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Overcoming The World
The World is not a thing to assimilate.
It is a thing to overcome.
Cleansing oneself of it
Is a path to Freedom.
DIGITAL VERSION
It is a thing to overcome.
Cleansing oneself of it
Is a path to Freedom.
DIGITAL VERSION
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
96 pages, Paperback
Published January 19, 2023
2 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 3, 2023
Review The book is a set of long aphorisms. It isn't quite 'all is maya' - illusion, but more that everything is fake, a scam, invented by people for their own ends - power, amusement, for future benefits (that probably won't come to pass) but really to cover up the inevitable emptiness of realising that the world as we know it is just not true and it will be hard work to examine everything to find out the truth.
The book is steeped in Hinduism and Buddhism, although the author would no doubt a) deny it and b) say it is my opinion, no problem. I admire the author a lot but find him bleak, too ascetic and that is job as a very successful entrepreneur and life coach ('to kings' he says) a bit at odds with some of what he says.
I picked out a few examples. Religion and Charity, below, are quite en pointe, perhaps especially with religion, but not so much about charity. I think all of us hate the vast amounts of money that charities spend on their own salaries and admin (in Haiti they stay in only the best hotels which put up their prices accordingly) but it isn't possible to actually physically give to those in need most of the time.
__________
Books The author asked about books: "Are there any books worth reading?
– Not really. It all depends why you’re asking in the first place
If you’re asking: “Is there anything I should read in order to arrive somewhere?” – No
If you’re asking: “Are there books out there that will provide valuable information?” – Sure
For the rare person out there, Kapil recommends:
– There are certain passages from The Bhagavad Gita that are ENORMOUSLY valuable… but one must spend nearly 30-40 years preparing themselves to actually imbibe what is really being said. Read to soon it will become an empty useless perception. Some of the writings of the ancient Zen, Chinese, and Japanese masters are enormously valuable. Ok so that makes Goodreads redundant!
This is an excellent book the author knocks down everything from being a parent to schools (loathes them). Praise is reserved for Jesus "if he existed" and the Buddha. I can see influences of Hinduism too. But he is not a Buddhist or a Hindu. He is a life coach who preaches and practices Siddha Performance which he invented. His own website says, "Dr. Gupta travels the world working with True Seekers. His clientele consists of professional athletes, executives, and celebrities. He helps them become The God Of Their Own Life." So there you have it. No school, no religion, just one friend, no truth but The Truth and that our fatal flaw as humans is that we will do anything to avoid stripping ourselves and our world down to just that, The Truth.
It isn't quite the unexamined life is not worth living, more no life is worth living because there is nothing much in the world that is not a scam, and we should acknowledge that and be on our way to Overcoming the World now we know the Truth. If you want to. He doesn't urge anyone to do so. Up to you. Interesting book, much to think over, I disagree with a lot of it. He wouldn't mind, but he wouldn't approve either.
__________
Religion The author says, "There is no reason to change one's own opinion. Or alter one's belief. Things are stated as they are. With no interest in discussion. And no attempts to convince." Gupta has a very cynical, even jaundiced view of just about everything, from the obvious targets like religion to that which we hold sacred, like parental love. Mostly he makes a lot of sense. Mostly. The following is the entry on religion. It's not a poem. It's written like this.
__________
Charity What is charity?
Giving.
Giving to whom?
Giving to one in need.
Thus, if charity is giving to one in need, then the one who is in need should be given-to directly.
Is a charitable organization . . . in need?
Is a charitable institution . . . in need?
Is the organization and institution going hungry in the street?
If an organization and institution has enough time, staff, and money to create annual statements, prospectuses, and full-color pie charts . . . it is robbing from those it professes to serve.
Charitable organizations and institutions are like religious institutions.
In the former, only a portion of the money goes to the one in need.
In the latter, none of it goes to God.
The middle man is almost always a scam There is a lot to think about in this book, so I'm reading it quite slowly. It is so accurate on the surface but on reflection, like with charity, there are holes. Also it seems to have been written by a very ascetic person who doesn't see the joys in the world, only how just about everything is wrong. But quite often, he's right.
The book is steeped in Hinduism and Buddhism, although the author would no doubt a) deny it and b) say it is my opinion, no problem. I admire the author a lot but find him bleak, too ascetic and that is job as a very successful entrepreneur and life coach ('to kings' he says) a bit at odds with some of what he says.
I picked out a few examples. Religion and Charity, below, are quite en pointe, perhaps especially with religion, but not so much about charity. I think all of us hate the vast amounts of money that charities spend on their own salaries and admin (in Haiti they stay in only the best hotels which put up their prices accordingly) but it isn't possible to actually physically give to those in need most of the time.
