Customer Reviews

No Way: A Guide for the Spiritually "Advanced"

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If you are serious in your pursuit of enlightenment you are in for a rough ride. Ram Tzu does not coddle. His truths are self evident to some and heresy even blaspheme to others. The pages of this book are filled with incredibly funny and intelligent paradox, that is all the more stunning because it is delivered at the most dizzying heights of mankind's most cherished beliefs. Ram Tzu is a Zen Master's Master. And like a Zen Master of old if the Student is blinded by his own flame the Master smacks him, on occasion. Ram Tzu laughs at you... But only when you need laughing at. An example form the book: "Ram Tzu knows this...You indulge in self mprovement... and...All you have to show for it is an improved self." If this makes you mad you missed the point. Losing the self is the point not improving it. This book is not for the pius, those that take themeselves too seriously. To the truly enlightened, nothing is sacred. Ram Tzu is truly Enlightened.

This book, without a doubt is one of my favorite books. Funny and delightful, it bares open the obvious stupidity of trying to be something you're not.

I've read and reread the book many times. Each time it's new and wonderful. Highly recommended, unless you have areas of your life that are sacrosanct and you don't want to be free.

If you have been wading about in the spiritual path, and got a thought into your head that one day you might be sitting under a tree, and all at once the Truth will be revealed, and you will be doused in holy light, and forever have a saintly smile etched on your face, and will commune with the spirit, and recognise your true self, your face before your parents begot you...Then this book is indeed for you, coz it will slap you back into your senses. To quote from the book "You are your own worst enemy. Ram Tzu is your friend, so he will have to kill you to save you from yourself."

In 1995 I had the good fortune to be able to spend an hour or so in a beautiful metaphysical bookstore in Charlottesville, Virginia. For many years I had a serious addiction to spiritual books and could easily spend a small fortune in a store like this one. But something had shifted recently. I went from shelf to shelf and book to book. There was no doubt the store had an outstanding selection of excellent books. But when I left, I had only one book in my hand and it was NO WAY by Ram Tzu. Of all the books, it was the only one that spoke to me.

In the introduction, Ram Tzu made it clear that he had no desire to become a guru as he did not want a bunch of miserable seekers cluttering up his living room. None-the-less, I had been a miserable seeker most of my life and I did it very well. So I tracked down Ram Tzu, found out he was a walk-in for Wayne Liquorman and by 2001 had Wayne sitting in the meditation room of our center in North Carolina. This was not the best idea I have ever had because Wayne is not a warm fuzzy type of spiritual teacher, stroking your current spiritual delusional system. We lost a few students. But more importantly some of those that stayed actually saw what Wayne was pointing to.

As I have mentioned, I had been a spiritual seeker, practitioner and teacher for many years. I have been with true gurus, zen masters, and authentic yogis. I have travelled to India and the Himalayas. I could talk the talk and walk the walk. So I was more than a little surprised when it was through Wayne Liquorman that the final piece, and really the only piece necessary, fell into place. And this little book was the beginning of that end.

"No Way" is one of the most universally liked, powerful and entertaining guides to many paradoxes in advaita/non-duality. Every student of mine who has read it has loved it for its humorous, clever, and uniquely insightful way of looking at many ways in which spiritual seekers, beginners and advanced, fool themselves in their search. The cartoons are powerful and direct and match the text perfectly. Heavily grounded in Nisargadatta's and Ramesh Balsekar's teachings, the messages are "rock solid". If you are looking for a wise and unyielding searchlight to shine on your, or your students' practices, i would strongly recommend Ram Tzu's "Guide for the Spiritually 'Advanced'".

This little volume is, at first glance, delicious humor of the spirit at its best...Source on the rocks with a twist. Going deeper, however, Ram Tzu, offers a second glance at how deeply embedded our conditioned thinking lies below the surface. This small book is cherished...after all, "Laughter is the best medicine." But while wiping away the tears of glee, you might be surprised to have a long-held, hidden belief jump from the shadows of your mind into the Light of Truth. Our anonymous sage has wrung the best from Ram Dass and Lao Tzu, creating a new "who knew" view. This book begs to be carried to work, on vacation, given as a gift, even placed on your altar. Its poetry and insights startle the senses, much like Zen koans, stopping the mind for a moment, or longer, and allowing the seeds of self-inquiry to find soil.

This book provides an opportunity to witness the humorous nature of the narcissistic ego. The author is abrupt and pokes fun at the absurdity of the ego. It's a nice simple read yet contains all the wisdom you ever need for an enlightened existence. However I would not recommend this work if your easily offended and tend to hold grudges. That ego would not enjoy being poked fun at such as within this book.

simply admonishes your foolishness for seeking...If you need such, then this book is for you. It's intended as a joke, so take it as such.

sometimes cute, and always pretentious, if you've breathed air on your own, you don't need this book, Ram Tzu could certainly learn more from you. But it does, in a childish way, present some basics for those new on the path...