Why Read “Left To Tell” By Immaculee Ilibagiza

by Clyo Beck

Christine Northrup, M.D., the author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom said this of Left To Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust:

“This book has renewed my faith in God and the Universe in a profound and real way that has changed me forever.”

Why did Dr. Northrup have that experience after reading Immaculée Ilibagiza’s book?

Why did I read this book in one sitting?

Why did it become a New York Times bestseller?

1) Her book is an affirmation for those struggling with their faith.

2) Her revelations about how she attained spiritual enlightenment reveal powerful truths and confirm that age-old methods work.

3) Her story of forgiveness – and her choice to learn how to forgive – is a must read for anyone who is seeking God, but is angry and unforgiving toward the human race.

An incredible story that’s well-told, this is also one of the greatest spiritual books you’ll ever read because it gives you a recipe for enlightenment.

RECIPE FOR ENLIGHTENMENT

Yet Immaculée doesn’t talk about her experience in such terms. Hers is not a “how to” book.

And I am in no way suggesting that what she went through should be endured by anyone,.

However, there is definitely an oft-repeated “recipe” for achieving enlightenment in the pages of Left To Tell.

What is that recipe?

Fasting, silence, meditation and prayer.

Nearly all spiritual traditions urge you to devote yourself to three basic practices: fasting, meditation and prayer.

Why?

Because these three practices, when combined and practiced together, begin to purify the body and mind and prepare a person for spiritual enlightenment.

YOGIS, LAMAS, MONKS AND MYSTICS

Yogis, lamas, monks and mystics are well-known for following this “recipe” for enlightenment by going into seclusion and silence, and then fasting, meditating and praying until they feel “at one with The One.”

They pray, meditate and fast until they have had a direct experience from the perspective of The Divine.

They have this experience because fasting, meditation and prayer lifts them to a different place, a different layer of reality, a different energetic level of vibration.

In that place they see everyone and everything from a perspective of loving kindness.

They see without fear, without judgment and without any of the emotions that get between a human being and the experience of God, The Unified Field, The All That Is, Brahma, The Christ Within, The Divine, or whatever you want to call our Creator.

Yet, the name by which our Creator is called is not important.

What is important is having an experience of our Creator’s profound love.

AN EXPERIENCE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

So how do you recognize when you have had an experience of enlightenment?

You know you have touched the hem of your Creator when magnanimity and love fill you to the point that you feel compassion for everyone and everything.

For many human beings that has never happened.

For some it has been a flash, a split-second revelation that they hold on to.

Others experience that love in a dream, and in such a vivid and real way that it is unmistakable.

Others spend decades weaving together spiritual practice and “normal” life.

They may reach a point in which they are loving and kind and non-judgmental most of the time, depending upon the moment and their circumstances, but they haven’t necessarily had that experience of being one with all beings.

Some who follow the same kinds of practices do have a profound experience during meditation or prayer, and maybe often.

Others leave society and retreat into voluntary isolation and intense spiritual practice for years to achieve a higher level of being that anyone can feel simply by being in their presence.

Historically, those who achieved enlightenment remained somewhat reclusive and taught selected students.

And then there is Immaculée Ilibagiza, and what she experienced: a crucible that burned away everything but the love of God.

Now she is so strong in her faith that she is able to be in the world and travel around the world telling her story.

I read Immaculee’s book when it was first published and still consider it one of the best spiritual books written, if not the best. A documentation of her own powerful spiritual awakening, it is not to be missed by anyone seeking to know and experience God.

(You know a book is exceptional when all the Amazon readers who post comments about it – in this case 500 of them – rate it 5-stars.)

I was also fortunate enough to hear Immaculée Ilibagiza speak on Thursday, November 18, 2010, in London, Ontario and I urge you, if you have a chance to hear her in person, to do so.

Meanwhile you can download Immaculée’s book right now if you have Kindle.

If you do not have a Kindle and you want one, here’s my affiliate link for the Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6.