God is Nothingness: Awakening to Absolute Non-being

by Andre Doshim Halaw

Contrary to popular opinion, God is not a Supreme Being, but the exact opposite—Absolute Nothingness. In fact, the entire reason that people suffer is because they are attached to 'being', and fail to understand that Non-being is the very basis of existence itself. In the immortal words of the Tao Te Ching, "All things are born of being; being is born of Nothingness."

Nothingness is not barren oblivion, nor the opposite of life and 'being'; rather, it is the creative, fertile, and boundless principle that serves as the source and ground of beingness itself. Empty and vast, Nothingness is pregnant with limitless potential and fecundity.

In theistic terms, Nothingness is God.

Rooted in the teachings of the world's greatest sages, such as Lao Tzu, the Buddha, Adi Shankaracarya, Meister Eckhart, and Nisargadatta Maharaj, "God is Nothingness" explores how Non-being is indeed the root of all existence. Even more valuably, the book reveals how to actually awaken to Nothingness—how to realize God.

"God is Nothingness" is a seminal landmark in religious studies. Every serious student of spirituality should read it.

Genres: Spirituality, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Religion

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2014

Reviews

[Brono · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nothingness is the very basis for reality itself, for there are simply no 'things' that can exist without or outside of Nothingness" - in continuation of my understanding of emptiness of things I came across this book by "chance" and immediately I was captivated by the title - "God is Nothingness".

I can see some distorted faces with the heresy of such affirmation but for those conditioned to the world of forms and names I humbly invite you to read/understand the meaning of emptiness or Nothingness - as "we have risen from Nothingness, and to Nothingness we shall return. Therefore, ultimately there is no movement or nothing that ever happens, for everything is in fact Nothingness."

The author explores the teachings of the world's greatest sages, such as Lao Tzu, the Buddha, Adi Shankaracarya, Meister Eckhart, and Nisargadatta Maharaj, "God is Nothingness" explores how Non-being is indeed the root of all existence. It reveals how to actually awaken to Nothingness—how to realize God which in the Western society is seen as separate from ourselves.

Everything originates from, resides in, and eventually returns to Nothingness - pain along with love and joy. The Milky Way and black holes, has no existence whatsoever outside of Nothingness. But not the other way around - Nothingness does not rely upon the world of forms or objects. Rather they are manifestations of the unmanifest. They are waves and Nothingness is the ocean. Without the ocean, there are no waves. Similarly without Non-being there is no 'being'.

"Nothingness does not threaten our humanity, in fact it is the very ground that makes us fully human. Compassion, love, and kindness are all expression of intuitive understanding of our shared non-being, the unmanifest Absolute that underlies all existence".

This is God, the great empty Nothingness of Non-being...what a journey :)

[Fernando · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most realistic way to explain what GOD is and isn't. How can GOD be something else than Nothingness. Once you understand the meaning of GOD you can experience GOD itself.
In Nothingness everything is created. From nothing, everything starts.
I have been following the Taoist way for a while and studying the meaning of our true nature. I can truly relate to this book as it explains in modern talk what many sages have tried to explain to us since thousands of yeas ago. Be still and experience GOD, you wont be able to locate or understand what GOD means, you can only be it. Close your eyes, and you will see much clearer.
A must read book. Very short and precise. No bullshit only Truth.

[Rory Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

God is nothing, but that doesn’t mean that God does not exist, “quite the opposite in fact” (10%). Yet the author insists that he is in fact an atheist (8%). These kinds of paradox are at the heart of the book, as it is writing about what is beyond language. For, as Nagarjuna has shown, reality is beyond both being and not-being, and beyond neither being nor not-being (76%).

Why would anyone think such a thing? And perhaps more importantly, are those kinds of claims uttering wisdom or nonsense. And how can we even tell the difference?

The author implies that there is experiential reasons for such thoughts, as people can experience the radical nothingness that is neither being nor not-being, as for example when they sleep (50%). There are also arguments for it, as obviously a person cannot be a thing, because that perception would require a perspective from beyond thingness (40%).

But if we are consciousnesses trapped by our limitations, then how is it any more plausible to imagine a Nothingness beyond nothingness, than it is to imagine a different kind of thingness as the ultimate grounds of reality. To put it another way, if ultimate reality (God?) is beyond anything conceivable, why does that mean it must be a Nothingness, beyond a uniqueness of ‘being’ or ‘thing?’ (and also beyond nothing)?

These kinds of questions of meaning are at the heart of mysticism. Approaches opposite to that which the author takes will typically view God (or ultimate reality) as absolute Being which grounds its reflection in the rationality of the world which humans experience. Those kinds of approaches reject claims which seem to make no sense, such as Nothingness produces being and not-being (18%). Once irrationality is rejected, then language and argument makes sense. And it can be useful to write books about ultimate reality.

