Customer Reviews

Creator, Protector, Destroyer: Discover that You are God

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John Picken spent several summers in northern India, studying with the last living master of Kashmir Shaivism, possibly the world's oldest religion, which had been passed down through generations through word-of-mouth. Picken was an MD and PhD; he had attained all the trappings of success but not the happiness his parents had predicted. He found contentment by practicing Kashmir Shaivism. According to this teaching, everything is God, and nothing is outside God, so we have within us the forces of nature--creation and destruction. Fear, the Protector, is built in as a survival mechanism. Once we recognize who we truly are--Creators, Destroyers, and Protectors, rather than "good" people who inexplicably ruin whatever we care about--we become able to control the forces of nature rather than allow them to control us. Yes, we go on diets because we are creators; yes, we eat junk food because we are destroyers. This is a very thought-provoking premise, which enables us to forgive our unhealthy behavior, then work against it consciously.

This is a great book to read...and read...and read...
You will not be able to put it down and you will go back to it over and over...You WILL need and open mind to read this..it will shatter many of your beliefs and make you wonder what if...I am a true believer and always have been of the Kashmir Shaivism philosophy...
Take the chance and go for it...read it and then wonder ...
Very good gift for all those who are searching...

I have to agree with the other reviewers here; this book was a real eye opener. The author's writing style was very easy to follow as it leads you through the philosophy of Kashmir Saivism, which I hadn't heard of till I saw this book. It does not go into great detail, which is what makes the book so appealing. It left me wanting to know more about this philosophy.

A great introduction. It may really open your eyes if you happened to be bogged down in Dogma.

I came to this book with some background in the topic, having done some previous study in the nondualistic philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism. However, I had always found my previous readings to be relatively tough going in spots and, in some instances, almost incomprehensible. Not so with Pickens' book. His story is the story of everyone who has wondered if there isn't something more than meets the eye when it comes to our daily lives. Where do you go when success isn't all that it is purported to be? Not all of us can travel to India and become a student of an enlightened master but, lucky for us, Pickens did and this book is that story. I would dare say that if read with an open heart and open mind, this book can (and just might) change your world. For the better.

I'm really surprised this got such good reviews. Yes, it's easy to read and communicates the author's subjective experience well. But he goes on and on about how awful we all really are and why it is such a relief to turn it all over to Shiva. I got some insight into the appeal of worship. But if you are looking for self-improvement or philosophical insight, there's not much substance here.