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أموت كي أكون أنا: رحلتي من السرطان إلى مكان قريب من الموت إلى الشفاء الحقيقي
استغرقت أنيتا في غيبوبة عميقة، وهي محاطة بأحبائها وفريق طبي يراقب نفسها الأخير في أي لحظة، مع ذلك تم إعطاؤها الفرصة كي تعود إلى جسدها المنهك بالسرطان، متحدية كل الخلافات، وتخوض تجربة الشفاء الذي لا يصدق. من خلال عربة الحب غير المشروط، لقد سمح لها بالعودة من حجرة الموت كي تعطينا تقريراً كيف تبدو الحياة في الطرف الأخر من هذه الحياة المادية، وبدقة أكثر كيف الشعور هناك.
280 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,708 reviews
June 1, 2012
Although Moorjani's healing is certainly miraculous and there are aspects of her story that I found both fascinating and moving, ultimately I couldn't fully embrace this book for two reasons. First, the book feels hastily written, and I wonder if the story would have been better told by a ghost writer rather than Moorjani herself. The book relies heavily on summary and "telling" over showing, and I yearned for more scenes and fewer abstract adjectives describing Moorjani's emotions. The book also becomes repetitive as Moorjani explains, and then re-explains, some of the insights she's discovered after her NDE. Although I appreciate these insights, they would have been more powerful had Moorjani's personal story leading up to the NDE been better told. My other problem had to do with the sweeping theological and philosophical generalizations Moorjani makes as a result of her experience. I'm not necessarily doubting her honesty -- there's a chance that what happened to her was real -- but some of her conclusions seem more appropriate to her own life experience and the issues that she had to personally work through, and shouldn't be extrapolated to apply to the totality of human existence.
June 5, 2012
I saw the author on PBS and was touched by her authenticity and spirit. Her book was just as beautiful....even more than that, the message it contains is important and has the power to transform lives. It transformed mine.
Read
May 17, 2012OMG!!! This woman had cancer tumors the size of lemons from the base of her neck to the bottom of her abdomen. She crossed over to the other realm, experienced that (and what an experience it was!!!) then DECIDED to come back to this side. She lived to tell all about it!!! This book shares information that is so helpful to the understanding of the meaning of life (how and why to rid yourself of the unnecessary loads) and how to live this life to the fullest ! THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!!! She was blessed to live... to share her story of living "fearlessly" and beginning anew loving herself more than ever!
August 9, 2013
Another person's spiritual experience is never much use to me; its personal nature makes it extremely subjective. And that's okay because that is the nature of personal spiritual experiences: they're for that person and usually for that person alone.
But here we have a book written by someone who attempts to draw broad, universal conclusions from her very personal experience. As such, I think many of those conclusions are laughably suspect:
* "One of my biggest rules is that there should never be any hard and fast rules! I just pay attention to whatever feels right at the time."
* "Ultimately, whichever path we choose is the right one for us, and none of these options [various spiritual paths) are any more or less spiritual than the others."
* "If we simply live in a way that nurtures us and allows us to express our creativity, letting us see our own magnificence, that's the best we can possibly do."
* "We don't have to actually "work" at doing anything -- like following specific rituals or dogma -- to stay in touch with our magnificence."
* "We know we're on the right track when we feel ourselves at the center of our love without judgment of ourselves and others, and we recognize our true magnificence within the infinite Whole."
* "If you fell you can follow a system (religion or belief) effortlessly, or if it's fun, that's great! But the minute it starts to be hard work or feel like a means of controlling your emotions or thoughts, it probably won't work very well for you."
* "When I try to suppress or force myself to change my feelings, the more I push them away, the more they push back."
* "It's also not the case that attracting positive things is simply about keeping upbeat. I can't say this strongly enough, but our feelings about ourselves are actually the most important barometer for determining the condition of our lives! In other words, being true to ourselves is more important than just trying to stay positive!"
* "It's not important whether I'm having a bad day or a bad week. It's more important about how I'm feeling about myself while I'm having this day or week."
* "We're one with the universe, our purpose is to be our magnificent selves, and the external world is only a reflection of what's inside us."
* "Once I realized that there's nothing outside my infinite self, I could begin to focus on viewing myself as an ongoing work of perfection..."
* "Going out and changing the world doesn't work for me.... It only feeds into the same judgmental energy that's causing problems in the first place since it stems from the opinion that something is wrong and needs to be changed. Instead, letting go of attachment to any way of believing or thinking has made me feel more expanded and almost transparent so that the universal energy can just flow through me. More possible coincidences happen in my life when I'm in this state of allowing."
* * *
Well, so long as she feels more expanded, that's what counts. And being transparent . . . isn't that what it's all about?
Again, without judging the truth of her claims (that she went into a hospital to die of cancer, had an NDE and woke up knowing she was cancer free), I still have to judge by my own lights the believability of her philosophy. And to me it sounds like stoner surfer talk. "Hey, man, be one with the wave, dude! Don't wait for it, just be, man. It will arrive in its own due time, dude."
Far out. Can I borrow your Sex Wax?
But we must engage in life, musn't we? Someone has to get up early, pack the VW van, buy the sugar donuts and chocolate milk, wax the board, slip on the wetsuit, and drive to the beach in the pre-morning darkness. And someone else has to build the van, shape and glass the board, mix the batter and cook the donuts, and milk the cow and chop the cocoa beans. And someone has to build the roads and extract, refine, and ship the gasoline.
This nonsense of simply "being" is pretty hard to maintain in a world where we have jobs and relationships. And avoiding being judgmental is a fine recipe for getting along with your spouse, but you need judgment to choose which socks to wear.
Finally, and again: maybe Anita really had a bonafide NDE. If so, I'm happy for her. It seems to have changed her life. But I felt no spiritual confirmation of the truthfulness of her experience as I read her story. What I felt was, and what I believe, is that she believes she had a spiritual experience. That's good enough for her, but unfortunately, not for me.
The problem is that when she attempts to share that experience with me, it all comes out sounding like Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High: "All I need is some tasty waves and some cool bud."
And so the author looks pretty transparent to me.
But here we have a book written by someone who attempts to draw broad, universal conclusions from her very personal experience. As such, I think many of those conclusions are laughably suspect:
* "One of my biggest rules is that there should never be any hard and fast rules! I just pay attention to whatever feels right at the time."
* "Ultimately, whichever path we choose is the right one for us, and none of these options [various spiritual paths) are any more or less spiritual than the others."
* "If we simply live in a way that nurtures us and allows us to express our creativity, letting us see our own magnificence, that's the best we can possibly do."
* "We don't have to actually "work" at doing anything -- like following specific rituals or dogma -- to stay in touch with our magnificence."
* "We know we're on the right track when we feel ourselves at the center of our love without judgment of ourselves and others, and we recognize our true magnificence within the infinite Whole."
* "If you fell you can follow a system (religion or belief) effortlessly, or if it's fun, that's great! But the minute it starts to be hard work or feel like a means of controlling your emotions or thoughts, it probably won't work very well for you."
* "When I try to suppress or force myself to change my feelings, the more I push them away, the more they push back."
* "It's also not the case that attracting positive things is simply about keeping upbeat. I can't say this strongly enough, but our feelings about ourselves are actually the most important barometer for determining the condition of our lives! In other words, being true to ourselves is more important than just trying to stay positive!"
* "It's not important whether I'm having a bad day or a bad week. It's more important about how I'm feeling about myself while I'm having this day or week."
* "We're one with the universe, our purpose is to be our magnificent selves, and the external world is only a reflection of what's inside us."
* "Once I realized that there's nothing outside my infinite self, I could begin to focus on viewing myself as an ongoing work of perfection..."
* "Going out and changing the world doesn't work for me.... It only feeds into the same judgmental energy that's causing problems in the first place since it stems from the opinion that something is wrong and needs to be changed. Instead, letting go of attachment to any way of believing or thinking has made me feel more expanded and almost transparent so that the universal energy can just flow through me. More possible coincidences happen in my life when I'm in this state of allowing."
* * *
Well, so long as she feels more expanded, that's what counts. And being transparent . . . isn't that what it's all about?
Again, without judging the truth of her claims (that she went into a hospital to die of cancer, had an NDE and woke up knowing she was cancer free), I still have to judge by my own lights the believability of her philosophy. And to me it sounds like stoner surfer talk. "Hey, man, be one with the wave, dude! Don't wait for it, just be, man. It will arrive in its own due time, dude."
Far out. Can I borrow your Sex Wax?
