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Pathways Through to Space: A Personal Record of Transformation in Consciousness

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The last reviewer mentioned another book written by FMW called "Philosophy of Consciousness Without an Object," which he states is out of print. Both books are worthwhile, since they refer to separate awakenings. Pathways refers to an earlier awakening and Philosophy to a later one which goes beyond the discoveries made in the earlier. In Philosophy the two stages are described something like (it's been awhile since I read these) 1) the awakening of the subjective pole of subject-object consciousness; and 2) the transcending of subject-object duality altogether. If you are interested in both, be aware that another book, titled "Franklin Merrell-Wolff's Experience and Philosophy: A Personal Record of Transformation and a Discussion of Transcendental Consciousness" (also available at Amazon.com) contains both Pathways and Philosophy. So, rather than buy Pathways, or search around for a secondhand copy of Philosophy, you might want to buy the combined version.

This book is the personal record of the author's transformation of consciousness. The author is very well versed in both western and eastern philosophy, so he was able to put his experience into those frameworks. Frankly, this is the most important book I have ever read. I highly recommend it. I've re-read it several times. He also wrote "Philosophy of Consciousness Without an Object", which is unfortunately out of print.

The author has a sophisticated vocabulary, so read it with a dictionary by your side. It's not an easy read.

A great read for anyone who wants to know/vailidate "being in the world but not of the world." Merrell-Wolff writes of his experience in a very feeling and direct way. No trite scientific disection of the "other life," but a shared experience that grant's the direct experience to the reader. Moving from recounting the "Experience" to dynamic words and poetry that comes form the space of that experience, the book is a joy of acknowledgement that this can and should be felt by all. Franklin talks of his struggle to sustain the barage of energy from his "excursions" into the city... the trouble is, he speaks of the late 1930's not the late 1990's; which has all the more to overwhelm one. Having been introduced to Merrell-Wolff from John C. Lilly (the dolphin doctor... some call him;) who writes the introduction to the Julian Press edition; it is refreshing to have another excellent spokesperson to the inner journey. A great book on the journey that more should tread... or at least read of others travel.

What would a book relate that begins with a journey where "Cosmic Consciousness" is just the beginning? The spiritual experiences related by Merrell-Wolff are indeed remarkable, in that they purport to delineate realms where the experience of Nirvana is merely the start of a spiritual journey. The coincidence of intellectual genius coupled with transcendantal spiritual experiences is indeed rare, but as a result of this fortuitious combination of attributes the author is able to articulate as nearly as language permits that which cannot really be articulated.

I've spent the better part of the last 10 yrs reading,studying, & listening to Buddhist literature, primarily Tibetan (esp. Dzogchen), but also Zen & other Paths. A friend of mine turned me on to this because he wanted to explore "Western, non-lineage" cases of "Enlightenment". This has all the earmarks and language of the classic, advanced levels of Buddhist "Enlightenment" or probably more accurately, as the Buddha would say, Awakening.