The Book of Not Knowing: Exploring the True Nature of Self, Mind, and Consciousness

Reading Ralston is a transformative experience. I fell in love with his "Principles of Effortless Power," a book whose effectiveness has not again been repeated until this latest effort. Ralston is simply the best writer and teacher out there if one is interested in exploring consciousness and the truth.

I truly don't know where to start with this. I've never read anything like it. Take that statement for what it's worth. I'm a college student and for the past five years I've had a drive to read everything under the sun as it relates to personal growth and what it means to "be" human. As the saying goes, we're human beings, we aren't "human doings." This is in a category of its own. It sounds funny and it is, but I could just feel becoming smarter as I read this book. So many "aha" moments just clicked into place. The book just feels *right.* I can't describe this book as just something that adds more "stuff" to your head. This book is a pointer to experience. It's also an inspiration to be aware that a human being created something of such great value. After all other readings I've done from psychology, leadership, eastern philosophy, you name it - this book becomes a unifying principle of everything. And it is immense. It isn't everyday that I say that something becomes a unifying principle for many other seemingly contradictory or paradoxical "realities." Yet this one somehow manages to do just that. When you read a lot, when you experience a lot, you tend to let things just be scattered all over the place in your mind. When things in your mind are scattered, your experience of reality will equally be scattered. You will be like a leaf in the wind. And you will try to fight against any currents. This is a book that unifies everything together in a holistic manner that translates in direct experience. This book is not trying to convince you of anything, it does not, and cannot become a "belief." It is trying to SHOW you, NOW. After it has shown you, you are free to do what you like. It's a piercing expose of what it means to be human. The advantages are clear: You walk around more centered in yourself, your mind will be clear, you will be more efficient and proactive in whatever it is that you do. What are the flaws of the book? For the sake of staying balanced, I'll throw you a bone and pretend that "it's too long" is a flaw. There's too much to take in. It's so long, but paradoxically, it cuts to the chase. It's to the point. You know when you have your first experience when you are at a loss of words? That's where this book is trying to point you to. However, you will need to keep exposing yourself to influences that point you in the right direction. This book is long, but one read will not suffice. Your mind has too much momentum working for it, so you will probably want to make the decision of trying to slow it down by exposing yourself again and again to this book, and any other work that points to fulfillment or towards real experience. What I love about all this is that it's all very practical and down to Earth, as it is. I have an aversion to any "airy" concepts that sound good but can't be nailed down. Anything too spiritual with too many wishy-washy words and examples can't really do it for me. Another great practical book is

That might sound a little trite, "find fulfillment," but it is profound and very real. Peter has a remarkable gift for explaining the simple essence of Being, finding truth, and living authentically in a way that many are desperately looking for. You can medicate yourself with "things" and empty gratification for only so long before the emptiness comes back around. Find the singular truth of "being," and true insight and perspective begin. I highly recommend this, and all of Peter's fine works. My only wish for improvement is that they are soon published in ebook format and that Peter begins sharing videos of these teachings live at his seminars. His wealth of wisdom is powerful, and far too life-changing to be so limited. If you value who you "really are," consider making time to attend Peter's live sessions. It can make a huge impact.

I doubt that Peter could have put this information on less pages if he tried. It's almost 600 pages and takes quite a while read, never mind getting to grips with everything Peter tries to convey here. Actually I've always been interested in Peters work and have had the pleasure of training with him a while back. So yes I might be biased a bit. What this book actually tries is to put to words that which can not be put to words. There is a well known saying in Zen: "Those who know, do not peak, those who speak do not know" Well, the saying is right. Some things just can't be put to words, but this book is as close as it will ever get! If you want to experience, you need to see Peter or visit one of the Cheng Hsin centres around the world. If you can't for some reason, this is the next best thing. A book review would be useless if I didn't offer a downside to the product so here it is: It's a BIG book. Not something you would take along with you in public transport or read comfortably. So if anybody is listening: I really would like this book in an e-book format. (Suitable for all e-book readers...) A nice touch in the book is that it's divided into -for lack of a better word- verses (numbered). This makes quoting from the book or discussing a particular verse much easier. "On page soandso" can now be done with "What do you mean with this verse". This also makes actually working with the book much easier. You can almost "tick off" the verses you think you understand. A book of continued inspiration and direction as to where you can find true experience, I'll be picking this one up every few months for the following years to come and buy a new copy when it falls apart. (Unless the e-book version will be available by then) Greetings from the Netherlands Christiaan - [...] (Thoughts from a Zen mind in a Western World)

I appreciate Mr. Ralston taking the time to write on such a complicated subject. It is evident that he knows (experientially) of what he speaks. "The Book of Not Knowing" will be one of the books I reread ever year or so. It is a wealth of knowledge for the truth seeker. I say this more so because - even though getting through the details is gut wrenching to read at times - it filled in some knowledge gaps for me and affirmed parts of my own path over the last 50 years (self analysis, truth seeking, travels, meditations, etc.). For what is sometimes a lonely path - truth seeking - it is nice to periodically have your experiences and insights independently validated. Thank you Peter!