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Rating: 
Summary: Intensely deep yet very readable spirituality
Review: Dave Gold's book is an amazing account of his personal experiences while living with a zen master named Richard Rose (who also has a number of books published). Not only are the actual experiences that Mr Gold went through incredible but his story-telling ability is phenomenal. He tells us his own, very personal, story in a very compelling and spell-binding way (I read the first half of the book in one night; couldn't put it down) but his own story _is_ an account of Rose's spirituality/philosophy. You cannot help but be amazed at this crazy old man who is the cornerstone of Mr Gold's life for 15 years in the backwoods of West Virginia where Mr Gold starts a law practice against extreme opposition while dealing with threats on his life, cancer and, above all, Richard Rose's constant, piercing insights into the very depths of Dave Gold's soul. This book is incredible: a fantastic read and a profoundly intense experience.
Rating:
Summary: I'm usually writing negative reviews on fake guru books.
Review: I have been studying metaphysics and philosophy for quite a while with many powerful teachers. Rarely do you find a teacher like Richard Rose who so unflinchingly tells the truth. While many believe pursuing a life of bliss is the answer, Richard confirms my experience that life is often struggle and hard work. And it is only by going into those dark places, which he apparently was a master at creating for others, do we recover our wholeness and humanity. It is sad that some have chosen to slam this work for their own purposes. I don't know anything about organizations and all that, but I do know that Richard Rose spoke the truth as recorded by David Gold.
Rating:
Summary: Richard Rose Speaks The Truth
Review: I have been studying metaphysics and philosophy for quite a while with many powerful teachers. Rarely do you find a teacher like Richard Rose who so unflinchingly tells the truth. While many believe pursuing a life of bliss is the answer, Richard confirms my experience that life is often struggle and hard work. And it is only by going into those dark places, which he apparently was a master at creating for others, do we recover our wholeness and humanity. It is sad that some have chosen to slam this work for their own purposes. I don't know anything about organizations and all that, but I do know that Richard Rose spoke the truth as recorded by David Gold.
Rating: 
Summary: Spawning a Bad Metaphysical Meme
Review: I have read enough of this book as well as publications from the
spawning organization (SKS) to know a bad meme, ref."mimetics", when read. Sadly a bizzare experience by a couple of young middle class kids in the late sixties and early seventies and on a largely male dominated farm in the hills of WVA has secured a place in cyberspace as well as some disingenuous minds in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC areas. We obviously live in a Cowardly New Worlsd where third rate metaphyics can gain some stock, especially when combining it with the business ventures of its principal exponents (Turak-Gold-Clark-Buehler).
Rating:
Summary: I'm usually writing negative reviews on fake guru books.
Review: I think Richard Rose was/is the genuine thing. He has written a number of books himself which you may find on Amazon and other places that I recommend. He's upsetting to many "New Agers" who are expecting a guru on a fluffy cloud. Mr. Rose is more like one of the old school harsh Zen masters. I've read this book and and don't know the politics that are going on with it but it seems like a credible telling of the Richard Rose story from the author's perspective. Be careful what you wish for.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Insightful
Review: Reading this book has been a very pleasant and positive experience for me. Depending on where you are in your life and how much truth you can handle today, this book might be for you.
Let me share a few quotes that I extrated from it: "The path to Truth only seems complex because we have to navigate the complexities and interferences of the mind. As these interferences are removed, the path becomes simpler. That's why one of the first things you need to do is get your house in order. Get your life organized to the point where you can at least think. Take an honest look at your life to see what's holding you up. Maybe it's fear, or an appetite, or a habit that no one else would consider destructive--and maybe it isn't destructive, except to the search."
...
"All you need is your own inner determination. Maybe a few words or lines in a book will help you, maybe they won't. But if something you hear appeals to your intuition, check it out. Prove or disprove it for yourself. Because when you get into these matters the only thing you have to go by is your intuition. And the more perfected your intuition becomes, the better you are at discrimination."
...
"The mistake people make is to wait for something to happen to them before they begin searching. They want the voice of God, or something, to tell them to get started. Or maybe they know they should be doing something but they procrastinate, hoping that tomorrow they'll have more conviction and be more determined. What they forget is there may be no tomorrow for them."
...
"I'd come to realize that if a man is ever going to grasp anything it won't be by learning. His being has to change. You are what you do, not what you know. A man never learns, he becomes. To become, you must find ways and means to change your entire state-of-mind. This in turn will lead to a change of being."
...
"When you finally realize that you're not doing anything in this life--that you're incapable of doing anything--then you stumble into a state of mindlessness that proves to be creative, that's all."
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"The ego is the single biggest obstruction to the achievement of anything. Between-ness is the act of acting without ego. You act, but you are not the actor. You do things, but you are not the doer--and you know you are not the doer. It's the ability to hold the head at a dead standstill in order to effect certain changes. You desire the change, but you do not care if it comes to pass."
...
"Once a person has the formula, anything can be changed, even the future. Through determination, a man can discover how to completely change his destiny. There's thoughts--which are not yours, but come from elsewhere--and there gaps between thoughts. When you get into that gap between thoughts, you have the opportunity to completely reshuffle you life. This may sound impossible to you now, but try not to let your ignorance get in the way of understanding. I have just told you something of priceless value." I'll stop here, but expect to find much more wisdom and insights in this book if you read it.
Rating:
Summary: One Star For Memetic Self Promotion
Review: This book is also for review at the writers SKS promotional website where business and writing have mutated into self promotion.
Two young guys from very middle class upbringing were seduced in thought and possible practise by a man who is now an invalid, all
coming together shortly after Woodstock, Altamont, Vietnam and the era of so called metaphysical self discovery.
This is not Wittgenstein's Poker with Popper and Ludwig W. meeting head to head at Cambridge but a tale of much lesser metaphysicians and philosophers and a sad tale of commune like life.
It is sad that the writer and his cadre of supporters did not spend greater time at one of the great Universities for the study of Philosophy (Univ. of Pittsburgh) hbefore imbarking upon a journey which has lead them to a Hegelian like self promotion.
For no other reason, this book may be read to understand how to turn a wierd and sickening experience into self promotion.
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