Customer Reviews

The Way to Love: The Last Meditations of Anthony de Mello (Image Pocket Classics)

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Not being a Christian myself, I'm not inclined to get terribly bent out of shape about whether Anthony de Mello (z'tz'l; of blessed memory) takes some of Jesus's remarks out of context. But Christians may well be concerned about that, and the previous reviewer is quite right to warn about it. (So why all those "not helpful" votes? Are there any Christians who _don't_ find such warnings helpful?)

On the other hand, I'm not persuaded that de Mello _is_ taking anything out of context. There is a loooooooooooong tradition in Christianity, is there not, of recognizing that even Jesus's most casual words are charged with hidden spiritual significance and trying to discern their "inner" meaning through meditation?

Be that as it may, the reader should be aware that this is not a book "about" Christianity or Christian theology or biblical hermeneutics or anything else of the sort. De Mello has exactly one purpose in writing, and he isn't messing around: as he remarks in _Awareness_, imitating Christ doesn't make you Christlike any more than playing a saxophone makes a monkey a musician. "You've got," de Mello says, "to _be_ Christ." And the entire purpose of the short meditations in this little volume is precisely to make you "_be_ Christ."

Heresy? Well, as a non-Christian I'm not an authority on whom you should rely here -- but as I recall, the New Testament does say that Christians are supposed to "have the mind of Christ" and "be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

For de Mello, God is a lot more interested in our transformation than in our "worship," and He probably isn't too bothered by the possibility that somebody may quote a couple of gospel sentences out of context in helping us to be thus transformed. De Mello thinks this transformation is a _lot_ more important than saying "Lord, Lord" and having one's theological/exegetical ducks in a row.

And for de Mello, this transformation is achieved through insight -- insight into reality itself and into the nature of the bad "programming" that keeps us from noticing that we don't need anything else in order to be happy.

Disagree? Get in line; I have plenty of disagreements with him myself. And there is probably no reader in the world, Christian or otherwise, who will find nothing to disagree with in de Mello's sometimes infuriating writings. He doesn't care; he likes our disagreement just fine, so long as we are _responding_ rather than just "reacting."

This little book, like all of de Mello's writings, is mighty potent. Whether for good or for evil, you decide.

As other reviewers have alluded to, this book is deceivingly small. Do not let it's size dupe you for one moment! This composition is said to be Anthony de Mello's last authored words, filled with both profound wisdom and plenty of tidbits for personal contemplations for us booklovers. Anthony de Mello selects pieces from the Gospels in the Bible, weaving together a book all about living a life in love. It is truly extraordinary! Now I for my part do not belong to the Christian traditions, I practice Zen Buddhism in contrast. But these are just names. Religious life is simply life. Why spend our time only experiencing just one kind of religion, when we can take away some of the best from each one of them? Anthony de Mello, in my present day evaluation, represents the "best of" the Christian tradition for me to now benefit from. I imagine you will find the same. Have a pleasure reading this jewel over and over again.

Most people don't know of him yet he may have achieved enlightenment in this lifetime. I first found out about Anthony de Mello when a friend lent me a video where he was leading a meeting in New Jersey in the early 80s. Watching him in person you cannot help but be impressed by the clarity of his mind and his understanding of the human heart.
He was willing to say things that challenged our core beliefs about what makes one happy but in a gentle and compassionate way not one based on superiority. So it was a delight to find out that he was able to leave something that may help others in their own spiritual quest.
The book can be read in an hour or two and at the end of book you are inspired by his sincere attempt to help you to see how most of our suffering is caused by our own misguided thinking. I always feel more liberated after reading his book. Other authors that are useful to me are Carlos Casteneda, Eckhart Tolle, and Girard Haven.

To grasp the wisdom in this book, you have to be completely open-minded and read it all the way before forming an opinion. Easy to read, this book will challenge you and leave you wanting for more.

De Mello sort of pushes to the extreme, wanting you to absorve the most out of it. He probably knew that most people, are not in position to reach that ultimate state of enlighment,
considering that this requires letting go a whole set of superflous goals and desires, in todays society, its very improbable to most. Still he reveals how to take the first steps.

Some progress is better than none...the rest will come on its own.

The least this book will do, if you allow it to, it will purify your perception on life...
how long does the effect lasts, that depends on you.

This was Anthonys last before he died,and I believe he went in peace....

This book ruined my life. I highly recommend it

A friend sent this book to me when I finished grad school, along with a note: "Upon discovering the complicated & ugly muck of the world, one of my first questions was 'what now?' This book helped." It's the meditations of a Jesuit priest, who is surprisingly concrete in his examples of things from life that pull us down or stress us out, and a new way to think of them. I read a chapter a night before bed, and it gave me a lot to think about, and a lot of perspective. Helped me realize what's important and what's not so. Helped me deal with things, some small, some bigger.

This is one of my favorite books. Small in size (easy to carry in a pocket), big on wisdom. The thirty-one or so chapters are small, four or five pages each, easy to read and understand that you may contemplate and witness the truth of them in your own life situations. Books written by the awakened consciousness -- as this one is -- are alive with freshness and authority. Their purpose is simple: explain and clarify what is false, that the unexplainable and unspeakable Truth may be seen and lived. If you are serious about waking up -- that your life may be an unhindered outpouring of true unconditional love -- then buy this book, carry it with you, and read from it often.

This book provides simple, thought provoking concepts that open your eyes to the world around you. Each chapter challenges your goals, thoughts, and beliefs as to what you need to be happy. Read it. Spend time contemplating these concepts and experience the freedom from axiety and boredom in your life. It prompts a whole new level of thinking that rebuffs what society, religion, and family have taught you.

DeMello was a priest of some sort, Catholic maybe, but of a mystical/monastical variety, and his soil was India, so he expresses a very ecumenical/eastern flavor of Truth. Plenty for Christian hardliners to reject or criticize, but for this wish-I-could-find-more-God-in-Catholicism Catholic, he talks like a man who knows/loves/experiences God intimately and effortlessly, and it's a pleasure to read his expression of that love. He challenged and deepened my understanding.

DeMello is charming and self-effacing like Merton, bracing, and almost confrontational honest like of J. Krishnamurti, hopeful and accessible like Deepak Chopra without being as, uhm, woo-woo?

He begins each mini chapter with a quote from the gospels, but interprets the idea in a way I never heard from Fr. Buren at Holy Spirit School.

DeMello is a mystic, a joyful mystic, and if you're looking for something like this -- reminder: he pulls no punches -- and are willing to give it your full attention, I'd bet you'll find it transformative.

There are few books that really have changed the way I view people and life itself - The Way to Love is definitely one; which accounts for the fact that I've given over a dozen copies as gifts! Anthony de Mello digs into the very heart of the Scripture quoted at the beginning of each chapter - his unique view of life will expose all the falseness of our "western" way of thinking and perhaps make you question things you have always taken for granted. After reading and meditating perhaps you too will never be the same. Peace!