I chose this book as the next to discuss for two reasons. One, it was suggested and two, I've already read it. I have a rather busy time coming up through the first week in July, so the familiarity was a determining factor! I'll try to get to at least one of everyone's suggested list in time. For those of you who would like to participate, we'll plan on the third week in July as the target date to start the discussion. This should give you time to get and read the book before we begin. Hope you join us:



Publisher Comments

Power vs Force is the culmination of a lifetime's work and study, a brilliant fusion of the mystical and the scientific, and the most thorough exposition yet of the art of kinesiology and its connections with both the new physics and ancient Eastern philosophy. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Author

All human endeavor has the common goal of understanding or influencing human experience. To this end, man has developed numerous descriptive and analytical disciplines: Morality, Philosophy, Psychology, and so on....Regardless what branch of inquiry one starts from-philosophy, political theory, theology-all avenues of investigation eventually converge at a common meeting point: the quest for an organized understanding of the nature of pure consciousness....To explain that which is simple can be difficult indeed. Much of this book is devoted to the process of making the simple obvious. If we can understand even one simple thing in depth, we will have greatly expanded our capacity for comprehending the nature of the universe and life itself. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

David R. Hawkins has practiced psychiatry since 1952 and is a life member of the American Psychiatric Association. A widely respected therapist and lecturer, his national television appearances include The MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour, The Barbara Walters Show, and The Today Show. He has authored numerous scientific papers and videotapes, and co-authored the book Orthomolecular Psychiatry with Nobelist Linus Pauling. His diverse background as a researcher and teacher is noted in his biographical listing in Who's Who in America.

Dr. Hawkins currently divides his time between his practice, books in progress, and direction of The Institute for Advanced Theoretical Research in Sedona, Arizona. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Thanks T.C. for letting us know in advance and giving us enough time to buy the book. This is a book that was recommended to me awhile back. I look forward to reading it and "working" through it on this forum.

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May your awareness be perfection

Alas, it's one of Hawkins' books I haven't read yet... Should be interesting.

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peace for all
love for all
bliss for all

...may your journey be graceful...

If anything is possible, then the statement, "anything is possible," is possibly false.

Just a reminder, we will start this discussion around July 21st, so make sure you get your copy if you haven't yet and start reading!

-TC

To start, and to get a preliminary headcount, I have a questionnaire I hope you will respond to. If you join in late, please go ahead and submit your questionnaire when you join. Answers are completely voluntary and you do not have to give any you don't want. We'll start the discussion next week:




Age/Age Range :38
Gender: M
West Coast/East Coast/In Between/Not In Your Bloody Country: Southern California
Religion/Philosophy: Deist
Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?: non
How many books per year do you average?: 6-8


Have you read this author before?: No
Have you finished the book yet; if not, where are you at?: Yes
Do you like the writing style?: Its a little more informal for my taste, but still enjoyable
Is the subject matter difficult to comprehend?: No
Would you read more from this author?: Probably, although I think I would be more interested in one of his live demonstrations

Alright, hope everyone got a chance to get their reading in. I'll post a few of my initial observations, give everyone a chance to do so, and then based on the response decide how much more in depth we will go.

I'm really torn on this book and author. He writes very well when he is talking about his spiritual experiences and trying to explain the nature of them (although I found the story where he just happened to walk into a gang fight and his presence just caused them to break out in laughter a bit hard to swallow). But his claims as to the scientific nature of his system had me a bit skeptical. He then seems to use his system as the basis for determining the truth of everything else, including his system. This kind of struck me as the same type of logic that says the Bible is all true because the Bible itself says it is.

That said, I liked his system, and there may be something to it. I have never seen the kinesological system demonstrated but I would certainly like to. Might be interesting if we could try and have a demonstration within the scope of this discussion. I wouldn't call the system scientific, but I would call it insightful.

The book as a whole to me seemed a bit rushed. Sort of like he had a bunch of information to get out adn he did it in the most streamlined style he could. Almost like a literary infomercial. But the author, in my estimation, doesn't come off as illegitimate, in fact, I think he comes off very genuine. Which is why I'm so torn. Anybody else with some intial thoughts?

-TC

Dear T. C. I really wnated to join, but have not received my book. I am sure that it will come in today and I'll have it read fast. I did get an idea from what I found on the internet, which might change or be validated after reading it : )

Question: What do you mean with:"Might be interesting if we could try and have a demonstration within the scope of this discussion"?



Age/Age Range : 46
Gender: F
West Coast/East Coast/In Between/Not In Your Bloody Country: Tampa, Fl.
Religion/Philosophy: no/yes : Do your beliefs serve you?
Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?: fiction
How many books per year do you average?: 8


Have you read this author before?: No
Have you finished the book yet; if not, where are you at?:
Do you like the writing style?:
Is the subject matter difficult to comprehend?:
Would you read more from this author?:

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May your awareness be perfection

One of the premises of the book is that the human body can be used as an instrument to determine the truthfulness of yes/no statements with a kinesolgical procedure. Roughly, it takes two people. A person holds his arm strait out to his/her side. The other person asks a yes/no question, and presses down with two fingers on the person's extended wrist. A truthful response will make the test subject "strong" and the tester willnot be able to push the arm down. A negative answer will make the test subject go weak and the arm will easily be pressed down.

He took this procedure and made a calibration of human consciousness that assigned exponential points for different truth levels of consciousness.

-TC

Thanks for the explaination. How could we demonstrate/test that on the forum? Any ideas?

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May your awareness be perfection

This process is used by psychologists and is called muscle testing. It is used to seek out a psychological reversal. In other words if an overweight person is asked do you want lose weight and they test weaker than when asked do you not want to lose weight. They have a psychological reversal and that is why people sabotage their diets or efforts to give up any addiciton.

Also, this type of muscle testing has it's flaws and drawbacks. It's not infallible. I use EFT or emotional freedom techniques and there are tapping methods to turn that psychological reversal around.

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