Rating: 
Summary: A great way to learn meditation and appreciation of God
Review: Fr. Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest of Portuguese-South Asian descent who used his dual heritage as a retreat leader. This particular volume begins with exercises common to all mystical traditions i.e. awareness and contemplation exercises. The section of fantasy exercises owe much to the Ignatian Exercises (as in St. Ignatius the founder of the Jesuit order) although expanded. The final set of exercises include a number of traditional prayer methods - the Benedictine method, the Jesus prayer associated with the Orthodox, the Thousand Names of God, Gospel Sentences similar to lectio divina etc.This book works better as a source book for retreat leaders or spiritual directors in that it is disruptive to prayer/awareness/contemplation to break to refer to the instructions. However, individuals certainly can benefit from the volume.
Rating: 
Summary: Christian exercises in Eastern Form
Review: Fr. Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest of Portuguese-South Asian descent who used his dual heritage as a retreat leader. This particular volume begins with exercises common to all mystical traditions i.e. awareness and contemplation exercises. The section of fantasy exercises owe much to the Ignatian Exercises (as in St. Ignatius the founder of the Jesuit order) although expanded. The final set of exercises include a number of traditional prayer methods - the Benedictine method, the Jesus prayer associated with the Orthodox, the Thousand Names of God, Gospel Sentences similar to lectio divina etc. This book works better as a source book for retreat leaders or spiritual directors in that it is disruptive to prayer/awareness/contemplation to break to refer to the instructions. However, individuals certainly can benefit from the volume.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I have been reading Anthony De Mello for years now and I really enjoy his spirituality. What shines through in all of his writings is the unique way in which he combines the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola and elements of ancient yogic traditions. The one spirit evident in his teaching: To bring out ht eguru in ourselves, to dance our own dance, to sing our own song. Another in a long example of De Mello's penchant for libertaing hearts and giving meaning to whatever spiritual path one is traveling.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I have been reading Anthony De Mello for years now and I really enjoy his spirituality. What shines through in all of his writings is the unique way in which he combines the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola and elements of ancient yogic traditions. The one spirit evident in his teaching: To bring out ht eguru in ourselves, to dance our own dance, to sing our own song. Another in a long example of De Mello's penchant for libertaing hearts and giving meaning to whatever spiritual path one is traveling.
Rating: 
Summary: Written before his Self-Realization!
Review: If I could give this book 0 stars I would for truthful content, however, it would be a 5 star rating on the ability to confuse the populace with twisted truth. Just enough scripture to make 'biblically uninformed' people think this is a good thing. Just the fact that the author was a Jesuit priest should send up red flags for any Bible believing Christian. This book is NOT christian and points the reader to believe in himself instead of the Lord Jesus, and uses every pagan belief system rolled into one 'new' idea, ...Lord Bless you, Nora
Rating:
Summary: reader beware
Review: If I could give this book 0 stars I would for truthful content, however, it would be a 5 star rating on the ability to confuse the populace with twisted truth. Just enough scripture to make 'biblically uninformed' people think this is a good thing. Just the fact that the author was a Jesuit priest should send up red flags for any Bible believing Christian. This book is NOT christian and points the reader to believe in himself instead of the Lord Jesus, and uses every pagan belief system rolled into one 'new' idea, ...Lord Bless you, Nora
Rating:
Summary: A great way to learn meditation and appreciation of God
Review: If you have never meditated before, then you are exactly as I was before reading this book. It was the GREATEST experience I have ever had in terms of prayer, faith, and awareness of God. If you have an interest in meditation, or just in calming your mind, body and soul, take a look at this short, easy-to-read book by Anthony De Mello - you wont regret it!
Rating:
Summary: This book is excellent, it changed my life!
Review: It is a book I was looking for. It halped me in my spiritual life. It halped me with my problems. Janusz Korban
Rating:
Summary: Written before his Self-Realization!
Review: NOT recommendable!!! Reason: Anthony De Mello 'himself' didn't recommend this book! You can read his own words concerning this book in "We heard the bird sing", a compilation of memories from people who knew him personally and studied under his personal guidance. I found this book in India. There he "regrets" to have written the book: "Sadhana: A Way to God". It was his first book but at that time he doesn't 'really' reached God-Realization. His ego 'thought' he reached it. His regret was enormous because at that time this one was his bestselled book throughout the world. The book he himself recommended the most was "The Song of the Bird". He called it his "most dangerous" book, a book full of heart-enlightening stories from all spiritual traditions. Another book of De Mello 'I' highly recommend for earnest seekers is "The Way to Love". I love this book!!! "Awareness" is also 'authentic stuff'! "Contact with God" is also not recommendable for spiritual seekers! Definitely it is also not from (the awakened) Anthony De Mello. He never 'wrote' this book: It is a compilation of his (?) words 'after his death', but definitely not words from (the awakened) Anthony De Mello. "The Way to Love" is also a compilation 'after his death' but these words are truly from the awakened Anthony De Mello. Just trust your heart, seeker :)
Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Gift Book
Review: Sadhana is a book that continuously leaves my possession into the hands of friends. It is the best written, most comprehensive book on meditation; as suitable for the beginner as it is for someone like myself who has been meditating for almost 30 years. Although deMello intended the book to be a guide for group meditation, it serves the individual as well. In Sadhana, deMello has conjoined Eastern and Western techniques whose origins include Ignatian and Benedictine methods, yoga, Zen Buddhism, and Christian mysticism. The result is 47 exercises that are broken down into three groups; awareness, fantasy, and devotion. deMello's Jesuit proficiency as a teacher is reflected as he guides the reader through each exercise. I have supplemented my meditation schedule with several of these exercises and as a result, my spiritual development has become enriched.
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