Customer Reviews

This Is It: The Nature of Oneness

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This is on the radical fringe of the neo-advaita scene. Absolute take-no-prisoners "everything-is-total-illusion-and-that's-just-fine-there's-absolutely-nothing-to-be-done-about-it".

For a book about non-dualism, it has a strangely two-pronged flavor.

First, it is making the general and expected points: No need to do anything, you are already enlightened (except that you don't exist and enlightenment is meaningless to begin with), etc.

Second, it has a definite under-edge of Non-Dual community infighting. At times, it has a strangely catty, insider tone. I feel it is written not so much for the general person just trying to figure things out, but for a specific narrow sub-readership of people who are very experienced shoppers in the spiritual supermarket, even or especially people who've been around the non-dual track a few times. These are the people that the author wants to reach, and get them to 'stop seeking'.
Though of course, even 'stop seeking' is "doing" something, or having a kind of program, and therefore unacceptable. Except that of course EVERYTHING is acceptable because it is all illusory anyway.

I say that this author (and his interviewees) are on the far edge of current non-dual thought in that other stars like Byron Katie still offer a kind of goal (cessation of mental suffering) and a sort of problem-solving method (4 questions) to advance that program. Or for example Gangaji is supposedly pure advaita but she subtly asserts the reality of various distinctions, such as guru v. seeker; a more lovely Satsang space v. a less-lovely one; a community of friends pursuing the goal or teachings together (as though that would help it along); etc.

But the authors of "This Is It" are uncompromising and will have none-of-the-above. EVERYTHING is equally fake (or real, but in any case meaningless) and there's absolutely NOTHING to be done about it... except the reader is still left with the feeling that s/he as a regular gal/guy hasn't quite 'got it' (but no, no, there's NOTHING to GET, dumbkoff!) and ... you still don't really understand (that there's NOTHING to UNDERSTAND, you dork!) ... that's the flavor of it.

Interesting in a way.

However, this tough-man macho version of neo-advaita makes constant use of analogies like "All the sand castles on a beach appear separate but since they are actually all made of sand there's no difference among them and they are all the same thing - namely, sand". Or similar images of water, characters in a movie on the screen all being made of the light projected from the booth, etc.

This reductionist argument is logically erroneous, in that identity of material is not absolute identity. Different individual sand castles represent different information vectors and have different entropic coding potential. They differ absolutely, at the level of information structure. Admittedly these differences in entropic coding potential are non-physical in some sense, and hard to quantify without a context, but they are real, though subtle. It is an odd and unexpectedly materialistic argument - the assertion that material identity equals absolute identity. Anyway, the only actual identity these authors can accept is equal emptiness or equally distributed 'Light' or 'Unicity'.

Of course the authors would say that comments such as mine above are just the mind (small egoic mind) trying to FIGURE IT OUT, which is completely IMPOSSIBLE anyway. And there's nothing to figure out.

However, suffering does seem to remain, no matter what. They are explicit on this point - suffering is fine, it is just more flickers on the screen. But while I'm not a Buddhist, I do accept the practical Buddhist goal of an end of suffering.

These guys have zero interest in that, because 'goal' implies 'time' which of course is utter illusion, furthermore they don't want to make quality judgements over experience. To them seeking an end to suffering (personal or universal) is merely a cat chasing his tail.

So it is truly a completely empty and meaningless teaching, a "difference which makes no difference". For all I know, it may be the simple truth. But "I" (??) suspect otherwise, because this random theory of meaningless "arising" of phenomena and experience does not account for the consistency of physical and psychological effects experienced by human beings.

But the authors would say that my small mind (which doesn't exist) is just playing stupid small-mind games. Which is ok, it's all fine as it is.

I gave this book 5 stars mainly for the Eckhart Tolle interview it contains. It's an interview that really demystifies him. I highly recommend it if you are a fan of Tolle yet feel he is somehow above you or better than you.

Many of the other interviews are good as well.

The book, This Is It, by Jan Kerschott, is unerringly explicit in addressing the core of true non-dualism. It does so in both a general, sweeping fashion, in relation to a basic, overall consideration of religion and spirituality, and in a precise, deliberate manner clarifying the misleading (and divinely perfect) dualistic teachings that present themselves as non-dualistic. Why is this important? Because it is so easy to believe in a path to what is. I was heavily into an understanding that was couched in non-dualistic notions, but upon looking more closely was, actually steeped in duality. Such directives as the need to meditate more, be silent more, be more honest, more passionate, more, more, more have been seen to only push away freedom. Kerschott's book spoke to a deep place in awareness and exposed in nakedness the contradictions so visible when seen with clarity. This book is not for everyone. Anyone who wants to progress and develop into what already is will not enjoy this. But if you are open to seeing that there is nothing but the truth, then freedom already is.