But we must engage in life, musn't we? Someone has to get up early, pack the VW van, buy the sugar donuts and chocolate milk, wax the board, slip on the wetsuit, and drive to the beach in the pre-morning darkness. And someone else has to build the van, shape and glass the board, mix the batter and cook the donuts, and milk the cow and chop the cocoa beans. And someone has to build the roads and extract, refine, and ship the gasoline.
This nonsense of simply "being" is pretty hard to maintain in a world where we have jobs and relationships. And avoiding being judgmental is a fine recipe for getting along with your spouse, but you need judgment to choose which socks to wear.
Finally, and again: maybe Anita really had a bonafide NDE. If so, I'm happy for her. It seems to have changed her life. But I felt no spiritual confirmation of the truthfulness of her experience as I read her story. What I felt was, and what I believe, is that she believes she had a spiritual experience. That's good enough for her, but unfortunately, not for me.
The problem is that when she attempts to share that experience with me, it all comes out sounding like Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High: "All I need is some tasty waves and some cool bud."
And so the author looks pretty transparent to me.
November 29, 2018
دوستانِ گرانقدر، اگر به شما بگویند در موردِ لولوخورخوره و یا پریِ هفت دریا و روحِ سرگردانِ جزیره هایِ خلیج فارس و طبقاتِ آسمانها وموهوماتِ دینی و مذهبی، تا میتوانید بنویسید و بنویسید و بنویسید.. کسی جلودارِ شما نیست و میتوانید هرچه دوست دارید بنویسید.. چراکه در موردِ یک چیزِ خیالی و موهوم در حالِ نوشتن هستید.. و میتوانید چرت و پرت نامه ای همچون سیاحتِ غرب و اینگونه خزعبلاتِ ابلهانه را چاپ کنید
نویسندهٔ این کتاب، <آنیتا مورجانی> که هندی تبار است و در هنگ کنگ بزرگ شده است، 217 صفحه، تا میتوانسته مغز و ذهنِ خواننده هایِ ساده و زودباورش را خورده است.. از مورد و موضوعی نوشته است که جز موهومات و خزعبلاتِ خیالی هیچ نمیباشد و آن را در جملاتِ تکراری و زیبا به همراه به کار بردنِ واژهٔ عشق، بسته بندی کرده و در حلقومِ خواننده فرو کرده است
او بیمار شده، سرطان گرفته است، بعد رفته و انواع و اقسامِ درمانهایِ دینی و ادیانِ هندی و غیره را آزمایش کرده و حالش تغییر نکرده است.. بعد به کما فرو رفته است.. بعد میگوید از کُما خارج شدم و دردهایم از بین رفت... حال جملاتی که از این کتاب انتخاب کرده ام را در زیر بخوانید، ببینید آنیتا چه میگوید و خودتان با خردِ خویش داوری کنید
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با وجودِ اینکه از دیدِ دیگران در کُما بودم، ولی از جزئیاتِ تمامِ کارهایی که برایم انجام میدادند، کاملاً باخبر بودم... احساس میکردم که وسیع و وسیع تر میشوم و از محیطِ مادی فاصله میگیرم.. گویی دیگر محصورِ محدودهٔ مکان و زمان نبودم و مداوماً وسیع تر میشدم تا در فضایِ گسترده تر از آگاهی قرار بگیرم.. به آزادی و رهایی ای دست یافته بودم که هیچگاه آن را در زندگی جسمانی احساس نکرده بودم.. حالتی که فقط میتوانم آن را خوشیِ توأم با آرامش و سعادت بنامم.. این احساس، ناشی از رها شدن از جسمِ بیمار و در حالِ مرگم بود. احساسِ شادیِ رهایی از تمامِ دردهایی که بیماری ام موجب شده بود... هربار عمیق تر در قلمروِ دیگر فرو میرفتم، وسعتِ بیشتری پیدا میکردم و به هرچیز و هرکس تبدیل میشدم و وابستگی هایِ عاطفی ام به عزیزانم و محیطِ اطرافم به تدریج کمتر میشد
****************************
وقتی در آن قلمرو به حالتِ روشنی رسیدم، به طورِ غریزی متوجه شدم که من به سببِ ترس هایم در حالِ مرگ هستم و نگرانی هایم نمیگذاشتند خودِ حقیقی ام را ابراز کنم.. تازه درک کردم که سرطان یک تنبیه یا حتی چیزی مشابه آن نیست، فقط انرژی خودم بود که به صورتِ سرطان بروز میکرد!!! زیرا در اثرِ ترس هایم، نتوانسته بودم خودم را به عنوانِ نیرویِ عظیمی که قرار بود باشم، نشان دهم
****************************
بعد به این خزعبلات ادامه میدهد و میگوید: خودم اجازه دادم که از کما خارج شوم و از سرطان شفا یابم.. بیماری ام به این سبب بود که بالاخره به حقیقتِ وجودم اجازه دادم از طریقِ جسمِ فیزیکی ام جلوه کند
****************************
در دورانِ تجربهٔ نزدیک به مرگ، هیچ چیز خارج از آگاهیِ برترِ من نبود، زیرا با تمامِ انرژیِ فراگیر، یکی بودم.. گویی تمامیت را در بر گرفته بودم!!! در آن حالت، شفافیت و کمال وجود داشت و از همه چیز آگاه بودم.. به نظر میرسید که من همه چیز شده ام و در همه چیز وجود دارم
****************************
به سببِ نوشتنِ این جملات که البته تکراری میباشد و گذشتگان بارها آنها را به کار برده اند، به این کتاب یک امتیاز دادم که در زیر برایتان مینویسم
در این دورانِ تکنولوژیِ اطلاعات، ما مداوماً و با سرعتِ برق، موردِ هجومِ اخبار قرار میگیریم.. همهٔ ما در عصرِ فشارهایِ روانیِ شدید و ترس، زندگی میکنیم و دائماً در تلاشیم که خودمان را از هر چیزی که فکر میکنیم <در بیرون> است، حفاظت کنیم.. تا آن حد که از یاد میبریم لذت ببریم و از آنچه در درونمان است، مراقبت کنیم
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عزیزانم، پولتان را برایِ خریدِ کتابهایی هزینه کنید که پشیمان نشوید .. کتابهایی که در آن نکاتی آموزنده برایِ شما باشد.. سخن از روح و دنیایِ پس از مرگ، چیزی جز خزعبلات و موهوماتِ بیخردانه، هیچ نمیباشد.. به زندگیِ در این دنیایِ واقعی و وجودِ انسانیِ خویش بیاندیشید و با جهانِ اطرافِ خویش مهربان باشید.. اندیشیدن در موردِ جسمتان و خرد و شعورتان، بهتر از اندیشیدن به روح و هر موهوماتِ دیگری است که به هیچ روشی قابلِ اثبات نبوده و نمیباشد
امیدوارم این ریویو برایِ شما خردگرایان، مفید بوده باشه
<پیروز باشید و ایرانی>
نویسندهٔ این کتاب، <آنیتا مورجانی> که هندی تبار است و در هنگ کنگ بزرگ شده است، 217 صفحه، تا میتوانسته مغز و ذهنِ خواننده هایِ ساده و زودباورش را خورده است.. از مورد و موضوعی نوشته است که جز موهومات و خزعبلاتِ خیالی هیچ نمیباشد و آن را در جملاتِ تکراری و زیبا به همراه به کار بردنِ واژهٔ عشق، بسته بندی کرده و در حلقومِ خواننده فرو کرده است
او بیمار شده، سرطان گرفته است، بعد رفته و انواع و اقسامِ درمانهایِ دینی و ادیانِ هندی و غیره را آزمایش کرده و حالش تغییر نکرده است.. بعد به کما فرو رفته است.. بعد میگوید از کُما خارج شدم و دردهایم از بین رفت... حال جملاتی که از این کتاب انتخاب کرده ام را در زیر بخوانید، ببینید آنیتا چه میگوید و خودتان با خردِ خویش داوری کنید
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با وجودِ اینکه از دیدِ دیگران در کُما بودم، ولی از جزئیاتِ تمامِ کارهایی که برایم انجام میدادند، کاملاً باخبر بودم... احساس میکردم که وسیع و وسیع تر میشوم و از محیطِ مادی فاصله میگیرم.. گویی دیگر محصورِ محدودهٔ مکان و زمان نبودم و مداوماً وسیع تر میشدم تا در فضایِ گسترده تر از آگاهی قرار بگیرم.. به آزادی و رهایی ای دست یافته بودم که هیچگاه آن را در زندگی جسمانی احساس نکرده بودم.. حالتی که فقط میتوانم آن را خوشیِ توأم با آرامش و سعادت بنامم.. این احساس، ناشی از رها شدن از جسمِ بیمار و در حالِ مرگم بود. احساسِ شادیِ رهایی از تمامِ دردهایی که بیماری ام موجب شده بود... هربار عمیق تر در قلمروِ دیگر فرو میرفتم، وسعتِ بیشتری پیدا میکردم و به هرچیز و هرکس تبدیل میشدم و وابستگی هایِ عاطفی ام به عزیزانم و محیطِ اطرافم به تدریج کمتر میشد
****************************
وقتی در آن قلمرو به حالتِ روشنی رسیدم، به طورِ غریزی متوجه شدم که من به سببِ ترس هایم در حالِ مرگ هستم و نگرانی هایم نمیگذاشتند خودِ حقیقی ام را ابراز کنم.. تازه درک کردم که سرطان یک تنبیه یا حتی چیزی مشابه آن نیست، فقط انرژی خودم بود که به صورتِ سرطان بروز میکرد!!! زیرا در اثرِ ترس هایم، نتوانسته بودم خودم را به عنوانِ نیرویِ عظیمی که قرار بود باشم، نشان دهم
****************************
بعد به این خزعبلات ادامه میدهد و میگوید: خودم اجازه دادم که از کما خارج شوم و از سرطان شفا یابم.. بیماری ام به این سبب بود که بالاخره به حقیقتِ وجودم اجازه دادم از طریقِ جسمِ فیزیکی ام جلوه کند
****************************
در دورانِ تجربهٔ نزدیک به مرگ، هیچ چیز خارج از آگاهیِ برترِ من نبود، زیرا با تمامِ انرژیِ فراگیر، یکی بودم.. گویی تمامیت را در بر گرفته بودم!!! در آن حالت، شفافیت و کمال وجود داشت و از همه چیز آگاه بودم.. به نظر میرسید که من همه چیز شده ام و در همه چیز وجود دارم
