Authentic Spirituality: The Direct Path to Consciousness

By Richard N. Potter

Book Overview

In this groundbreaking book, Richard Potter, an academic and a mystic, sets forth a revolutionary thesis: to evolve personally, spiritually, and globally, we need a new concept of spirituality that is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738704423
• ISBN13: 9780738704425
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Personable and easy to read

To be quite honest, I read the first few pages and I was about to put the book down and say "F-it!" However, I continued to read and realized that the book wasn't as bad as it first had seemed. I was able to discover that the author of "Authentic Spirituality" is VERY personable and easy to relate to, based upon my own experiences; and I believe he wrote on the topics for beginning and slightly advanced "students," however, I do see the benefit of very advanced persons reading this book as well. I have read many books on spirituality and this is the best one yet; every chapter I read contained at least one thing that I didn't know before or didn't quite understand. I highly recommend this book, even if you don't believe there is a strong urge for you to say, "But I don't believe in the unseen. I don't believe in God or anything that could be related to such an entity." The reason why I say this is because, even if this is your stance, there are psychological benefits to some--if not all--of the practices he suggests. Also, there is a moral aspect to many of the things he writes of.

A challenge to attain spiritual clarity

Authentic spirituality is characterised by sobriety and clarity. Richard Potter brought all religions and mystic traditions on an equal footing by exposing the common traits that are hidden below the surface. Every aspect is diluted of all mystery and complexity into clear and definite concepts that can lead to spiritual growth. The topic of consciousness is dealt with only superficially and the emphasis is on spirituality as a route to higher/deeper consciousness. At most this book is an introduction to the direct path to consciousness, it intents to make the reader think archetypes and meta-patterns rather than dogma and teaching. The reader is challenged to look beyond his/her own cultural and religious conditioning into discovering a common thread of human spirituality. The teaching of this book will surely challenge the thinking paradigm of all established religions and organisations.The book does not provide exiting or entertaining reading material. This is rather an honest book on spirituality stripped from dogma and cultural boundaries. The author illustrates how his own path is still bounded and limited by his own conditioning into the worlds of Sufism and Shamanism. The author, with his rich reference of experience, admits that he himself is on a path of unending discovery and development. What is presented in the book contains visions of truth but it is neither presented as the ultimate truth nor an absolute frame of reference. The book rather encourages seekers of truth to find their own individualised direct entry point into the woods of spirituality. This guideline is recommended reading for those who are disillusioned by traditional religions to again want to find and define meaning in their lives.The value of ancient spiritual practises like meditation and breathing is presented with a new interpretation of meaning. This is a book for those who are prepared to challenge their viewpoints through critical rational thinking and who are not afraid to step into the shoes of the mystic's discovery of truth.