'Eat, Pray, Love': 3 Cathartic Experiences That Still Inspire Us

This is not a book about travelling or finding love, it is much more. The global bestseller 'Eat, Pray, Love' is a highly acclaimed book published in 2006 which gained momentum within a few years and ended up being a motion picture starring Julia Roberts.  'Eat, Pray, Love' transcends the usual story arc yet focuses on every issue you feel has arisen from the very first page. It would be an understatement to box it in the category of self-help or a travelling book.

The writer, Elizabeth Gilbert goes through a transformational journey to find herself and to find out who she is meant to be -  a writer, a wife, a lover, a friend, a follower, a traveller or a seeker. The book is bifurcated into three parts, traversing across Italy, India and Indonesia. Gilbert focuses on finding solace and balance amidst a whirlwind of chaos. It is deemed necessary to seek a balance between devotion and pleasure, for not everyone who yearns devotion should be devoid of pleasure and vice versa.

She wanted to live a balanced life away from things she knew were right or wrong. The symbolism of 108 sections in the book points toward supreme balance in life. We come across various characters Gilbert meets through her journey and all leave an indelible mark, not only on her but the reader's as well. 

After a messy divorce and a long heartache, Elizabeth finds herself in a state of despair with one thing holding her together- a calling from the universe to "go back to bed" as she spent countless hours weeping on the floor. Her personal accounts find us reaching out for her as she expresses feeling hollow, weak, and a loss of appetite which makes her pale.

From a reader's perspective, one can empathise with her because it is only human to be able to lose yourself in love that consumes you. It wraps you, hollows you and leaves you lying on the floor asking for a way to feel unburdened by this 'oh so self-annihilating love.' Her longing to travel and meet new people is the only constant through the pages and that is how she begins the journey of Eating her heart out in Italy, Praying till the sunset in India and Loving herself in every way possible in Indonesia. 

Pools of Pleasure in Italy

Italy brought her pleasure, the pleasure of walking alone through the streets of Rome, the pleasure of learning Italian, the pleasure of eating artichokes, pizza, spaghetti, and gelato, the pleasure of gaining an appetite, the pleasure of visiting hidden libraries/ gardens/ fountains and the pleasure of 'dolce vita'- the sweet life! Pleasure of being with yourself and doing absolutely nothing is an art and there is no better way to learn this from the great artists, the Italians themselves.

Gilbert vowed to remain celibate for an entire year through her journey to completely heal herself. Finding pleasure in Italy was devouring into acts of making herself feel content again. A "self-indulgent luxury" considered by many is actually the most preliminary act of loving yourself. Italy brings a point of revelation not only for Elizabeth but for us too, a tipping point making us wonder if everything we do is for ourselves. Defining what love is and how to love someone, are an act of self-love indeed.

Loving someone is surrendering yourself to feel equal parts of love and selflessness. You are not on the edge anymore but instead peacefully enjoy a silent walk exchanging a thousand words. 

Hymns of Devotion in India

India was a destination added to Elizabeth's list after she met her partner David who followed an Indian guru, with whom she felt an instant connection. India is seen through a lens of divinity, as a land of yogis and devotees. Her journey in India is the toughest where she unleashes her mind to the relevance of 'Guru Gita' and the deep unexplored trenches of meditation. Her encounter with Richard from Texas leads to a series of comic yet wise exchanges. She visits the Ashram of the same guru from New York and struggles to keep her mind at bay while scrubbing floors, fighting off countless mosquitoes and battling with the 3 AM winter chill.

Richard tells her how loving someone should never come with pain and suffering because if we free ourselves of that pain and search deeper, we have the power to love the whole world. She learns to channel her love, selflessly, towards the health of her nephew and a wave of compassion washes her. It is not just the stillness of mind one must seek but also the stillness of heart, love, and energy. Meditation was not a session on the contemplation of thoughts but the relaxation of thoughts. It was about listening to your most intrusive thoughts and telling them, "I'm listening you but I also know better than this." 

Seeking Balance in Bali

Indonesia was a place of calling by an old toothless medicine man she met years ago who gave her a drawing of being grounded and thinking from your heart. Ketut Liyer believes in smiling from your liver, meditating by simply breathing and being happy. Elizabeth finally opens herself to new possibilities and people who embrace her, celebrate her and care for her. She knew she met her match when the first words from Felipe were, "Darling, let me take care of you." Something she wanted to feel and hear but could never from her previous partners. All she hoped for at the end turned into reality when her devotion turned into peace which gave her happiness and ultimately pleasure. 

Eat, Pray, Love still stands relevant due to its subtlety and meaningful arches. It encapsulates all our insecurities and traumas in the hope of reconnecting with our true selves and loving ourselves before we love someone, devoting our mind to wellness before it can analyse global politics and enjoying the subtle pleasures of human life before we rely on someone else.