But if people take the opposite approach, such as the one within this book, then the opposite conclusion becomes a very real question. Either language is affirmed as capable of reflecting reality, and so contradictions and paradoxes are avoided. Or language is deemed inadequate, at which point it becomes literally useless. And so is there any point writing books, like this one. For, in a world of Nagarjuna-esque paradox, everything in the book could be simultaneously true and yet also be false. Therefore, even if the author is absolutely correct, it would be misleading for readers to believe, or accept anything in the book, as the author could be simultaneously wrong, as well as being right.

If that is a possible outcome of reflecting on a reality beyond human ability to reflect on it, then what is the point of reflecting or writing about these kinds of issues?

This is a short and readable version of the worldview: ‘reality is paradox.’ Those who find that idea appealing, will like the book. Those who see the book as essentially reasoning against reason, will find it (rationally) odd, and no more (or less) persuasive than other books which present a similar worldview.

[Matt Mackane | Books & Walking · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book rescued me from a 30+ year dead-end in Being-ness.

I see clearly how I misunderstood enlightenment as the realisation that Being is without self - ie I Am-ness - selfless awareness. (some even try to yogicly develop this Being-ness - eg. “plugged-in presence” - without merely standing prior to Being-ness in Non-Being) You can play with Being-ness all day - coming up with more and more complicated ways to purify it, develop it!

It’s pretty easy to recognise a teacher who is playing the development of Being game - they write LOTS of books and have a system and practices of Byzantine complexity which greatly appeal to those who believe that they need to become “experts”!

That was the cul de sac I was stuck in without even knowing.

Non-Being/No Awareness is prior!

The play of Being re-cognised as No-Thing-Ness - just temporary modifications, limitations on the unlimited Non-Being.

Thank you!

[Jadag88 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andre Halaw's book God is Nothingness: Awakening to Absolute Non-being is only 79 pages long, but it is packed full of thoughtful wisdom.

He describes God as Nothingness with a capital "N", not to be confused with the nothingness that is the opposite of "something". He takes from the traditions of via negativa, Neti-Neti, and Tao, among others, to help us see that the ego that we usually think of as our "self" does not allow us to see Reality as it is. Letting go of the ego and becoming one with Nothingness brings us closer to our natural selves than we can even imagine.

For more of my thoughts on God is Nothingness by Andre Halaw, see My takeaways from "God is Nothingness".

[Kai Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

None dualistic approach

Gained a deeper understanding of what it means to come from nothing. When we think about it we come from this empty dark black space of nothingness and then we spend our whole lives trying to be something when we're really nothing and not in the sense that we're not worth anything but in that nothingness we are everything! I really love this concept because it allows you to just relax in the darkness and the unknown and no ego. Everything is nothing Love is Everything

[Zlati · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most profound no-bullshit spirituality books that exist today. Not a one-time read, more like a life companion. Reread, contemplate and practice this book. And if the book sounds too far fetched to you - close it and continue on your self-discovering journey and get back to it in a few years time. You’ll know when you’re ready for it.

[Leonardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este é um livro muito curto, mas é também um dos mais diretos que já li sobre a realidade, essa existência. O que é Deus?

Não trata de nenhuma besteira ou mentira que você encontra em todas as religiões dogmáticas, nenhuma ilusão de condicionamento mental ou físico que nos separa. É exatamente sobre o que Deus é. O livro traz uma das descrições mais precisas de Deus e ela me serviu muito bem em minha autoindagação. O autor fala sobre como superar toda a confusão conceitual, literalmente todas as ideias sobre Deus, espiritualidade, o "eu", consciência, crenças e basicamente os destrincha em pequenos pedaços que apontam para uma lição fundamental: Deus é o Nada com um N maiúsculo. Não tente intelectualizar isso sem ao menos ler o livro e/ou incorporar uma prática meditativa e contemplativa pois o entendimento conceitual é ineficaz e insuficiente.

Professor de uma tradição do Zen Budismo (famosa por ser hardcore, prática e direta), Andre Halaw explora o que realmente significa Deus ser o Nada. Eu amo o quão simples e direto este livro é. Ele vai te atingir como uma tonelada de tijolos ao mesmo tempo que parece um exercício meditativo. Mesmo que seja curto, direto e simples, não subestime o quão importantes são as lições encontradas nele. Ter uma experiência direta do que está escrito aqui é absolutamente crítico se você está buscando qualquer tipo de sabedoria, espiritualidade, iluminação e libertação definitiva de quaisquer sofrimentos, pois só essa experiência direta esclarece os mal-entendidos e noções falsas (egóicas) que você tem sobre a vida, você e Deus.

