Customer Reviews

Darkness Over Tibet (Mystic Travellers Series)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've read this book several times, each with a different feeling. The first time was with a kind of horrified wonder at being shown the purported "shadow side" of Tibet and its lamas. Then, after some time absorbing this disturbing concept, I read it again with special attention to the idea that life *is* darkness as well as light, and all beings strive upwards or sink downwards in the "currents of life". It certainly put paid to much New Age nonsense filling my head. The last time was with a respect for the author's illustration of the real complexity of the Universe in all it's beauty and horror even though it was likely a parable. Cliche to be sure, but how else to put it?

Many have said it was all made up, even that Theodore Illion didn't exist as a verifiable person. In the end, it really didn't matter to me. The greatest truths often come by stories. The concept that all beings who wish to access "the rising current of life" must engage in a spiritual **struggle** against the weight of the world and their own inertia. This makes more sense to me than nearly all the religious books in the world. And that is a true gift.

An interesting 'different view' of Tibet. The book is well written in a narative style that captured the interest of the reader. This book reads like any number of occult thrillers of the 20s and 30s and it is hard to believe that it is an accurate portrail of Tibet. This book however seems to have an agenda or bias in furthering the particular religious ideas of the author. All in all well worth the read.

Theodore Illion's "Darkness Over Tibet" is a unique story narrating an extraordinary journey of a seeker. This rare book of its time consisted only roughly 200 pages and five chapters. It is easily and enjoyable read. It is an enthralling story that one just cannot put down.

This book included a detailed account of the underground city in Tibet during the course of Illion's journey. He relates his experiences with his interactions with a number of individuals in the mentioned city. At first, he found there all is well and everything seems quite peaceful, but as it turned out later, nothing is as it seems. There is a known darkness and "unseen" darkness. This book reveals the "unseen" darkness where as the so-called "light" is actually the darkness in disguise.

It is a book that must be read once and many times over as it is quite a remarkable story. It is not whether or not if this story was true. It is about what the story conveyed and the messages it revealed. It is a story of a journey with many perils, including the danger of losing one's very soul.

With my humble opinion, I would strongly recommend this book.

After reading about this book on various different sites, I thought that I would get a copy and have at it. And I am glad that I did.

This is the type of book, that for me is hard to put down. It carries within it's covers, mystery, intrigue, magic, and I think a lot of truth. It seems to show what is really going on behind some of the religious sects there are proliferating now in the world.

Illion demonstrates that just because a group may seem to be aligned with the 'light', it is not always the case as one delves deeper into the hierarchy that ultimately runs the show. Joining blindly with a group without first learning all that there is to learn about them, can literally lead you down a path to oblivion.

This book has a lot to offer to those who have an open mind.

I highly recommend this book to any seeker of truth. Not because I necessarily think that Illion actually traveled to Tibet and had the experiences he claims there, but because the ideas he is presenting go a long way toward explaining the Matrix Reality in which we live. It is also useful to compare Illion's descriptions to the work of Gurdjieff and Castaneda, as well as some of the deeper secrets of the Sufi orders. Another good comparison is with the ancient Gnostic texts.

In short, nothing is as it seems and never has been. Illion has given us a peek behind the curtain where we see the man pulling the levers of our world - the smoke and mirrors show that underpins standard New Age teachings designed to lead humanity into a trap.

Illion offers the astute reader an alternative to the Schwaller de Lubicz inspired shtick - the inspiration for the current "New Egyptology" and Occult Uniformitarian Synarchy - which is the underlying philosophy behind most New Age Vacumm Cleaner operations being propagated on the unsuspecting and gullible public at the present time.

The interested reader might wish to have a look at Pincknett and Prince's book "The Stargate Conspiracy" for some clues, ...

In short, what Illion proposes may not be so whacky at all considering the events of our history and the current state of the world. Answers are needed and the "God is in his heaven and all is right with the world" rant doesn't get it anymore.

