<< 1 >>
Rating: Summary: For those on the path Review: I imagine that it must be so difficult to write a book about how to live in the present moment because the mere act of trying to live in the present moment takes us away from it. Despite this difficulty, this book does an admirable job in helping people understand this and eventually "know" this in their hearts. I must admit that just reading the book was incredibly soothing to me. This is a great book if you feel like you could use some help on your path to the spiritual goldmine many people talk about. The book that I presently like the most on this subject is "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone truly interested in personal growth and happiness.
Rating: Summary: Just Great Review: I would have liked to have left out a rate in recomending this book because it simply is beyond rating. This book captures with no effort what needs to be said on living this life now. What does this mean ? As usual such a thing encompasses what a master of Zen archery once called "the great all" (Eugen Herrigel, Zen in the Art of Archery) and Morrison shoots "spiritually" ie the words fall from a tree as ripe fruit do all by themselves where else could great mastery come from than with no effort and no thought. In simple words without reference to any religious ideas or beliefs, except when necessary to avoid confusion in people's minds, Morrison outlines the basis of human problems and their solution not as a method or a belief but as an ever creative act new at every moment, the art of listening where the mind and body is no longer the mind and body. This seemingly contradictory way of thinking frees up the mind. But then Morrison somehow manages to illuminate with straightforwrd words, simple sentences, nothing complex or convoluted. Anyone who is even remotely paying attention will also feel how the book subtly enlightens you of your burdens, one by one, anger disspiates, joy replaces it, the world becomes fascinating whereas before it was just boring or "the same". A book to read an excerpt from every day and use it to start the day or to enter into meditation. Given the understandable frustration and confusion felt by people when confronted by obscure or paradoxical utterances of the masters it must be remembered that "the way has no name" cannot be defined or boxed up in any way at all, it is always being revealed and always present, Morrison just says look, there it is, see it for yourself. Nobody said it would be easy and yet "it is only a breath away".
Rating: Summary: How to know who you really are directly and for yourself! Review: In this excellent slender volume, Scott Morrison has written a very practical guide to our deepest layers. He asks us simple but profound questions and leaves us with space to look at the answers for ourselves. In fact, the whole book is about finding out the truth for ourselves, leaving behind the dogmas and beliefs all of us automatically receive in our conditioning process. Every page offers simple and profound meditations on our true nature, on love and happiness, reflections to ponder right then and there, reflections to wake up from! (I found myself having insight after powerful insight from reading this book and following his gentle invitations to look at the truth for myself.) The book is written in very simple and readable language without any complicated spiritual words or concepts, and would be of great value to anyone who wants sincerely to know who they really are. There are fresh and revealing sections about Love, Surrender, Selfishness, Clarity of Mind, Enlightenment (what it is and isn't) and our persistent illusion of being a separate person. This is an essential book if you are interested in the love, joy, happiness and freedom that come from knowing who you actually and truly are.
Rating: Summary: Awesome book, terrible editing Review: Morrison's little book will show you the value of Only Now, whatever your situation may be. That is no small feast. As a skeptic and teacher of logic and philosophy, I search for clarity, sound arguments, proofs and meaning. Hard to convince, as many of you. But Scott Morrison has persuaded me in a strange way. Perhaps because he does not play intellectually with words and has no guru-like fantasies. His writing is straightforward from his heart. You can perceive a man who has struggle in life with deep honesty. His words are anchored in his experience. I value that openness and clarity of mind. I guess some of you are just like me, tired of so much stupidity in spiritual matters. Well, Morrison is sound, even logical, and above all, this author is really learning the lesson of love. Good for him! And for us, too!
Rating: Summary: yet another book .. nothing remarkable .. more preliminary Review: On first reading, I did not see any point in the book. This prompted me to read it again, to take a second look. This time I appreciated its content, and the continuity of thread of thought. I felt that the title did not truly reflect the content. There was not much which takes or directs one to the Now, as grand as the title sounds. There are no new ideas. The treatment of various topics is more basic. 'Clarity of Motive', 'Clarity or onepointedness of mind', and 'Clarity of View' i.e 'go ahead and be what you already are' - form the main analysis and prescription of the author. Page 39: " True love is, in fact, what you discover you are, the instant you cease to be preoccupied with yourself as a separate entity with its endless ambitions, problems and worries." Page 44: "To be enlightened is to be unconditionally intimate with this moment. There is no other time or place to give yourself, totally, to all that is." Page 45: "If you are willing, completely willing, to let go of every thing you think of as "yourself" and "your life", to bring it all to an absolute STOP, right now, then something profoundly sensitive and beautiful will be free to reveal itself." Page 51: "If you completely abandon your compulsive preoccupation with your mental/emotional versions of yourself, with their endless ambitions and the constant flow of problems that arise because of them, it's an absolute shock !" Page 58: "The way of Realization is not difficult. All you have to do is open your eyes ! If you allow yourself to see things as they actually are, without confusing yourself with prior opinions, every thing will be clear and freedom will be everywhere." Page 75: "Question to the core this fundamental assumption: that there is a separate "you", as pictured or heard or fantasized or remembered in your mind, and that "he" needs to be improved, because he is somehow incomplete or unacceptable." Page 76: "If you are willing to accept yourself and your life so thoroughly, such that "you" are no longer an issue, all seeking, all searching, all longing will cease. (And even if it arises again, it will be seen for the sham that it is.)" . . . is all the help one gets about the practice/technique for Realization. The chapter on 'How delusion works' is a helpful tool to understand the mental prosess of individual self. In a way, the book teaches the same conventional do good and be good lesson, and some vertically typed lines - what people call as poetry. It only says that without taking things for granted, please see every thing afresh, and you will discover 'something'. I happened to read 'As It Is' by Tony Parsons, just before this book. I read it twice and hope to read it several times more. 'As it is' seems to be more helpful teaching, as it seems to present some conclusions and techniques directly. Also, 'Consciousness Speaks' by Ramesh Balsekar will make a better reading. Probably one can read "There is only now" as a preliminary preparation to "Consciousness Speaks" or "As it is".
Rating: Summary: A Wise, Warm, and Wonderful Little Book Review: Rarely does one find such a degree of honesty, clarity, wisdom, and kindness expressed in such a simple and accessible fashion. With careful and patient skill, penetrating insight, and unwavering compassion, Morrison gently challenges the reader to take responsibility for the fact that this present moment is everything.
Rating: Summary: A SOOTHING BOOK FOR THE HEART AND SOUL! Review: This book is as warm as the sun on a hot summer's day and as refreshing as a breath of fresh air. Finding peace, happiness and balance in one's life is not easy these days, but this author has brought some very important messages to the forefront and written a book that both inspires and teaches. The thoughts and words will cause readers to do some serious soul searching about who they are and where they are proceeding on life's path. "There Is Only Now" is a book well worth reading and definitely worth a five-star-plus rating.
<< 1 >>
|