Changing Lives Through Reading ...

Somebody has correctly said "to read is to fly, it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history ,human psychology and varieties ,ideas shared experiences and fruits of many inquiries of some of the most brilliant minds".
The above lines clearly sum up the essence of reading in human lives.Reading offers a rare insight into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers, philosophers, and human beings who have preceded our era and changed the lives of people through their unparalleled intellect. Through reading , we map our minds to the minds of the greatest of thinkers and experience the same level of freedom ,that has pushed human race forward. It bridges the gap between mediocrity and excellence.
Reading frees our minds from all malice and transcends our energy towards bigger purpose of life. And when our thoughts transcend these stereotypical norms of society and strive for excellence ,then our lives change, forever. We become a part of that race which makes this world a better place.
Through reading diverse arena, we come across different facets of life ranging from lives of affluent to people struggling everyday just to survive. It allows us to have a peek into lives and suffering of millions and tempts us to do something for them. It presents before us the beauty as well as contradictions of life.
There are times when we are down and out , we lose hope, we feel unwanted and unworthy ,and we want to hide form rest of world. That is the time when a good book really acts as a teacher, a philosopher, and a guide and rekindles that simmering fire within us.It gives us a new lease of life and reaffirms our faith in ourselves.
When we read lives of great people ,we come to know about their struggle, suffering ,perseverance and all the qualities that made them great .It inspires us to emulate them and simultaneously tell us what it takes to be great. Lives of greats like Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther king ,Nelson Mandela etc have inspired a whole generation and made our world a better place to live ,and by reading about them, in the process,we become a better person. Krishna , Kabir ,Prophet Jesus,keep guiding us through their words, and that strengthens us to constantly fight the devil within and out.
I have always believed that all wisdom, all knowledge & everything lies within us. But it lies in hibernation under a thick cover of ignorance and most people die in mediocrity, unaware of that untrammelled treasure , simmering within them. Reading uncovers that layer and presents us with the key to excellence. The more we read ,the more we move from darkness of ignorance to light .And when we see that that light ,it literally astonishes the world. When we see that light ,it connects our lost chord and brings us in sync with that divine energy, what we call "god". And when we come in sync with that energy ,that is what is limitless. That is what is freedom .