Anita Moorjani, 66, is a spiritual speaker known for her book "Dying to be Me." Published in 2012, the memoir was released in Vietnamese in July.
The book is divided into three parts, starting with Moorjani's childhood, then detailing her near-death experience at 47, and concluding with her reflections on life after her brush with death.
In 2002, Moorjani was diagnosed with lymphoma. Initially, she refused chemotherapy and radiation therapy, having witnessed relatives die after undergoing these treatments. As her health declined, she tried various therapies without success. In early 2006, her organs failed, and she fell into a coma.
Doctors declared it "too late" to save her. However, after 30 hours in a coma, Moorjani regained consciousness. Four days later, her tumors shrank by about 70%. Within five weeks, she was discharged from the hospital, fully recovered.
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The Vietnamese edition is titled "Returning from the Brink of Death: From a Serious Illness, to Death, and an Extraordinary Recovery". The book was translated by Ngoc Dung and published in July by Dan Tri Publishers in association with First News. Photo: First News |
The Vietnamese edition is titled "Returning from the Brink of Death: From a Serious Illness, to Death, and an Extraordinary Recovery". The book was translated by Ngoc Dung and published in July by Dan Tri Publishers in association with First News. Photo: First News
In her memoir, Moorjani recounts her 30-hour coma, describing her awareness of dying and a sense of detachment from her physical body. She dedicates a chapter to explaining her illness and recovery. Moorjani had lived in fear of judgment, constantly striving to please others. This habit disconnected her from her true self and her purpose in life. Her fear of life and death led her to view the world as dangerous, limiting herself.
"But then I still ended up getting diagnosed with cancer. I had done all the forgiving, all the clearing, all the healing, all the praying, all the meditating, and I simply couldn’t understand why this was happening to me," she wrote.
Moorjani believes that one doesn't need a near-death experience to recognize life's wonders. She explains, "In reality, our bodies are very intelligent, and illness is its way of saying to you: 'This is not how you should be living your life. You need to reboot your intuition. You need to activate your inner energy and start shining.' The more you try to fit into molds to be accepted by society or direct your energy outward to the point of exhaustion, the more severe the symptoms in your body will become to get your attention."
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Portrait of author Anita Moorjani. Photo: Instagram/ Anita Moorjani |
Portrait of author Anita Moorjani. Photo: Instagram/ Anita Moorjani
Raised in a traditional Hindu family in India, Moorjani questioned why women were discouraged from pursuing their dreams. As an adult, she rejected an arranged marriage to seek true love and self-discovery.
Despite being a bestseller and appearing on the New York Times bestseller list, the memoir has faced controversy. In The Herald Scotland, journalist Vicky Allen expressed concern about how people react to illness, particularly cancer, arguing that "cancer should not be viewed as a disease that can be cured by the mind and positive thinking."
In 2007, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) published an article examining Moorjani's case from a medical perspective. Oncologist and hematologist T.K. Chan, one of Moorjani's treating physicians, attributed her survival to medical intervention. Doctors drained fluid from her lungs upon admission and subsequently administered chemotherapy, a treatment she had refused for four years.
"I can't say whether the spiritual experience helped or not. All I can say is that she made a slightly better than expected recovery for a critically ill patient. It was an amazing recovery. But I feel quite certain it was due to the chemotherapy and the emergency drainage of the lungs. Scientifically speaking, if she had refused our treatment and still recovered, then perhaps it could have been the spiritual experience. But since she did receive chemotherapy, you can't really say anything categorically," Dr. Chan said.
"Dying to be Me" has received ratings of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon and 4.1 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. Many readers found the memoir engaging, offering a new perspective on life. They praised its message of self-love and overcoming fear. Some, however, criticized repetitive details and a circuitous writing style. One Goodreads reviewer cautioned that some of Moorjani's conclusions are best viewed as personal experiences, not universally applicable advice.
Born in 1959 in Singapore to Indian parents, Moorjani moved to Hong Kong at the age of two. Due to her family background and British education, she speaks English, Cantonese, and her native Indian language. She later learned French. In addition to writing, she is a speaker who has lectured worldwide. She currently lives in the US with her husband. Another of her books, "What If This Is Heaven?" has also been translated into Vietnamese.
Phuong Thao
