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First Thunder: An Adventure Of Discovery
First Thunder follows a heart's journey from life in Seattle, through intrigue in Greece, to what may be humanity's best hope, hidden in a monastery in India. Written as an adventure novel, First Thunder relates one man's introduction to the first four techniques of the Ishayas Ascension. The techniques, known as Ascension Attitudes are based on the ascending emotions of praise, gratitude, love and compassion, and have the power to transform the life of anyone who will give them a chance.
The human being is a divine machine that needs to be re-centered. This does not happen through a process of 'shoulds' and 'should nots'; it happens from the introduction of a new experience of the One. -- MSI
The human being is a divine machine that needs to be re-centered. This does not happen through a process of 'shoulds' and 'should nots'; it happens from the introduction of a new experience of the One. -- MSI
275 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
13 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Maharishi Sadasiva Isham
6 books11 followersThe life of every person is sacred. The revelation of that sacredness is often revealed by a person's contribution to humanity. In many cases, that contribution is only revealed after death. Maharishi Sadashiva Isham (MSI) was such an individual. MSI's life was punctuated by the desire to know. His search was not for knowledge but for Truth. Truth was most important to him and he shared that Truth in total commitment to healing the world.
Born April 13, 1949 in Seattle, Washington, MSI's early life was marked by a desire to find meaning in a seemingly lonely and cruel world. His frustration from feeling different and alone was blanketed by a firm hope that one day he would discover the purpose of life.
After graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Cum Laude in English from the University of Washington, MSI met his teacher, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of Transcendental Meditation (TM.) MSI entered into a formal teacher/student relationship with Maharishi and became a TM teacher shortly thereafter. He eventually found himself in Fairfield, Iowa, home of the TM University with a wife and two children. Content in his experience of expanding consciousness, he settled into a quiet lifestyle of writing books and designing and building houses.
His life was thoroughly shattered in 1988 when, in a matter of months, he lost his business, his money, his house and his family through divorce. Considering his loss an omen, and disenchanted with the rules surrounding TM, he began a new quest for the meaning and purpose of life.
During a journey to the Himalayas, MSI found the Ishayas, an ancient order of monks founded by the Apostle John. From them, MSI learned the techniques collectively known as the Ishayas' Ascension that he would later bring to the world.
Born April 13, 1949 in Seattle, Washington, MSI's early life was marked by a desire to find meaning in a seemingly lonely and cruel world. His frustration from feeling different and alone was blanketed by a firm hope that one day he would discover the purpose of life.
After graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Cum Laude in English from the University of Washington, MSI met his teacher, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of Transcendental Meditation (TM.) MSI entered into a formal teacher/student relationship with Maharishi and became a TM teacher shortly thereafter. He eventually found himself in Fairfield, Iowa, home of the TM University with a wife and two children. Content in his experience of expanding consciousness, he settled into a quiet lifestyle of writing books and designing and building houses.
His life was thoroughly shattered in 1988 when, in a matter of months, he lost his business, his money, his house and his family through divorce. Considering his loss an omen, and disenchanted with the rules surrounding TM, he began a new quest for the meaning and purpose of life.
During a journey to the Himalayas, MSI found the Ishayas, an ancient order of monks founded by the Apostle John. From them, MSI learned the techniques collectively known as the Ishayas' Ascension that he would later bring to the world.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 11, 2012
First Thunder, An Adventure of Discovery ISBN 13: 978-0-9843233-8-8 ISBN 10: 0-9843233-8-4 (old ISBN 0-931783-07-0) begins in modern day and introduces the Thunder Series. This action, adventure novel begins in Seattle, travels throughout the world with intrigue at every turn, both on the physical and spiritual level.
While the drama unfolds, simple Truth is packed in every chapter. Science and Sacred are combined page by page revealing Reality from many vantage points. The story attracts your interest while the transformation of the characters rivals the story line. I was drawn by these characters that were willing to live their lives full on. Also, the characters exemplify the simplicity and ease with which life can be lived in innocence.
While the drama unfolds, simple Truth is packed in every chapter. Science and Sacred are combined page by page revealing Reality from many vantage points. The story attracts your interest while the transformation of the characters rivals the story line. I was drawn by these characters that were willing to live their lives full on. Also, the characters exemplify the simplicity and ease with which life can be lived in innocence.
July 3, 2022
Let me say, first off, that this book is not about the story or even the characters or even knowledge on an intellectual level, except where it minimally allows you to conceptualize what is happening to you.
This book is a transmission. If you have the sensitivity to experience it, this book is no less than amazing. It is an “energetic” transmission, but I only reluctantly use that word, but it is so limited. It is something beyond mere “energy.” It is consciousness. It is a shifting & manipulation of reality. It is a door opening to what is already there in and around, above and below and beside, of and thru “you.”
Readers will likely be put off by the story of the exclusiveness of the teachings. This is more than just a story line. It is a description of the underlying reality of what is happening or not happening to your subjective experience of “you” as you read the story. No one is keeping you from the full experience except, “you” in the sense of how completely your “you” sense dominates & hinders your experience.
I feel for the readers who gave it 5 stars without themselves having an experience of the transmission. Hang in there. Your heart is where it needs to be. I remember when I was excited for every bit of a clue of a experience of ultimate reality. All I can say from my own experience is that you will probably need to take a leap into some sort of actual committed spiritual practice, whether it is Ascension or something else. That’s what I did. But be careful what you wish for. Awakening does not care what you have going in your life. “Your” subject reality becomes the ebb and flow of the “universe,” which can be extremely inconvenient for practical reality.
Also, a warning to go further than the intellectual. The mind is good at fabricating a sense of progress where there is none. Take a leap into a practice that people that you know have found miraculous.
