lacking substance | The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself (New Harbinger/Noetic Books)...

Confused on the Philosophy Singer Espouses | The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself (New Harbinger/Noetic Books) (co-published with the ... | Michael A. Singer

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	• The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself (New Harbinger/Noetic Books) (co-published with the ... Michael A. Singer New Harbinger Publications/ Noetic Books, 2007 - 181 pages average customer review:based on 73 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Life-Changing book!

For me, this is THE book that answers so many questions and is all encompassing in that it touches on so much. Michael Singer explains so simply and beautifully how to live your live with an open heart. He talks about everything from that roommate in our head (constant chatter) to what death teaches us about living. He does it with explanations on HOW to change your life in very easy-to-understand prose. Is it really this easy? Yes it is IF we make the conscious decision to change our lives. The cover is so beautiful, too, and that is what actually drew me to the book in the first place.

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lacking substance

Singers book is a reasonable primer for someone new to exploring their spirit nature. If you can get passed the endlessly redundant examples of the few points he actually makes, something does touch deep inside. He spends way too much time giving examples of the errors of our ways, and a little time telling us how blown away we are going to be with true happiness. He does little to bridge the gap of how to get from one to the other.

I was disappointed.

Confused on the Philosophy Singer Espouses

I gave the book three stars because I think it is well written. Also, there are definitely some good points in it that are thought provoking. It was a great way to be walked through meditation and what apparently masters have done for thousands of years.

However, I do have a problem with the philosophy of the book itself. Please, if anyone can help any these questions for me, do so. My email is: [...]. I would love to have these questions answered by those who are more experienced with this. Perhaps I am missing something.

Problem #1: Chapters 1 - The Voice Inside your Head, and Chapter 2 - Your Inner Roommate -- I like my thoughts. I like my inner roommate. I believe that these thoughts originate from me and thus I am truly talking to me - the very me. This books states that you are not your thoughts, merely the observer. This seems to be dissecting and deconstructing us too far.

Problem #2: Page 66, "You tell your mind, `When it's the car, we'll have a talk. Right now, it only costs a pencil to be free.'"

So, who or what is doing the thinking here? How can the true you think, when the true you is not your thoughts?

I never truly understood this. At times in the book Singer insinuated that your consciousness thought, which is confusing because consciousness is not supposed to think, but is aware. Does awareness / pure consciousness think? It must have to, but then who or what is doing the thinking? Confusing.

Problem #3: Page 37, "As you pull back into the consciousness, this world ceases to be a problem." Here, I just have a problem with either the escapist attitude - It's like the world can go to hell, but I will be just fine because I have deconstructed my entire thought process and "I am not really even a human being, I just happen to be watching one." It just sounds selfish.

Problem #4: Chapter 7 - Transcending the Tendency to Close - If we constantly fall or stay behind the pull of energy, which moves us, then how would we fall in love, desire sex, have children? How does the concept of eros love work here? The feeling I got when I read this book was that one was not to discern the "good" energy from the "bad" energy - you were encouraged to fall behind any energy, relax, and observe.

Problem #5: Page 74, "Life is surrounding you with people and situations that stimulate growth. You don't have to decide who's right or wrong. You don't have to worry about other people's issues. You only have to be willing to open your heart in the face of anything and everything, and permit the purification process to take place."

But is there not a reality outside occurring that has meaning? What about your family's issues, close friends? How to help them? Again, it seems that this philosophy asks you to retreat away from everything to disengage, which doesn't really sound like the life I want to live.

Of course, from the author and others who believe it, they say that you are more engaged. Perhaps someone could explain that to me.

Problem #6: Page 95, "The truth is, everything will be okay as soon as you are okay with everything."

Really? Are we supposed to be okay with everything? Everything?!

Problem #7: Page134, "This is the false self you are building inside. It is just a concept of yourself that you hide behind."

Then what is your true self? What does your true self sound like, act like? Does your true self have a personality? Can it have a personality? I am still confused here.

Problem #8: Chapter 15 "The Path to Unconditional Happiness" This is confusing because the author explains how the simple decision to make of being happy or unhappy is clearly under our control. Yet, the whole book, from what I gathered, is stating how we are not to control anything, but surrender to life as it happens. So now, I am to take charge and put in control my decision to be happy at all times? Again, I am confused.

Problem #9: The biggest problem I have with the book is it is so diametrically opposed to say the philosophy that claims that we are creators of our own reality and experience, which I happened to be much more comfortable with.

The Untethered Soul's Approach = you are not in control of the outside in the least, let go and surrender to it

"Law of Attraction" Approach = you are in control of the inside and outside, and you are invited to learn how the law works as you are always creating consciously and unconsciously you experience. Here, emotions, feelings, and thoughts are paramount to understand our current connection with source energy.

Those two philosphies have profound differences to their approaches. One approach seemingly disengages with reality, reducing the thoughts and emotion's importance, while the other fully engages reality and sees emotions and thoughts as crucial in achieving ones goals and objectives.

If someone can attempt to answer these questions, I would appreciate it. Perhaps I just have to experience it totally appreciate what the philosophy is espousing. I am open to discussion.

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great book

this is a very well written and inspiring book. The language is plain and simple and the examples are perfect. It got me meditating again!

Loving the freedom of loving

This book is way beyond great. Words can't describe the elation and freedom I felt as I read and understood the words of a true master and the meaning of the true spirit of this wonderful writing. I will and do recommend this book to all souls on planet earth who are wanting a better, more loving and wonderous existance for themselves and those they have any kind of relationship with. This is a book based on your one true and faithful love, yourself/I AM and as you love yourself you love others/ I AM THAT I AM. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself (New Harbinger/Noetic Books) (co-published with the Institute of Noetic Sciences)Truly a blessing and thank you Michael Singer, from the bottom and top of my untethered soul.
Namaste' Lynda in Eugene, Oregon

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Who are you? When you start to explore this question, you find out how elusive it really is. Are you a physical body? A collection of experiences and memories? A partner to relationships? Each time you consider aspects of yourself, you realize that there is much more to you than any of these can define. In this book, spiritual teacher Michael Singer explores the question of who we are and arrives at the conclusion that our identity is to be found in our consciousness, the fact of our ability to observe ourselves and the world around us. By tapping into traditions of meditation and mindfulness, Singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization.

Divided into five parts, the book offers a frank and friendly discussion of consciousness and how we can develop it. In part one, he examines the notion of self and the inner dialogue that all of us live with. Part two examines the experience of energy as it flows through us and works to show readers how to open their hearts to the energy of experience that permeates their lives. Ways to overcome tendencies to close down to the rest of the world are the subject of part three. Enlightenment and the embrace of universal consciousness are the subject of part four. And finally, in part five, Singer returns to daily life and the pursuit of "unconditional happiness." Throughout, the book maintains a light and engaging tone, free from heavy dogma and prescriptive religious references. The easy exercises that figure in each chapter help readers experience the ideas that Singer presents.

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