Soul Psychology: Keys to Ascension (The Ascension Series)

Rating:
Summary: shows the obstacles many experience on their paths to God
Review: I found this book to be a great help in showing me the many pitfalls people take in their path to self mastery. Shown from a perspective of mastery, it clearly explains how one can avoid and see through trouble areas in one's life and reach the calm depths of inner peace. This is a book of transpersonal psychology. It will give you many tools and exercises for you to use throughout your day that will help bring you levels of refinement quickly.

Rating:
Summary: "...I must speak the truth."
Review: The first couple of chapters of this book had some good reminders. In fact, the book is sprinkled with good thoughts and ideas. I was very glad to have found it in on my bookshelf this week.

It's not very well written, however. Whole chunks (multiple-paragraph chunks) are repeated a number of times in the book, ver batim. (I got it the first time.)

Stone talks about the importance of transcending the ego, yet his ego gets in the way a lot. He has a chapter of "Pitfalls and Traps on the Path to Ascension". He forgot one: Vanity in your spiritual achievement / superiority. It must be difficult to write a book like this with your ego on the side, but a good editor should have been able to help with this.

He also warns against being judgmental, yet he devotes a chapter--a long chapter--to ripping traditional therapy to shreds. He justifies his judgment as "wielding the sword of discernment". ("Psychiatry is a nitemare. I hate to be so blunt and don't mean to be critical; however, if I am going to wield the sword of discernment, I must speak the truth.") This was just the most blatant example of judgment.

Nevertheless, the book does have some thought provoking ideas and interesting techniques. You just have to work hard to get to them through the extra text. If this book had been properly edited (for repetition and ego, for example) the book would have been less than half as long, and easier to read. You might find it a worthwhile read, but be prepared to skim.