the ninety five listed in the book from pages (v) to (viii) numbered 5 to 100 (I wonder where the first five questions are?).
I select question number 35: – Shall I always enjoy good health?
Now I turn to page (i), close my eyes and put my finger on the table of signs. (I have placed my finger on the sign representing a single square).
Now I consult the table starting from page ten, follow the line marked by the number of the question (35th line) till I arrive at the column which has the chosen sign over it, and this figure gives me the number of the page (74) where by looking at the sign traced by my finger I find my answer: – You will always have joy, health and prosperity!
Fantastic! I’m feeling good already.
Now the next question, number 15: – How many lovers shall I have?
I go through the procedure and the Oracle gives me the answer: – A great many, but those that have so many generally choose the worst.
Hey, I’ve to be careful!
The next question, number 91: – What opinion has the world of me?
The Oracle answers: – You are thought to have had more than one adventure.
Oh, dear! Have I?
Shall I be happy in love? The oracle says: – You will find more pain than pleasure.
Pretty bleak – better I steer clear of falling in love!
Will my reputation be always good?
It will always be as you make it!
Must take care to build up a good reputation!
Shall I go many long voyages?
You will do well not to voyage farther than round your own room!
Great! That puts an end to all my travel plans! All I’m going to do is go round and round in my room! What a gloomy answer! And I thought browsing books was supposed to lift my spirits!
Okay, just one last question, and the answer better be something good, or else no more ‘bibliotherapy’ for me!
I select question number 74: – What is the person that I am thinking about doing at this moment? and the Oracle answers: – She regrets not being with you!
Wow! Bibliotheraphy really works. I feel thrilled, jubilant, ecstatic, on cloud nine, in seventh heaven and right on top of the world as I rush off to surprise my beloved sweetheart. And just imagine, I thought she never even thought about me!
Long live The Ladies Oracle!
Oh, yes. The Ladies Oracle is a delightful little book you can consult from time to time on matters of love and life, believe me you’ll enjoy it. (It may be called The Ladies’ Oracle but I’m sure even men will enjoy reading and consulting it with satisfying results).
Dear Reader, why don’t you try it out? It’s entertaining reading, guaranteed to lift your spirits. And do let me know what questions you asked the Oracle and what answers you got!
VIKRAM KARVE
vikramkarve@sify.com
By
VIKRAM KARVE
(Book Review of THE LADIES ORACLE by CORNELIUS AGRIPPA)
Whenever I’m in a blue mood, I browse through my bookshelves and pick up a book. Reading is the greatest of all joys, and the moment I start reading a book I enter a different world, and this change of environment has a positive psychological effect, and lo and behold, my spirits are uplifted. Those who do not have the habit of reading remain imprisoned in their moods and immediate surroundings.
I’ve just picked up a delightful little book called “The Ladies Oracle” by Cornelius Agrippa from my bookcase. Let me tell you about it.
Whenever I buy a book, I write down the date and place of purchase on its first page. I have duly recorded that I bought The Ladies Oracle on 14 February 1989 on the pavement bookstalls opposite the CTO at Fort in Bombay as it was then known.
Let’s get down to using this delightful oracle. First choose a question from the ninety five listed in the book from pages (v) to (viii) numbered 5 to 100 (I wonder where the first five questions are?).
I select question number 35: – Shall I always enjoy good health?
Now I turn to page (i), close my eyes and put my finger on the table of signs. (I have placed my finger on the sign representing a single square).
Now I consult the table starting from page ten, follow the line marked by the number of the question (35th line) till I arrive at the column which has the chosen sign over it, and this figure gives me the number of the page (74) where by looking at the sign traced by my finger I find my answer: – You will always have joy, health and prosperity!
Fantastic! I’m feeling good already.
Now the next question, number 15: – How many lovers shall I have?
I go through the procedure and the Oracle gives me the answer: – A great many, but those that have so many generally choose the worst.
Hey, I’ve to be careful!
The next question, number 91: – What opinion has the world of me?
The Oracle answers: – You are thought to have had more than one adventure.
Oh, dear! Have I?
Shall I be happy in love? The oracle says: – You will find more pain than pleasure.
Pretty bleak – better I steer clear of falling in love!
Will my reputation be always good?
It will always be as you make it!
Must take care to build up a good reputation!
Shall I go many long voyages?
You will do well not to voyage farther than round your own room!
Great! That puts an end to all my travel plans! All I’m going to do is go round and round in my room! What a gloomy answer! And I thought browsing books was supposed to lift my spirits!
Okay, just one last question, and the answer better be something good, or else no more ‘bibliotherapy’ for me!
I select question number 74: – What is the person that I am thinking about doing at this moment? and the Oracle answers: – She regrets not being with you!
Wow! Bibliotheraphy really works. I feel thrilled, jubilant, ecstatic, on cloud nine, in seventh heaven and right on top of the world as I rush off to surprise my beloved sweetheart. And just imagine, I thought she never even thought about me!
Long live The Ladies Oracle!
Oh, yes. The Ladies Oracle is a delightful little book you can consult from time to time on matters of love and life, believe me you’ll enjoy it. (It may be called The Ladies’ Oracle but I’m sure even men will enjoy reading and consulting it with satisfying results).
Dear Reader, why don’t you try it out? It’s entertaining reading, guaranteed to lift your spirits. And do let me know what questions you asked the Oracle and what answers you got!
VIKRAM KARVE
vikramkarve@sify.com
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
