InvestorDictionary.com
HomeDictionaryCategoriesBooks
Search for Terms:  
Browse by Category:  
Browse:  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  # 
  Search:       

The Direct Path: Creating a Personal Journey to the Divine Using the World's Spiritual Traditions

by Andrew Harvey

List Price:$14.95
Average Rating:3.5 out of 5 stars
Lowest New Price:$15.00

Buy Now!


Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Today more Americans than ever consider themselves to be "spiritual" people, and yet attendance at religious institutions is down, perhaps because many of us are searching for a way to encounter the divine on our own terms. In this groundbreaking, eloquently written work, renowned religious scholar Andrew Harvey builds on his twenty-five-year study of the world’s various mystical traditions, from Buddhism to the Kabbalah, to create an illuminating spiritual map that anyone can use to develop a direct path to the divine without relying on churches, gurus, or other intermediaries. Perfect for anyone who yearns for fresh teachings and wisdom that will bring them closer to their life’s purpose and meaning, The Direct Path is an intelligent, beautifully crafted masterpiece from one of today's most celebrated and respected spiritual luminaries.


All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:3.5 out of 5 stars
4 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1 out of 5 starsHer Nibs is a Mystic!, 2007-07-15
After I'd spent about a hundred dollars on Andrew Harvey materials and was starting to wonder if I'd done the right thing, I came across this on his website:

"Spiritual direction

Andrew is booking appointments for spiritual direction - via the phone only
­ in 50 minute sessions.

'For me as a believer in the direct connection to the divine, spiritual
counseling is about helping people to empower themselves and claim their own
truth and divine identity. I am not a guru. I share what I know as a fellow
seeker and spiritual friend. Ideally people would sign up for not less than
3 sessions, and no more than 10.'

After booking a session, we need to receive payment prior to the phone call.
You will need to call Andrew, we will give you the number once we confirm
the appointment. We require 24 hours notice of any cancellation to receive a
refund.

Please note: Consultations are not a substitute for legal, medical, or
psychological advise. Please consult a licensed professional in these
matters."

A direct connection to the divine? I'll bet that's not cheap!


5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 starsEat the meat, throw away the bones!, 2007-02-27
The spiritual techniques and practices offered in this book are effective, easy to understand and to practice. The author's research into spiritual practices from various sources is extensive. There are so many techniques to choose from, it may seem a little overwhelming at first. My favorite is the Metta technique (which by itself is worth the price of the book). It is VERY effective. It's an easy way to get centered, to relax, release,forgive and extend compassion. You may find that you do not agree with everything the author writes from his viewpoint and experience, but the spiritual practices he outlines are drawn from various spiritual paths and are time-tested and universal. The Direct Path is a beautiful work, a spirituality manual,a treasure trove of information and one of the best books I've read on how to practically apply spiritual techniques to your life. Enjoy! Peace and love!


15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 starsA Brilliant, Passionate and Insightful Call to Action, 2006-04-01
This splendid book is written with the brilliance, insight and passion that we have come to expect from Andrew Harvey, whose own path has not been an easy one.

Of Anglo-Indian descent, he first came to notice when at the age of only 21, he became the youngest person ever to become a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. Yet he gave up what promised to be a glittering academic career to return to India and follow a spiritual path. In some thirty books he has described an emerging view in which spiritual practice leads to an in increasing "divinization" of earthly life. He believes that this is a solution to prejudice, separation and ecological destruction.

In this book he describes the trauma of breaking with his Indian guru, but how this shattering of his faith led him to have a direct relationship with the Divine. This book is a largely successful attempt to provide a map for the Direct Path to God or the Higher Self. Because he has studied many traditions in extraordinary depth, you will find exercises and techniques culled from a variety of religious and philosophical traditions.

The principle of the Direct Path is the truth that we all contain sparks of the Divine, and that they also manifest in those around us. This is one of the few books that recognize that not all spiritual teachers live in temples, caves or monasteries. In fact some of the most profound initiates and teachers live largely anonymous lives. In this book Harvey mentions, amongst others, a Tibetan beer seller and a realtor who is also a Kabbalist, apart from some of the more traditional spiritual teachers.

I am more and more convinced that Andrew Harvey is quite right in saying that we no longer have the time for religious intermediaries, that the days of contemplative withdrawal from society are over, and that the Direct Path is the only viable method for social transformation. One of his most quotable sentences: "Our coma of denial of the sacredness of the world.... Is destroying the planet."

It is becoming ever more doubtful that the future well-being of our descendents can be assured by technological innovation alone. Unless enough people heed his call to re-claim their Divinity and to act from it, we may have a very rocky road ahead of us.

This is a rare, reasoned, passionate and enlightened book. Albert Einstein once said that: "You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother." On that criterion alone, this book passes with flying colors. I think that anybody interested in improving themselves and the world about them, will be amazed at how well Harvey communicates even quite sophisticated concepts, and takes the time to do so. Sure signs of a true teacher and true master of his subject.

Is he himself always a paragon of sprititual virtue? I don't know him, but the answer is "probably not." But that should not detract from his message.

Highly recommended.


8 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

2 out of 5 starsFlakes okay by me..., 2005-07-06
So Andrew Harvey can lead us all to God, can he? I guess that must mean he has reached the goal? Well, doubtful, from what I know of the man. Not that there's anything wrong with being an intellectual, a lecturer, a 'celebrity' in the spiritual marketplace - with it's fancy restaurants, cigarettes and fine wine - but, that's a far cry from the lives of the truly spiritual. Still, an interesting read, and, let's face it, spiritual information is probably more desireable to most of us than spirituality lived. Long live the New Age!


16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 starsA Goldmine of Wisdom, 2004-02-10
I don't like to read books with to many words in them, especially long, complicated words. Andrew Harvey tends to push my limits. However, I forgive him, because he has so much to say and I don't expect to believe everything anybody says. Despite his tendency to put a lot of words into a sentence, I read almost all of them. In fact I had difficulty putting the book down until I had.
Harvey's passion to see God through the eyes of the many wise teachers from the different spiritual paths gives us nuggets of truth and golden practices that can enrich the path of any person willing to take the time to try them. To try them all on for size would be a serious undertaking, but Harvey himself has has done that. To try one, then another and maybe another has the potential to enrich the life of anybody that could use a lift of body mind and soul. I am reminded of the last words I heard from a master teacher of mine. " If you don't do it, it won't work" I know of no better source for such practical wisdom.




Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.
Store Categories
Accounting
Bonds
Commodities
Economics
Finance & Investing
Financial Store
Futures
Insurance
Mutual Funds
Options
Real Estate
Retirement Planning
Stock Market
Taxes
Technical Analysis
Trading

Related Products



Browse:  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  # 
The Financial Ad Trader
Copyright © 2009 InvestorDictionary.com - All rights reserved.