The Seat of the Soul

Rating:
Summary: A Thesis to Test with Your Intuition
Review: Let me explain my rating of 3 stars first. I am required to put a rating on, but do not want to do so on this book. So the 3 stars are my attempt not to rate the book, rather than a rating so disregard it totally. Since the book argues that judging is harmful to the soul and I agree with that, I will try to avoid being judgmental as much as I am able, in order to be fair to the spirit of this book.

Let me share with you my reactions to the book. The author has written a series of 16 interrelated essays that take you as a starting point from the perspective of the potential for humans to evolve from being limited by their five senses and personalities to a more authentic existence using more senses and soul-based decisions. The ending is well captured by the concept of becoming a body in a soul, rather than just the opposite.

As you read each section, you are encouraged to feel whether the assertion works for you or not. I found that some did and some did not. You would probably have a different experience. I also found that I have had some spiritual experiences that the book did not seem to describe. That left me a little unsettled. You may find that also.

On the whole, I found more truth in my own experiences than disconnection in reading the book. Also, it was a peaceful experience, which is always a good sign for me when I read a book.

If you are interested in having another perspective on the meaning of existence than the one that your religion, your spiritual advisor, or your family may have taught you or helped you understand, you will probably like this book. If you are not seeking out another perspective, you may find it hard to relate some of the book to what you know and believe. That could be a helpful experience for you.

You should decide if you want to read this book or not. I have no recommendation for you. It is an individual thing. If you are unsure, please write me and I will answer any questions you have about the book.

Rating:
Summary: pompous proclamations about the mechanisms of "reality."
Review: In this book Gary Zukov teaches unconditional love as the path to higher consciousness, and very few people I know will argue with that. However, his tone undercuts the message. It is preachy, supercilious, and holier-than-thou. He makes very pat statements about the "truth" using very abstract language and giving us no evidence to support what he is saying. Such evidence would go a long way toward helping us swallow his points--even if it were only the evidence of personal spiritual experiences from his own past.

As an example of one of his explanations of "how things are," he writes about the extinction of the dolphins thus: "The dolphin soul is leaving the Earth, that is, the dolphin species is becoming extinct. The dolphins are beaching themselves. They are creating diseases within themselves. This is their way of refusing to continue to live upon the Earth. They feel that they cannot fulfill the purpose for which they are born. Therefore, they are leaving. Their deaths are not suicides because they are not frightened. They are exhausted." What's wrong with the idea that it is actually humans killing dolphins off? What's wrong with that idea, according to this book, is that bad things only happen to you for two reasons: a) your own bad karma, and b) your own free choice as a soul. Well, I guess that lets our species off the hook as far as the cetaceans are concerned.

Zukov also devalues the Shadow, a powerful and necessary component of the human psyche. He seems to think that we can transcend the Shadow by a)paying off our karmic debts and b)willing ourselves to transcend it. His theory of karma is quite Newtonian, all organized, logical, and reductionist. The clockwork-like ambience of the universe he creates in these pages comes across as rather sinister to me. There is no joy here, just inexorable cause and effect, grinding the soul's face into the sand like a series of waves pounding a swimmer over and over. Zukov clearly does not feel comfortable with mystery or ambiguity. The great mystical classic "The Cloud of Unknowing" would definitely not be up this guy's alley.

This is one of the few books which I have deemed fit only for my houserabbits' lounge area, where they may chew on it to their hearts' content.

Rating:
Summary: Eye opening book. Quick read.
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I had not thought of life in the way Gary Zukov writes, and at times I wondered how he came up with these ideas. However, many of the concepts he proposes make tremendous sense in our world, and when I finished this book, it left me with a smile on my face. Very uplifting.

Rating:
Summary: DISCOVERING YOURSELF
Review: This is a wonderful book. I especially liked the following sentence where Gary wrote "Give yourself permission to choose the most postive behavior in each moment."

I noticed another reviewer recommending a book called "WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK: A BOOK ABOUT INSTANTANEOUS TRANSFORMATION" by Ariel and Shya Kane. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK!

I have read the Kanes' book many times since buying it back in Sept'99 and each time I discover more about myself and how I relate to others and life circumstances. And my life has transformed from dreams to realities. My relationship with my husband and my work have become and continue to be FUN, REWARDING, ENRICHING AND SATISFYING.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Kanes' book to anyone interested in having their own DREAMS BECOME REALITIES.

Rating:
Summary: Where's the meat?
Review: The subject matter intrigued me, however, the book lacked substance and discussed abstract and vague ideas without specific relavent examples.

