Customer Reviews

What Is Self?: A Study of the Spiritual Journey in Terms of Consciousness

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Without a doubt, Bernadette Roberts is the clearest, most incisive writer in our time on the mystical splendor of Christianity. Stunning is the range and depth of Robert's presentation of the essential Christian Mysteries in "What is Self?" Her presentation of Christ is without peer.

Please note that "What Is Self?" (and her other books) are very often misrepresented as elaborating a "nondualist" perspective. Having attended many retreats given by Bernadette Roberts over a period of nearly twenty-five years, I know for certain that her paradigm is completely different from "nondualism"-- advaitic, Buddhist, or otherwise.

Indeed, she calls the nondualist misconception of her paradigm "forcing the fit," which she defines in a recent book as "redefining, clipping, pasting, twisting-- to make the original fit a dissonant paradigm" (Roberts, "Forcing-the-Fit" self-published, Foreword, 2008).

In her essay, "Nondualism," she writes: "It is unfortunate that those who aspire to a nondual state will never reach it-- because it doesn't exist. In truth it is just another illusion to be dispelled. With or without self, there is no state in the journey truly 'nondual,' neither in our earthly journey nor in heaven" (Roberts, "Essays on the Christian Contemplative Journey," self-published, 2007, p. 71.)

"What is Self" --with the above works-- clearly distinguishes her paradigm from that of nondualism. Those seeking further clarification of her view this matter will find it on the site, 'Bernadette's Friends."

Joseph Conti, Ph.D.
Dept. of Comparative Religion
California State University at Fullerton

So pleased to have connected with this very unusual offering. Roberts spends the first half of the book explaining in great detail - sometimes tediously, but in the end thoroughly and with stunning insight - the nature of all self identity - Small Self, Big Self, or as some refer to it, True Self and consciousness. Her conclusion is that they are all temporary, mutually supporting constructs that fall away as one matures along the human journey. Her description of the "no self" condition - her ability to describe "no self" to readers who assume their identity as being the one absolutely, irreducible, "personal" accessory is an amazing accomplishment. Beyond unitive consciousness, Roberts describes conditions of pure knowing without a knower. And not as some have led us to believe - not God realized, omniscient knowing. Instead a knowing that includes the sober realization that all that has been previously "known" was really and unavoidably, mere self reflection. Roberts, now in her seventies is described by those who know her as, "A Force Of Nature." Having spent her early years in a convent treading a path parallel to St.'s. Teresa and John of the Cross, Mrs. Roberts is now devoted to her family - having long ago left cloistered life to marry and raise her children. Present day philosopher, Ken Wilber predicts that our human developmental/spiritual ceiling will continue to rise - just as we see looking back to the 16th century when Christian mystics assumed that the highest level of development was an ecstatic, I/Thou, union with God. Bernadette Roberts takes the reader with her beyond this previously supposed end game - charting new waters, higher ground and finally leaving us to understand that beyond self there remains "knowing without a knower" with still more to come. And... as frightening as death of self identity may be - it is natural and necessary that we take this final step, as she assures - all, someday will. A great resource, best suited for well grounded, sturdy thinkers.

This experiential description from a christian perspective has left me awe-struck. I went on the path of eastern religions after discovering the access to truth our medieaval mystics e.g Hadewich, Ruusbroeck, Eckehart and Thomas a Kempis had achieved around the 13th century AD. However they did not show me the way to this truth and Christianity as it was explained to me was totally devoid of it. After 35 years of zen buddhist practice I touch on this book and I am dumbfounded by the deep similarities AND the differences between Christianity and Buddhism as direct experiential religions. It has allowed me to resonate deeply with these aspects of reality as are labeled Trinity and Resurrection.
It is clear that the difference in our society is not going to be made by Eastern traditions. It must come from our own tradition. But then this tradition has to stop clinging to a dead mythic past and become alive to the here and now. I want to thank Bernadette deeply for this courageous deed of going down her path unerring and making it available to us all by writing it down so lucidly.
Thank you Bernadette.

For those already familiar with the mystical path in the tradition of St. John of the Cross, this is an exceptional book. You see, Ms. Roberts does not stop at the Unitive State which is the highest state of mystic consciousness that I was aware of through years of reading. She goes beyond this and beyond consciousness into God's way of knowing which is different from our own. She truly parallels the life of Christ by following Him in His descent into hell, ascention into heaven, and incarnation. Truly incredible reading that makes one wonder what her advanced state means for the rest of humanity. Credible? Definitely! No less than Fr. Thomas Keating vouches for her!

In reading Jerry Katz's book, "One" which is collection of what is written on the non-dual state, the chapter with sample pages from Bernadette Roberts book "What is Self?" was riveting. Having read thousands of books on practices leading to "enlightenment" this is new ground. Few persons having this experience are able to articulate the experience into language understandable to any degree. I have no doubt many from various religions have reached this state though Bernadette Roberts is from the Christian tradition and this possibly brings the experience more understandable as opposed to Sanskrit terms etc. I will add Dr. David R. Hawkins books, videos on his experiences of the non-dual state are excellent, too. Books are "Eye of the I", "I",and "Discovery of the Presence of God: Devotional Non-duality."
It took me many years to discern that psychic experiences and general paranormal experiences are merely symptoms on the way to the non-dual state and should be ignored as opposed to being a goal to expand upon if one wishes to experience the non-dual state aka enlightenment.
This book is a masterpiece in my opinion.

