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 enlarge | Author: Zhi Gang Sha
Publisher: Atria
Category: Book
List Price: $16.00
Buy Used: $2.25
You Save: $13.75 (86%)
New (64) Used (37) Collectible (3) from $2.25
Rating:  251 reviews
Sales Rank: 31164
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.1
ISBN: 1416588930
Dewey Decimal Number: 204.4
EAN: 9781416588931
ASIN: 1416588930
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Thanks, but no thanks. This book screams "cult" November 20, 2008
This book was definitely not what I expected. I've read many books on Buddhism, Philosophy, and even ones on New Age spirituality. Some were good and some were bad. This book is one of those books you should probably stay away from altogether. Sure, the ideals presented in the book are ok, but once you get through the long and repetitive intro (which sounds like a sales pitch) you soon realize that this is one of those books that offers very little real "wisdom" but instead promises to impart wisdom (magically) if you chant some secret words and are "open" to receive it. Apparently, you'll also be able to speak a secret universal language (I'm not kidding!) If you're still confused... I'll straighten it out for you: This book screams "cult, cult"!
If I'm totally and utterly wrong about this book... I apologize. Apparently I'm not enlightened enough to "get it"... but I'm still not going to drink that Kool-aid :) Consider yourself warned.
By the way, I practice meditation and Tai Chi regularly and those things have helped me immensely in my life. I do believe in spirituality and that wisdom can be acquired through meditation. I'm not being harsh on this book because I'm not "open" to the idea of going on a spiritual journey. I just think that there is nothing "practical" about this book... and that it is very misleading.
Off The Wall November 20, 2008
I've heard that an attitude of gratitude is a good thing. I'm grateful for having the opportunity to write this as a means of venting...
The author in this book presents an "outer" spiritual practice that may be construed as unusual to a Westerner in its terminology and imagery. It's based on learning your Soul Language. In practical terms, you recite a number sequence in Chinese over and over, faster and faster until you slur it in a way unique to you. When you develop your own special slurring of this particular number in Chinese, you've got your Soul Language going. Now, do that to the point of unreasonable exertion for about two hours daily. Then, sing in Chinese to the point of unreasonable exertion. Add to that repetitive formulaic prayer (in English) to the point of unreasonable exertion and redundancy. There's dancing, too. I don't think you could ever dance too much, though. You also get some basic imagery to work with. Liquid golden ball something-something.
Now for my rant...When teaching anything new (supposedly you knew this book's material all along), it would seem constructive to present familiar concepts from well-known sources and link those things to the stuff being introduced. This book uses the story of the Pentecost in the New Testament to warm you up to the idea of slurring Chinese numbers over and over, faster and faster, for two hours a day. That presentation didn't do it for me. I also had to adjust my thinking to resist resisting such terminology as receiving "Divine Downloads" (complete with "compression technology") simply from reading the book (IF and only if you think you can handle such a blessing-no joke)! I'm not inclined to assign value to something like that. Though Dr. Sha is said to be well-versed in Eastern traditions, I don't get the sense of timeless warmth from those traditions in order to connect it to practicing any of this stuff.
The text frequently calls you out on your resistance (read: rejection) of what's in this book! Right smack in the middle of page 62, the book states, "Avoid logical thinking." This book demands having to exercise considerable nonattachment-especially from any spiritual maturity you had previously gained in earnest-to accept any of this material. Anything less is evidently an ego issue on your part which needs healing. Though Dr. Sha states that he honors all spiritual paths, he uses up the overwhelming majority of the book trying WAY TOO HARD to sell you on this one. The most grating part is that it's told with a "take-my-word-for-it" tone. I must restate that something in the book's disposition assumes you have no spiritual aptitude whatsoever. Dr. Sha also prays out loud all over the text in spite of your attention. "Filler" to meet the word count requirement from the publisher? Dr. Sha does manage to scantly sprinkle a few grains of general wisdom that I've heard before, but not nearly enough for me to say it makes the book worthwhile to read.
Did I mention that you must jump into this spiritual practice already more or less possessing the heart and mind of a Bodhisattva? Yeah; you kinda gotta have that as a prerequisite to do this work effectively. Or you probably won't receive the Divine Downloads properly, I imagine.
The CD that comes with the book has music that is very pretty...until he starts singing! His voice sounds beyond irritating! Maybe if a gentler voice did it...
So, this fellow was called by the Divine to serve humanity by doing this work. Who am I to question his sincerity? This practice system fails to resonate with my own sensibilities to want to do any of it. The explanation to presumably inspire the reader to engage in it is also presented in seriously weak fashion. I simply cannot recommend this book.
