I have finished two books—one on power-of-now meditation and one on Zen—but I have decided to wait until 2020 to publish them. This is the case because I am currently preoccupied with various non-related problems and projects; hence, I don’t have the time or energy to devote to the publishing and marketing process. Moreover, I prefer to devote whatever free time I can find to refining and finishing my Dzogchen text. With this in mind, my goal is to consecutively publish all three texts next year, then start Facebook groups on power-of-now meditation and Buddhism.
After I publish these three books, my plan is to start work on a Kabbalah/Qabalah text. I had originally planned to next write a book on the Buddha’s teachings, thereby completing my Buddhist “trilogy” (Paleo, Zen, and Tibetan Buddhism), but I need a break from Buddhism, and working on a hermetic Kabbalah/Qabalah text, which should be fun and challenging, will provide it.
Finally, if time permits, I will also edit my 300 or so deleted-by-Amazon spiritual book reviews, and put them together into a Kindle text. Moreover, I also plan to write a half-dozen or so new book reviews, and include them in the Kindle text.
Update on my Books
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Dear Mr. Gardner,
I have a question that I was hoping you could answer. I’ve personally found great benefit in my life by ‘watching’ and ‘observing’ my thoughts until they dissolve, and I enter into various states of no-mind. This has given me great happiness and peace, and I feel some good nonconceptual wisdom too. What I am wondering is this – is there a spiritual tradition in which this is a step along the path – ‘watching’ the thinker/thoughts until they dissolve? If there is, can you please let me know what this path is and what reading I should do. This is the path I want to continue on.
Also, I had an idea the other day which I wanted to suggest to you. Personally, I spend alot of time on goodreads browsing different reviews to find good books to read. I imagine many other do the same. Perhaps you would want to migrate your reviews to goodreads? Perhaps you wouldn’t have the same issues that you’ve had with amazon. You would be providing value to people with good reviews,a nd it would also serve as a way to get some attention onto your own work.
Glad to hear 2 of your books are done, a little disappointed that they won’t be published until 2020, but I’ll be looking forward to them!
Hope life is treating you well! Cheers!
Joseph, watching, or witnessing, one’s thoughts until they dissolve is a commonly recommended meditation practice found in various spiritual traditions. And the various traditions describe various stages of attainment associated with this practice as well as others.
Thanks for the Goodreads recommendation, but my tentative plan is to compile my reviews into a Kindle book and publish them.
Thank you for the well-wishes, and the same for you.
Thanks for the reply Ron!
But would you mind clarifying a bit, if you can? Currently, this leaves my search criteria a bit large. Is there a specific tradition which emphasizes this practice and thoroughly outlines the attainments associated with it, and where one might pick up after mastering this practice and attainment? More so than other traditions? Can you give me a lead or two?
Cheers
Hi Joseph,
You’re describing the practice of Zazen. If you haven’t already, check out the book Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind, by Suzuki. Also look at Nothing Special, by Charlotte Joko Beck. She may have written more than one.
Cheers!
Sinclair
Dear Mr. Gardner,
I’m curious to know the status of your books. I know you planned to release them in 2020? Is that still on track? I eagerly wait to read them.
Also, as a follow up to my earlier questions on this thread, for anyone who reads this. In Tibetan Buddhism, there is a practice called ‘mindfulness of mind’ or ‘taking the mind as the path’ which is what alot of Tibetan ‘Shamatha’ meditation uses.
Also, L Ron, I have read here in the past that you intended to write a book on original Buddhism and the Buddha’s path of mindfulness. I’m curious to know if you still intend to write this book. I read also that you planned to collaborate in some capacity with Jeffrey Brooks (Jhanananda). I am a frequenter of Jhanananda’s forum, and I thought I’d give you a status update on him; he’s nearing 70, and he thinks that he’ll likely die soon. (not within weeks or months, but within some years). Jeffrey himself has never written an explicit meditation book, only poetry (although his work on meditation is all contained on his site and forum). I think this is a great shame because the man is a true wealth of gnostic information on the jhanas, probably the best there currently is. And I’m sure he would love to collaborate with you. If writing this book is something you still plan to do (and I hope it is), then now is probably the time. It would truly be a grace to the world, even if most are too blind to currently see it.
Dear Joseph,
Thank you for your interest in my books. I’m still on schedule to self-publish three books this year–one on Power-of Now Meditation, one on Zen, and one on Dzogchen. I’ve finished the first two books and should finish the Dzogchen text next month. I’ll then do final edits on the book and begin the self-publishing process. I’m burnt out on Buddhism for now, so I’m putting the book on original Buddhism on hold and will be turning my attention for the next couple of years to writing books on Kabbalah, Alchemy, and Hermetics, subjects that intrigue me. I’m also going to revitalize this blog by posting articles. I’ll start doing this sometime this year.
Hi Ron,
Really want copies of your upcoming books on Zen and Dzogchen. Be nice to know when and where they will be available. I must add that your work, including your reviews on Facebook, have been invaluable. Wish you all the best. Graham.
Graham, they will be available later this year (at Amazon and through other book sellers). I’ve finished the Zen text, and I’ll finish the Dzogchen text this month. I’ll do final edits this summer. then begin the publishing process. Before I publish them, I will publish a Power of Now meditation text.
Hello L. Ron
Aside from your own, what do you see as the best practical books on relational yoga? I’ve seen you recommend The Cycle of Day and Night and Hridaya Rosary, if I’m not mistaken? Are there any others? I’ve already read Electrical Christianity, but I’m looking for more perspectives on the practice of relational yoga.
Also, have you noticed the weird formatting issues that have popped up on your site? Ie apostrophes, quotations, etc getting replaced with other characters? Were you planning on fixing this? If you’re looking for some help, I’d be willing to help out (I’m a professional developer), for free
Z, regarding “relational yoga,” I also recommend early editions of “The Knee of Listening and the “The Method of the Siddhas,” written under the name of Franklin Jones or Bubba Free John. When I get some free time in the future, I’ll peruse this site and consider fixes and changes. Thank you for volunteering your help, and if my partner can’t make the necessary corrections/changes, I’ll keep you in mind.
Also, by the way, I post on this site sometimes, and I never use my real name or email address. In fact, I don’t like having to give my email to post here, and perhaps other feel the same way? So maybe this feature should be trashed
Z, right now I’m very busy with a number of projects, including editing my forthcoming Zen book, so I don’t have time to consider revisions to the site, but I’ll consider them in the future.