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2 of 6 found the following review helpful:
 Average attempt at best...and whats with the one sentence pages?? Mar 10, 2010
Books on Enlightenment are nefariously difficult to write due to the very limitations of the subject matter. For this reason, I respect authors who dare the tempestuous seas of the Enlightenment game. However, I find that there are several major failing with this particular offering. First, I find it ridiculous to use over 400+ pages to write a book in which many of the pages have a very few sentences on the center of the page as if this kind of presentation makes for a dramatic effect that adds to the impact of the message. It does not. It's annoying and ridiculous. Secondly, the drama that does come through in the book reminds me of a badly written horror/comedy that makes you wonder if the director is confused or on drugs. I highly suggest that you save yourself 30 bucks and read this book at the bookstore as you can do so in about 40 minutes with plenty of time to enjoy a latte. Get Jed McKenna's books if you are interested in this subject matter. He is genuinely funny and insightful.
5 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Incredibly empty of content Mar 04, 2010
I find this book incredibly empty of content, from both a physical (most of the pages contain just a line or two) and an intellectual point of view. The idea that the author puts forward is that nothing exists, so this is not surprising. Unfortunately, this book is considered "for enlightened people" or "full of content that only your spirit can understand" in some circles. I know this first-hand, having talked to people who recommended, insisted that I read it. It's like the emperor new clothes, nobody dares say it's utter b.s. lest they be labeled "unenlightened". I'm telling it like it is, sorry for being honest. This book is garbage.
The book has almost 500 pages. It took me one (1) hour to read it cover to cover, if that. I wonder how many trees (non-existent, of course, according to the author) it took to print all the copies of this book. It's full of gems such as these: "The Truth is the dream of a sleeping rock", "Reality is the sound of a pebble rolling down a hill on a planet in a star system that we will never know". Wow. Color me unimpressed. I guess I'm not enlightened to comprehend the deep meaning of such words.
I find it appalling that people with a lot more talent can't get their books published and this author got this nonsense printed and is making probably a lot of money. I'm in the wrong line of business, obviously. I should become a spiritual guru of sorts, get drunk or stoned and start speaking nonsense like this author and people will buy anything I publish.
If they don't understand me, I can always say that it's because they're not "awakened".
KD
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 IT WILL HIT YOU LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN Feb 14, 2010
Steven's book Haunted Universe stays with you for many days. Direct and to the point, no sugar coating for the feint of heart. His description of reality is scary for any person, so beware if you want to remain you!
5 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Good on the absolute, sloppy on the relatives.... Feb 05, 2010
In some ways this book is spot on,to see ones own true face can be the most terrifying moment ever for the imagined self. Where there is nothing left, just the infinite shimmers of light, dancing in an endless cosmic dance and display dressed up as the universe. So on that front well done universe for seeing your true face!
However the books title, 'The true knowledge of enlightenment', still hints at subtle layers of arrogance. If we look within the Tibetan tradition for example, there have been throughout time, highly realized beings sharing beautiful teachings that also point to our essence. However these teachings were not normally given straight away, but after training in levels of compassion, kindness and cutting through the many layers of ignorance, pride,anger etc. After reading this book I can see why those practices can be important, even as we know there are NO practices. To see that so called others are living the dream, without knowing its a dream is heart breaking when one glimpses the great perfection,I see none of this awareness, in this book....and thats the problem this book lacks heart, which is a shame because it does point to the source. There is a verging on the edge of nihilism, which can be dangerous, as emptiness is also form, form is emptiness and with that the vast incredible display is also real, because it is the source, displaying its infinite beauty. The difference is knowing that!
So from this nihilistic tendency, there is a lack of poetic bliss, ecstatic heart felt rapture that is often expressed as one realizes very essence of this wild adventure. So please also read these beautiful expressions of the Noone....from Rumi to Hafiz, Milarepa to Yeshe tsogyal, Tilopa to longchenpa....
or see [...].
9 of 15 found the following review helpful:
Very Shallow without even a smack of Reason or Logic Feb 04, 2010
Well, I think we can add this author to the never ending list of those who glimpsed something profound and much too quickly and immaturely concluded that they now know ultimate truth. For those who believe that life is meaningless and without purpose, this book is for you. The author came to a realization that nothing really exists in the physical realm. Yes, that is true but it certainly isn't anything new, profound or revolutionary. Many have come to the realization that there is only consciousness and that all manifestations are aspects of this unity but it certainly does not mean that existence is not reality.
For study on `existence' I would suggest the writings of Thomas Troward (1847-1916). Mr. Troward's depth of understanding is much greater than any other teachings I have come across and much, MUCH more profound and elaborate than anything this book has to offer.
