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TurtleDT
Posted Wed Mar 07 00:00:00 EST 2012
First off, I'll admit I am not one for the "cookie cutter" spiritual self-help publishing franchise, and I am extremely skeptical about anything that gets pumped out using a medium who's primary motivation is profit.
Being a near death experiencer myself, it troubles me to see these experiences being exploited for religious purposes like we currently see running rampant with Colton Burpo's million best seller which is a signature of the quality these cookie cutters offer, and reminds me of the quote "don't let the truth get in the way of a good story."
Books like "Dying to be Me" are usually relegated to the self-publishing venues because they are not what the cookie cutters would consider a winner (profit!) and a good example of the quality of self-publishing is August Goforth's excellent book "The Risen".
Yet, once in awhile the cookie cutters manage to get it right and back a refreshing gem, and "Dying to Be Me" by first time author Anita Moorjani is such a book . This to me is what makes this book so exciting and an exceedingly rare accomplishment and testament to just how powerful and beautiful Anita's NDE experience is. As an experiencer myself, and someone who has had the opportunity to know Anita for several years now since her own experience, and who has become a very dear and valued friend, I can say that Anita can speak for me anytime because she doesn't tell you how, she shows you how...every day...in every deed...in every movement. She truly walks the walk and that is her gift to us. In Anita being who she is, she gives me the self-confidence to attempt.
Anita sets this book up magnificently (pun intended) and if the reader is at all interested in NDE's, this should be a must read!
Anita openly shares her cultural upbringing, bares all and holds nothing to chance. Her honesty is not only welcoming, it is truly refreshing. Cultural influences are very important, and often confusing aspect of understanding any NDE. Because the experience itself is so "real", most people get lost in the cultural morasses that forms the dawn of awakening. There are very few experiencers that are willing to admit to this truth, or are willing to look beyond it. For them their experience is a verification of what they want Gods to be.
Very few can get past that and see the cultural influences are generated to comfort and alleviate the experiencers own fear of death. For once, we have an experiencer who is willing to tell it like it is, to share what happens when you finally release and let go of your own expectations of What God needs to be. The results are profound, and what makes Dying to be Me a true gem for those willing to let go of their security blankets. What is so special about Anita's account, and this book, is that she takes us further into the death process than most, because she gave into the moment and released her fear of death that held her experience within the confines of her cultural expectations. This is something VERY FEW are willing or capable of doing or willing to share and what makes this book so important. She should be applauded for her honesty, and her tenacity to be who she is regardless of incredible pressure to conform to cultural, societal and political demands that are usually required by the cookie cutter self-help franchise which usually shy's away from such material as unprofitable.
This is what is truly remarkable about "Dying to be Me" for me. Anita has a incredible gift in bringing words to life, to bring the emotion to the words that create the images in the readers mind , which in and of itself is usually impossible to accomplish. Her description of her experience itself, is so beautifully written, it sent me to tears more than once. She brought my experience back to life. Her experience, so like my own, differs only in cultural manifestations. Her NDE commentary will touch your heart in ways even you won't be able to understand. Allow it to touch your heart, and I promise you it will change the way you view yourself, and the world.
Right now the reader has a plethora of NDE books out there to peruse, thanks to the cookie cutter school of self-help publishing. There are many choices. In one corner we have Colton Burpo, who saw Jesus, and therefore sells millions of books because his experience plays to what people WANT or NEED to hear... In corner two we have Anita Moorjani, who tells it like it is.
Anita Moorjani ain't Colton Burpo, nor does she have to be. Two contrasting versions. It now becomes our choice what you choose to believe and trust in. I'll trust Anita any day.
37 out of 43 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sun Mar 04 00:00:00 EST 2012
Inspiring and empowering read. Unlike other near death experience books, the focus here is on life not death. She makes clear that the key to happiness is to be yourself and live "fearlessly." This means living from love rather than fear and knowing that what is feared or worried about is a barrier to happiness and can creat disease. Everyone should read this book!
21 out of 21 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Fri Mar 23 00:00:00 EDT 2012
This is one of those books that grabs hold of you and won't let go. I nearly read it in a single evening, and it has deeply touched my heart.
Anita Moorjani's experience is remarkable, yet it is what she brings back from the other side that remains with me: Remember who you are, honor that, and love yourself, so you may love others.
Why some reviewers here would disparage her account with comments about her story not fitting in with their Christian beliefs is truly sad. Not everyone is Christian, nor do they want to be. From this person's review, s/he thinks anyone who has an NDE should automatically see God/Jesus, thus proving the Christian religion's validity. When someone's experience does not match that, they dismiss it, merely because it does not fit their narrow view. I for one appreciate that Anita Moorjani does not disparage other religions outside her native Hindu beliefs (though she does comment on religions that create DIVISION amongst people...you know who you are), but instead merely reports her experience, what she encountered, and how she came away from it. Beautiful book that has tremendously helped me to appreciate myself more, remembering not to put myself down, and remind me that all is Love -- which, as I remember my own Christian upbringing, was the message that Jesus the Christ taught, and the Christian religion is supposed to be about.
