Oneless Oneness: Tao as an Existential Remedy

by Marcel Eschauzier

The world’s shortest (but not easiest) rational guide to everyday nondual recognition.
Enlightenment is the ultimate self-help because it helps you realize that the self does not exist. What looks absurd and disturbing at first can grow into inspirational insight. Oneless Oneness is a fresh look at ancient Zen philosophy—not for the dogmatic, ideological, or faint-hearted, but for rational minds willing to question deeply ingrained beliefs.
• Do you wonder what the Zen masters mean by enlightenment?
• Would you like to enjoy the benefits of enlightenment too?
• Did you know that you don’t have to meditate to awaken to Tao? You only need an open mind—and a book like this.

Inspired by the Zen sages and based on his own experience, the author—a trained engineer—demystifies the key insights into nonduality. In a condensed, aphoristic style, he explains how nondual recognition can help us deal with all-too-human issues: from guilt, regrets, and compulsion, to forgiveness, mindful enjoyment, and matters of the heart.
Discover how Tao’s culture-transcending truth reconciles Eastern spirituality with Western rationalist philosophy. Oneless Oneness is a philosophical manifesto and guide in one. Pithy and outside the box, it connects the dots for thinkers and seekers alike.

Genres: Philosophy

117 pages, ebook

Published July 3, 2022

About the author

As a playful “zengineer,” Marcel builds bridges where Zen and reason get along surprisingly well. That’s how he translates nonduality’s boundless marvel into simple, compelling guidance. Join https://simplynondual.substack.com for his latest, and discover much more at https://simplynondual.com.

Reviews

[Stjepan Cobets · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review 4.7

The self-help book "Oneless Oneness: Tao as an Existential Remedy" by Marcel Eschauzier is full of advice on how to set up the see in our lives from the perspective of ancient Zen philosophy.

All readers can find the wisdom of Zen masters who have studied human existence and all that is related to all thoughts connected through the human psyche. The wisdom collected in this book can help people interested in discovering themselves in this universe with advice and anyone interested can find their inner peace through this advice.

I found a lot of good advice in the book and I recommend it to all readers who want to perhaps step outside of their beliefs to expand their horizons about self-existence. Searching for peace within oneself is very necessary for every person, finding the same sometimes opens up far greater vistas of the mind.

[Ann Birdgenaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oneless Oneness: Tao as an Existential Remedy, by Marcel Eschauzier is the third in the Unlock Tao series and a self-help book for people looking to open their minds to this ancient philosophy. This straightforward look at Taoism uses simple terms and aphorisms to help the lay-person understand the pathway to enlightenment through Zen. For example Eschauzier compares experiencing Taoism to the experience of smelling coffee; you can describe it, you can explain it but it’s better to take a big whiff of coffee beans for yourself to understand it. What is causing our bad decisions, depression, obsessive/compulsive disorders, addiction, conflict and matters of the heart; try focusing on a change of perspective “…from the mind grasping the world to the mind being the world—from reality causing the mind, to the mind imagining reality.” I had to read some of the sentences over and over to get them straight but it was rewarding and enlightening. This book does not take on the religious or spiritual aspect of Taoism just the physics and healing nature of it. A thought-provoking read with ideas in bite-sized portions. Highly recommended.

[Denis Roubien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a self-help book on philosophy addressed to non-specialists in a very comprehensible way. And this is exactly what makes this author's book so special. It is the third book of him I read and my conclusion is always the same: These books are ideal for readers with no specialized knowledge of philosophy, but who want to know more.
Moreover, these books are ideal for westerners who have some knowledge of western philosophy but do not know how to approach eastern philosophy and, above all, would like to discover the advantages of finding the meeting point of these two worlds. Eastern philosophy remains a mystery to most people in the western world. And yet, it could help enormously in dealing with personal problems related to modern life in this world. This life leads to the loss of balance that characterizes the West and is responsible for stress and so many ailments related to it.
The discovery of Zen philosophy with the help of this book can be of great advantage to everyone who feels negatively influenced by the western lifestyle and yearns to find inner peace. Moreover, it can open new perspectives and lead to more open-mindedness, something that the inhabitants of the West have reached to a lesser extent than they like to think.

[Ioana Stoian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the original approach to Zen philosophy and the clear explanations. The text is interspersed with funny little poems, giving it a welcome lighter feel. All in all, it’s a rather short and unusual read but it’s fascinating and very accessible. I had to reread some of it though because there’s a lot of information. Until recently, Zen only mystified me. Now I understand it better. Thumbs up!

