BROWSER’S NOOK

Harnessing a world within

SHREEKUMAR VARMA

ZeNLP: the power to succeed
Murli Menon
New Delhi: Response Books, 2004
pp 149, Rs 185

The author, driving home after a New Year bash, is hit by a truck. He suffers brain haemorrhage, paralysing the left side of his body. Anyone else would have spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair or, worse, as a vegetable. But Murli Menon has ZeNLP. He had undergone training in Neuro Linguistic Programming and used to practise Zen meditation regularly. He survives, achieving complete rehabilitation.
“In the last nine years,” he writes, “I have not had a single epileptic attack due to my immense faith in the power of the human mind.” His experience, he claims, “has empowered many other unfortunate victims of fate to overcome their disabilities.”

A technical or How-To book is generally driven by its subject. It is refreshing to find one that is an exciting read as well. ZeNLP: The Power To Succeed hooks you from the start, regardless of your degree of rationality. Murli Menon is a born convincer. His writing is straightforward, lucid and quietly powerful. Within the space of this short book he puts before us several historical, scriptural and practical assurances to base his thesis upon.

He also pauses for irregular interludes that show the often amusing interaction between Zen masters and their disciples, using their ambiguity to drive home his points. Lacing the practical wisdom gleaned from ancient Hindu scriptures with modern management techniques he develops individualised formulae for self-improvement and higher living. A holistic, healthy life-style is a must. A practitioner must avoid all artificial stimulants and should be a vegan (avoiding even eggs and milk products).

The system involves tapping and utilising the latent power of the “unconscious” brain, programming the mind and setting goals. The power of Nature (present in elemental forms within all of us) is also summoned to assist the generative process. It is a good read, and if you decide to go further, it promises riches that are far greater than any material gain.