16 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2012
This book is already in my neighbor's hands and is part of my permanent collection. An unforgettable journey. Many thanks to the author for her writing and generosity.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Thu Mar 22 00:00:00 EDT 2012
In places this books is very redundant. Anita describes her pre-NDE life as being raised in a non-Christian, extreme subservient, oppressive environment. As a result, she sufferred much self-doubting and lived a fear-based life.
Post-NDE she lives a life of love and peace. Anita experienced uncondional love but hesitates to identify Christ or God. She does recognize her family members that had passed. She writes that her father took her to a threshold and communicated to her that she could not enter in unless shr decided to remain (dead) .
It seems she was in some realm of waiting universe not allowed through the threshold to the eternal realm which my Christian belief leads to the many Kingdoms of God. Although Anita brings a very positive message of how to live life, she cannot profess her NDE as a true depiction of what the eternal realm is like. She was in a "holding room" and therefore cannot describe anything that can be construed as what life beyond the veil is--Only that life does exist beyond this earth life and first impression was magnificent!
I am so happy for Anita's new outlook on life. She deserves it after the suffering she has experienced. I was dissapointed in her views on religion and God. A very sad way to live life.
8 out of 31 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Wed Jun 27 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Wonderfully inspiring book. Gives hope for after life in the eternal all encompassing love of God.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Mar 12 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Dying to be Me,
My Journey from Cancer to Near Death to True Healing
Anita Moorjani ©2012
Hay House, Inc.
ISBN 978-1-4019-3755 (Hdbk)
ISBN 978-1-4019-3752-2 (e-book)
In the nineteen nineties, I read a book with such identical sentences that I wondered about plagiarism. (Embraced by the Light, Betty J. Eadie). However, the father of lies is not creative and sends similar delusions to many people.
Moorjani, of Indian and Hindi heritage, grew up in Hong Kong, influenced by Chinese culture. She attended British schools and is multi-lingual and multi-cultural. When she developed cancer, she sought healing from many sources. Dying, she experienced a near-death event and decided to live again.
From such near-death events, a three-fold tragedy can result. What people feel is so dramatic and powerful, they totally lack interest in evaluating whether they truly know whose love they felt. Secondly, as Moorjani did, they may develop a philosophy that convinces others to follow them. Thirdly, when these people finally discover deep-down, honest truth about that source of love, it can be forever too late.
Moorjani’s philosophy centers on ‘fully loving yourself’. She believes if everyone did, we’d have a perfect world. She no longer believes in right and wrong or judgment against anyone, even the worst criminals. She says lawbreakers problem is not loving themselves enough.
These near-death experiences offer glimpses of truth, ie, eternity is a state of timelessness where indescribable love exists. Not discovering the real name of the being who sends that love is where those like Moorjani go astray. Thus, these people become locked into delusions. So, so, so tragically sad.
Reviewed by Geni White, Former Licensed Professional Psychiatric RN
7 out of 39 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Why am I not surprised - what a wonderful '1st hand' book of what life can throw at you and how to handle it. Anita was completely herself and I couldn't put the book down. I wanted to know more, and how, and when. Thank heaven she lived to share such a wonderful experience. Thank you both.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Do you know just how powerful you really are? Is it possible to heal your body purely by realizing your true essence? Are there miracles in the Universe that you have yet to imagine? If you are looking to answer these questions for yourself, then Dying To Be Me: My Journey from Cancer to Near Death to True Healing (Hay House) by best-selling author, Anita Moorjani, is a great book to read.
In a world with surmounting challenges, we tend to forget the miracle of who we are and that we often hold everything we need within us. This book is a powerful reminder.
It is a story of a miraculous healing. It is a story that offers comfort across religious boundaries.
The earlier chapters give an account of Anita Moorjani's life as a daughter of traditional Hindu parents, growing up in Hong Kong with varying beliefs and cultural expectations that led to much internal conflict and fear. She shares a familiar struggle of trying to fit in. "Why am I always different, wherever I go? Where do I belong?"
She describes how her continued fears created in her a state of dis-ease and one of her worst fears became a reality when she received a diagnosis of cancer. I was most struck when she later explained that she ate "very healthfully" prior to her diagnosis, but that she did so out of fear. I often feel that many of our well-intentioned habits are based on fear or obligation, rather than love and pure joy. This was a great reminder for me to just check in and assess my motivations for my healthy habits.
Anita Moorjani was able to discover the truth of who she is through a near death expereince (NDE). She no longer fears her physical death and sees the perfection and connectedness of all of life. She explains that even if she were to come back to a sick body, the understanding she gained "would have eliminated or reduced my internal suffering. There would have been a sense of purpose in having to live with a sick body. I believe everyone has a purpose, regardless of their physical condition." I love this.
