{"id":470,"date":"2017-01-28T21:13:56","date_gmt":"2017-01-28T21:13:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dongpingzhang.com\/?p=470"},"modified":"2017-01-29T17:48:18","modified_gmt":"2017-01-29T17:48:18","slug":"illusions-the-adventures-of-a-reluctant-messiah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.dongpingzhang.com\/?p=470","title":{"rendered":"Illusions – The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

By Richard Bach, the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a book about the time spent together between Richard, the author, and Donald Shimoda, a Messiah who can see through all the illusions of the world and know the reality behind. They flew old planes from town to town, selling short rides to people. The gists of the book are buried inside the conversations, the activities illustrating and embodying the views that Donald tries to make Richard see, and Richard\u2019s reading of the \u201c<\/span>Saviour\u2019s Manual<\/span><\/i>\u201d, the so-called \u201c<\/span>bible for masters<\/span><\/i>\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

While I was reading this book for the first time, my impression was that this is such a weird and yet mysteriously interesting book. Many passages did not go through to me. Despite that, I was intrigued to carry on reading and find out more. After reaching the end of it, I was not sure what to think of this book. Why is that? Could it be that I am not \u201cspiritual\u201d enough? Perhaps I do not have a \u201csoul\u201d as once I received this comment in a joking way because I was not willing to join the massive tourist crowd to visit the tallest building in Shanghai. There were stories, conversations and quotes from the \u201cMessiah\u2019s Handbook, Reminders for the Advanced Soul\u201d that I partially comprehended, but was also puzzled by. I found myself thinking: what is the author trying to convey beyond the set of messages? what does the author want the reader to think while turning each page? there may not be an fixed agenda in the author\u2019s mind as he simply wants the reader to have his\/her own interpretation; maybe somewhere in between? <\/span><\/p>\n

It did not take long before I decided to re-read Illusions. The unyielding quest of comprehension, discovery and curiosity tortured me for a couple days before I gave in and re-read the book. Giving it the second chance rewarded me with much more profound and thought-provoking reading experience. It reminded me of my relationship with Richard\u2019s <\/span>Jonathan Livingston Seagull<\/span><\/i> over the years. That little book migrated with me across the oceans. Every time I picked up <\/span>Jonathan Livingston Seagull<\/span><\/i>, I unfailingly discovered something new. <\/span><\/p>\n

Reading <\/span>Illusions<\/span><\/i> for the second time cleared up my confusions and shedded more light. Retrospectively, many allegories in this book coupled with Richard Bach\u2019s sometimes liberal usage of the English language probably make the book challenging to read for non-spiritual scientific and analytical minds that are much more comfortable with logic reasoning. I also think one would enjoy the book more if one could be patient, chew the sentences and think, linking the abstract concepts with one\u2019s own experience. It is tremendously hard to select the thought-provoking passages for me to share with you from this book. Half of the book deserves to be quoted. Subsequently to comprehend those quotes, you would need to read the other half of the book. Here is my attempt to select very few. <\/span><\/p>\n