Friday, October 17, 2008

The real Jonathan Livingston Seagull (within all of us)




Thirty Seven years after it was first published and after considerable recommendation from friends and folks, coupled with very superior reviews I read Jonathan Livingston Seagull last year after I bought the book from a store in Connaught Place, New Delhi on New Years day in 2007.

Barely into a page, I noticed the ease with which Richard Bach introduced the subject whose only purpose was to deeply inspire the reader while helping to take the person deep within the self and understand that being extraordinary was not after all a state limited to the (so-called) extraordinary alone! We have long been conditioned to believe that it takes a superhuman effort to excel and hence become contented with the idea of mediocrity! As children, wide differentiations between the brilliant and the average were imbibed in us, coupled with poor direction and support as a result of which many of us lost trust in our potential and undermined ourselves a great deal only to be condemned to the belief that despite efforts, all results were a direct result subject to the intervention of fate! We have consistently failed to draw inspiration from within and around to make ourselves better, and yet strained hard to achieve the unimaginable only to be violently thrust into dismay in the event of failure.

The story of Jonathan apart from being very simple is a must read. It teaches the most important lesson that one can learn in life, that the individual is unique, whose capability is almost always decided by the manner in which that person looks within and relates to the world outside.

But Jonathan Livingston Seagull, unashamed, stretching his wings again in that trembling hard curve - slowing, slowing, and stalling once more - was no ordinary bird. Most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight - how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. More than anything else, Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly.

This is perhaps the case with many of us (me included)! We deem it not in our purview to try what we ought to and seek the help of yet another when the time of judgement arrives, in the bargain immensely compromising not only our will to do what we could have otherwise 'easily' done, but also shatter the mind's confidence while creating a pseudo support system aimed at momentarily calming ourselves. Hence we have come very hard on ourselves and confined our abilities within a boundary out of which we will dare not venture for the fear of failing! Does this sound familiar? I'm sure it does. It is called 'staying within the comfort zone.' Which is why this book does wonders to teach our psyche and the inner self that the first lesson to learn is to be boundary less and unconfined.

The mind does exactly what it has been trained to do, tell it to sleep and it does just that and so, before embarking upon anything it is imperative to train the mind to believe that a possibility can be made a reality by the sheer act of conceiving a thought and executing an idea.

And that is exactly what Jonathan did! He believed with all conviction that he was ace flyer, more than any other fellow gull and flew higher and higher to reach a realm unknown to his kind.

He climbed two thousand feet above the black sea, and without a moment for thought of failure and death, he brought his forewings tightly in to his body, left only the narrow swept daggers of his wingtips extended into the wind, and fell into a vertical dive. The wind was a monster roar at his head. Seventy miles per hour, ninety, a hundred and twenty and faster still. The wing-strain now at a hundred and forty miles per hour wasn't nearly as hard as it had been before at seventy, and with the faintest twist of his wingtips he eased out of the dive and shot above the waves, a ray cannonball under the moon.

It is quite a thing to seek inspiration from within and learn alone! It requires courage, conviction, effort, consistency and belief!
What it certainly does not require is being 'extraordinary.'

I will leave you with the lyrics of one of my favourite numbers ever, from the animated movie - The Prince of Egypt, sung by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
It is called 'Believe.' Do spend a few moments reading the lyrics, since it conveys a very strong meaning and speaks of a thought that is very relevant to every single one of us despite who we are!

Read on......

Many nights we've prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains
Long before we knew we could


There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill

Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe

In this time of fear
When prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seemed like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here
My heart's so full I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought I'd say

There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill

Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe

They don't always happen when you ask
And it's easy to give in to your fear
But when you're blinded by your pain
Can't see your way safe through the rain
Thought of a still resilient voice
Says love is very near

There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve

When you believe
Somehow you will
Now you will
You will when you believe

You will when you believe
Just believe
Gotta believe
You will when you believe

40 comments:

  1. Hi Rak!

    Nice post, Rak..

    Jonathan Livingston Seagull was a great inspiration in me since I read in my teens...a kind teacher introduced me...

