The most recent book I read by Shwetabh Gangwar, tries to articulate the insane benefits and affirming knowledge of knowing “How to think” rather than “What to think”.

The Rudest book ever is actually not a rude book, but rather an honest account of what actually works in life. “Know thyself” is the premise of the book and the author champions the reader to actually know themselves and thus do away with a host of unnecessary thoughts pertaining to ego, jealousy, comparisons, desires and complications entailed in keeping up with the Jonases. When one knows oneself and well that too, then what others do or how the world functions may not be of concern. In that Gangwar asks the reader to limit external influences and to understand and be intelligent about analysing the perceptions obtained in life. But the most important thing is to know what to make of life based on one’s own individuality.

And those thoughts quite echo with what the Buddhist students are taught at the end of their study of Buddhism. While different opinions or stances are good to know what is most crucial is to give up the crutch of a guru. A good master does not make the student dependent on him, a good master empowers the student to think for themselves and in that lies all the difference. All desire causes suffering and life is full of suffering so we might as well suffer for the things we’d actually like at the end of the day!