The Isar… What A Trip Man!

Oh I’m feeling all tingly today. Being on a history kick right now, I ordered the book, Politics and Society in South Eastern Nigeria 1841-1906 by K.K. Nair. Imagine my surprise when about a month later the book which finally arrived from the amazon.co.uk marketplace bookseller was, Questions and Answers on Conversation with God by Neale Donald Walsch. I was furious and made my feelings known to the bookseller. I cancelled my original order and made it clear I certainly wasn’t going to pay the postage to return the book. If they wanted it back they would have to send me an international postal order. They told me not to worry and to simply recycle the book. I fully intended to however before adding it to the pile of books at my workplace book swap pile I remembered something my mother always says – “Nothing happens by accident”.

“What’s the harm in the reading the book before recycling it,” I thought. So after reading the bible and a little bit of the Koran (while living in Mexico), some Buddhist writing by Thik Naht Hahn while visiting Bellingham on a daytrip from Vancouver (I’ve probably misspelt the name), the Upanishad and more Buddhist books while in Munich, I guess I’ve shifted from the history back to the spiritual kick. And I say spiritual as opposed to religious advisedly. I can categorically state that religion is not for me because most religions (however worthwhile their teachings) delve into the tactic of controlling the mind through fear sooner or later. Oh and I only read a little bit of the Koran because the copy I bought was an awkward translation. To anyone who has ever been concerned about individuals who give the bible a literal reading you should be equally concerned about anyone who gives the Koran a literal reading without appropriate cultural-historical behavioural adjustments. We’d all be best advised to visualise a future in which there is increased understanding between all peoples on the planet.

So back to the author, Neale Donald Walsch and that bookseller who sent me the wrong book – I thank you both from the bottom of my heart. Oh and yes I will recycle the book after I finish reading it… Of course then I’ll have to buy myself another copy. In the meantime I’ve reordered the history book through another bookseller. If when this order arrives it turns out to be another spiritual book, I won’t even bother to complain or demand a refund. I’ll take it as a sign that for now I’m not supposed to read history books and I’ll defer my history reading to a later date.

Lest you think the tingly sensation mentioned at the top of this post refers to a spiritual reawakening, I’m referring to tingling muscles (as for my spirit that tingles perpetually). I finally got the chain cut off my bicycle. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I bought a bicycle, chained it then couldn’t open the lock again. Well on Friday I carried the bicycle to a bicycle repair shop, showed them the key which entered the lock but wouldn’t budge it and they kindly cut it for me. Then I had to replace the kick stand because while standing the bike up I broke the catch. It doesn’t rain but it pours and nothing happens by accident. On Saturday after starting the day with a Yoga session, I rode my liberated bicycle along the Isar from Lehel all the way to Unterföhring and back hence my tingling muscles. I took in the lovely scenery as I rode along beside the river. Even as Vienna beckons, I have to affirm once again that I love Munich and I love my life, I really do.

Going cycling again and I’ll be listening to this.

Want to visit the author website?

Advertisement