[Darkly Spledid · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book itself is pretty good, but I take issue with the persona behind the work. This particular book is well written, cites greats like DT Suzuki, and he brings up the direct experience (which is pivotal to understanding the Greater truths). I'm conflicted here because the author has another work, called "Sanity" which is very bizarre - a work of an alt-right thinker trying to twist the Tao into modern day political bias (right wing against left wing politics). When I read Sanity, I can't fathom that author could write this work. I'm not sure the change he went through, but to go from this to Sanity, is like having Hugh Hefner write a book on the importance of chastity.

I don't want to negate this work though - it is good, it's just confusing coming from an author who in Sanity wasn't seeking oneness, but stark separation of one thing from another and bias shopping to present an alt-right view (Covid minimizer, attacking "anti-hate" groups, labeling people he dislikes as "woke"). The Tao doesn't take sides. To take a side, is to separate. To separate is to create a linear greater and lesser. These things create the opposite of Oneness.

But again, this book I think hits the right tone, it's just other works by the author seem so contradictory to this view.

[TheReal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oneless Oneness totally blew my mind! It's like a lightbulb went off in my head when I read the idea that "change equals the present." It's so simple, yet so profound. I've been trying to embrace the impermanence of everything instead of fighting it, and it's been surprisingly freeing.

The whole concept of "samsara" – being caught in this endless cycle of wanting stuff and never being satisfied – hit me hard. It's like the author was reading my mind! I've definitely been guilty of chasing after those fleeting pleasures, you know? But this book has helped me become more mindful of those patterns and find more lasting happiness.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was the idea that "existence is the mystery we are." Whoa. That one really made me think. It's challenged how I see myself and my place in the world. I'm starting to see how interconnected we all are, and it's pretty awe-inspiring.

Oneless Oneness has honestly changed my life. It's helped me let go of trying to control everything and just be in the moment. By accepting that life is constantly changing and full of unknowns, I've found a new sense of peace and freedom. If you're looking for a book that will really make you think and maybe even change your life, I can't recommend this one enough.

[Juliette Godot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oneless Oneness: Tao as an Existential Remedy is the first of a series for those seeking enlightenment and inner peace. The short quotes are life-changing if only you could practice them. Some of the quotes are so profound, I thought to copy and hang them on the fridge so I would repeat them often.

I like this kind of book to help me to remember to live in the present. You can't change the past and you can't predict the future. Here's an example: "There is no purpose in regretting the past if it cannot help us in the present or future."

A lot of the explanations were over my head and need to be studied to understand. The author explains that it takes years of study to master this teaching. I will continue to read it and maybe eventually some of it will sink in. Bravo! Highly recommended.

[F. Pettit · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an academic and scientist, I quite enjoyed the opportunity Oneless Oneness gave me to think about things in a way I usually don’t. I was able to relate my own beliefs and perceptions of the scientific method alongside Tao as a more pure approach to philosophy. For an evidence driven person, I wasn’t expecting to discover the overlap.

The text is laid out in an interesting way. You could read it all in one go, but you could also read it piece by piece, perhaps even one piece per day. That would let you really soak it in and absorb the ideas in a more holistic way akin to starting every day with a mission statement.

[Keith · Rating 2 out of 5]

random

Started readable but descended into what felt like an unorganized string of random thoughts. Series of bullets and notes. I pictured the author simply going mad as he was writing.

[Whittney Corum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good one if you're looking for information on Tao. I especially love how the author uses haikus in between the information too.

[Jason Doedderlein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a book in alignment with the Tao. It is incredible to the right mind that is in the right place. To the wrong mind, or even the ready mind that is in the wrong place, it will be a mess of insanity, contradiction, and nonsense. Taoist writers are well aware of this and do not try to escape it and this includes Mr. Eschauzier. They instead embrace the apparent nonsense and contradiction, not concerning themselves with that audience and instead targeting those who might be ready to receive what they have to say.

I found it to be an amazingly powerful book that opened up concepts or the "Tao" in a way that Lao Tzu or Chung Tzu were never able, despite my appreciation of them and attraction to their writings. Perhaps I read it at the right time.

This is a book I will need to revisit many times, as I do the Tao, and sit with, ponder, and hopefully integrate a bit more each time.

I am infinitely grateful that the author took the time to write this book and to do so in a way in alignment with the truth he's found.

[Daniel Jansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't agree with everything, but thought provoking and life changing. Will revisit again soon.