One Self: Life as a Means of Transformation [Paperback]

Philip Jacobs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 18, 2006

One Self expresses the truth at the heart of the world's mystical and philosophical traditions in a simple, direct and practical way. It shows us how to find our true self that is ever present and is beyond change and suffering. We are then able to trust the process of life's unfolding, as we are led on a journey to discover a great treasure that we all possess yet are unaware of. It is in doing this that we also prepare ourselves for that ultimate moment of letting go, the death of the physical body.

Editorial Reviews

Review

So many books of personal philosophy and psychology today get bogged down in bias and belief. This is a rare exception. Philip Jacobs cuts to the heart of the philosophy of non duality, writing from personal experience, and leads us down a simple path that all can follow. The more people that buy this book the better the world will be because everyone will be happy with their own circumstances. Martin Redfern, Senior Producer, BBC Radio Science Unit Philip Jacobs shows a profound understanding of the unity of life and the interconnectedness of everything within the world. He shows how events which may appear to be random can also be seen as part of our life's path when looked at on a wider time scale. He gives clear guidance on how to surrender to illness and see it as a positive event through which the individual can grow. He shows the importance of remaining in the now, where the action happens and where comfort and solace can be obtained. He has a fund of the most wonderful stories to illustrate his points. He discusses the true meaning of freedom and takes the view that we are all part of a single unity and that everything about our lives is taken care of when looked at from this broader perspective. This is a compelling and life enhancing book for anyone having to face a long term illness, but also so wise that it can help any of us to understand our path in life even if we are not so severely challenged. Peter Fenwick, Scientific and Medical Network

About the Author

Philip Jacobs has made a 35 year practical study of the world's non-dual traditions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Mantra Books (May 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905047673
• ISBN-13: 978-1905047673
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,255,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Finding meaning, December 30, 2006

By 

P. J. Bullough "70's child." (Shrewsbury, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One Self: Life as a Means of Transformation (Paperback)

This book is a summary of the author's ideas about the meaning and purpose of life. These are of course time-honoured areas of philosophical debate, but Philip Jacobs has approached these themes from the standpoint of his own personal experiences. The book does not attempt to push a particular viewpoint or to prove anything, but rather aims to set out to the reader the results of a lifetime of enquiry and meditation. To be honest, I thought this was a wonderful book, filled with a sense of deep feeling and love for mankind, and compassion for the human condition. The book resonated for me at a level beyond the printed words on the page, and the author's calm sincerity and conviction that 'all is well' become tremendously reassuring as the book develops. This book is for everyone who senses that life is full of a meaning just beyond our reach, but which we know in our hearts is the reason we are here.

4.0 out of 5 stars Discovering meaning, September 21, 2006

By 

D. Waite (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One Self: Life as a Means of Transformation (Paperback)

This is a book about how to manage one's life with an awareness of non-dualism rather than a book about non-duality. There is more psychology than philosophy; more about humanity than the absolute; more about meaning than reality. If this is what the reader is looking for, then this is a very positive, well-written and intelligent book, full of examples from the author's own life and those of others such as Viktor Frankl.

For the beginner, who knows nothing about non-duality and has no particular wish to learn, who rather seeks to discover structure and meaning in their life, possibly as a means of coping with chronic illness and preparing for death, this is an excellent book.

It cannot, however, be recommended as a book about non-duality per se. It lacks both authority and conviction and sometimes makes misleading or incorrect statements. In particular, it is clearly aimed at making the individual person feel better in contradiction of its non-dual claims, professing the existence of a benign force that steers us towards realization. There is also an unfortunate lapse into New-Ageism with the attempt to assign mystical significance to Near Death Experience.

Dennis Waite, author of Back to the Truth: 5000 years of Advaita