    But then I lost him, while the lessons remained...until Kat reintroduced me...He has his tribute to Jonathan here:
    http://chumma-kat.blogspot.com/2008/08/jonathan-livingston-seagull.html

    "It is quite a thing to seek inspiration from within and learn alone! It requires courage, conviction, effort, consistency and belief! What it certainly does not require is being 'extraordinary.' " -- its the same lesson that gguides me..

    i just relish how like-minded are connected through books, thoughts...

    one rediscoveres oneself in others..then how can one ever be extraordnary :-)

    thanks for the post!

    Wishes!
    devika

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  2. nice post there!!

    His books are amazing!!

    Try "The Bridge Across Forever" also. It is a wonderful read.

    ;-))

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  3. Your post really inspires to read this book.

    We always realize what is inside us only later, apart from the school lessons we hardly get to listen towards us. we are on the path, without knowing the presence and reach unless something or someone explains. This bogging really helps to know ourselves and the expression. Belief is must in what we do, not it loses.

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  4. Johnathan Livingston Seagull is a classic and perhaps the best Bach wrote. The beauty of the book is that through the journey of Johnathan everyone discovers a little bit of themselves. Bach draw heavily (my guess) from the timeless concept of Atman of Vedanta and the universal appeal of Jesus and this is truely a masterpiece. I enjoyed reading how the book appealed to you. Thanks for reminding me. If you have liked this, you shall also like his other great book - Illusions.

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  5. Awesome Post... and interesting content...

    will try to catch this book...
    Have u read 'One' by Bach?
    thats also a great read...

    Btw... am adding ur blog to my bloglist...

    Keep writing! :)

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  6. Well written Rakesh.. worth reading often.

    I am too an admirer of Jonathan - like you and I was running around with a camera earlier to take their photographs. Devika has given the link.

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  7. well, you will when you believe
    ......
    ok, at least I still believe it now.
    Thanks for the long long story and your comments on HZDP!

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  8. Find 1000s of Malayalee friends from all over the world.

    Let's come together on http://www.keralitejunction.com to bring all the Malayalee people unite on one platform and find Malayalee friends worldwide to share our thoughts and create a common bond.

    Let's also show the Mightiness of Malayalees by coming together on http://www.keralitejunction.com

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  9. Arent we all admirers of Livingston!

    Keshi.

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  10. Devika Ma'am

    Thanks very much for your appreciation!

    Indeed, Jonathan Livingston is a great source of inspiration and encouragement that helps drive oneself to strive for the better!

    Thanks also for sending me Kat's link which I went through!

    And most importantly, I like the way in which our thoughts match! It is what I call 'Consensus Ad Idem' or meeting of the minds which helps forge better understanding of cultures, exchange of ideas and knowledge!

    It has always been and will always be a pleasure to be associated with you!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  11. Hi Satheesh (Deepsat makes it less personal! ;) )

    Thanks very much for coming by and leaving your comment!

    I will read The Bridge Across Forever at the earliest opportunity!

    Thanks for the recommendation!

    Regards

    Rakesh

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  12. Hi Jeevan

    Thanks very much for coming here and leaving me your comment! Appreciate it!

    I agree when you say "We always realize what is inside us only later, apart from the school lessons we hardly get to listen towards us." How very true indeed!
    If only we imbibe in us the discipline to be better people and simple remain that, the battle is won!

    And yes, as you said it is very imperative to believe in what one does!

    At thus juncture, I remember the old adage "Take care of your thoughts, for as you think so you become."

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  13. Jim

    Welcome here! Thanks for coming and leaving me your comment! Indeed, JL is a wonderful book which urges the reader to introspect and pave way for a better understanding of the self!

    And yes, I will read the book "Illusions" at the earliest available opporunity!

    Thanks for the recommendation!

    Do keep coming!

    Regards

    Rakesh

    PS: No updates on your spaces?

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  14. Hi Priyanka

    Welcome to my space! Thanks very much for coming and leaving me an opportunity to interact with you!

    Thanks also for recommending the 'One', which I hope to read soon!

    Do keep coming!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  15. Kat Sir -

    Thanks very much for visiting! I did follow the link to your post on Jonathan which Devika Ma'am had included in her comment! I found it rich with pictures and concise with apt references from the book!