I thought I'd throw in my two cents so here goes. After investigating several spiritual paths and "concluding" they were all very nice and even complicated, I came across this pure advaita business especially Tony Parson"s stuff and I realized this was or had to be as close to the truth as I suspected one could get. It is absolutely simple!!!(once you have a rudimentary understanding). I absolutely knew in my heart that the truth just had to be something absolutely simple and lo and behold....here it is. This business that Jan talks about denies nothing out there in spiritual land and
judges nothing as all is absolutely perfect in the "daydream". I absolutely love Northern Lights review below as there was an element of truth contained therein. This neo-advaita is a joke and if awakening should ever happen for NorthernLights he will,in fact, laugh and laugh and laugh, and see that it was and is - that everything is just that....a cosmic joke - yet behind the joke is absolute peace and some might say even love. Pssst... it yet it goes even deeper, but we'll have to save that for another day....

"This book is an uncompromising assertion of the absolute Oneness of Consciousness. Jan Kersschot is unwavering in pointing directly to the Unicity that is the ground-of-being for being-ness, Itself. The author reminds us of the seductive perils inherent in dualistic thought and, instead, invites his readers to discover that the ultimate Truth lies within their own heart-of-hearts. Jan's sparkling dialogues with several non-dual teachers are fascinating examples of how Consciousness joyously dances with Itself. Few other non-dual writers are able to describe the spiritually ineffable with as much clarity as does Jan Kersschot. I highly recommend this book."
Chuck Hillig, Author of:
Enlightenment for Beginners, The Way IT Is, Seeds for the Soul, The Magic King, Looking for God: Seeing the Whole in One

i have not read this book (forget about the rating), but have another book of the same author...and also i have read several books on the same category.

"advaita" or "nonduality" -
These words signifies the highest truths about reality, and the highest teachings in religions. They are simple, yet complicated (a true nondual insight - both, not one or the other). Because of their logical concepts, it is quite easy to get an intellectual understanding and this is both a useful and nescessary tool. Still, the real and deep insight (in which words like "Self-realization", "enlightenment" etc have meaning)is lacking in several books on this topic. It has become a trend, making it possible for people to write books, even with only partial understanding. So people who feel inclined towards nondual teachings should be aware of this. In the old greece, there was philosophs (lovers of wisdom) and sophists (experts at manipulating the language). Much of this "modern advaita" is sophistry. personally, i believe to know and to have experienced "true nature" or "self", but mostly i`m caught in my "stories" and patterns (knowing truth, and recognizing "the truth of no-truth"). Actually, all of us know our true selves and meet with it every night (in dreamless sleep. Being together with someone who knows "true nature", makes it possible to learn to recognize the "original mind" or "natural mind" (in which all is one...in the heart of hearts, everybody is One)
It can be instantaneous, and it can take time. First a sudden insight or feeling of expansion, then working to get this "knowing" and "Being" to become more regular or total . "Enlightenment is not a fixed place", one realized individual said. Some of these books can trigger such moments of expansion. I will recommend "As it is" by Tony Parsons, the inspirator of Kersschot and Leo Hartong (both of which i find reading to be..."learned wisdom", only partial insight...as a reader, you just feel it..). Parsons is ok, but check out Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramesh Balsekar and the legendary Ramana Maharshi. Also, i like "Naked buddhism" by David Deida, even though it is a bit different. Deida often stresses the point of opening the heart, expanding, feeling and breathing into everything...i like him for that. Sure there are others as well. Feel whats resonates with you. It is of course possible to have some use of a book, and later develop in another direction...check it all out - but go for "the real good ones" in every category. Sufism, buddhism, mystic christianity, shamanism. Great wisdom and teachers (and some less so..)in every direction! "He who searches, shall find!"
The point is, even thought we Really are Spirit, in our innermost core, we still have bodies, and - like it or not - some karma to work on. So nondual teachings are useful, sometimes great, and inspiring, but it is good also to learn about emotions, the earth/environment/nature. benefitting others.
recommending also Thich Nhat Hanh (for practical wisdom, buddhism with nondual core insight) and (a bit academic but great) A.H Almaas.

Whilst the author seems to write as best he can from a non-duel perspective, the words he uses are confusing and often sound contradictory! My advise, if the non-dual perspective appeals to you, save your money and buy either Loe Hartongs book, Awakening to the Dream, any of Tony Parsons works, or Nathan Gill's new book Already awake. All are strictly non-dual and are much clearer, in my opinion, than this text.

The author's words are very confusing. And often contradictory. A book full of opposites.
Comes across as no substance. Jan is a teaser.

Jan's book on consciousness, like Tony Parson's and Eckhart Tolle's, takes a leap of faith in assuming consciousness is located in your brain or head. Many cultures, when asked where there consiousness is located, would point to their heart. Maybe Jan never found himself and therefore concluded that he is a No Body, because he only searched in his head. (Declaring that you are a phantom or nobody is declaring that your are something). Also, Jan's beliefs (even though he denies having beliefs) refuse to accept personal responsbility for thoughts and actions. His case is because consciousness is living through him, he has no choice over his actions or power over his immediate surroundings. The book is a fascinating read however, but the reader must exerscize discernment and think for thereself. And for a book about non dualism, Jan is pretty black and white.

This book points to the divine and limitless nature of everything that is. It goes one where other books stop. And puts in perspective all spiritual rules once and forever. Nice interviews, especially those with Tony Parsons and Eckhart Tolle. An original and indispensible addition to the spiritual library!