The following does not begin to do justice to Ms. Roberts' excellant writing on her path to spiritual enlightenment. Her book left me with the impression and conviction she is an extraordinarilly evolved spiritual being. In my opinion "What is Self?" illustrates that the author "has gone where no one has gone before"! ... she has traveled a path few indeed have tread. The book was so inspiring I did not want the book to end and I didn't want to put it down.
The author articulates a subject that is ellusive and nearly ungraspable, but she does so magnificently, and I was actually able to understand the subject of enlightenment as I never have before. I have not yet read such a comprehensive treatment on consciousness. She does a splendid work on describing the difference between the two states of transcendent and immanent, which I believe makes her presentation of evolving consciousness more exhaustive and remarkable than any literature I have previously encountered. Admittedly, what she says and how she approaches her subject is compatible with my own perceptions, even though her experiences and mine are far removed. I felt so elated and fulfilled after devouring all three of her books, but paradoxically, I couldn't get enough -- I wanted more!! But that's all she wrote.

Having discovered Miss Roberts by suggestion from a Religious Studies college classmate almost 20 years ago, I was thrilled to see another book by this wonderful author who has devoted her life to explaining the unexplainable. Without her understanding and excellent ability to convey, so many aspects of the contemplative path, and beyond, would go unnoticed-or worse yet- misunderstood.

This latest effort puts it all into perspective. Explains it all in a deeper more matured way, as though her own journey "grew clearer with distance."

There is one statement in the book that I must take issue with. When descibing an especially bewidering aspect of the journey, she states that she could not point to one person she ever helped. Bernadette- point over here!

This book raised easily more questions than answers and that was ok.
I like the author's unburdened approach of not coming up with a
bullet-proof theoretical framework. She provides the marker for
fellow contemplatives to compare with and an eye witness account
for those who are not so advanced in seeing beyond. As a
"backpacker guide", this is a great source from a living person.

There is an nod of agreement common to many perspectives she discusses,
Jung, Buddhist writings, India[n] viewpoints while at the same time
sees wholly with her Christian perspective.

This book is recommended for anyone interested in the theory of
knowledge, ego psychology, religion, philosophy, bio-psych,
linguistics, human potential. It is not just for advanced
contemplatives. It may aid in bringing some pieces together which
was a stated purpose of BR writing this book.

Having been recommended this book by the author of "Magic and Mysticism", Arthur Versluis, and having no knowledge of Bernadette and her works beforehand, I was simply gutted after the initial reading. It rocked my whole spiritual foundation and gave me the confidence to close out the first part of the transformative stage (ego-consciousness) and move onto the "pathless path" as she calls the second stage of unity-consciousness. (the only other book that similarly rocked my foundations was "The courage to Be" by Paul Tillich.)

For me as raised as a Catholic, I was lingering in the "cocoon" stage having spent years on the inward journey. I had succeeded in dialing up frequent temporal mystical connections with my ultimate concern (God) but constantly kept searching within for a better broadband connection. I had to, the void was growing and I was gripped in Ontic shock in fear of this inner void. In hindsight, regular mass attendance and taking the Eucharist probably stopped me from going completely bonkers.

This "Void shock" manifested itself physically inside of me as a choking sensation and would flare up unexpectedly during meals that is how bad it was.

It was only when I grasped, thanks to Bernadette, the fullness of the void, and apprehended that what is unconditionally empty is also unconditionally full. I recognized "Immanuel", the immanent divine. And more importantly there was a roadmap provided by Bernadette in this book to the next level of unity-consciousness

I could now come out of the "cocoon" and re-enter the "market place". Further spiritual development for me is "exploding" the Christ mystery as now a happy unitive diminishing in my phenomenal self.

My choking symptoms disappeared virtually overnight as I grasped that I had now moved on the transformation path and could not be held back by egoic doubts.

This book is not to be read with the mind or Intellect, as the anonymous author of the 'Cloud of unknowing" would say. It is to be absorbed with intuition.

Thank you Bernadette for opening my "third eye".

I found this an amazing, inspiring account of a very deep spiritual journey. Bernadette Roberts describes the causal, non-dual, no-self experience in a manner both clear, logical and profoundly unsettling. Not many people reach this place, or even know if its existence. The fact that an "ordinary person" can describe her journey in clear terms is profoundly inspiring. The structure of the book is a bit garbled and repetitious, representing as it does four separate 'essays'. Her insights into the Trinitarian nature of Reality are provocative and sometimes hard to follow (altho this may represent may own limited capabilities!) This minor flaw makes the book a human endeavour and does not diminish my overall recommendation.