****************************
به سببِ نوشتنِ این جملات که البته تکراری میباشد و گذشتگان بارها آنها را به کار برده اند، به این کتاب یک امتیاز دادم که در زیر برایتان مینویسم
در این دورانِ تکنولوژیِ اطلاعات، ما مداوماً و با سرعتِ برق، موردِ هجومِ اخبار قرار میگیریم.. همهٔ ما در عصرِ فشارهایِ روانیِ شدید و ترس، زندگی میکنیم و دائماً در تلاشیم که خودمان را از هر چیزی که فکر میکنیم <در بیرون> است، حفاظت کنیم.. تا آن حد که از یاد میبریم لذت ببریم و از آنچه در درونمان است، مراقبت کنیم
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عزیزانم، پولتان را برایِ خریدِ کتابهایی هزینه کنید که پشیمان نشوید .. کتابهایی که در آن نکاتی آموزنده برایِ شما باشد.. سخن از روح و دنیایِ پس از مرگ، چیزی جز خزعبلات و موهوماتِ بیخردانه، هیچ نمیباشد.. به زندگیِ در این دنیایِ واقعی و وجودِ انسانیِ خویش بیاندیشید و با جهانِ اطرافِ خویش مهربان باشید.. اندیشیدن در موردِ جسمتان و خرد و شعورتان، بهتر از اندیشیدن به روح و هر موهوماتِ دیگری است که به هیچ روشی قابلِ اثبات نبوده و نمیباشد
امیدوارم این ریویو برایِ شما خردگرایان، مفید بوده باشه
<پیروز باشید و ایرانی>
April 27, 2012
Anita Moorjani is very humble in sharing what her Near Death Experience (NDE) was like for her and how it has transformed her life. She recovered from stage four cancer after her NDE. I could not put this book down and want to always have it near to remind me of what is important. Here are some of her main points:
1. Love yourself. Every time you beat yourself up, you create so much pain for yourself and others. Love yourself no matter what for no reason other than because you are here. Spend time connecting with your inner self.
2. Approval of others is unimportant. We need to follow our own heart. Let the answers come from within.
3. We are true love. Being love is being ourselves. It is the same.
4. It is important to leave yourself open to all possibilities and be willing to suspend belief and disbelief and sit with uncertainty. Needing certainty is a hindrance to experiencing greater levels of awareness.
5. Being instead of doing works with universal energy instead of against it. Just be and allow and everything will fall into place.
6. Don't deny your feelings. Embrace them all and allow them to flow through you. Embrace your ego too. What you resist persists.
7. Trying to control your thoughts or your emotions through "positive thinking" will not work.
8. There is no need to fear food. Eat what you love and enjoy it.
9. Every part of you is perfect. You are already everything you are meant to be. You don't have to forgive or let go to attain anything.
10. Humor and laughter are so important. They are more healing than anything else. Don't take yourself and your problems too seriously.
11. The after life is not better than earth. Live fully in the present moment.
12. When you let go of fear and love yourself unconditionally, you touch the lives of everyone around you because we are all connected.
It is not new information, but it is easy to forget as we get caught up in our day to day lives.
Anita is very clear that what works for her may not work for everyone. She is not asking anyone to agree with her. She is simply stating what worked for her--how she recovered from cancer and is having a wonderful, fulfilling life.
I am so grateful to Anita for writing this book and for the powerful message that she brings.
1. Love yourself. Every time you beat yourself up, you create so much pain for yourself and others. Love yourself no matter what for no reason other than because you are here. Spend time connecting with your inner self.
2. Approval of others is unimportant. We need to follow our own heart. Let the answers come from within.
3. We are true love. Being love is being ourselves. It is the same.
4. It is important to leave yourself open to all possibilities and be willing to suspend belief and disbelief and sit with uncertainty. Needing certainty is a hindrance to experiencing greater levels of awareness.
5. Being instead of doing works with universal energy instead of against it. Just be and allow and everything will fall into place.
6. Don't deny your feelings. Embrace them all and allow them to flow through you. Embrace your ego too. What you resist persists.
7. Trying to control your thoughts or your emotions through "positive thinking" will not work.
8. There is no need to fear food. Eat what you love and enjoy it.
9. Every part of you is perfect. You are already everything you are meant to be. You don't have to forgive or let go to attain anything.
10. Humor and laughter are so important. They are more healing than anything else. Don't take yourself and your problems too seriously.
11. The after life is not better than earth. Live fully in the present moment.
12. When you let go of fear and love yourself unconditionally, you touch the lives of everyone around you because we are all connected.
It is not new information, but it is easy to forget as we get caught up in our day to day lives.
Anita is very clear that what works for her may not work for everyone. She is not asking anyone to agree with her. She is simply stating what worked for her--how she recovered from cancer and is having a wonderful, fulfilling life.
I am so grateful to Anita for writing this book and for the powerful message that she brings.
April 22, 2013
I REALLY wanted to love this book . Unfortunately , I didn't .. Not to negate her undeniably incredible experience- which I was eager to learn about because of my interest in NDE and all of the glowing reviews, but it just left me flat. Maybe she needed a Ghostwriter , maybe I chafed at her repetitive and monotonous tone. I found her telling us what she thinks about her experience but little about how she or those around her feel. It makes it hard to connect to her voice and to her story . She also contradicted herself numerous times which was annoying. " Fear cause illness " " Fear doesn't cause illness " Which is it ? One of the things that bothered me most though was the author being incredibly vague ( purposely ?) about the chemotherapy she received while in hospital . She glossed over the fact that significantly large chemo treatments were administered during her NDE and after . I feel this is a disservice to those fighting cancer and undergoing conventional treatment - that this could have had a very significant role in her remission. Her cancer didn't miraculously disappear - it receded over time . It's rare but it does happen . Sometimes cancer genes will ' switch off' and die. As a cancer survivor , I wish she were more forthright about those facts . Maybe she feels it takes away from her story .
Anyway , for what it's worth I found this book poorly written, highly confusing ( esp. from someone who claims to be so clear now ) and yes, a bit shallow. It was a bit like reading a regurgitated Deepak Chopra book without the writing ability to convince the reader that something truly profound was being shared. I didn't buy it . I know many people are having a different experience with this book but I am not one . Her experience was amazing and part of her message is really wonderful but I found it too muddled to find myself convinced enough to agree with much of what she said. Rather than feeling inspired by what she wrote , i feel let down in some way . I am happy for her and agree people must love themselves but that is a very old message - one that i already carry with me. I think what one does in this life does matter so the rest is just nonsense to me.