Theodore Illion's "Darkness Over Tibet" is a unique story narrating an extraordinary journey of a seeker. This rare book of its time consisted only roughly 200 pages and five chapters. It is easily and enjoyable read. It is an enthralling story that one just cannot put down.

This book included a detailed account of the underground city in Tibet during the course of Illion's journey. He relates his experiences with his interactions with a number of individuals in the mentioned city. At first, he found there all is well and everything seems quite peaceful, but as it turned out later, nothing is as it seems. There is a known darkness and "unseen" darkness. This book reveals the "unseen" darkness where as the so-called "light" is actually the darkness in disguise.

It is a book that must be read once and many times over as it is quite a remarkable story. It is not whether or not if this story was true. It is about what the story conveyed and the messages it revealed. It is a story of a journey with many perils, including the danger of losing one's very soul.

With my humble opinion, I would strongly recommend this book.

Some people have complained about the possibility that the story of the book might not be factual. I don't think that is so important as I think the author used the story of going to Tibet as a vehicle to bring out some important insights into the spiritual journey and the many pitfalls that lie ahead on the road. Most of what we hear these days are about how we just need to believe and think happy thoughts and then paradise will descend on a silver platter. This line of thinking is very common in the New Age movement.

As he says: "It occasionally happens sincere people are struck with spiritual blindness and serve the cause of darkness while they honestly believe they serve the cause of light."

Illion makes it quite clear that it is not a one-way road to paradise, but that there are many dangers on the path, which needs to be overcome. This is not unlike the story of the Parcival in the grail stories. Illion points out that it requires a lot of work on the self.

For further reading Ouspensky's book "In search of the miraculous" can be recommended, along with "The secret History of the world" by Laura Knight-Jadczyk.

Illion's Darkness Over Tibet can perhaps be regarded as a spiritual myth-buster. In a concise, simple, flowing prose the author has communicated esoteric truths that would engage the reader's interest and challenge the dogmas and practices of traditional as well as New Agey spiritual paths.
Illion writes that there are two types of spirituality and defines matter as the battleground on which the two types of spirituality come into opposition. This opposition is a natural consequence of polarity (like positive and negative electric charges) and is not something that can be (or needs to be )fixed. The created being (man) has the choice of aligning with one of the two types of spirituality and this choice involves a spiritual struggle and turnmoil. According to him, absolute impartiality where all divisions and polarity ceases to exist is an attribute of the Creator. A creature who aspires to this state of absolute impartiality oversteps its bounds and aligns with the descending current of life.
Highly recommended for open-minded seekers of truth.

This book gets 5 stars, not for its validity as non-fiction, but because it's quite simply a great read! I read this book in a single day, and couldn't put it down. Fortunately it's compact enough to do so without tiring you out. It strikes me as the sort of book that disguises moral and spiritual truths in symbolic form, similar to Gurdjieff's "Beelzebub's Tales to his Grandson". Unlike "Beelzebub's Tales" however, the symbolism is capable of being confused for real events. There seems to be some question as to whether Theodore Illion was a real person or just a nom de plume, so the reader should keep a critical "I" open!

That being said, there are some excellent "parables" in the book which contain some important things to ponder, primarily that the sincere seeker of Truth should always beware of wolves in sheep's clothing - even on the higher planes of existence! Not exactly what the New Age would have you believe (eg. Evil doesn't really exist, so ignore it and it'll fade away), but a lot closer to the truth I think! Plus, the book might just give you a few clues for dealing with any black magicians that you happen to encounter!

If you're the sort of person who likes fables and parables - get this book. It's a great read.

This unusual true story chronicles the journey of a Seeker, and it seems that interesting things happen when one embarks on a compelling spiritual quest for the unknown. With an attitude of openness and humility, it seems that the Universe has met our traveler with serendipitous and totally unexpected meetings and experiences. From the humble and humorous, to the outright dangerous, to a meeting with what one could only call one of the darkest and most powerful beings on the planet. But all providing exactly the opportunities needed to grow toward his spiritual ideal. A must-read for those interested in unusual knowledge and true experiences.