The Secret Science: For the Physical and Spiritual Transformation of Man

by John Baines, Evelyne Brown (Translator)

English (translation)Original Spanish

Genres: Philosophy, Personal Development, Spirituality, Self Help, Occult, Psychology

230 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1980

Reviews

[Swankivy · Rating 1 out of 5]

A friend told me it changed his life, so I read it. The few parts I agreed with were kinda lukewarm rehashings of truths I had already discovered, and the rest kind of offended me with its view of women. All I can say is, I don't get how an author so adamant about the difference between body, ego, and soul can place so much importance on the gender one happens to be and the role of physical sex in a person's happiness. "A woman who is a virgin resembles a blank page waiting for a script"? NOT BLOODY LIKELY.

[Julie Decker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Writing under a pseudonym, this author introduces philosophical ideas regarding Hermetic principles--that is, there is a transcendent God holds what is true in Heaven to be true on Earth, and divides all existence into either sun-based, star-based, or god-based. Advocating humans recognizing their noncorporeal selves and being responsible with their knowledge, the book lays down some basic building blocks of truth and asks the reader to apply them.

When it wasn't insultingly simplistic or condescending, it was just boring. There wasn't anything new here that hadn't been said better by other philosophers, and the idea that really our maladaptive behaviors mean we're ritually appeasing evil gods rather than experiencing ordinary temptation and Earthly urges is quite a bizarre thing to swallow. And on top of that, there's some vicious misogyny in this book, which surprises me considering how the author believes we are not defined by our bodies. It seems he only believes that when it's men; women are repeatedly said to be held to different standards, and the author even says that for women to have knowledge and direction in their lives, the scroll of their soul must be "written upon" by a man. Through guess what? Sex. Women gain personhood through heterosexual sex, with a man defining her through his claiming and guiding her. Female virgins, he says, are blank slates in a holding pattern. He has no similar judgment of male virgins, and says nothing about unions that aren't men and women. Really childish and small-minded for a book that tries to encourage you to open your mind.

[Ky J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not one for those (women specifically) who deny the laws of nature when it come to the roles of masculine and feminine. But for those who are open minded and take the time to truly understand what the author is saying, this book is eye opening and life changing. Incredible self awareness and awareness of nature is needed in order to be able to grasp these concepts. Definitely recommend for those who are past the egotistical stage of their spiritual journey.

[Scott Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Woof. Nothing that can’t be found in countless other esoteric works, but seasoned with outdated ideas of gender essentialism. I’m sure a person could get something out of this, if they could look past that, but it’s certainly not for me.

[Madara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grāmata bija par pilnīgi citu tēmu, nekā izspriedu pēc aizmugurējā vāka. Grāmata bija par hermētisma filozofiju, ko pārstāv rozenkreiceri. Okultisms. Turklāt autors nekad dzīvē, šķiet, nav saticis nevienu īstu kristieti, jo viņa izteikumi par kristietību balstās stereotipos, dogmās un reliģijā, kas nav tas, ko pārstāv “īstie” , ne-nominālie kristieši.
Katrā ziņā lika aizdomāties par to, ka “Awareness” un “trust the science” bums patiesībā ir lielā mērā balstīta šajā reliģijā, kas man kā kristietei lika būtiski aizdomāties par manu ārkārtīgo degsmi nepārtraukti sevi “padarīt labāku” (elpošanas, veselības uzlabošana ar prāta spēku, apziņas vingrinājumi, gribas un vēlmju pārvarēšana, mērķu uzstādīšana u.c.). Tam saknes meklējamas Ēģiptiešu okultismā, ko es nebiju tā līdz šim salikusi kopā.

[LA & · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening.. a lot of the levels of awareness it talks about get specific and a lot I already knew but I like how he explains it. If you are not open minded, do not read it because a lot of what it says about women, will put a women off. One doesn't have to follow all the ways and principles stated in the book and you'd still gain a lot from it.

[James Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading

[Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is cooler than cool... ice cold

[Chris Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Excellent book that is not tailored to politics of gender or social norms. It does not degrade, but in fact it empowers by explanation, and not judgement.
A powerful introduction to open minded students of all levels.

[Cherif · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked very much.

[Christopher Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read.

[Wilber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

[Eric Kelly]

Will surely change your views and behavior for the level of wisdom is on 100%

[Lisa]

Worth the read