Don't waste your money! November 15, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I consider myself open minded, being someone who was raised Protestant Christian but became Neo-Pagan about five years ago. I have read and incorporated many different spiritual beliefs from other religions into my life. I also believe in many of the things Dr. Sha speaks about including reincarnation and that everything has a soul. I also practice Reiki, Tai Chi, yoga and witchcraft.
While I do believe that Dr. Zhi Gang Sha believes what he is saying, at the same time I think he is just delusional. He reminds me of those born again Christians or Jehovah's Witnesses where all they can think or talk about is God. He certainly is one of those insanely happy, joyful morning people with all his peace, love and harmony. All his talk of a divine golden light ball, golden liquid spring just made me have to pee. If this is too vulgar for some I apologize.
To start, Dr. Sha claims we are in the "Soul Light Era," (starting exactly on Aug. 8, 2003- this is repeated about 20 times in the book) as we are drawn to live in a calm and peaceful way. Of course, before we read this book, we are supposed to have known that date was important. He explains that we are just starting to move from the "Mind Era," as we can point to changes and progress in the creative abilities of the mind. He claims that in the next century everyone will speak soul language. Like in the story of the Pentecost, soul language will not only be automatically spoken, but understood by everyone. Even better, we will be able to communicate what we are thinking in a fraction of the time we do now, as our souls will be speaking. It seems he thinks some of us already speak soul language and he expects we all will in the next century. However, it is important that we read the whole book so we won't miss out on the blessings and the secret code that for the first time have been revealed in this book. Just by reading this, you get the "divine downloads" (mantra's that you chant to yourself) given to his teacher and to himself directly from the Divine. I did try chanting these, but guess I haven't found my "soul voice" yet. Darn. Haven't cult leaders and churches already said we have entered a special time, or that the world would end?
To me, soul language seems to be a mix of Christian speaking in tongues, Reiki, meditation and chanting. It differs from speaking in tongues in that tongues can't be understood by anyone except the Divine. It is like Reiki because no matter what you ask for, your higher self will take the divine download and use it for its best good. It differs in that you chant to yourself instead of laying hands in certain places, usually on someone else. The book also teaches soul tapping, which reminds me of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) or acupressure, but he enthusiastically explains that it is different because it is SOUL guided. Soul movement/dance, which is basically movement/dancing lead by the soul, is covered as well.
The author also has a gift for using as many words as possible. Soul Mind Body Medicine is repeated about 50 times. The word soul is on EVERY page, repeated maybe 300+ times. He also goes on and on about how he was taught by the best teachers, though many of them he can't name because it's a secret. Maybe he should have written the book in soul language, but I don't need to speak soul language to be able to say what's in the book in 1/3 or less of the space. In fact, I can pretty much sum it up to: do everything, everyday, lead by your soul. After reading this book, I was supposed to be happy, healed, and speaking soul language. Instead, I am annoyed and repulsed by this nonsense book. Singing Kum-ba-ya around a fire would have been more productive.
If this is supposed to be a gift from the Divine, then why is Dr. Sha charging exorbitant prices for the "downloads" on his website? For example, Divine Soul Transplant of Divine Level 1 Protection for Pets costs $400 for the information. This book is just the start to get people hooked into his system.
 This Either Works for You or It Doesn't November 13, 2008
Being an intuitive, I admit having high expectations for this book and its teachings. The chanting and repetition did not resonate with me. It is difficult to continue to work with something if it's not working back for you and I did not have success with this method. Perhaps others will; it's hard to make a call one way or another. The theories and teachings are very good; the CD was well done. That said, I think this can be an effective method if this works for you, but that's an individual judgment call.
Good premise - not thrilled with the delivery November 13, 2008
As far as I am concerned, there's more than one way to skin a cat. A particular concept either resonates with you or it doesn't. Although all of the concepts in this book are valid, Dr. Zhi Gang Sha's book does not resonate with me.
I am a firm believer in spirituality and in creating your own destiny. I believe in spiritual soul searching, personal transformation and in many concepts and ideas that would be considered "New Age."
The issues I have with this book are two fold. The first being that I find it to be an uncomfortable read. I get the distinct impression that it's been written in Chinese and then translated into English because the writing feels disjointed and I find the Dr's diction very hard to follow.
The second issue I have with the book is the Dr's special "names" for each of his ideas/methods/concepts that are capitalized and constantly repeated throughout the book. Soul Software, Divine Download, Soul Transplant, Soul Tapping, Soul Dance, Soul Joy, Soul Movement, Soul Language, Soul Light Century, Soul Light Era and Soul World. I find it annoying that he had to place these labels on things that are already fairly well known under more common names such as: creative visualization, energy tapping, Reiki, chakra balancing, yoga, chanting, etc.
The book is about directing energy both inward and outward, it's about listening, focusing, and being aware of oneself. The material is valid, and some may feel that it's well written, but even though I already resonate with many of these things, I just can't feel connected to the way that the Dr. speaks about them.
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