Spacecruiser Inquiry

Rating:
Summary: Adventures in inner space.
Review: "It can be scary, but it can be quite thrilling. Not everybody has the heart or the stomach for this kind of adventure" (p. 24). Using the metaphor of space travel that Joseph Campbell also used in his lectures, THE INNER REACHES OF OUTER SPACE, A. H. Almaas compares the exploration of our Being to the adventure of space travel. "The space we travel through is inner space," he writes, "our consciousness, our experience. And the vehicle for this journey is inquiry" (p. 30). Almaas sees a human being as a "multifaceted and multidimensional" universe of experience, constantly unfolding, and full of energy. "This is the very nature of what we call life" (p. 5). A life of inner inquiry, like space travel, offers a sense of mystery, vastness, and absolute spaciousness.

Almaas, or "Ali" as he is called by his students at the Ridhwan School here in Boulder, teaches the Diamond Approach to human potential, an integration of Sufism, Zen and Vajrayana Buddhism, and Gurdjieff with modern psychology. The aim of this Approach is that when we "learn how to invite our true nature to reveal itself, it will guide us toward realizing our own spiritual ground and, at the same time, actualize our potential in all walks of life" (p. xiv). SPACECRUISER offers its reader an excellent means to explore Almaas's glittering Diamond teachings.

G. Merritt

Rating:
Summary: imaginative
Review: a somewhat imaginary approach resulting in a somewhat imaginary enlightenment

Rating:
Summary: Practical Support
Review: The title of this book is, to be honest, pretty dumb. But after getting over Almaas' metaphor I found this to be one of the best spiritual practice books I have come across. Inquiry, when done properly, is an amazingly powerful practice. Almaas takes you step by step into a deeper understanding of how to do this practice. That said, this book is not for everyone. I would suggest that someone should have read Diamond Heart One and Two (for most people these are a better starting point than the Diamond Mind series) and also have at least a couple of years of sitting meditation experience before working with this book. Without that foundation, this work might only engage you at the psychological level. This is also a "workbook" with lots of inquiry exercises-take your time with it. I would suggest setting aside some time to work with it two or three times a week. The inquiries will take 15-20 minutes each and shouldn't be skipped if you want to engage this work fully.

Rating:
Summary: Good for those already into Almaas' method
Review: This book is very practical for those already familiar with Almaas' teachings. It describes precise and extensively his method of self inquiry, and I underline the word "method", since the book focuses on inquiry itself, on "how" to inquire, and not on "what" to inquire about. 400 pages about how to conduct your inquiry can be a bit too specific and overwhelming for those not into the Diamond Approach, but, on the other hand, it can be the most valueble for those familiar with previous Almaas' books (especially the Diamond Mind series). I really recommend it for the latter, but beginners should choose another one to start with.

Rating:
Summary: Good for those already into Almaas' method
Review: This book is very practical for those already familiar with Almaas' teachings. It describes precise and extensively his method of self inquiry, and I underline the word "method", since the book focuses on inquiry itself, on "how" to inquire, and not on "what" to inquire about. 400 pages about how to conduct your inquiry can be a bit too specific and overwhelming for those not into the Diamond Approach, but, on the other hand, it can be the most valueble for those familiar with previous Almaas' books (especially the Diamond Mind series). I really recommend it for the latter, but beginners should choose another one to start with.