Post by Figgles on May 9, 2017 16:47:45 GMT
While I've warmed to his books as they progressed, as it really does seem as though his "I don't do heart," is losing it's grip, I very much resonate with the following amazon reviews. Between the two, his apparent egoic narcissism gets addressed as well as his extreme focus upon the duality of "I'm enlightened/Your not."
I'm enlightened and you're not!
ByStuart L. Resnick on November 10, 2005
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
Sometimes people who pursue the great questions of life get stuck in dualities. It may be Good vs Evil (as in most Judeo-Christian traditions). It may be Holy vs Unholy (as in lots of New Agey or Guru Cults). McKenna's "Spiritual Enlightenment" mocks these dualities pretty hard. So someone who's stuck in such things might benefit from the book.
But McKenna himself is just as stuck in the duality that he himself creates, that of Deluded vs Awakened/Enlightened. Why do that? He's particularly unlikeable since he frames the duality he creates as "I'm enlightened and you're not." (Or "I'm awake & you're dreaming," "I'm a butterfly & you're a caterpiller," "I'm in OZ & you're on the Yellow Brick Road," yada yada.)
He quotes some wonderful Zen poems, but shows no understanding of the heart of Zen. That is, there's NEVER in his words any taste of letting go of this idea that one needs to get from here to there.
Maybe some people who have fallen into laziness and indifference could benefit from McKenna's book. "Ooo, look! A great enlightened being! I have to struggle hard so I can be like that too!" But for people interested in awakening to this moment, "Spiritual Enlightenmentment" is garbage.
(And though the book is presented as non-fiction, there's no evidence that McKenna is anything other than a creation of some anonymous author who is overly proud of his ideas about "enlightenment." Hopefully, it's not THAT sleazy; maybe the author just made McKenna up in an effort to make a buck.)
Stuart
ByStuart L. Resnick on November 10, 2005
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
Sometimes people who pursue the great questions of life get stuck in dualities. It may be Good vs Evil (as in most Judeo-Christian traditions). It may be Holy vs Unholy (as in lots of New Agey or Guru Cults). McKenna's "Spiritual Enlightenment" mocks these dualities pretty hard. So someone who's stuck in such things might benefit from the book.
But McKenna himself is just as stuck in the duality that he himself creates, that of Deluded vs Awakened/Enlightened. Why do that? He's particularly unlikeable since he frames the duality he creates as "I'm enlightened and you're not." (Or "I'm awake & you're dreaming," "I'm a butterfly & you're a caterpiller," "I'm in OZ & you're on the Yellow Brick Road," yada yada.)
He quotes some wonderful Zen poems, but shows no understanding of the heart of Zen. That is, there's NEVER in his words any taste of letting go of this idea that one needs to get from here to there.
Maybe some people who have fallen into laziness and indifference could benefit from McKenna's book. "Ooo, look! A great enlightened being! I have to struggle hard so I can be like that too!" But for people interested in awakening to this moment, "Spiritual Enlightenmentment" is garbage.
(And though the book is presented as non-fiction, there's no evidence that McKenna is anything other than a creation of some anonymous author who is overly proud of his ideas about "enlightenment." Hopefully, it's not THAT sleazy; maybe the author just made McKenna up in an effort to make a buck.)
Stuart
0 out of 5 stars What's so - So what?
Byjeff winteron July 23, 2012
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
I usually do not bother to write reviews, but I was so disappointed in myself for reading the entire book that I felt compelled to say something.
In case you missed the 60s, EST, and the plethora of books written in the last forty years on self-realization, Jed (I'm enlightened, and you're not) McKenna makes one thing perfectly clear: He is one of about 50 or 60 souls who are "Done" while the rest of us are floundering in the dark. And until you find your own truth, you are not on the same plane as he and the others in this exclusive order.
He did fail, however, to follow his own observations regarding the fact that an enlightened One will most likely remain out of the public eye and live a humble, quiet life.
If following him through his video game pastime, coaching young women, judging and correcting those who seek counsel in him, and living in his lofty dwelling above his "Students" is what you consider good reading, then go ahead, have at it.
After reading page after page following his "It's not about me....well maybe it is" adventures, while he blasts many other sound teachings along the way, only to discredit nearly everything but what he has to say, his point is simply, "find what is true for yourself."
Did I need to endure this narcissistic treatise to come to such a bland conclusion? I think not.
The message of this book is to discover "What's so."
So What?
Byjeff winteron July 23, 2012
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
I usually do not bother to write reviews, but I was so disappointed in myself for reading the entire book that I felt compelled to say something.
In case you missed the 60s, EST, and the plethora of books written in the last forty years on self-realization, Jed (I'm enlightened, and you're not) McKenna makes one thing perfectly clear: He is one of about 50 or 60 souls who are "Done" while the rest of us are floundering in the dark. And until you find your own truth, you are not on the same plane as he and the others in this exclusive order.
He did fail, however, to follow his own observations regarding the fact that an enlightened One will most likely remain out of the public eye and live a humble, quiet life.
If following him through his video game pastime, coaching young women, judging and correcting those who seek counsel in him, and living in his lofty dwelling above his "Students" is what you consider good reading, then go ahead, have at it.
After reading page after page following his "It's not about me....well maybe it is" adventures, while he blasts many other sound teachings along the way, only to discredit nearly everything but what he has to say, his point is simply, "find what is true for yourself."
Did I need to endure this narcissistic treatise to come to such a bland conclusion? I think not.
The message of this book is to discover "What's so."
So What?
