Customer Reviews

Practicing the Presence

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Let me preface this with the fact that I have been studying metaphysics and actively applying the principles for more than 20 years. I find this book to be more clear in thought than most of the Unity, Christian Science and other spiritual/new age books I have read and enjoyed. (countless books....100's literally). Mr. Goldsmith is a Master and Master teacher. If you are mature enough to encounter him, you are ready for the biggest and most positive transformation of your life. I read pgs. 1-83 of this book and my income doubled practically overnight. There is a quote on pg. 83 that I have distributed to clients all over the country. "Are we that which receives, or are we that center from which the infinity of God flows out? Are we the multitudes who sat at the feet of the Master waiting to be fed, or are we the Christ feeding the unillumined? In the answer to that lies our degree of spiritual fulfillment." I might add that someone gave me a Goldsmith book about 7 years ago, and I couldn't get into it at all. After spiritually maturing, I find him refreshing, illuminating and a true God-send! I am to the point where if I had to eliminate all authors but one from my bookshelves, I'd keep Goldsmith. I am currently reading about three of his books simultaneously. They are deep and rich. They take time, but they give so very very much! I would welcome comments from anyone who is touched by Goldsmith. Linda Schiller-Hanna

I have been reading about mysticism and the experience of God for the past couple years. Goldsmith does an excellent job of presenting the reality of God within--that he is not a distant being, but one as close as our breath. His writing is fresh and filled with supporting Biblical references. In many ways, this book presents a practical way to be transformed by the experience of God and is valuable regardless of religious tradition.

However, conservative Christians will have difficulty with much of his theology, which is closely akin to Christian Science. I am a conservative, though open-minded Christian. My suggestion to conservatives is to use the concepts presented and rephrase some of the lines to fit your theology, but do not destroy the essence. For example, Goldsmith refers to "the Christ within." A conservative can easily modify this to just "Christ within." The harder part for most conservatives will be the idea that someone with a metaphysical perspective of God could experience God and teach them anything truthful about God.

I recommend this book together with books such as "Testament of Devotion," "Open Mind, Open Heart" and "Practicing His Presence" by Brother Lawrence. I would be willing to correspond with anyone about this book or others that I have reviewed.

in Realization of Oneness that the two books which are core to his teaching are The Contemplative Life and Practising the Presence. I cannot say more.