February 25, 2019
Have you read 'Life of Pi'?
It's a remarkable book about a family from India moving to Canada after deciding to sell their zoo. They embark on there great adventure with few remaining animals only to be faced head on with a terrible store which sinks the ship. Patel (the son, also known as Pi) becomes the last human surviver. However, Pi is not alone; a dangerous tiger has also made it upon the same lifeboat. During the many months, Pi and the tiger learn to trust each other becoming friends till the end of their journey.
Warning: There are spoiler alerts in this post. If you have not yet read the 'Life of Pi' by Yann Martel I would highly recommend you read the book... If you have seen the movie then you wont be so surprised but I do recommend you still read the book. Its an easy flowing book to understand, and grasps your attention.
Now without further ado, lets discussing the great young Pi...
I love how in the back of the book, there are group discussion questions, I took only the following two that stood out the most to me. First one because I love discussing religion on my own beliefs, and the second one simply aligned very well with the topic.
In the Author’s Note, Mr. Adirubasamy boldly claims that this story “will make you believe in God,” and the author, after researching and writing the story, agrees. Did Pi’s tale alter your beliefs about God?
Chapter 21 and 22 are very small, yet the author has said that they are the core of the novel. Can you see how?
“First wonder goes deepest; wonder after that fits in the impression made by the first.”
This reference is quoted in Yann Martel’s novel ‘Life of Pi’. A true story of Piscine Molitor Patel and his survival at sea. Mr. Patel lived in many religious ways. After meeting a pastor for the first time, his mind was whirling with questions, ideas, and inspirations about God. This unseen being that is so powerful, yet gentle. His ability to make the magnificent life all around us. This God that died for our pain, sin and suffering; why and how? As he continued meeting and listening to different pastors, his curiosity grew till he could never deny that God is real and a part of his life. How may one make another believe in this unseen notion? They can’t. It is impractical to make someone believe in any notion. A story or discussion can only plant an idea or wonder, and spark question’s in an individual’s mind which draws them to seek the belief for themselves. Curiosity, as the author solemnly expresses, is the only attribute that makes one believe in God.
Before the Author heard Mr. Patel’s story he was in desperate need of a change. His last book had struggled to make a dent in bookstore shelves, and he was run dry of ideas and inspiration. He knew he was missing something in his life and was hungry to find that lost piece. The book Life of Pi, as Yann put it “was born as I was hungry”Yann craved a story that would not die from short of breath, one deeply rooted and full of purpose. One that would attract belief in people's lives. Yann Martel’s first spark of curiosity was planted when a man directed him to Mr. Patel. While hearing and formulating Patel’s story he was drawn to believe in God himself.
The core chapters of the entire book are 21 and 22
It may seem odd for these to be titled such a high reputation, since it only talks about the author and doesn’t seem to be related to the story. Nonetheless, the purpose of this story was to inspire one to believe in God, and that’s exactly what the outcome was. Yann Martel expresses that, following his visits with Mr. Patel he was left exhausted from the sorrowful contentments that characterized his life. While the author was with his encounter he struggled to imagine that the miserable pleasures that once made him happy had portrayed his life. He has only been riding his path on the edge. This overwhelming awareness brings him back to Mr. Patel’s home day by day because his wonders have filled his heart by such a great portion it would take nothing less than a crane to relieve his curiosity. Pi Patel helps Yann to see the beauty of God’s hand in his life.
Jumping back into the time for a moment... while being a nanny for two years I came to find beautiful lessons that authors put in pre-teens and children's books that can bring awareness to ourselves as adults, especially in 'The magic treehouse series'.
In one of the many Magic Tree House books, 'Monday with a Mad Genius' by Mary Pope Osborne, Jack and Annie were seeking the secret to happiness while speaking with the well known genius Leonardo de Vinci. Leonardo told the two children,
“The secret of happiness is available to all of us, every hour of every day. Young, old, rich, poor--everyone can choose to find happiness in this way… Curiosity.”
Mr. Patel and Yann used curiosity to find happiness. They both found their happiness through God. Mr. Patel curiosity struck when he met a pastor for the first time, than fed that wonder while searching out other pastors and their opinions of God. While receiving answers to his questions he found God and the happiness He brings to many lives. Like Patel; Yann’s conversion is similar, he was curious about a story, began receiving answers to his questions till finally Yann found his happiness through God. God is the true definition of Love. We learn to love him, others and ourselves when we believe in Him.
Through curiosity and trust we find happiness.
Leading back to how a person can help one believe in God, or as the author states it, how this story can make one believe. Happiness is a feeling everyone searches for. We may feel happy when we get a new toy, or receive a raise at work and possibly when you finish school as first in your class. These are all great things, but they are not what bring true happiness. These are actions of temporary happiness, they bring joy and excitement for a time, but soon wear off and you’re out searching for a new sense of comfort and joy. Happiness is also love, without love we can not be truly happy. God is love, and by following in his footsteps we learn to love ourselves and others around us. This is because we begin to see all the beauty in what we have. Through this love Patel was able to stay alive at sea with a powerful tiger in a lifeboat for 227 days because he believed in God. He learned to love the tiger, the sea, the sky, the sun… so on and so forth. No thoughts of doubt and abandonment comes out of trust and love. The pastors who told Mr. Patel about God, inspired him to search out and find God’s love for himself, they didn’t make him love the being they knew for themselves to be true. They put the idea in his heart and helped curiosity spread.
After Patel and Yann both found their answers through facts, stories and perspectives their thoughts were narrowed down to if they really do believe in God or not. Here is what make chapters 21 and 22 so important, here is why this book makes people believe in God, this is the switch that changes people's lives. In Chapter 21, page 63, last three lines... the author feels God’s hand touch his heart. Yann described this touch as
“An intellect confounded yet a trusting sense of presence and of ultimate purpose.”
This is the feeling of ‘God’s Silence’, also known as the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a powerful mental intelligence unable to resist or avoid, yet calming in its sense of presence and ultimate purpose. The purpose of God's silence was to assure Yann that God is real and brings happiness through love. After Yann believed in God for himself he was able to see that life is not all full of facts, without faith he states
“to the very end, lack imagination and miss the better story.”
Life’s better story is with God, without him we are lost and confused, floating in a darkness that lacks beauty and imagination. Once a person has felt God’s silence their lives change immensely.
The story Life of Pi enlightened me to do better; better in loving myself, loving others and seeking happiness through God. I was especially inspired to do so because of Pi’s firm faith, when in the ocean with a massive tiger in the same boat as him, his faith never dwindled. Not only did he still love God, but he loved the tiger and put forth the effort to become friends with it. He overcame the fear of the powerful beast, so fear was unable to defeat him. Once fear is overcome anything is possible. We can learn to speak up, reach out and make a difference. We as individuals take tremendous wonder for granted, we need to let curiosity drive us to love, and believe in God so we can open our eyes to all that he has given us.
Comments