    As you said, it is worth a read every once a while!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  16. HZDP

    Indeed, you will when you believe!
    Belief is very powerful!

    Thanks for coming! Do keep visiting!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  17. Hi Babooshka

    Thanks very much for the encouraging comment!

    Do keep coming!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  18. Keshi

    yes, a lot of us are Jonathan's fans...... inspired and driven by the sense of excellence Bach conveyed to us via him!

    Thanks for coming!

    Cheers!

    Rakesh

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  19. Malayalee!!!!

    Am not sure if this is bot generated or manually posted! Anyhow, good job @ tracking another Mallu down!

    When Niel Armstrong landed Apollo 11 on the moon, he was baffled when he say a Mallu sell him some "Chaya"! Such is the all pervasive Mallu presence!!! ;)

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  20. I've thought of reading this book - I think I will now, having read your article!

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  21. Hi Lynn

    Thanks for coming and leaving me your comment!

    You should read Jonathan Livingston Seagull at the next available opportunity! Not only does it make a good read, it also doubles up as a great inspiring force!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  22. Never heard of this book. Seems interesting & thanks for recommending.

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  23. Hi Sekhar

    Thanks for coming!

    Now that you know about Jonathan Livingstone, you must read the book at the next available opportunity! It will be worth the effort!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  24. Hi Rakesh! I thought I had left a comment here... Vanished...
    Anyhow, great post, though I couldn't download the picture!
    Thanks for your comments at Blogtrotter

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  25. Hi Gil

    Thanks very much for visiting and also leaving me your comment!

    I'm not sure why the picture does not appear, will check!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  26. Rakesh, am I glad, so very glad you stopped by at my blog, because I get to read this post! Only for that, my first Thankssssss!!!

    Jonathan Livingston Seagull has been a source of endless inspiration for me, and recently, I discovered, for my son, who happened to discover it among my books. Richard Bach is the most favourite of my writers. (Perhaps you might want to read "Illusions", the sequel, of sorts, of which is "The Bridge Across Forever".. but I digress!!!) That isn't all:) To find alongside the beautiful, beautiful lyrics of another fav. song.. Oh my! This is going to be one space I shall definitely visit, on a regular basis.

    Blogrolling you:)

    I simply love the way you have brought that book to life and presented so lucidly, what it means, to you, and indeed to most of us who have read it! For me, it was the thought of the "magic" of flight, that even I was capable of, when I broke out of the limitations of my thinking!

    Kudos! I really have not been able to, and honestly speaking, cannot, :), begin to tell you how very delighted I am to have read this!

    Thank you... all over again!!!

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  27. Hello Usha

    Welcome here! I have to thank you very sincerely for so wonderfully complimenting my efforts via this weblog which as I describe is an attempt to represent my underdog life, thoughts, beliefs and most importantly almost everything that brings me joy so as to enable me to share these with the world.

    Thanks very much also for recommending me Illusions & The Bridge Across Forever which I intend to read at the next available opportunity! Thanks also for blogrolling me!

    Most importantly thanks very much for being a very compassionate and encouraging visitor above all else, someone who has had the patience to visit, read and remain very encouraging towards my effort!

    I prize this very remarkable gesture and welcome you to my blog now and forever!

    As ever

    rakesh

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  28. Livingston, I presume?
    :-)

    Loved this one too!
    Blogrolling you!

    Peace

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  29. Yes Vivek, Livingston it is!

    Thanks for your post! And thanks also for blogrolling me!

    Cheers!

    Rakesh

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  30. It is an interesting concept indeed. Partly reminded me of Matrix. A very few books or movies explore such subjects. Will read the book if I get an opportunity (And time!) for it.

    Destination Infinity
    \

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  31. Rakesh...tks for dropping in on RuT and adding it to your "Followings". I could not download your pictures today, but the words are very clear. I recall a very good business visit to Sth India (Kanaya Kumari) many years ago....it left a good impression on me.

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  32. Destination Infinity

    Welcome here! Thanks for coming and leaving me your comments!

