Happiness Is Free, and It's Easier Than You Think! [Paperback]

For the beginner this is a great starting point. For example the following two sentences on page 107, are quite revealing:

"All thought are concepts of limitaion."

"Thinking is just relating things to other things, connecting things together. Knowing every thing, we know the unity, the one-ness, and there is no necessity for relating things by thought."

(I am particularly impressed by the thoughts presented on page 107)

The book presents the pointers on our Goal, Right action, Indicators of Spiritual Growth, Where to look for Happiness, Expression of Self as Love, Importance of Direct realization than Belief, and Spirit of givingness.

Book is very well edited. The comments of Hale Dwoskin are helpful. Hales's hints on polarities points to subtle differences between not-Being Vs Being. It cuts through subtle confusion surrounding the goal by dwelling on the closely resembling ideas which are in fact opposing the truth.

I would keep this book, and revisit several times, for its simplicity of comminication.

The book starts out with an interesting account of the first half of the life of Lester Levenson who had all his material and romantic needs fulfilled at least at first glance, but alas, he was still unhappy and deathly ill even though he was successful in a worldly way. He examined the source of his unhappiness and found that it was because he wanted to change the world, but couldn't. He found in his unhappiness that the best way to become supremely happy was to imagine himself loving other people selflessly, even his enemies. He also put this selfless love into action, doing for others, but wanting nothing in return. He states that there is no need for politics, although it seems important, if everyone has love for each other since we are all basically one. That's what the new agers say, but I must say critics can come with some powerful arguments against such reasoning or lack of reasoning. Indeed, a left-brainer could easily dismiss much of the philosophy in this book as irrational and naive.

The book goes on to explore how we can create our own reality. Since we are the 'All of reality' and not really separate from it, the authors come up with Zen-like paradoxical mantras to help one achieve enlightenment such as "I am separate from the All, I am the All; or "I am loving, I am love"; or "There are problems, everything is perfect" and other such new age mind games. The authors encourage us to be skeptical, which I have no trouble being. There is also a mind exercise of loving and then hating a person, place, or thing as much as possible by asking yourself, "Can I hate (whatever) as much as possible?--Can I love it as best I can?" This supposedly makes one feel happier. After trying the various exercises, I can't really say I'm feeling it. Maybe a little. I'm fairly content right now anyway. Hey, but if this your bag, grab it.

I think that I've been happiest experiencing some pleasure, which usually costs money to indulge in. I don't think I've been happiest loving people, although every once in a great while, I meet some charming person whose pleasant company and mindset I like, at least for awhile. I think it is best to not indulge oneself too long in sad feelings, otherwise you going down the road to destruction. And don't expect more than life can give. That's my pragmatic advice, anyway.