This book is way off base from the get-go and is truly only worthy of the nearest trash can. There is virtually no sound reasoning conveyed in the entire book and all of the suppositions are based on nothing more than the author's ideas and opinions. The title of chapter two really ought to be changed from, "Ultimate Truth" to "Utter BS". It states that consciousness and the universe are the same and I will agree with that. But then it immediately nosedives into complete absurdity in stating that the universe is a blind unguided force without an intelligent purpose (page 79). What, pray tell, could consciousness possibly be if not intelligence? The notion that the universe is pure happenstance but somehow produced beings of awareness and intelligence while itself remaining an unintelligent blind force is simply ridiculous and inconceivable.
Then the statement, "The enlightened know they don't exist" (pg 93). How could anyone or anything be aware without existence and intelligence? This book tells me that after I'm "ripe" enough to become "enlightened" I will then discover that I do not exist. Would someone who is "ripe" please explain to me how we can be having discussions on existence without any? Must be the paradox "thingy".
Awareness is existence, existence is consciousness and consciousness is intelligence. If we agree that consciousness exists and we find ourselves aware of our existence, then we must be conscious and wouldn't it logically follow that we exist by that very definition?
Yes, Mr. Norquist, you actually do exist and so do I. If we had no existence I would not have been able to make that statement and you would not be here to disagree with it. You say that only consciousness exists and I agree but that is just the beginning. Consciousness is intelligence which has diversified into infinite aspects all of which contribute to the infinite expansion of the universe through individual volition which gives reason, meaning, purpose, excitement and joy to existence. Note that I did not say separated, divided or multiplied but `diversified'. It is a marvelous, beautiful and wonderful never-ending process which is initiated and guided by supreme intelligence or consciousness of which each of us are partakers as aspects of it.
I will accept the conclusion that consciousness equals universe and that the same is infinite. Page 308 states that somewhere in the infinite future is "The Finality" or the "Result". Here we have an oxymoron that undermines the very core of his presumptions. There can be no Finality or Result in infinity. How could there be? Infinity means never ending so there can be no completion, finality or result, EVER. So he has now invalidated his basic theory that the end is shaping the present because there is no end in infinity. The author states that the example of Schrodinger's Cat theory proves his point because there are no observers but we have shown that we do indeed exist and observation logically follows.
Since awareness obviously indicates intelligence and we are aware of the universe as something more or greater than ourselves, it then follows that the universe is a much greater intelligence and must have brought our awareness into reality for a reason. And given that we have intelligence and volition it seems very reasonable to me to thereby assume that infinite possibilities exist as far as expansion is concerned dependent largely upon our volition. Why would the Eternal have given us volition if there was no point in it? In fact, if we can agree that the universe is infinite which means no conclusion is possible then it follows that no predestination could either be possible. It is all happening now and the outcome consists of infinite possibilities throughout the eternal now. To believe that the universe has created a bunch of predestined automatons following a predetermined script would hardly seem an interesting achievement for infinite intelligence.
One other statement that I feel absolutely must be exposed as complete absurdity, lest some unsuspecting reader might become influenced by this nonsense, states that all sages from every age have come to understand that the universe is without intelligent design or purpose (pg 79). This is absolute rubbish, I know of no sage who has come to the conclusion that there is no intelligent design or purpose in the universe or that our existence is not reality.
The author's morbid philosophy finds no difference in love, care, hate or peace (pg 185). It's all meaningless and on the next page states that, "Death is the greatest gift ever given to man". He says he used to love music but now has no interest. He thinks there is no reason for one to achieve or desire. He believes that the universe is just some meaningless machine expanding mindlessly, carrying him along in its wake toward some eventual conclusion or result... OK, then what?
In contrast, Mr. Troward states that, indeed there is only consciousness but that it is intelligence with personality, love and purpose. There is logical reasoning that leads to that conclusion but I will not go into it here.
CONSCIOUSNESS WAS AWARE..
AND DESIRED EXPRESSION..
and it's only means of doing so was to diversify as form, matter and individual volition.
Consequently, it manifested as the universe with matter, form and eternal creative beings of like nature. Each with a unique personality and mind imbued with power to create it's own destiny as well as an equal stake in determining how the universe infinitely expands. Each must simply awaken to their true relationship with the Eternal and learn to properly cooperate with and employ the wondrous laws and powers the Universe has put into place. The result is a perfect and beautiful union where we are the instruments of expression for the Eternal and the Eternal responds with our fulfillment and joy in the never ending progression of aggrandizement.
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