__________
Books The author asked about books: "Are there any books worth reading?
– Not really. It all depends why you’re asking in the first place
If you’re asking: “Is there anything I should read in order to arrive somewhere?” – No
If you’re asking: “Are there books out there that will provide valuable information?” – Sure
For the rare person out there, Kapil recommends:
– There are certain passages from The Bhagavad Gita that are ENORMOUSLY valuable… but one must spend nearly 30-40 years preparing themselves to actually imbibe what is really being said. Read to soon it will become an empty useless perception. Some of the writings of the ancient Zen, Chinese, and Japanese masters are enormously valuable. Ok so that makes Goodreads redundant!
This is an excellent book the author knocks down everything from being a parent to schools (loathes them). Praise is reserved for Jesus "if he existed" and the Buddha. I can see influences of Hinduism too. But he is not a Buddhist or a Hindu. He is a life coach who preaches and practices Siddha Performance which he invented. His own website says, "Dr. Gupta travels the world working with True Seekers. His clientele consists of professional athletes, executives, and celebrities. He helps them become The God Of Their Own Life." So there you have it. No school, no religion, just one friend, no truth but The Truth and that our fatal flaw as humans is that we will do anything to avoid stripping ourselves and our world down to just that, The Truth.
It isn't quite the unexamined life is not worth living, more no life is worth living because there is nothing much in the world that is not a scam, and we should acknowledge that and be on our way to Overcoming the World now we know the Truth. If you want to. He doesn't urge anyone to do so. Up to you. Interesting book, much to think over, I disagree with a lot of it. He wouldn't mind, but he wouldn't approve either.
__________
Religion The author says, "There is no reason to change one's own opinion. Or alter one's belief. Things are stated as they are. With no interest in discussion. And no attempts to convince." Gupta has a very cynical, even jaundiced view of just about everything, from the obvious targets like religion to that which we hold sacred, like parental love. Mostly he makes a lot of sense. Mostly. The following is the entry on religion. It's not a poem. It's written like this.
Religion is another form of brainwashing.This next one, Charity, is devastatingly accurate, but... facile. Someone has to organise foreign aid, it's not just giving the beggar a dollar in the street.
Religion is another form of mass conditioning.
Only it is wrapped in a more deeply scented cloth: God.
Religion has nothing to do with God.
It has only to do with the Name of God.
Religion has nothing to do with loving God.
It has everything to do with fearing God.
The middle man is always the thief and the scoundrel. For he serves himself, regardless of the nature of the transaction.
The priest is no closer to God than an earthworm is to the big bang.
The priest is not a man of God. He is a merchant. He is no closer to God than those who visit the temple. He is an usher at the movie theater.
A parrot can recite verses from a text. Memorizing and reciting verses does not make one Holy or Enlightened.
Man’s path to God, if it is true, is a direct one.
If it goes through the prism of religions and priests, the individual is certain to veer off course.
__________
Charity What is charity?
Giving.
Giving to whom?
Giving to one in need.
Thus, if charity is giving to one in need, then the one who is in need should be given-to directly.
Is a charitable organization . . . in need?
Is a charitable institution . . . in need?
Is the organization and institution going hungry in the street?
If an organization and institution has enough time, staff, and money to create annual statements, prospectuses, and full-color pie charts . . . it is robbing from those it professes to serve.
Charitable organizations and institutions are like religious institutions.
In the former, only a portion of the money goes to the one in need.
In the latter, none of it goes to God.
The middle man is almost always a scam There is a lot to think about in this book, so I'm reading it quite slowly. It is so accurate on the surface but on reflection, like with charity, there are holes. Also it seems to have been written by a very ascetic person who doesn't see the joys in the world, only how just about everything is wrong. But quite often, he's right.
November 18, 2023
One thing about Gupta: he is not for everybody. He has a unique style of writing and tells the truth in his book, which many people find hard and complex to understand. But if you take time to read his book slowly and take notes, you will come to the realization that he is one of the best authors we've ever had.
My favorite quote from this is: "The things that one does greatest are the things he knows not how he does them."
My favorite quote from this is: "The things that one does greatest are the things he knows not how he does them."
February 8, 2023
This book reinforces the insightful perspectives of half-truths and lies on various topics that Kapil Gupta speaks about. Just like his books, it is not suitable for the masses. Overcoming the world is "not recommended" or "good thing" to do.
August 1, 2024
This short book is a compilation of discourses which are publicly available on his website. Moreover, these are Kapil's early thoughts, probably offers nothing new for a person who has followed Kapil's work for a while. His recent twitter spaces are way more interesting and thought provoking.
March 23, 2024
Extraordinary, succinct.
August 5, 2024
Good book. Recommend it for persons who seek to see behind the illusion of society
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews