Practical Spirituality: How to Use Spiritual Power to Create Tangible Results

by James Arthur Ray, Karen E. Risch (Editor), Robert W. Mott (Editor)

Practical Spirituality shows you how to use your spiritual power in the quest for tangible results. James Arthur Ray combines the potent ingredients of material goals and mysticism, demonstrating how you need both to get the most out of life. Practical Spirituality makes applying ancient wisdom and the latest discoveries about how our world works - in the realm of physics and beyond - something you can do today. You Actionable, clear principles to achieve tangible success without sacrificing spirituality, and vice versa. You get straight talk to put you on the true path of power, so you can avoid the mistakes most people make. And you'll learn several ways to break out of the mass hypnosis of our time and become completely free from cultural conditioning. This is a must-read and must-do for anyone who is truly committed to becoming his or her own person in world where most people just follow along. It's time to wake up with Practical Spirituality!

Genres: Spirituality

128 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

James Arthur Ray was an American self-help businessman, motivational speaker, author and convicted felon who was found guilty in 2011 of causing three deaths through negligent homicide.
A former telemarketer, Ray taught Stephen Covey motivational seminars while employed at AT&T and claimed he later worked two years for the Covey foundation; however the company has no record of him as an employee or contractor. In 2006 he appeared on CNN's Larry King Live and was one of several narrators in the film The Secret. He also appeared on the Today Show and Oprah.
In October 2009, three participants died while taking part in a ritual, led by Ray, at one of his New Age retreats. Ray was arrested in 2010, and in 2011 convicted of three counts of negligent homicide. He served two years in Arizona state prison and was released under supervision on July 12, 2013. Following his release, Ray re-launched his self-help business.

Reviews

[AnandaTashie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I fully read 63 of the 123 pages, then just browsed. (I was no longer interested in reading every word.) Some of the basic principles that Ray explored are technically 'good' - self reliance, learning through experiences, letting go of baggage from the past, taking care of our physical bodies, dedication, etc. However, he took these base principles to certain extremes, and...

His ATTITUDE! Wow. Maybe the zippy zappy snark works for some people, but it was a big turn off for me. He was dismissive toward such large groups of people. For someone who was big on battling ego throughout his book, his words didn't feel at all compassionate or approachable.

Some examples of what didn't resonate:

- Over-use of calling people / groups "wimps" and "wet-paper-baggers". It was near constant.

- "In your journey of power, one of the most important activities in which you can be involved is the erasure of your past."

- "...don't do the petty garage sale thing. (...) Selling your old material goods is an activity of the small mind with a scarce and limited viewpoint." This amused me more than it should have because I bought this book at a yard sale for 50 cents. :D

- "As a result, you must realize that the only time you are comfortable is when you are doing something you have already done. (...) Repeats are indicators of death - your higher self wants growth!"

- "But I guarantee you will never scale the mountains of power with a weak body. And you won't do it carrying excess baggage." (Baggage referred to weight.) Later, he said: "Conversely, attend any religious gathering today, and you will find few people with ox-like strength (a backside as bag as an ox, maybe, but with the strength of an ox, not so many)."

Things that I liked:

- "Spiritual institutions must build their identity not as the end-all and be-all of truth, but begin to see themselves as centers of research (...)Like any great institution of learning, spiritual research centers must seek to make themselves unnecessary."

- "How open are you to questioning everything you believe to be true?"

- "Do not allow externals to write your life story."

Overall, nope, can't recommend this book. There are better books of spiritual growth and strength out there.

[Doris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty easy to read and understand. If you are not familiar with James Ray, it would be a nice introduction to his concept of "Harmonic Wealth." A lot of his writing/teachings is influenced by people like Carlos Castaneda and A Course in Miracles, so if you are familiar with those two, practical spirituality will sum things up very nicely, if not, the its a nice introduction on how to be a "Spiritual Warrior."

[Malissia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio CD of this book with James reading it himself... I loved it. He brought it to life with his attitude and practical positivity. Everything he says makes me think and I love diving into ego-less thinking. Trying to get the ego out of the way and live more fully outside my "comfort zones".

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in one evening but want to reread it again, slower with better focus. Take notes.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

another one for the permanent collection, to be read again and again.