Customer Reviews

Drifted in the Deeper Land: Talks on Relinquishing the Superficiality of Mortal Existence and Falling by Grace into the Divine Depth That Is Reality Itself

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I disagree with the reviewer below that states this book will mostly only be valuable to those who have followed him for many years or who have sat in his presence. I have done neither and still have found this book a great work of brilliance and clarity and have no idea how one who would be inclined to pick up such a book could find it boring. In fact I'm inclined to believe that the reviewer's main intention was not an intention to understand but to dispute and that a philosophical bias prevented an opportunity to learn. The chapter "the problem of life is death" is nothing what the reviewer may lead you to believe. What Adi Da means by death is developed later on in the chapter to mean change - and of course Adi Da believes unconsciousness is a problem, his whole effort is to get us to wake up!

This book is about exactly what the title suggests, the deeper reality, and what he constantly refers to as an in-depth process. It speaks about different realms, states, identity, and practice relative to these in the Way of the Heart in a very straightforward and practical way. It is also filled with very insightful considerations that are helpful to understanding his Point of View and and peripheral matters related to it as well. For me it has filled in many specific details that I have found myself questioning about from his other works. Some of the statements made do seem very "far-out" especially in today's world of scientific materialism, especially certain "miracles," however this is only because of the usual conventional viewpoint - anyway this is for you to find out, as Adi Da does not encourage childish belief or adolescent doubt.

If one does not understand Adi Da's point of view its easy to find him quite egotistical and dogmatic and offensive and in effect, reactively turn away. What he teaches is very paradoxical and it helps to have some background or structure through which to interpret what he means. Those familiar with Ken Wilber's Integral theory would find it sufficient as a useful tool to interpret Adi Da. What Adi Da's Teaching represents is an integration between East and West and anyone who takes the time to read such books as this, as well as others that are geared more toward beginners such as Transmission of Doubt, would gain in value, much more than the time spent reading it.

One of the first books I read by Adi Da. This book mainly consist of conversations Adi Da had with people that came to hear his teachings. I had never met Adi Da or any of his followers when I read this book, and was very moved by the wealth of wisdom he has given them. So refreshing and easy to read for a book that talks about a serious subject as Enlightenment!

Adi Da has is certainly one of the most powerful enlightened beings of modern times and his spritual autobiography ``The Knee of Listening`` (1978 and revised and enlarged continually) is probably the most detailed and fascinating personal account there is of the process of enlightenment. He is a very smart guy and a good writer with a substantial output. However when speaking he is far less interesting as can be seen in any of the videotapes available from the Adi Da web page.

This book is mostly transcribed from his talks to the small group of devotees with whom he lives on a small island in Fiji. It will mostly be valuable only to those who have followed him for many years and know his jargon and style and who practice his meditation or sit in his presence. Others will find it very tough going if not downright boring. Of course as with any master, it is the presence and not the words that matter most. Unfortunately along with the spiritual advice one finds lots of superstition and antiscience nonsense by him and his devotees. The idea that one can stop a fire or storm or cure a disease or end a war with mental force or spiritual practice does not belong in the 21st century and is totally counterproductive. The game of life must be played by mother natures rules by everyone in any possible world and from one point of view has no relation whatever to the spritual quest. If it were possible to create `perfect` people who never get sick or even unhappy they are no longer human and life cannot have any more value for them than it does for a bicycle.

He expresses his frustration that his devotees(many of whom have followed him for over 20 years) are not getting enlightened. Of course very few people manage this regardless of their master or practice. Its contrary to natural selection and bound to be very rare and difficult. Perhaps one day we will find some combination of meditation, drugs, computer facilitation or surgery that can trigger the process in most people. Even so, it is unlikely to change the world as those people or societies that remain unconscious, materialistic, militaristic will automatically dominate. Natural selection is a powerful acid that eats thru all utopian fantasies(eg through the robot society in Kurzweils `The Age of Spiritual Machines--selfish programs instead of selfish genes being selected in this case).

Like all other forms of education, the only point of religion for an educated sane person is personal growth. It is almost certainly a vain hope that human nature can be changed and the world saved. Also, Adi Da is wrong about death being the problem of life--even though he may only be using this as a teaching tool. From a spiritual standpoint, unconsciousness is the problem and even those few who solve that problem need death to recyle the body. Without death there would truly be no hope--even for a world of enlightened beings.

Any reader who has been so moved by the mortality of human existence to aspire towards something beyond this endless cycle of birth, death and re-birth will surely revel in this introductory book to the Wisdom-Teaching of Ruchira Avatar Adi Da Samraj. It has given me more than just a glimpse of Reality and Truth and Happiness. Indeed, the very nature of Real God and the secrets of the entire cosmos are revealed in a heart-moving, mind-stopping and illuminating way that is so characteristic of this Great Master.