I’ve started to read the next book in the series called “Second Thunder.” I’m only 3 chapters in plus the forward and the introduction. I have had to go back to the Introduction (pages 4, 5, & 6) a couple times to keep track of who the characters are. Read every page of First Thunder and Second Thunder. It is the transmission you are after, although in Second Thunder the mythical story line helps a lot (in First Thinder, not so much).
This book is a transmission. If you have the sensitivity to experience it, this book is no less than amazing. It is an “energetic” transmission, but I only reluctantly use that word, but it is so limited. It is something beyond mere “energy.” It is consciousness. It is a shifting & manipulation of reality. It is a door opening to what is already there in and around, above and below and beside, of and thru “you.”
Readers will likely be put off by the story of the exclusiveness of the teachings. This is more than just a story line. It is a description of the underlying reality of what is happening or not happening to your subjective experience of “you” as you read the story. No one is keeping you from the full experience except, “you” in the sense of how completely your “you” sense dominates & hinders your experience.
I feel for the readers who gave it 5 stars without themselves having an experience of the transmission. Hang in there. Your heart is where it needs to be. I remember when I was excited for every bit of a clue of a experience of ultimate reality. All I can say from my own experience is that you will probably need to take a leap into some sort of actual committed spiritual practice, whether it is Ascension or something else. That’s what I did. But be careful what you wish for. Awakening does not care what you have going in your life. “Your” subject reality becomes the ebb and flow of the “universe,” which can be extremely inconvenient for practical reality.
Also, a warning to go further than the intellectual. The mind is good at fabricating a sense of progress where there is none. Take a leap into a practice that people that you know have found miraculous.
I’ve started to read the next book in the series called “Second Thunder.” I’m only 3 chapters in plus the forward and the introduction. I have had to go back to the Introduction (pages 4, 5, & 6) a couple times to keep track of who the characters are. Read every page of First Thunder and Second Thunder. It is the transmission you are after, although in Second Thunder the mythical story line helps a lot (in First Thinder, not so much).
February 13, 2023
Best novel series ever ... read all 4 Thunder Books that they published. MSI is fun and reminds us of the Infinite, Unbounded inside us waiting to be lived. A nice reminder life and our lives are much bigger than we can imagine if we let go a little.
December 26, 2008
The concept of ascension is certainly interesting, but the book doesn’t give you much information about it. It’s more like an adventure novel, with the good and the bad guys, good vs. evil. Now, I don’t doubt the whole world needs an ascension, spiritually and energetically speaking, but it will be hard to get people motivated towards this idea, or achieving this so called ascension if the people who have this knowledge keep it under so much secrecy. It almost seems like they don’t want the world to be a better place.
The author seems kind of greedy and won’t share his knowledge unless you are worthy of it, or you pay the right price. I understand that you have to be taught this techniques in a one on one basis, but he doesn’t even tell you what ascension really is except for a couple of brushes here and there. I finished the book with the sensation that if I do want to know more about this subject I ought go out and buy the rest of his books. Overall it’s ok, but I certainly was expecting something else
The author seems kind of greedy and won’t share his knowledge unless you are worthy of it, or you pay the right price. I understand that you have to be taught this techniques in a one on one basis, but he doesn’t even tell you what ascension really is except for a couple of brushes here and there. I finished the book with the sensation that if I do want to know more about this subject I ought go out and buy the rest of his books. Overall it’s ok, but I certainly was expecting something else
November 24, 2014
I am currently reading this for the first time in awhile.. I've read the book before, and loved it! It is amazing how the Truth shines forth every time I read it.
Check out this quote "When the mind is still, the body works less hard. The mind and body are one -- two expressions of one reality. When the mind settles into silence, the body stills. Deeper rest than sleep results; this allows stress to be thrown off, improving the healing process. This silence also rewrites the old internal programs. Beliefs based on limited and painful experiences are replaced with a new sense of wonder, joy and peace as one learns to remain in the Ascendant." "The Ascendant? What's that? .......
Check out this quote "When the mind is still, the body works less hard. The mind and body are one -- two expressions of one reality. When the mind settles into silence, the body stills. Deeper rest than sleep results; this allows stress to be thrown off, improving the healing process. This silence also rewrites the old internal programs. Beliefs based on limited and painful experiences are replaced with a new sense of wonder, joy and peace as one learns to remain in the Ascendant." "The Ascendant? What's that? .......
February 5, 2013
This book is fabulous. I say this, because it changed my life in all ways and entirely for the better! This book plucked some deep heartstrings and sent me in a new and wonderful direction.
Evaluated purely as "a read" the book is more like a 3½ stars book, but in many other ways, it is entirely unique and important. Not many books can actually rock your chore. This one may.
Hence, I make it a 5-star book.
Evaluated purely as "a read" the book is more like a 3½ stars book, but in many other ways, it is entirely unique and important. Not many books can actually rock your chore. This one may.
Hence, I make it a 5-star book.
November 24, 2014
I just started reading First Thunder again and love the Truth that is written in this text. MSI is a brilliant author, with his level of consciousness you could read a passage and reread it and get more and more out of it each time. That is why First Thunder is such a timeless book of consciousness.
July 30, 2014
Interesting as a driver to explore more about the Ishaya's Ascension. Average as a story. Moat people reading this I think will expect to find the answers in the text. In reality though the only answers here are those hidden beneath the surface for those who have already studied Ascension.
February 25, 2008
Wonderful story with reminders about living in the present and communications to your inner wisdom.
November 24, 2014
This book certainly grows on you... From the last time I read it, to this time I'm reading it again, it gets more and more intriguing!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews