Customer Reviews

Ask the Awakened: The Negative Way

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Most people are probably not ready to read this book (not trying to be arrogant here) or will not see much sense in it. But for serious students of adavita, this book is a jewel. Ramana Maharashi and Nisgardatta Maharaj were the true sages of our time but their written material may not directly appeal to our 'advanced' logical and technological mind. It's just too true to appeal to us. This book, however, does a fabulous job of explaining the unexplainable. Other books that are written for the 'modern' time are by Ramesh Balseker. Read Maharashi's Talks or Maharaj's "I am That' or any books by Wei Wu Wei or Ramesh Balseker if truth is what you are after. Remember the first thing these guys will tell you, however, that your seeking truth is the problem. You ARE the truth. There is nothing to gain or loose. When there is no light or darkness, you are. When there is neither hate nor love (love as known by modern humans), you are. In fact, when there is no dualistic AND non-dualistic worlds, you are. You are during the gaps in your thoughts. You are 'subjectivity' - not a subject neither an object. Anything you think you are, you are not (neti neti). ANY thing that could explain the truth is an illusion. There is no subject that could understand the truth as an object. Everything is a concept (humans, earth, love, nirwana, samsara, liberation, suffering, universe, technology, progress - anything) and concepts are not real. They are illusions. Of course all of the above is a concept and hence unreal.

This is a rich and beautiful collection of short essays, quotes, and commentaries regarding the glorious "path" of Nondualist Realization. The mysterious Wei Wu Wei shares wondrous bits of the highest wisdom from his own understandings and insights but also quotes liberally from Taoism, Zen, Vedanta, Buddhism, and other more obscure sources. This vital collection includes over 100 short pieces, some a page or two, some only a paragraph. We know little about the "author". We know he spent time with the great Ramana Maharshi in India before Ramana left the body. However, the author's own high realization shines through as he beautifully developes his "negative way" theme in this great book. For the reader interested in giving up his self in favor of his Self, this grand collection offers much to ponder, numerous fingers pointing at the moon. If we think, however, that finally these wise sayings will enlighten us while we retain ego and selfish interests, we will enjoy a good read but still not get the message: "There is no path. The image is misleading - for there is nowhere to go and no one to go anywhere. There is only looking in the right direction...no one does it, nor is anything done..." I highly recommend you get the book. Its beyond the understanding of the rational mind, but these pithy koan like sayings may very well move us a little closer to the Real. A little closer to seeing we are no thing. A little closer to a clear view of the void. A little closer to finding the key to the gateless gate. A little closer to realizing the greatest secret of them all.

This book is the single most amazing thing that has happened to my life! It is a book to read over and over again because what you get from it is very different depending on what stage of development you are at when you read it. Regardless of when you read it, it is full of inspiration! If you are searching for a book full of wisdom, look no further. If you are exploring the meaning of the non-dual, look no further. If you are exploring the nature of consciosuness and the subject-object differentiation, look no further. This book would benefit people best if they had a little background on Eastern philosophy. If you are not informed about Eastern philosophy, I would highly recommend the delightfully written book, "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato. It is an excellent book that explains all of these things starting from a "Western" perspective but ultimately leading up to an understanding of non-dualism. It is quite amazing also. I truly think that these are perhaps the two best books on this topic.

First written in the mid-twentieth century by the anonymous Buddhist scholar Wei Wu Wei , Ask The Awakened: The Negative Way is a unique spiritual reinterpretation of ancient texts, incorporating Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and the teachings of Ramana Maharshi among other sources into a unique, powerful testimony that forces careful self-examination on the reader's part. Enthusiastically recommended reading for students of Buddhism, Taoism, and Eastern Spirituality, Ask The Awakened is a profound and deeply moving work of true insight such as "We do not possess an 'ego.' We are possessed by the idea of one."

What is the sound of no hands clapping? This amazing book looks at the world from the perspective of no self, no reader, no writer and does it with language that will leave you wondering how the author did it with mere words. This is a spiritual classic, a tough read but an extraordinary book.

I'm so happy that Wei Wu Wei's book has been reprinted. I remember reading this several decades ago, and its teachings have remained with me to this day. From his anonymous viewpoint, Wei Wu Wei questions many of the established notions we have of Buddhist teachings, telling us that the path to enlightenment is extremely hard but definitely worthwhile. I hope to see some of his other works again soon!

This was my first Wei Wu Wei book. Wow. These books made a major impact on how I perceive life. It is an interpretation of Buddhism and Ch'an master's teaching - in a playful way. The author is so very smart and lays it all down. I remember telling my girlfriend when I was reading this "I've been reading this incredible book about Buddhism for the last three weeks - I'm on page 5!" It's not the type of book one reads A to Z! it is not easy reading and the concepts are very intense and hard to understand. I read these passages over and over for years - it took so long to let the concepts sink in. Really, they are not meant to sink in intellectually. To benefit from this book - say goodbye to your mind, say goodbye to your ego, say goodbye to intellect, say goodbye to thought, say goodbye to all dualistic concepts - which means all concepts! This book is something that most people are not ready for unfortunately. But if you liked what Eckhart Tolle said about disidentifying from the ego, this book will take it all the way home. It ain't easy to understand, it's not meant to be understood by the mind. But wow - freedom can be found on these here pages! Average people like me and you can be exposed to the teachings of the highest Buddhist patriarchs!

Whenever I read Wei Wu Wei I get dizzy. You have to really be a thinker to understand a lot of what he writes. It's good stuff though. It's what The Buddha would've written if he was born in the scientific age. Get some Tylenol!

This is a collection of meditations, musings and aphorisms by a cultured and somewhat awakened Westerner, one of the first wave to really encounter the non-dualist teachings. As such it depicts a number of classic themes and ideas, but in a very sketchy manner. It might have been groundbreaking 30 years ago, but now seems somewhat fragmentary. From the same vintage, Teachings of Ramana Maharishi, Alan Watt's Way of Zen, and Krishnamurti's First and Last Freedom are much better edited and written works. The insight is there, the sentiment is real, but as a book it leaves a lot to be desired.

Okay...I consider myself a spiritual human being and I have been so enlightened by the Dalai Lama book 'The Art of Happiness' or Marlo Morgan's 'Mutant Message from Forever' or even "As It Is" (another great one by Tony Parsons); however, this one did NOT awaken me. If anything I wanted to fall asleep many times. It's a bunch of mish-mosh for some so-called person to think they're "enlightened" when (if you've read 'As It Is') one will realize that NO ONE can ever be "enlightened"--let alone "awakened". So, if you want to 'Ask the Awakened' don't bother reading this book. Instead, ask your ownself 'What is RIGHT for you'? There were a few lines that managed to grasp my attention. For instance:
"What we seek to describe by the word "love" is emotion experienced in certain highly personal channels, charged with possesiveness, shadowed by jealousy, with its counterpart "hate" ever ready to take its place."
OR
"Words can never transfer understanding: they can only open the way for pre-existing knowledge to rise into consciousness."
OR
"If the mind could be looked-at, it would then be an OBJECT OF KNOWLEDGE."
And so, I did take away something (but things I already knew--just not formulated in this manner). I was just turned on when I saw that every reviewer before me gave this book 5 STARS. Hello? I just don't see why. Read one of the three aforementioned books above and you'll definitely be "awakened".