As of today, July 25, 2014, I’ve now posted 201 Amazon reviews, mainly of spiritual books. Though the choice of books I’ve reviewed may seem random, it’s not.
When I began doing these reviews in 2012, I identified the categories of books I wanted to cover in my reviews: Hermeticism, Kabbalah, Christian mysticism, astrology, nutrition; Pali, Madhyamika, Hua Yen, Yogacara, Zen, and Tibetan Buddhism; Hindu Raja, Bhakti, and Kundalini Yoga, Advaita (and neo-Advaita) Vedanta, and Kashmir Shaivism; Adi Da’s Daism, Ken Wilber’s “Integralism, “new age" texts, and individual iconic teachers, such as Eckhart Tolle, Ayn Rand, David R. Hawkins, and J. and U.G Krishnamurti.
I’ve now reviewed most of the books I want to. I’ve got about twenty more to go – several on Buddhism and Kundalini Yoga books, a few on Daism and Sri Aurobindo texts, and some more on New Age and neo-Advaita Vedanta teachings.
Once I’m done with these reviews, I’ll continue to write more, but only one or two a month. Instead, I’ll focus more on writing my own books and doing youtube.com videos.
There are two main reasons why I’ve done these reviews: to educate spiritual seekers (many of whom have thanked me for my reviews), and to help market my own books.
I enjoy writing book reviews, but I’m looking forward to moving on to what I enjoy even more – devoting my full attention to writing my own books.
(Note: After next week, I will be posting new articles at electricalspirituality.com every other week instead of every week. And I will likewise reduce my posts at integralspiritualmeditation.com to every other week.)
201, an Amazon Review Odyssey
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Mr. Gardner,
I’ve been pulling down the light energy for over a year now and I was wondering, what are the further signs of progress after “baptism” and “confirmation”? I feel the spirit stronger and stronger, but it is confined to the crown of my head and face, is there a knot in the head that must be cut? It feels like there is one in the middle of my head at the pineal gland area.
Also, you refer to the light energy as “Bliss”, however I don’t feel any bliss just a neutral pressure that comes in waves. At what point is there actually “Bliss”. Note: I have not awakened the lower kunalini yet.
Anyway thanks for writing and teaching.
Eliot, in my own case, I also strongly experience the pineal gland/third eye/ajna chakra knot. I feel immense pressure in this area when I meditate, drive, watch TV, or concentrate. This is a very tough knot to open, according to Kashmir Shaivism. A number of nadis converge there.
Be sure to periodically, totally relax your head region/third-eye area when you meditate.
I experience bliss and oneness when the Energy reaches my Heart-center (the Hridayam, not the Anahata chakra), two digits to the right of the center of my chest.
Thanks for letting me know that you appreciate my writing and teaching. I appreciate the positive feedback.
Hi Ron
Firstly thank you for your writing your book beyond the power of now I find it facinating how you dicect E.T teachings, that i previousy took as the only way to get peace in my life,,and agree that practicing the watcher is very repetitive,, I am trying to get connected with holy communion though am not recieving the lights signal ! perhaps ime not transmitting corectly ?
any advice would be gratefully recieved Ron.
thanks Mark
Mark, you have to keep practicing Plugged-in Presence (or Divine Communion) until you get baptized, or initiated. Once you start experiencing Shakti, then real spiritual life begins, because then you actually commune with Divine Power.
But even prior to getting initiated, presence + oneness (mind-full-ness) trumps mere mindful witnessing. Be whole bodily present and at-one with life and empty space — before and after you are initiated.
Read good books on the subject, such as “The Cycle of Day and Night,” “The Knee of Listening,” and “The Method of the Siddhas.”
Hello L. Ron Gardner,
I am Spanish and I still do not speak English, I am using the google translator to read your articles and write this comment, I apologize if there are errors and I hope you understand.
I recently discovered your writings and revisions, I like your integration of various spiritual paths. I read that you can not find authors who impress you. I would like to know your opinion about what I consider to be an important writer in the field of comparative spirituality and the phases of spiritual development, William Bodri and also about his late Chinese master Nan Huai-Chin. I do not know if you already know him but I have not found any mention of you about them. Their website is http://www.meditationexpert.com, where there are many articles. Nan Huai Chin is the author of several books in Chinese, but there are only about 8 books in English. William Bodri has written 26 or more books on various subjects.
Some books by Nan Huai-Chin are:
-To Realize Enlightenment: Practice of the cultivation path.
-Working Toward Enlightenment: The cultivation of practice.
Some books written by William Bodri and Nan Huai-Chin are:
-How to Measure and Deepen Your Spiritual Realization: Evaluating and Elevating Your Meditation Progres and Spiritual Experiences (“Measuring Meditation”)
Spiritual Paths and Their Meditation Techniques.
Some books by William Bodri:
-Socrates and the Enlightenment Path
-The Little Book of Meditation
-Meditation Case Studies: Concise Explanations of Phenomena Encountered on the Spiritual Path
-Nyasa Yoga: Kundalini, Prana, Chakra and Nadi Cultivation Techniques
-The Little Book of Hercules: The Physical Aspects of the Spiritual Path
-What is Enlightenment? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYFxpnL4lwY / in this video the youtuber says that it is the most advanced book on meditation and mysticism ever written).
His most prolific work is his expensive course of spiritual stages on his website http://www.meditationexpert.com/stages.html. Lesson 2 of the course gives you free samples on your website, and I found on the internet a pdf of the first lesson as well.
It would be nice to be able to read in the future a review of some of his books or at least his most important book What is Enlightenment ?. Some are to download for example in scribd, and others only sell them in paper format. If you are interested I can send you some books in pdf.
Thank you!
Albert, I have sent you an email in response to your post.