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Doing Nothing: Coming to the End of the Spiritual Search Hardcover – January 24, 2008

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Steven Harrison (Author)
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4.1 out of 5 stars 28 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 132 pages
  • Publisher: Sentient Publications (January 24, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 159181068X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1591810681
  • Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.6 x 8.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #792,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starson the pointlessness of ego-based spiritual search.
By Ruth Henriquez Lyon VINE VOICE on July 13, 2000
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
In this book author Steven Harrison focuses on an aspect of the "journey" that is hardly ever mentioned in this age of feel-good spirituality--that is, the action of most seekers is one of grasping. He suggests that instead of chasing after this or that "experience," we work at removing the ego from center-stage. Once we do that, the spiritual journey is done, because we find ourselves already in a highly spiritual state.
I can't disagree with his ideas here, however, he doesn't really explain well enough (for my purposes) HOW one does the work of getting the ego to budge from center stage (the book Shadow Dance by David Richo does deal thoroughly with this topic). His musings on the relationship of ego to consciousness and our daily lives are written in a way which is highly abstract and cerebral. For instance, "Integration can communicate with, interact with the projected thought-reality. It inherently commnicates because integration includes the space within which this thought-reality arises." OK, the whole book is not written that densely, but much of it is. This sort of prose is hard to sink your teeth into and digest in a way that changes your actions in the world. I now see why Jesus spoke in parables and metaphors--he employed simple, concrete terms, and it was the very simplicity of the images which allowed them to act as psychic catalysts ("the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed"). Harrison does include some little teaching stories in his book, and I savored them much as I once did an iced cola after driving across the Mohave desert with no air-conditioning. Regardless of the language, however, I think there are some important ideas in this book which make it worth reading, and I also believe the author has paid the personal dues necessary to be a teacher.
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5.0 out of 5 starsOnly for the spiritually advanced
By Jack on April 11, 2005
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Many reviewers sound frustrated by Harrison's book. Most of the bad reviews complain that he didn't explain clearly enough HOW to do nothing. Harrison's point is that you can never figure out how, and yet the goal is certainly accessible. Those who attempt to approach it through a strategy or through understanding will fail because strategy and understanding are techniques only used by the mind. The mind is a tool that can copy and mimic, but is incapable of transcendent experience, after all what do you think is being transcended?

The mind can not get you where you want to go. The desire can not get you there either. As Harrison points out there is no getting there at all, but the transcendent experience of being is real. It sounds like an impossible conundrum, but it is not. The key is in Harrison's writing about thought. It seems obvious to say it, but to transcend the mind all thoughts must cease. Thoughts only originate in the mind. The thought of getting away from where you are or getting to another place must be given up, or you will find yourself going in circles of the mind.

Not very many people know how to stop their mind. It is our primary survival tool. Every thought you have is an illusion, including the thought of your personal identity. I should say especially your thought of your personal identity, since that is the root of all other thoughts. You think you are a person, you think you are your name and that your name identifies who you are. These are all just illusionary thoughts.

So what is the experience of having no thoughts? It can not be understood with thoughts of course, but what Harrison is doing is describing what the world of thought looks like from the world of no-thought.Read more ›
11 Comments 34 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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5.0 out of 5 starskrishnamurti would be happy
By A Customer on May 14, 2001
Format: Hardcover
Without any overt reference to any sort of authority (transcending such is a fundamental theme here), this book clearly uses much of the same terminology and core concepts developed by the great J. Krishnamurti over decades of public speaking, and uses them to great effect. Once the truth of this teaching is realized, there is no longer any possibility of reliance on "concepts" of any kind, but paradoxically this realization must be expressed in words and therefore concepts if we are to communicate it; and if someone else (such as K) has clearly defined some ways to do so, there is nothing wrong in borrowing them. Harrison doesn't allow us to make the mistake of imagining that these conceptualizations are anything more than the finger pointing at the moon; it is the moon that is continually emphasized here. It is probably rare for someone who has arrived at this place to bother to write at all. We are fortunate that Harrison has.
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2.0 out of 5 starsDoing Nothing Doesn't Work
By Gary Weber on February 18, 2009
Format: Hardcover
There is much about this book that is useful for folk well down "the path", who have read similar books by Tony Parsons, J. Krishnamurti, Adyashanti, Poonjaji, etc. Knowing the language and landscape is useful as this book is often complex and densely written in trying to express what happens and is understood in the latter stages of awakening. Granted, it is about a state "beyond mind" and perfect expression, but others have made it clearer and more accessible.

The major drawback is the title and premise that by "doing nothing" one will come to "the end of the spiritual search". In fact, that is not what the author did as he details that he "sought out every mystic, seer...throughout the world", did "long periods of isolation and meditation", "spent long periods in India and in the Himalayas searching..." etc. He concludes "it was all useless".

As I pointed out to the author at a presentation, there is now exhaustive and conclusive evidence from the best scientific laboratories in this area that his "useless" practices of 25 years reshaped and functionally modified his "brain" in a way that made his awakening much more likely, even if he finally moved beyond them.

"Neuroplasticity" has been demonstrated for many skills, from meditating to playing the violin. To claim that it was useless is like having a world class Olympian, chess master, or pianist, claim that all of that previous training was useless.

The belief that there is nothing you have to do, just "be enlightened", has been around for decades; it is seductive because we want it to be that way. Unfortunately, that isn't how it works. Check out the bios of those who claim it is.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 starscan't believe all the good reviews. All he talks repetitively is PAIN

Total Nonsens ! can't believe all the good reviews . All he talks repetitively is PAIN !
Nothing useable nor useful in it ! can't repeat even 1 meaningful sentence :(

Published 3 months ago by Andre Ha
5.0 out of 5 starsI love it!

Inspiring book! I love it!

Published 9 months ago by Iris M. Crockett
5.0 out of 5 starsall is nothing

This book is beyond like and dislike zone
This book is recommended to all seeking answers to life.
Rating full is living full rest is fragments.

Published 13 months ago by Viral Manek
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Interesting and very good.

Published 14 months ago by KK
5.0 out of 5 starsI loved this book

I loved this book. Gave me a lot to ponder, and reflect on for myself. However, from what I gathered from other reviews, it's not for everybody. Read more

Published 20 months ago by Shopbopper
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent condition.

The book was brand new so I expected it be be in perfect condition which it was; I have not had a chance to read it yet so cannot write a review.

Published on October 14, 2013 by Joann M. Kriege
5.0 out of 5 starsA concept that I couldn't grasp

This was very difficult for me. Being a native New Yorker I am always on the go and in constant motion. I couldn't even imagine that you could "do" nothing. Read more

Published on August 17, 2013 by Vanessa Gatelein
2.0 out of 5 starsaverage

I read this book many years ago. Its ok but the author shoots himself early on. He said he taught spirituality for years then realised it was all wrong. Read more

Published on July 2, 2008 by A. Murphy
5.0 out of 5 starsCouldn't be better

I couldn't believe how quickly the book came and it was in beautiful condition. Excellent service.

Published on September 13, 2005 by Susan F. Willnus
5.0 out of 5 starsA great read for people on the path!

There are many books out there that make me go "hmm..." in a good way. This book is definitely one of them. Read more

Published on April 2, 2004

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