Rating:
Summary: Discovering the Soul
Review: One cannot discuss either of these two magnificent books of Gary Zukav - Soul Stories and The Seat of the Soul without another. They are two different powerful information sources but they actually represent one profound insight first given to the readers as a philosophical outlook in The Seat of the Soul and then explained and enriched by beautiful examples as a sincere spiritual monolog in Soul Stories.

What's striking is that the author of these delightful books full of love, spiritual light and true humanism, once served as a US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) officer during Vietnam War. Indeed one cannot fight evil with evil, because there is no sense in fighting darkness with darkness. Only love, only light can defeat darkness.

Read these two life-changing books at the same time. What might seem unclear in The Seat of the Soul will be most probably beautifully explained in Soul Stories. But do not just read them, savor each single page, make your own conclusions, recall your own "spiritual stories" and you will never forget these books. Good Luck on your journey of Discovering the Soul.

Rating:
Summary: Understanding what life really is about....
Review: I found the book, 'The Seat of the Soul,' to be an eye opening experience for me. It thoughtfully explains how humans "should" live their lives to have a happy and healthy existance. It has changed my perception about my feelings and the way we interact with each other. I recommend this book to anyone who is searching for the answers of why life is the way it is and how we all have the power to change it for the better in THIS lifetime!

Rating:
Summary: LOVE=GOD....so where is his credit in your book?
Review: I did like the overall of the book. If everyone thought in terms of love and forgivness the world would certainly be a kinder gentler place,but I HATE the way he refers to God as "the universe" as in ....the universe supports you in whatever diection you decide to travel...or the universe sends good things to those who do good things. I do believe that a force does get behind you and help you but ..........it's the creator himself not a universe that would, by the way ,not exist without the same who put us all here. The message is love and responibility for one's own life, which is a great message it just seems like the author takes credit himself for grace that has always been there.

I wish that the author would worry less that his book would be acceptable by everyone:Christians, non-christians,people who see the dirt and dust of this world as something to worship,the folks who pray on mats to a statue--sorry I'm just noy very up on them all. Here's the final thought I think that almost this entire book was just combined together from prior sources like love=bible,karma=70's new age,responibility for your life=AA (and even they acknowledge god in their prayer!) I would strongly suggest more than one grain of salt with this book. Be carefully...I think wraped up in a massive love message people who said they'd never be "fooled" are flirting with ...maybe my soul does have countless lives..who knows? I will end with this , if you have done any research on this author you would know a few things one:He enjoyed killing people to further his pride and challege his anger in his armed forces career Two: you don't have to continue to have a gun as a warrior if there becomes a better way. I don't recommend this book to anyone who is not 100% sure of what they believe 100% of the time...so noone!

Rating:
Summary: Unfulfilling - superficial in content
Review: The author dissapointed me in his attempt to explain or lay the groundwork for a spiritual life. The concept of the book is great - how to focus our lives, how to center ourselves, how to bring spiritualism into our daily lives to be more fulfilled. Unfortunately,each chapter that I read hoping for in depth ideas and suggestions left me wanting. The author proceeds to state the obvious in each chapter without delving into the supporting foundation of each element. And there were no suggestions as to how to enact these goals in daily life (unlike some other books that I've read.)The other thing that bothered me is that Zukav borrowed so much from eastern religions such as Buddhism and gave no reference - it almost felt like plagiarism, as if he came up with these concepts on his own rather than pulled from different religions and put it in his own words. I feel his lack of credentials in this field seriously hurt this book. If you are interested in a helpful and insightful book on spiritualism along the same lines of balancing your daily life, I would recommend one of the many books on Buddhism appplied to the Western life (Amazon has a great selection - the Shambala series has several offerings.)These books explain more clearly the evolution of a concept which better helps you understand why it is important to include in your life, and then proceeds to help you with daily steps you can act on to try and improve and calm your spirit.

Rating:
Summary: childish pap for adults
Review: It's really bad. Dreadful. New age pap: preachy, sanctimonious ultra-simplistic, just plain laughable. I could barely get to page 50, and it has large-ish type, wide margins & leading.

Reading Great Eastern Sun is sort of like eating a fine meal - I feel better after reading it, really fortified by its sustenance. This was like eating a bad meal, it made me want to puke. Zukav wrote a book in '79 called the Dancing Wu Li Masters that I'd heard of, and his Seat was a NYT bestseller, so I thought it might be at least ok.