Customer Reviews

Oneness in Living: Kundalini Yoga, the Spiritual Path, and the Intentional Community

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I purchased this book because I was planning a trip to Harbin Hot Springs, and wanted to know more about the philosophy of the place. What I got was so much more than an explanation or mission statement! Ishvara, the founder of Harbin, has written a wonderful outline about the core of New Age philosophy. It is easier to follow than some works based on Eastern religion or philosophy, while maintaining a subtle refusal to condescend or otherwise insult readers perhaps unfamiliar with the subject; the author respects the intelligence of his readers even as he attempts to put to words spiritual and sometimes totally nonverbal concepts.

Personally, I have no concrete religious views. Therefore there are parts of the book dealing with Eastern religions (Hindu mainly) and Yoga tenets that I do not hold as solidly True as the author seems to. However, it's apparent in his personality as it shows through his writing that Ishvara welcomes openness from anyone listening to his thoughts. He does not expect anything other than mutual respect. Consequently I had no difficulty taking from the book the concepts that resonated with something inside me, and leaving those that did not.

I have had Oneness In Living now for a couple of months and have read it very slowly; some of the concepts are very new to me, and some wordings of not-so-new concepts sparked just as much introspection. My horizons are certainly broadened, and there are areas within my world view that are richer now from that growth in curiosity and even understanding, as little as I like to use a term denoting spiritual finality. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone open to learning or curious about spiritual ideas and all that they might encompass.

There really aren't many Westerners who have had the experience of spiritual practice that Ishvara has, and I think the book is the very best I have read in terms of explaining non-dualism, meditation, and spiritual enlightenment in a way that I can understand. I recommend it for all sincere seekers of a spiritual path. There are many, many, valuable insights here,from a man who has had a unique and significant life. I was privileged to hear him read from the book personally recently, an experience for which I am grateful.