I also enjoyed reading about the synchroncities that led to Dr. Wayne Dyer learning about her story and encouraging her to share her message. As she writes, "Each of us is an integral part of a greater unfolding tapestry that's continually working toward healing the planet." I absolutely love this line.
"You already are everything you need to be." That's what Anita Moorjani wants us all to remember. It's a message that affirms what I feel deeply in my heart...that we are all an expression of divine love. We often lose essential parts of who we are in order to feel accepted by others. In God's plan, we each fit perfectly...just as we are.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the product.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Wed Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I Also Recommend:
The author was seriously ill with cancer and had a near death experience. There are people who will write that off immediately as being impossible or say that she made this up so she could make money from her book. Whether you believe her or not, the message of the book is to live your own life. Many people (particularly women) are expected to put themselves after the needs of their spouses, parents, in-laws, children and bosses. Anita Moorjani learned that to be alive and healthy, she had to live her own life, and drop the "pleaser" habits that had been drummed into her. Her message is believable, particularly if you read books by Mona Lisa Schulz, who has studied the mind-body connection and linked our health to our behavior and habits.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I Also Recommend:
This book is SO potent. Absolutely brilliant, moving and inspirational. It is written in a way that is easy to read, it flows well, and it has the power to change lives for the sublimely better. I can not recommend it enough. Self-love is a big message in her book. At first glance, it may seem a rather selfish way of living. Do what feels good to you--Anita challenges us to view this message from a DEEPER perspective than just a surface view which will, of course, appear selfish. A deeper view makes you question, how can one truly love another without loving themselves first? And, how will you know what your life's passion is all about, if you don't know what makes you feel good? Question your motives, your intents--the real reason you're doing something. Learn what is shallow, selfish, and material driven. And, learn what is joyous, pure, and love driven. If it's your purpose to be your true self here in this lifetime, as Ms. Moorjani suggests, then we had better get in touch with that "true" self. I search books, videos, blogs, etc., to read about NDE's in particular, since it gives me a glimpse of what my child might have experienced and continues to experience. Late one night, as I was scanning YouTube for NDE's (yeah, I do that!) I found an interview with Anita Moorjani. I was blown away. The healing she had after the NDE solidified the truth of what she experienced and learned while in a spiritual consciousness state. I couldn't wait for her book and eagerly read it when it came out and pre-ordered several copies for gifts. Everyone I've given it to has had a similar reaction to mine -- simply amazing.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Tue Jun 12 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I love this story so far, my friend bought me the book, it's truly amazing - this woman received a miracle, very inspirational
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Fri May 25 00:00:00 EDT 2012
This is an extraordinary book. It really helped me to let go of my fear of dying. I highly recommend it! Anita writes with great clarity about her near death experience. It will be a Christmas gift to many of my friends as I believe it is a must read and has transformed so much about what we know about the death experience.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Apr 16 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I had heard of Anita's journey through a series of events. Her story is fascinating and uplifting. Good to read for all who are seeking.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Apr 16 00:00:00 EDT 2012
This book is amazing. What Anita describes as her experience while she was in a coma is eye-opening. She illustrates how we should each live our lives according to what feels right to us, without feeling pressured by others to conform. A great read.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2012
A well written journey of one woman's journey from a life of guilt and judgement of herself to a life of pure love and freedom after her Near Death Experience (NDE), and the remarkable healing power that love has, even to cure her cancer. This true story encourages us all to embrace love, not judgement or guilt, as a way of life....to know that happiness is our purpose and our right.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sat Oct 20 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I love this book and I re-read many parts at times when I need a good lift in spirit. I think everyone should read this book to broaden their consciousness.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sat Sep 22 00:00:00 EDT 2012
If you and your family desire to improve your life and health....read this book. It is an incredible,true story that is an easy read. I had to immediately pass it on to my daughter hoping she gains from the beautiful insights the author presents.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Jul 16 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Enjoyed this book very much....it's not about dying at all, it's all about living...started reading it, never put it down...cover to cover in one day...I am a firm believer in making yourself happy first...this book shows just how important that belief is
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Wed May 09 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I thought the beginning of the book was very solid and interesting, through the NDE and recovery. However, the last several chapters were very similar to each other. The author was stating the same things over and over about "being magnificent" and "were all in one tapestry of life".
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
In this truly inspirational memoir, Anita Moorjani relates how, after fighting cancer for almost four years, her body began shutting down?overwhelmed by the malignant cells spreading throughout her system. As her organs failed, she entered into an extraordinary near-death experience where she realized her inherent worth . . . and the actual cause of her disease. Upon regaining consciousness, Anita found that her condition had improved so rapidly that she was released from the hospital within weeks?without a ...