    Yes, its quite relative to the blue pill and red pill concept and helps one delve deep into the self! Do read it when time and opportunity presents for it worth the read!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  33. Chuck

    Welcome here! Thanks for coming and leaving me your comments!

    I must say that its been a pleasure visiting your space! I'm hoping you'd be presented with many an opportunity to visit India and relish it!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  34. Hello Rakesh, Thanks a lot for sticking with my blog, after a long time, down in blogospace reading the posts I have missed, and Am reading yours now,,, Well This has an interesting anecdote, I got it as a gift from a friend, who calls me a go-getter, yeah I was a person who was very comfortable in ma comfortable zone, and the book was quite an inspiration...


    But sometimes, life is more a boomerang when it comes to memories. and incidentally that was a gift from vipin...

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  35. Hi Seeker

    Your blog has been a source of great reading and immense pleasure and hence makes it among the top on my list of fav blogs!

    I'm glad you read Jonathan and found inspiration from it! I'm sure Vipin meant you very well by giving you this book!

    Thanks for your comments

    Rakesh

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  36. Hi Seeker

    Your blog has been a source of great reading and immense pleasure and hence makes it among the top on my list of fav blogs!

    I'm glad you read Jonathan and found inspiration from it! I'm sure Vipin meant you very well by giving you this book!

    Thanks for your comments

    Rakesh

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  37. hi Rak!

    yeah, i agree cent percent...
    my problem is despite all my seriousness and learning -- i remain very silly and flimsy..hyper sensitive i should say..so most of the time love to be inside the shell(s) that i create around me...

    but may be dreamers need to face the rough also...

    here i should say..though my firends were supportive, they too lost idea of the person that i am..and that is understandable --so far off and in a land where socio-cultural profile is distinctly different from us...

    there i had the strong support of my husband ...he is the one who takes decisions for me when i find it difficult...

    he understands what life, love is all about --and that was a GOD's blessing that occurred 9-10 years ago.

    now i feel i am blessed again and need to show the same responsibility to life and God...

    as far as my husband stands by my side..i care a damn for the world.

    wishes, rak...i know the good intentions...of all..but the world has never before been so good to me..so i get a bit wild when people get close...i tend to doubt intentions..than to take a person for granted.it has had its positives and negatives in my life...

    anyway, all is fair in love and war they say....it suits me that -- i am in love with the world..and may be at war with myself!

    love,
    devika

    ask MIP, Kat and all to be happy..

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  38. hi Rak!

    yeah, i agree cent percent...
    my problem is despite all my seriousness and learning -- i remain very silly and flimsy..hyper sensitive i should say..so most of the time love to be inside the shell(s) that i create around me...

    but may be dreamers need to face the rough also...

    here i should say..though my firends were supportive, they too lost idea of the person that i am..and that is understandable --so far off and in a land where socio-cultural profile is distinctly different from us...

    there i had the strong support of my husband ...he is the one who takes decisions for me when i find it difficult...

    he understands what life, love is all about --and that was a GOD's blessing that occurred 9-10 years ago.

    now i feel i am blessed again and need to show the same responsibility to life and God...

    as far as my husband stands by my side..i care a damn for the world.

    wishes, rak...i know the good intentions...of all..but the world has never before been so good to me..so i get a bit wild when people get close...i tend to doubt intentions..than to take a person for granted.it has had its positives and negatives in my life...

    anyway, all is fair in love and war they say....it suits me that -- i am in love with the world..and may be at war with myself!

    love,
    devika

    ask MIP, Kat and all to be happy..

    ReplyDelete
  39. Devika Ma'am

    It is not your fault! You must be glad that despite all your seriousness, you still find the child element in you, which is more of a blessing! I am very glad that you find a great deal of support and enouragement in your husband!

    Like you said, friends are not always well-wishers, for sometimes (mostly, rather), they are the fair-weather kind and will fly away!

    I quite relate to how you feel when someone attempts to get close! Much like you, I too am very wary! Once bitten, twice shy, after all! It is quite natural to doubt intentions!

    It is very good to be in love with the world, but tremendously sad to be at war with oneself, for in such a state, the victor and the vanquished are the same person!

    Do take care!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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