Anyway , for what it's worth I found this book poorly written, highly confusing ( esp. from someone who claims to be so clear now ) and yes, a bit shallow. It was a bit like reading a regurgitated Deepak Chopra book without the writing ability to convince the reader that something truly profound was being shared. I didn't buy it . I know many people are having a different experience with this book but I am not one . Her experience was amazing and part of her message is really wonderful but I found it too muddled to find myself convinced enough to agree with much of what she said. Rather than feeling inspired by what she wrote , i feel let down in some way . I am happy for her and agree people must love themselves but that is a very old message - one that i already carry with me. I think what one does in this life does matter so the rest is just nonsense to me.
August 19, 2019
Siempre digo que esta clase de libros no se pueden puntuar: son vivencias personales y, como tales, no me parece justo otorgar X estrellas a la persona que explica su vida, según el grado de sufrimiento que ha padecido. Después de todo, todo es objetivo. Sin embargo, si esta vez lo he hecho, no ha sido por la historia en sí, sino por lo que cuenta. ¿Te asusta la muerte? ¿Y la palabra cáncer? Si la respuesta es sí, entonces quizá deberías de leerlo. Un caso inédito sobre una paciente terminal que entra en coma y sobrevive. Pero lo más maravilloso del libro, es el mensaje que Anita nos transmite.
April 12, 2020
I had heard about this book sometime back and finally got to reading it. Anita Moorjani went through a near death experience (NDE) and discusses the experience & learnings for life. If you are interested in the genre and have an open mind, this is an important book with good lessons for life.
The book is written in three parts – her early life, the NDE experience, learnings. There is also a Q&A at the end with responses to questions she is typically asked. The first part covers her personal life – she was born to Indian heritage parents in Singapore. She spent some time in Sri Lanka as well before the family moved to Hong Kong. She and her brother Anoop grew up in a multi-cultural environment though her parents kept her in touch with Indian culture. Her father is somewhat conservative and wishes to see her married in a good family. She is engaged but feels it is not a good match and withdraws with the support of her parents. She later meets Danny Moorjani who she finds to be well aligned to her thinking and way of life. Her dad tragically passes away before she is married.
Her close friend and brother in law both develop cancer and she sees the toll it takes on them. Anita is diagnosed with lymphoma. She gets treated at a clinic in Hong Kong but also visits India for Ayurvedic treatment. She feels much better after that but there are some setbacks after some time while she is in Hong Kong. She is admitted in an emergency when the cancer had spread through much of the upper part of her body. The doctors do not offer much hope as soon as she is admitted but her husband and mother are distraught asking the doctors to not give up. Anita has a near death experience, and is offered the option of returning. The experience stays – where she experiences multiple time periods, converses with her father, sees friends and relatives, and understands why she fell ill and how she can come out of it. She then recovers rapidly, much to the surprise of the doctors.
She covers what she learnt in her subsequent section – never allow fear to dominate life and find a larger purpose, in summary. One sentence in her narration is interesting – she did not come out of her health issues with positive thinking but with a revealing experience which realigns her life. I find this striking as the experience of mystics in deep meditation has interested me since some time – thinking by itself does not improve a situation, experiences as a result of deep silence do.
Anita is very limited though in her understanding of Indian philosophy & spiritual teachings though she alludes to it in passing. Anita’s experience of time not being linear is not new – there are scientific time theories around it, as also other mystic experiences (such as of Ramana Maharishi) & Indian philosophies. This naturally leads to her describing her experiences as unique and gets to be very confused while discussing concepts such as Karma and afterlife.
This is a very well written book and the advice it offers is important.
The book ‘Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife’ by Eben Alexander also covers his experience of an NDE and learnings. That is another good book in this genre as well, though there are differences in the account.
The book is written in three parts – her early life, the NDE experience, learnings. There is also a Q&A at the end with responses to questions she is typically asked. The first part covers her personal life – she was born to Indian heritage parents in Singapore. She spent some time in Sri Lanka as well before the family moved to Hong Kong. She and her brother Anoop grew up in a multi-cultural environment though her parents kept her in touch with Indian culture. Her father is somewhat conservative and wishes to see her married in a good family. She is engaged but feels it is not a good match and withdraws with the support of her parents. She later meets Danny Moorjani who she finds to be well aligned to her thinking and way of life. Her dad tragically passes away before she is married.
Her close friend and brother in law both develop cancer and she sees the toll it takes on them. Anita is diagnosed with lymphoma. She gets treated at a clinic in Hong Kong but also visits India for Ayurvedic treatment. She feels much better after that but there are some setbacks after some time while she is in Hong Kong. She is admitted in an emergency when the cancer had spread through much of the upper part of her body. The doctors do not offer much hope as soon as she is admitted but her husband and mother are distraught asking the doctors to not give up. Anita has a near death experience, and is offered the option of returning. The experience stays – where she experiences multiple time periods, converses with her father, sees friends and relatives, and understands why she fell ill and how she can come out of it. She then recovers rapidly, much to the surprise of the doctors.
She covers what she learnt in her subsequent section – never allow fear to dominate life and find a larger purpose, in summary. One sentence in her narration is interesting – she did not come out of her health issues with positive thinking but with a revealing experience which realigns her life. I find this striking as the experience of mystics in deep meditation has interested me since some time – thinking by itself does not improve a situation, experiences as a result of deep silence do.
Anita is very limited though in her understanding of Indian philosophy & spiritual teachings though she alludes to it in passing. Anita’s experience of time not being linear is not new – there are scientific time theories around it, as also other mystic experiences (such as of Ramana Maharishi) & Indian philosophies. This naturally leads to her describing her experiences as unique and gets to be very confused while discussing concepts such as Karma and afterlife.
This is a very well written book and the advice it offers is important.
The book ‘Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife’ by Eben Alexander also covers his experience of an NDE and learnings. That is another good book in this genre as well, though there are differences in the account.
March 5, 2012
I always had an interest in Near-Death-Experiences (NDE), that is, I read studies that come out about it and have read people's accounts of what they experienced on the other side. Saying that, it doesn't mean I necessarily believe it...I'm just curious. I was also curious about Anita's book as Wayne Dyer (an author I really like and respect) mentioned her several times.
I didn't really know what to expect other than that my sceptic side would kick-in. But that didn't happen. Anita is not trying to convince anyone of anything. She simply relates her experience and shares what it all meant to her, without giving formulas that others should follow.
Anita's experience is very different from other NDEs I read about because not only was she "on the other side" but she was also healed from terminal cancer, when doctors believed she had only hours to live, as her organs had started shutting down. After she made the decision to return cancer began to leave her body and today she's a healthy, amazing woman, with a beautiful message to share.
Personally, I really relate to her life and way of thinking prior to her being diagnosed with cancer, so this is a big wake-up call for me. Fortunately, I also resonate with the conclusions she got to and who knows...maybe this book just saved me from continuing making mistakes by living in fear.
This is not a book about dying. It's a book that invites us to re-evaluate our lives and to live it...fearlessly. I cannot recommend it enough. I hope to see a documentary about Anita on TV so that her message (even though it's clear from her writing she doesn't intend to be a spiritual guru) gets to as many people as possible. I felt a sense of great peace reading this book, and had lots of ah-ha moments. Precious!
I didn't really know what to expect other than that my sceptic side would kick-in. But that didn't happen. Anita is not trying to convince anyone of anything. She simply relates her experience and shares what it all meant to her, without giving formulas that others should follow.
Anita's experience is very different from other NDEs I read about because not only was she "on the other side" but she was also healed from terminal cancer, when doctors believed she had only hours to live, as her organs had started shutting down. After she made the decision to return cancer began to leave her body and today she's a healthy, amazing woman, with a beautiful message to share.
Personally, I really relate to her life and way of thinking prior to her being diagnosed with cancer, so this is a big wake-up call for me. Fortunately, I also resonate with the conclusions she got to and who knows...maybe this book just saved me from continuing making mistakes by living in fear.
This is not a book about dying. It's a book that invites us to re-evaluate our lives and to live it...fearlessly. I cannot recommend it enough. I hope to see a documentary about Anita on TV so that her message (even though it's clear from her writing she doesn't intend to be a spiritual guru) gets to as many people as possible. I felt a sense of great peace reading this book, and had lots of ah-ha moments. Precious!
