"Eat, Pray, Love" - Book Two

For me, Liz’s time in India took on a much more personal tone.  I don’t think it’s coincidence that this was in conjunction with her pursuit of devotion, as spirituality and religion are very personal aspects of one’s self.  She speaks about her feelings of helplessness and about how she feels as though she has split herself into many different versions of Liz Gilbert (p. 153). Can't we all relate to that in some way?  

She is upfront with her feelings of inadequacy as she cannot seem to still her mind into a meditative state, even in this remote ashram in India (p. 172).When speaking with Richard from Texas, she embraces this concept of controlling her thoughts (p. 178) and in turn, her attitude.  It is after this that she starts to really embark on her pursuit of devotion and finds success in her meditations.  Success seems like a strange word to use, but let’s think about it for a minute.  In what ways is spiritual success similar to other forms of success?  How is it different?  Can they be so fundamentally different that they’re not comparable?

Just as in Italy, Liz continues to find and accept herself in India. In Italy, Liz mentioned her ease at making friends, regardless of where she is. At one point at the ashram, she realizes that she is too sociable and decides to embark on a period of silence, to become the Quiet Girl in the Back of the Temple (p. 190). It is just after making this decision that she is assigned the role of ashram key hostess, which I found to be humorous. What does this say about honing one’s nature rather than trying to escape it? Do you think perceived faults can be transformed into strengths rather than merely repressed?

Along this same vane of accepting herself for who she is, Liz later stumbles upon her own “word”, taking us back to the conversation had with Giulio in Rome.  She determines her word is antevasin, Sanskrit for “one who lives at the border” (p. 203).  In what ways do you think this word was an accurate depiction of what we know of Liz? Or was it? In thinking deeper about this concept of everyone and everything having a “word,” what is your word? Is it possible to choose a word that retains its truth for a lifetime? I think I will be pondering this question as we head into Bali with Liz...