[Cherno Bah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Absolutely amazing

With lucidity and compassionate encouragement, Andre Doshim Halaw invites us to awaken to our ultimate true nature. It is a short but amazing piece of work that effortlessly cuts through the spiritual stratosphere of 'dos' and 'don'ts' and points straight to that which we seek - the 'groundless ground' of being, the ultimate 'Nothingness' from which we arise, abide in, and finally return to. This book is a must read for anyone who has been wallowing in the spiritual process of seeking who they truly are. It will undress you of all ideas about spirituality, God, who we are and so forth, and establish 'you' in your boundless, birth-less, death-less, limitless and unfathomable Self. I am grateful to have read this book and I am sure spiritual seekers all over will find it invaluable. Thank you Andre, thank you Nothingness. Words cannot convey the deep gratitude felt after reading this.

[Joseph Knecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tries to be a very close pointer to the Nothingness that lies underneath everything. It condenses many sources from eastern thought and tries to approximate the Absolute that hides beyond concepts, reality, and the self.

The only way to know Nothingness is to dissolve all sensory perceptions, all thoughts, all emotions, and all reality. Only when everything is dissolved, Nothingness shines bright.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, to the point

Of course this book is confusing, because I am not at the right level to comprehend it fully.
But having read and listened to many masters, I find this book to be a fresh reminder that there is no I to begin and end with. Which is a happy state for me even now a before I understand it fully.
I hope that by writing this review I could encourage more people to read this book. It will be an important part of the journey to find out who we really are

[Brian Melchers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Nothing is the impregnable womb from which all existence springs. It is the blank TV screen. The conductor of the orchestra. The host of the party.

One quote I hope to remember is:
“The dark enfolding womb of Nothingness constantly welcomes us home, which is why so many people seek the oblivion of drugs and alcohol.”

[Apollon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about the nature of God written by a buddhist monk. Highly recommend for anyone not satisfied with the traditional concept of God taught by most religions and education systems. More specifically, it is a book about what God is not rather than what it(?) is.

[Modestus Lorence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gift for the humans

I think you possibly can not use words to describe how good this book is. I have been a seeker for two decades, and this book just makes me go blank. Just read it once. Trust me, your life will change forever after you read this book.

[SANTHOSH KUMAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing much to say

Nothing much to say about "NOTHINGNESS".
Simply amazing to get the new insight about the new perspective of life. Enjoy the read

[Sumit Sabnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothingness put in to words.

Nothingness put in to words. What l feel and could not express and thought could never reflect on is mentioned in black and white .

[Báo Zingerle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, contains many great expressions.

[Craig Hendry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothingness

Nothingness. What more needs to be said. Clear and easy to understand pointing to that which is not. Great work

[Oleg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book that discusses the idea of God as an opposite to what modern religions tell. This short book has a lot of wisdom and intersects with ideas of Tao and Zen Buddhism. Totally recommend!

[#DÏ4B7Ø Chinnamasta-Bhairav]

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To SEE a WORLD in a Grain of Sand,
And a HEAVEN in a Wild Flower,
Hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand
And ETERNITY in an Hour"
~ William Blake ~

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“Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. And between the two my life flows.” Nisargadatta Maharaj

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Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is form.
Form is not different than Emptiness;
Emptiness is not different than form
~ Heart Sutra ~

Like the ocean and its waves,
inseparable yet distinct

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" I and The Father are one,
I am The Truth,
The Life and The Path.”

Like a river flowing from its source,
connected and continuous

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Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine
Truth, Life, and Love
be established in me,
and rule out of me all sin;
and may Thy Word
enrich the affections of all mankind

A mighty oak tree standing firm against the storm,
As sunlight scatters the shadows of night
A river nourishing the land it flows through

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[NN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ex nihilo nihil fit might be one of the most misunderstood principles of philosophy of all time. How could something come from anywhere but nothing? Then again, everything is null and void, so in the end it remains true that everything, which is really nothing, came from nothing and still is. These matters are beyond words though, so if you don't take this frolicking walk on the via negativa, you will miss out on Nothing.

[Ilsa Comte Adair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing is everything

Clear, concise, beautifully written. As someone who loves to think and can get stuck in the philosophical aspect of emptiness and awareness, this book catapulted me into the actual experience, beyond thought and concepts, forcing me to drop all knowing and sense into what remains beyond and behind it all.

[Phil Calandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is very difficult reviewing a book that is so contrary to the average person’s view of life, the belief in a personal self and the belief in a Deity. The author’s explanation of Mind, Consciousness, Awareness and “Nothing” can be perplexing and very difficult to grasp. However, the author offers another way of looking at ourselves and our spirituality. This, Indeed, is a challenging book that I would recommend.

[Edvardas Garbenis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Of course the book ia great, because God IS nothingness. God is also everything.