May 2, 2013
Quite the hard pill to swallow – at times it is laced with rather insightful observations regarding self-worth, and at others it is filled with hyperbolic love speak that is tantamount to any garden-variety, acid-induced ramblings in the parking lot of a Phish concert. So in order to proceed, let’s approach this from the prototypical philosophical device – the glass. You may choose which portion you read first or which to skip, based upon your particular bent. Or has the choice already been made for you?
Glass half-full:
In her introduction Moorjani attempts to explicitly state that these are her experiences alone, and that she is not trying to convince anyone, but help. Not to provide some new doctrine of existence, but to describe her story, and that each person needs to take their own path with their own cancer and ultimately their lives.*
Beyond this cautionary statement, there are a few other useful positions. The first is that we should not feel that we need to pray (i.e. beg) for forgiveness for the act of simply being born. That we should not subscribe to any one dogma and/or religion as it ultimately limits our ability to think openly. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, we do not need to know all the answers. Certainty is not always necessary.
Glass half-empty (truthfully, more like two-thirds-empty):
*Her cautionary statements in the introduction fail in the fact that the reader should be encouraged to re-read the introduction upon completing the book, in order to bring some rationality to the somewhat irresponsible tenants posited throughout the book. “…I suddenly realized that both my getting cancer and my healing were actually for the planet.” (p. 120)
The first and perhaps most profound irresponsible statement is the position that she would be able to CURE her cancer simply by opening herself to her own magnificence and making it so through her own thought processes. Although it would be easy to support the ideal that one’s outlook may ultimately bolster one’s physical health, putting this forth as a primary cancer treatment to people who may be currently going through the disease process is dangerous advice. Furthermore, Moorjani blames her pathology on a lack of “self-love”. Had she simply had a better opinion of herself, she never would have gotten cancer in the first place. You hear that, person whose hair is falling out from Chemotherapy? Are you happy, now? You did this to yourself, you know? Had you just loved yourself more, you never would have gotten sick in the first place. Moorjani waits until p. 157 (four pages from the end of the main body of the book) to mention any allowance for the fact that people just may not be poisoning themselves with illness by lack of “self-love”. That dangerous lemon of thought is allowed to hangout on the tree for nearly the entire narrative.
I also find it incredibly interesting that she never gives credit to the actual, science-based medicine that she had originally spurned, as the modality that ACUTALLY kept her body alive and GAVE her the “choice” to come back from the dead and cure her own cancer. Especially when she is so dismissive of the follow-up tests that proved her remission, and the rounds of Chemotherapy that she completed. Without these tests and treatments, there would be no medical record to be studied and therefore marveled; prohibiting her pseudo-celebrity following her NDE.
Moorjani’s “choice” to come back from the dead allowed her to realize her true purpose, to spread her message to “thousands, even “tens of thousands” of people. “It’s unfortunate that we keep searching outside ourselves for answers-in religion, medicine, scientific study, BOOKS, and other people.” (p. 144) Than why write one? When you “serendipitously” received your e-mail from Hay House publishing, did the publishing advance allow you to “be” swayed away from letting people discover answers for themselves?
I once saw a stand-up special by Dana Carvey where he quipped that Deepak Chopra was expertly bilking people out of millions of dollars by simply spouting ‘The Secret”-esque drivel, such as, “if you want success, let go of success; if you want happiness, let go of happiness”. This book is rife with the same empty language and lack of personal responsibility as it claims that all decisions are predestined.
Ultimately, smashing the glass:
There is a nauseating amount of “love” speak throughout the book…I’m love, you’re love, he’s love, she’s love, terrorists are love, criminals are love…wait, what? Seriously? I’m not even going to touch this one.
Finally, there is nearly a Seinfeldian amount of exclamation points in Moorjani’s writing. Thankfully, I hadn’t noticed this fact until near the end of the narrative (about the same time she finally relented that you may not have cancer because you don’t love yourself enough!).
PS – The ‘Questions and Answers’ chapter…waste of time.
Namaste. (Oh, and by the way, she put an exclamation point behind that word, too.)
Glass half-full:
In her introduction Moorjani attempts to explicitly state that these are her experiences alone, and that she is not trying to convince anyone, but help. Not to provide some new doctrine of existence, but to describe her story, and that each person needs to take their own path with their own cancer and ultimately their lives.*
Beyond this cautionary statement, there are a few other useful positions. The first is that we should not feel that we need to pray (i.e. beg) for forgiveness for the act of simply being born. That we should not subscribe to any one dogma and/or religion as it ultimately limits our ability to think openly. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, we do not need to know all the answers. Certainty is not always necessary.
Glass half-empty (truthfully, more like two-thirds-empty):
*Her cautionary statements in the introduction fail in the fact that the reader should be encouraged to re-read the introduction upon completing the book, in order to bring some rationality to the somewhat irresponsible tenants posited throughout the book. “…I suddenly realized that both my getting cancer and my healing were actually for the planet.” (p. 120)
The first and perhaps most profound irresponsible statement is the position that she would be able to CURE her cancer simply by opening herself to her own magnificence and making it so through her own thought processes. Although it would be easy to support the ideal that one’s outlook may ultimately bolster one’s physical health, putting this forth as a primary cancer treatment to people who may be currently going through the disease process is dangerous advice. Furthermore, Moorjani blames her pathology on a lack of “self-love”. Had she simply had a better opinion of herself, she never would have gotten cancer in the first place. You hear that, person whose hair is falling out from Chemotherapy? Are you happy, now? You did this to yourself, you know? Had you just loved yourself more, you never would have gotten sick in the first place. Moorjani waits until p. 157 (four pages from the end of the main body of the book) to mention any allowance for the fact that people just may not be poisoning themselves with illness by lack of “self-love”. That dangerous lemon of thought is allowed to hangout on the tree for nearly the entire narrative.
I also find it incredibly interesting that she never gives credit to the actual, science-based medicine that she had originally spurned, as the modality that ACUTALLY kept her body alive and GAVE her the “choice” to come back from the dead and cure her own cancer. Especially when she is so dismissive of the follow-up tests that proved her remission, and the rounds of Chemotherapy that she completed. Without these tests and treatments, there would be no medical record to be studied and therefore marveled; prohibiting her pseudo-celebrity following her NDE.
Moorjani’s “choice” to come back from the dead allowed her to realize her true purpose, to spread her message to “thousands, even “tens of thousands” of people. “It’s unfortunate that we keep searching outside ourselves for answers-in religion, medicine, scientific study, BOOKS, and other people.” (p. 144) Than why write one? When you “serendipitously” received your e-mail from Hay House publishing, did the publishing advance allow you to “be” swayed away from letting people discover answers for themselves?
I once saw a stand-up special by Dana Carvey where he quipped that Deepak Chopra was expertly bilking people out of millions of dollars by simply spouting ‘The Secret”-esque drivel, such as, “if you want success, let go of success; if you want happiness, let go of happiness”. This book is rife with the same empty language and lack of personal responsibility as it claims that all decisions are predestined.
Ultimately, smashing the glass:
There is a nauseating amount of “love” speak throughout the book…I’m love, you’re love, he’s love, she’s love, terrorists are love, criminals are love…wait, what? Seriously? I’m not even going to touch this one.
Finally, there is nearly a Seinfeldian amount of exclamation points in Moorjani’s writing. Thankfully, I hadn’t noticed this fact until near the end of the narrative (about the same time she finally relented that you may not have cancer because you don’t love yourself enough!).
PS – The ‘Questions and Answers’ chapter…waste of time.
Namaste. (Oh, and by the way, she put an exclamation point behind that word, too.)
March 22, 2012
I waited in high anticipation for this book after hearing Dr. Wayne Dyer talk about if often on his radio show. It was not a disappointment. I highly recommend this book for everyone on the planet to read.
We live in a society that is so afraid to talk about death. But after you read Anita's near death experience and what she learned, you will see death in a whole new, beautiful light. Even though she describes her experience so amazingly well, I still wish I could literally get in her head and body to know how she feels. Her description of pure, divine love on the other side is so astounding.
Though I've come to believe we will always be connected with those that we love even after they physically leave us, Anita's book really helped me to truly believe this even more - and gave me comfort that when we leave this planet, we will have so much more to see and do - in a brilliant, spectaular new way.
We live in a society that is so afraid to talk about death. But after you read Anita's near death experience and what she learned, you will see death in a whole new, beautiful light. Even though she describes her experience so amazingly well, I still wish I could literally get in her head and body to know how she feels. Her description of pure, divine love on the other side is so astounding.
Though I've come to believe we will always be connected with those that we love even after they physically leave us, Anita's book really helped me to truly believe this even more - and gave me comfort that when we leave this planet, we will have so much more to see and do - in a brilliant, spectaular new way.
August 13, 2015
Not at all impressed by this book. It is basically a memoir and lacks the factual details regarding her diagnosis, illness and cure. And I believe it is quite preposterous to claim a natural human emotion such as fear can cause cancer. If that was the case, we would all be suffering from one form of cancer or another. At times, I found it quite nauseating as she keeps going on and on about her 'magnificence'. For someone who has come from a life of privilege, I found her to be quite the whiner. One does not need to have a NDE to realize what she preaches. It just takes common sense.
September 11, 2012
The most credible, enlightening, uplifting NDE story I have ever read. Anita Moorjani, who I have seen speak about her experience, is a well spoken, highly intelligent woman with a story that will knock your socks off.
She was pronounced dead from organ failure and four days later the doctors couldn't find any cancer (from lymphoma) in her body, despite their desperate attempts. Unfortunately, the physicians put Ms. Moorjani through some very painful medical tests, although the scans were telling them there were no more tumors.
She speaks of her experience to the Other Side in a new language, or a lexicon which is becoming more polished for those slipping through the veil. It doesn't sound woowoo, yet certainly convinced me to love myself with fervor. Anita Moorjani experienced Unconditional Love which totally healed her. She is a beautiful soul, and says she was told we are all beautiful souls - no one more or less than the other. We all have a purpose - I can't give her words the merit they deserve. But, I do urge you to experience the sacred writing that is so fun, for yourself.
She was pronounced dead from organ failure and four days later the doctors couldn't find any cancer (from lymphoma) in her body, despite their desperate attempts. Unfortunately, the physicians put Ms. Moorjani through some very painful medical tests, although the scans were telling them there were no more tumors.
She speaks of her experience to the Other Side in a new language, or a lexicon which is becoming more polished for those slipping through the veil. It doesn't sound woowoo, yet certainly convinced me to love myself with fervor. Anita Moorjani experienced Unconditional Love which totally healed her. She is a beautiful soul, and says she was told we are all beautiful souls - no one more or less than the other. We all have a purpose - I can't give her words the merit they deserve. But, I do urge you to experience the sacred writing that is so fun, for yourself.
February 22, 2013
A superb book for which I have written a good amount of notes that I plan to read often. I'll give a couple of examples here of the spiritual gold she generously shares.
We just have to be ourselves and express our uniqueness fearlessly. This allows us to be an instrument of love. This brings everything that's truly ours into our life effortlessly in the most magical and unexpected ways.
Anita healed because she allowed her true spirit to shine through. And because she moved from operating out of concrete beliefs (which is limiting) to being open to the realm of infinite possibilities. The act of needing certainty hinders experiencing greater levels of awareness. So let go and release all attachments to any belief or outcome. Enjoy and trust in the ride that is life.
We just have to be ourselves and express our uniqueness fearlessly. This allows us to be an instrument of love. This brings everything that's truly ours into our life effortlessly in the most magical and unexpected ways.
Anita healed because she allowed her true spirit to shine through. And because she moved from operating out of concrete beliefs (which is limiting) to being open to the realm of infinite possibilities. The act of needing certainty hinders experiencing greater levels of awareness. So let go and release all attachments to any belief or outcome. Enjoy and trust in the ride that is life.
September 18, 2015
Bilo bi jako lijepo i vrlo zanimljivo upoznati spisateljicu! Sigurna sam da bi razgovor sa njom pomogao svakome barem malo otvoriti oči, a to nam svima treba.
(mala zamjerka je ta što se neki određeni događaji ponavljaju kroz knjigu nekoliko puta i to zna biti malo naporno..)
(mala zamjerka je ta što se neki određeni događaji ponavljaju kroz knjigu nekoliko puta i to zna biti malo naporno..)
November 14, 2015
This is one of the best near-death experiencs I have come across so far. Anita was not only completely healed of her terminal illness in a rapid rate after her NDE, but also gained remarkable knowledge about our nature as spiritual beings in human/corporeal bodies. She repeats again and again how important it is to know how to connect to this higher part of ourselves in order to heal, get rid of various deep rooted fears, and to fulfill the unique purpose of our individual Being.
March 23, 2012
I am almost finished with this book and feel extremely excited about it. Since I have arthritis, I might relate to this book on another level than someone who is completely healthy in the body and the mind. However, this book is a woman's account of how she discovers her purpose in life, thereby healing herself. And she gives a beautiful account of her near death experience in words that resonated with me on such a deep and profound level. I think her experience in general resonated with me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is feeling misplaced, discouraged or lost in their lives. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking answers or trying to figure out who they are. I would recommend this book to anyone suffering from disease. It's one of those books that I will read again and again just to be reminded what life is truly about.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is feeling misplaced, discouraged or lost in their lives. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking answers or trying to figure out who they are. I would recommend this book to anyone suffering from disease. It's one of those books that I will read again and again just to be reminded what life is truly about.
April 11, 2012
Wow! I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this book. In three words I would describe it as amazing, comforting and enlightening. I wanted to take a highlighter to it and mark it all up so I could save it in my mind and take her words with me through out my day to day life. I love how she expresses her own truths in a non intrusive way and they are not necessarily everyone's truths. I will read it again and again and give many more away as a gifts.
October 29, 2023
This is a remarkable book.
I was a bit reluctant to read it at first because after years of reading many self help and New Age books, I got tired of their sweeping generalizations and useless platitudes and stopped reading such books altogether. But a very wise woman, an acquaintance at the gym, advised me to read this. The vast majority of advice I’ve gotten from others has ranged from useless to downright harmful, and over the years I’ve learned to ignore the advice of others and to keep my own counsel. This was one of those very rare times when the advice was spot on. This lady, a psychotherapist, seemed to intuit exactly what I needed in this moment, which was to read this book.
I should elaborate more. I have a history in those New Agey circles. For many years I was a faithful member of a group, lead by a guru, that taught particular forms of healing and meditation. But finally, I got restless. My inner voice told me to leave and go on alone. The group claimed to love and have compassion for everyone, but they certainly didn’t love me when I left. I lost access to their course materials (supposedly available for a lifetime), the people, the whole thing. They treated me as if I had died (worse in fact). What they preached was not what they practiced. It was a bit of a shock. I have still retained some residual bitterness from those days. I’ve found it difficult to forgive people who constantly spoke of love and compassion yet treated me with such ice cold callousness. I soured on the entire New Age movement and all spiritual endeavors. I’ve been unable or unwilling to reconnect to spiritual consciousness for any extended length of time since then. I once had frequent paranormal experiences. I’ve had few or none for years. That’s the context in which I approached this book: skeptical but hopeful.
The title, Dying to be Me refers to the fact that Moorjani was unable to love herself, and be who she truly was rather than always effacing herself to meet the expectations of others, until she had a near death experience. Moorjani’s lack of self-acceptance and constant people pleasing behavior are what caused her illness. She finally learned to put herself first.
The other message of the book is that there really is no death. Existence continues in some form (possibly expanded) after we’ve left the body.
A third message is to live life fearlessly. Before her near death experience, Moorjani says she feared everything (especially cancer) which contributed to her illness. After her near death experience, she no longer feared either living or dying.
I preferred the first two thirds of the book, in which the author describes her early life growing up in multicultural Hong Kong, her struggle with terminal cancer, and her near death experience, followed, miraculously, by a rapid and complete recovery.
In this part of the book, the author uses very specific, concrete, and colorful language to describe all of her experiences. Here’s an example:
The markets sold everything from fresh produce and household goods to trinkets and baubles. The vendors called out their wares, and the stalls were in no special order. Vegetable stalls were interspersed with stalls selling shoes, flowers, pots and pans, cheap plastic toys, colorful arrays of fresh fruit, costume jewelry, balloons, fresh fish, meat, socks and stockings, colorful napkins and towels, tablecloths, and so on, most of them with wares spilling out onto the street.
Here’s an description of the environment surrounding her during her near death experience. Lots of people have paranormal experiences. But few are able to describe them as articulately as Anita Moorjani does, as it’s difficult to translate such experiences into words:
I had 360-degree peripheral vision with total awareness of my surroundings…Being in a body now felt confining.
Time felt different in that realm, too, and I felt all moments at once. I was aware of everything that pertained to me—past, present, and future simultaneously.
Or even better, a metaphor for our lack of awareness of the totality of existence, like turning on a light switch in a dark warehouse and suddenly seeing and hearing:
Music floods the room with fantastic, kaleidoscopic, surround-sound melodies you’ve never heard before.
Neon signs pulse and boogie in rainbow strobes of cherry, lemon, vermillion, grape, and gold. Electric toys run on tracks up, down, and around shelves stacked with indescribable colored boxes, packages, papers, pencils, paints, inks, cans of food, packages of multi hued candies, bottles of effervescent sodas, champagne, and wines from every corner of the world. Skyrockets suddenly explode in starbursts, setting off sparkling flowers, cascades of cold fire, whistling embers, and animations of light.
I was less enthusiastic about the last third of the book, as rather than speaking about her specific experiences, she explains the philosophy of Religious Science/New Thought (although she eschews any religious labels). This is the philosophy behind Moorjani’s publisher, Hay House. Some of this bored me, perhaps since I was already quite familiar with a lot of these views. Also, it was a bit more impersonal than the first two thirds of the book. I do like that Moorjani emphasizes that there is no dogma, and that each unique individual must find their own path. However, she mentions that the purpose of her words in this book is to trigger an awakening in the reader. Her words did have that effect on me.
The audio, a newer revised version, contained a final bonus chapter not present in the ebook I got from the library, a much older version. This was a discussion of empathy and highly sensitive people. (She’s written an entire book on the subject). I appreciated this info, as I belong to one or both categories, though I’ve long since learned to survive by setting firm boundaries. I could see that her more recent writing style is much more fluid.
I also loved all the signs in (I think) the penultimate chapter that her deceased mentor, Dr. Wayne Dyer, was communicating with and guiding Moorjani after his death.
I was also struck by the unwavering love and devotion of Moorjani’s husband, who stuck with her through all of this. Theirs seems to be one of those rare marriages of true soul mates.
In the audio, the author read her own words. Given the very personal nature of the subject, this seemed entirely appropriate.
I highly recommend this book to those with whom the subject resonates. That won’t be everyone, but if you feel drawn to read this, by all means do read it.
I was a bit reluctant to read it at first because after years of reading many self help and New Age books, I got tired of their sweeping generalizations and useless platitudes and stopped reading such books altogether. But a very wise woman, an acquaintance at the gym, advised me to read this. The vast majority of advice I’ve gotten from others has ranged from useless to downright harmful, and over the years I’ve learned to ignore the advice of others and to keep my own counsel. This was one of those very rare times when the advice was spot on. This lady, a psychotherapist, seemed to intuit exactly what I needed in this moment, which was to read this book.
I should elaborate more. I have a history in those New Agey circles. For many years I was a faithful member of a group, lead by a guru, that taught particular forms of healing and meditation. But finally, I got restless. My inner voice told me to leave and go on alone. The group claimed to love and have compassion for everyone, but they certainly didn’t love me when I left. I lost access to their course materials (supposedly available for a lifetime), the people, the whole thing. They treated me as if I had died (worse in fact). What they preached was not what they practiced. It was a bit of a shock. I have still retained some residual bitterness from those days. I’ve found it difficult to forgive people who constantly spoke of love and compassion yet treated me with such ice cold callousness. I soured on the entire New Age movement and all spiritual endeavors. I’ve been unable or unwilling to reconnect to spiritual consciousness for any extended length of time since then. I once had frequent paranormal experiences. I’ve had few or none for years. That’s the context in which I approached this book: skeptical but hopeful.
The title, Dying to be Me refers to the fact that Moorjani was unable to love herself, and be who she truly was rather than always effacing herself to meet the expectations of others, until she had a near death experience. Moorjani’s lack of self-acceptance and constant people pleasing behavior are what caused her illness. She finally learned to put herself first.
The other message of the book is that there really is no death. Existence continues in some form (possibly expanded) after we’ve left the body.
A third message is to live life fearlessly. Before her near death experience, Moorjani says she feared everything (especially cancer) which contributed to her illness. After her near death experience, she no longer feared either living or dying.
I preferred the first two thirds of the book, in which the author describes her early life growing up in multicultural Hong Kong, her struggle with terminal cancer, and her near death experience, followed, miraculously, by a rapid and complete recovery.
In this part of the book, the author uses very specific, concrete, and colorful language to describe all of her experiences. Here’s an example:
The markets sold everything from fresh produce and household goods to trinkets and baubles. The vendors called out their wares, and the stalls were in no special order. Vegetable stalls were interspersed with stalls selling shoes, flowers, pots and pans, cheap plastic toys, colorful arrays of fresh fruit, costume jewelry, balloons, fresh fish, meat, socks and stockings, colorful napkins and towels, tablecloths, and so on, most of them with wares spilling out onto the street.
Here’s an description of the environment surrounding her during her near death experience. Lots of people have paranormal experiences. But few are able to describe them as articulately as Anita Moorjani does, as it’s difficult to translate such experiences into words:
I had 360-degree peripheral vision with total awareness of my surroundings…Being in a body now felt confining.
Time felt different in that realm, too, and I felt all moments at once. I was aware of everything that pertained to me—past, present, and future simultaneously.
Or even better, a metaphor for our lack of awareness of the totality of existence, like turning on a light switch in a dark warehouse and suddenly seeing and hearing:
Music floods the room with fantastic, kaleidoscopic, surround-sound melodies you’ve never heard before.
Neon signs pulse and boogie in rainbow strobes of cherry, lemon, vermillion, grape, and gold. Electric toys run on tracks up, down, and around shelves stacked with indescribable colored boxes, packages, papers, pencils, paints, inks, cans of food, packages of multi hued candies, bottles of effervescent sodas, champagne, and wines from every corner of the world. Skyrockets suddenly explode in starbursts, setting off sparkling flowers, cascades of cold fire, whistling embers, and animations of light.
I was less enthusiastic about the last third of the book, as rather than speaking about her specific experiences, she explains the philosophy of Religious Science/New Thought (although she eschews any religious labels). This is the philosophy behind Moorjani’s publisher, Hay House. Some of this bored me, perhaps since I was already quite familiar with a lot of these views. Also, it was a bit more impersonal than the first two thirds of the book. I do like that Moorjani emphasizes that there is no dogma, and that each unique individual must find their own path. However, she mentions that the purpose of her words in this book is to trigger an awakening in the reader. Her words did have that effect on me.
The audio, a newer revised version, contained a final bonus chapter not present in the ebook I got from the library, a much older version. This was a discussion of empathy and highly sensitive people. (She’s written an entire book on the subject). I appreciated this info, as I belong to one or both categories, though I’ve long since learned to survive by setting firm boundaries. I could see that her more recent writing style is much more fluid.
I also loved all the signs in (I think) the penultimate chapter that her deceased mentor, Dr. Wayne Dyer, was communicating with and guiding Moorjani after his death.
I was also struck by the unwavering love and devotion of Moorjani’s husband, who stuck with her through all of this. Theirs seems to be one of those rare marriages of true soul mates.
In the audio, the author read her own words. Given the very personal nature of the subject, this seemed entirely appropriate.
I highly recommend this book to those with whom the subject resonates. That won’t be everyone, but if you feel drawn to read this, by all means do read it.
March 15, 2012
what a wonderful book! Whether or not you believe in near-death experiences, Anita describes her life, beliefs, and events leading up to her cancer, her organs shutting down, going into a coma, and what comes after. This was not like other NDE's I've read about. She isn't trying to change anyone's beliefs. It's very life-affirming, empowering, and uplifting. I hope everyone will read it.
Read
December 20, 2024I recently listened to this audiobook, narrated by the author. Although it did not contain a Christian point of view, it was helpful in the way that Moorjani learned to focus on being loved and accepting herself.
To make this clear, unlike the author, I believe in heaven and hell. Like the author, I believe that somehow I am connected to everything. The same God who made me also created the universe, my Jehovah.
If you are struggling with imposter syndrome, this might be helpful. Although that isn't my issue, it has helped me realize that I need to let go more of things that cause me anxiety. Life really is too short, and it is full of wonderful things.
To make this clear, unlike the author, I believe in heaven and hell. Like the author, I believe that somehow I am connected to everything. The same God who made me also created the universe, my Jehovah.
If you are struggling with imposter syndrome, this might be helpful. Although that isn't my issue, it has helped me realize that I need to let go more of things that cause me anxiety. Life really is too short, and it is full of wonderful things.
February 19, 2012
She had the choice to come back or not She chose to return when she realized that "heaven" is a state, not a place.... If you don't think you are magnificent this book will change your mind
This is a read over and over and over again because it's so full of new ideas. You won't agree with all of them but the ones you take on will surely change your life.
This is a read over and over and over again because it's so full of new ideas. You won't agree with all of them but the ones you take on will surely change your life.
August 14, 2012
"Prior to purchasing this book, I had not seen the PBS TV show in which the author and her NDE were discussed. So, other than a friend's recommendation and the book's description on Amazon.com I really didn't have any deep insight into the work. As a person interested in spirituality, I have read other books that referenced NDEs, so I had some exposure to the concept. With that said, I have to say that I really enjoyed this work, as I found it to be both thought-provoking and compelling. I resonated with much of what the author shared, and really feel that what she wrote truly came from her heart. Based on my spiritual study, I particularly agreed with her contention that "this life" is every bit as important as any "after-life."
My 5 Star rating for this work comes with one qualification. Namely, that "Dying to be Me" is a book ideally suited for people who are on a spiritual path as opposed to a religious path. So, if you strongly identify yourself as, for example, a fundamentalist Christian or a Muslim, it would probably be best that you not even consider reading this book as some of its content could disappoint you, or you could choose to be offended by it.
Here's one of my favorite passages in the book:
"Sweeping statements such as "Negative thoughts attract negativity in life" aren't necessarily true, and can make people who are going through a challenging time feel even worse. It can also create fear that they're going to attract even more negativity with their thoughts. Using this idea indiscriminately often makes people going through seemingly tough times feel as though they're bad for attracting such events, and that's just not true. If we start to believe that it's our negative thoughts that are creating any unpleasant situations, we can become paranoid about what we're thinking. On the contrary, it actually has less to do with our thoughts than with our emotions, especially what we feel about ourselves.
It's also not the case that attracting positive things is simply about keeping upbeat. I can't say this strongly enough, but our feelings about ourselves are actually the most important barometer for determining the condition of our lives! In other words, being true to ourselves is more important than just trying to stay positive!"
My 5 Star rating for this work comes with one qualification. Namely, that "Dying to be Me" is a book ideally suited for people who are on a spiritual path as opposed to a religious path. So, if you strongly identify yourself as, for example, a fundamentalist Christian or a Muslim, it would probably be best that you not even consider reading this book as some of its content could disappoint you, or you could choose to be offended by it.
Here's one of my favorite passages in the book:
"Sweeping statements such as "Negative thoughts attract negativity in life" aren't necessarily true, and can make people who are going through a challenging time feel even worse. It can also create fear that they're going to attract even more negativity with their thoughts. Using this idea indiscriminately often makes people going through seemingly tough times feel as though they're bad for attracting such events, and that's just not true. If we start to believe that it's our negative thoughts that are creating any unpleasant situations, we can become paranoid about what we're thinking. On the contrary, it actually has less to do with our thoughts than with our emotions, especially what we feel about ourselves.
It's also not the case that attracting positive things is simply about keeping upbeat. I can't say this strongly enough, but our feelings about ourselves are actually the most important barometer for determining the condition of our lives! In other words, being true to ourselves is more important than just trying to stay positive!"
April 18, 2012
I just LOVED this book, and it was life changing for me. I was riveted by Anita's story, and could not put it down. Her honesty as she details her childhood and young adult life as a Hindu girl in a multi cultural society, her marriage, getting cancer, the NDE and then healing, makes very compelling and riveting reading!
She writes intelligently, which I like, because it shows that she respects her readers. And her style is easy to read, and she is able to simplify complex ideas and articulate the ineffable with a skill that I have not seen before. She is direct and straightforward in her style, yet she does not make the reader feel that she is pushing her views onto you. She is merely sharing her experience, her understanding of it, and philosophies in the hope that others don't have to suffer the way she did.
What I also found appealing was how universal her message is, applying to anyone with an open heart and mind, unlike other books I have read of this genre.
I found this book very refreshing, like a breath of fresh air, and I have been recommending it to everyone I know. I can't stop thinking about it, and will be reading it again and again. Thank you, Anita Moorjani, for your wonderful book!
She writes intelligently, which I like, because it shows that she respects her readers. And her style is easy to read, and she is able to simplify complex ideas and articulate the ineffable with a skill that I have not seen before. She is direct and straightforward in her style, yet she does not make the reader feel that she is pushing her views onto you. She is merely sharing her experience, her understanding of it, and philosophies in the hope that others don't have to suffer the way she did.
What I also found appealing was how universal her message is, applying to anyone with an open heart and mind, unlike other books I have read of this genre.
I found this book very refreshing, like a breath of fresh air, and I have been recommending it to everyone I know. I can't stop thinking about it, and will be reading it again and again. Thank you, Anita Moorjani, for your wonderful book!
December 19, 2016
The first of Raymond Moody's common elements of a near death experience is ineffability- the inability of the experiencer to describe his NDE through language. I have read several NDE accounts, beautiful accounts, but never, ever have I come across one as clear and simple and powerful as that provided by Anita Moorjani. I have also read numerous books and heard many lectures on spirituality and "self-help". Never have I come across a clearer way to live life than that exemplified by Anita Moorjani. Her distinguishing between doing and being spoke to me in a way that has changed me. As I read more and more, I realized that what she describes has rung true countless times in my life. Now, thanks to this book, I have a clear way to continue that, a simple reminder to make sure I am "living inside out"- Am I acting out of passion or fear?
December 14, 2016
والله لا أرى سوى فتاة أرادت أن تتكسب بعض من المال فكتبت هذا الكتاب الذي لا يحتوي إلا هراء
كثير من الناس إدعوا أنهم عادوا من الموت... وأعلم أن هناك حالات كثيرة صادقة
ولكن ما كتبته أنيتا في هذا الكتاب لم أصدقه طرفة عين
لا لشيء سوى لأنني وجدت تناقضات كثيرة جدا
وهذا النوع من الكتابات يروق كثيرا للقارىء الأمريكي ولكن في الحقيقة ليس إلا ماورائيات فارغة مفلسة
نجمة واحدة للطبيب
كثير من الناس إدعوا أنهم عادوا من الموت... وأعلم أن هناك حالات كثيرة صادقة
ولكن ما كتبته أنيتا في هذا الكتاب لم أصدقه طرفة عين
لا لشيء سوى لأنني وجدت تناقضات كثيرة جدا
وهذا النوع من الكتابات يروق كثيرا للقارىء الأمريكي ولكن في الحقيقة ليس إلا ماورائيات فارغة مفلسة
نجمة واحدة للطبيب
April 4, 2023
4/5 ⭐
Es muy difícil calificar un libro que trata sobre la experiencia personal de Anita a raíz de una ECM (experiencia cercana a la muerte) y su tránsito por el cáncer que la llevó a estar muerta durante un pequeño lapso de tiempo y su vivencia en el otro lado.
El libro lo he escuchado en Audible y me ha gustado muchísimo por lo que seguramente lo vuelva a leer en físico ya que me gustaría marcar algunos mensajes realmente esperanzadores y motivadores para cualquier persona en cualquier momento de su vida pero sobretodo me parece un camino de luz a personas que transitan por graves enfermedades.
Me quedo con el mensaje esencial de amor incondicional empezando por el amor hacia nosotros mismos y la sabiduría que radica en nuestro interior y a la que es necesario escuchar por encima del ruido exterior.
Es muy difícil calificar un libro que trata sobre la experiencia personal de Anita a raíz de una ECM (experiencia cercana a la muerte) y su tránsito por el cáncer que la llevó a estar muerta durante un pequeño lapso de tiempo y su vivencia en el otro lado.
El libro lo he escuchado en Audible y me ha gustado muchísimo por lo que seguramente lo vuelva a leer en físico ya que me gustaría marcar algunos mensajes realmente esperanzadores y motivadores para cualquier persona en cualquier momento de su vida pero sobretodo me parece un camino de luz a personas que transitan por graves enfermedades.
Me quedo con el mensaje esencial de amor incondicional empezando por el amor hacia nosotros mismos y la sabiduría que radica en nuestro interior y a la que es necesario escuchar por encima del ruido exterior.
March 6, 2021
This book was recommended to me by a friend after my own diagnosis. Interestingly enough her description of the after death experience and the whole reason for existence matches my intuitive understanding. I was waiting for something to not resonate but that didn't happen. It was good to have what I intuited confirmed by her experience.
May 28, 2021
This book got more interesting in the later chapters. The author has a truly amazing story to tell, but I think the elimination through editing of some of the repetitiveness of her story would have served to make the narrative stronger. Her overall message to focus on love and enjoying our lives is both timeless and helpful,
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