January 15th, 2012 §
“It was humbling to read a spiritual account from someone who makes no pretenses about how flawed he is as a human. It was inspirational to read a narration of the process of enlightenment (although a bit sparse; I would love to know more about the process; I’m thirsty for it) and how it’s a profound internal feeling rather than a change in personality. Life still goes on as John states concisely.
He describes feelings that I believe many of us experience but are dismissed by others with freakish glances. It is no coincidence that we collectively as a human species experience surreal moments – “matrix” like – throughout our lives. We dismiss them and discount what’s important – our intuition. John describes common paradoxes we experience (the existence of God vs. meditation/other spiritual practices). He is opinionated, crass, and hilarious. Someone I could easily connect with, making it even easier to believe that it is worth working my ass off to reach a state of enlightenment. I wish there was a recipe…
John, I wish you would write more about your process and in more detail. I’m sure we would benefit greatly from it.“
Review on Amazon.com
November 5th, 2011 §
“The author says he became enlightened on a certain day in 1996.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
At least he doesn’t make a big deal out of it. He doesn’t even find a slippery way of making a big deal out of not making a big deal. Nor does he think enlightenment is particularly wonderful (though I doubt he’d trade it for anything).
The book is about how it happened, what it means, what he’s learned, and how simple it would be for the rest of us.
I have doubts about that last, at least for myself. Still, all in all, this is a great story. It’s not pretentious, pious reverent, or silly. And it’s funny.
One more thing. This book is really well written. Unless I’m off the mark, this is a guy with real talent for writing who carefully put together the book with much thought and countless rewrites that give the illusion of simplicity.
I’ve extracted just one example of simplicity, of Dalton cutting to the essence on religion. While so many people get so worked up about side issues like, for example, the existence of God, Dalton advises us that,
“…you don’t have to believe in God to experience God. You just need to look with an open heart.”
Dalton works into his story his take on…
What’s real? What’s God? What’s enlightenment? Why do people and countries fight?
…and gives us a few non-preachy suggestions on each of those.
In the mood of the book, I’ve written a rather restrained review with no “wows.” But this is a wow book. The wows are in the content and the skill of writing rather than in the author trying to find wow-inspiring rhetoric.
And it’s only one dollar/pound/euro if you have a Kindle. Can’t beat that.”
Review on Amazon.com
November 5th, 2011 §
“It’s a great book for anyone who is looking for a modern day voice on finding a teacher and getting enlightened. And what to do after you have found enlightenment. He makes it look so attainable.”
Review on Amazon.com
September 7th, 2011 §
“This is a very frank and no frills but highly interesting book with very graphic content which the author makes no bones about. He says things “as they are” and the content is adult at both the Earthbound and at the Spiritual levels.
He tells us about his journey as a Dublin born author who has traveled across the world and he deals with the fundamental underlying questions that affect us all so deeply – “what are doing here and what is our mission or our purpose in our life.” His way of capturing the Dublin of the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s is informative, interesting and fun. He has great wit and is very funny at the way he describes the most simple things in life.
He constantly pokes fun at himself and about how he thinks and how he sees things which demonstrates his deep and unique inner insights. He takes us to Australia and other places and he gives us a unique understanding of Cranio Sacral Therapy and how effective it is and also how exhausting it can be for the practitioner.
He explains how we all have an inner 6th sense and a healing Power lying within us which we all hear about but which he actually has managed to ‘tap into,’ and he tells us how he has done it through his healing ministry. He explains how his healing comes from outside of himself or does it? and he is provocative in suggesting that it may already be there within us – a Higher Power or a God of his own understanding if you like.
Yet he introduces us to the very real Spirituality that exists within each of us and to the notion that we are all a part of a Great Oneness and that we are not at all separate as the world would have us believe.
At the very core he leads us through his journey of self discovery and he points us to and he lights the way for us to discover real self fulfillment and happiness. He shines a light into the darker sides of life and to the dangers of “playing within the spirit world”. His book is full of insight, mystery and hope and he is remarkably wise.
When I read it I immediately wanted to go back and read it over again and I learned a lot of interesting insights about myself along the way. He is a great new modern writer and its a great read and I would recommend it.”
Review on Amazon.co.uk
June 22nd, 2011 §
“Did you ever wonder what a guru is really thinking behind his mask of serenity and all knowingness?
John Dalton gently tears apart the sum whole of guru thinking into the component parts of ordinary experience. Jumping back and forth through his life, the book is laid out in chapters reflecting his experiences, his reactions to these experiences and the part it all played in his journey. He gives a humorous exploration of being enlightened as the recognition of the absolute essence of a person and how `before I got enlightened I was impaled on the idea of a perfect version of myself’.
John’s musings on gurus, meditation, what reality is, god as nature and his experience of an Irish sexual awakening were laugh out loud funny but simultaneously thought provoking and insightful. Even for a guru, life goes on regardless of how enlightened he perceives himself to be. I reread several pieces and found myself trying on his opinions for fit over the next few days. Well worth a read if you have ever found yourself pondering the bigger picture.”
Review on Amazon.co.uk
June 21st, 2011 §
“Reading this made me think and made me smile. The author has really opened up his reality for me and in a very raw and honest way. Rather than setting his reality as THE ideal (or any ideal for that matter) or telling me how to do anything, he simply offers it as it is, his own. His life lived with some fascinating insights he picked up along the way.
At times I felt myself dipping a tentative toe of understanding and identification into the pool. Other times I completely immersed myself in it. I always wanted to come back for more. This story is told in straight talking always backed up by the authors own experience. And he does not cut any corners. If the experience is relevant, it’s included. I believe this book exemplifies a key spiritual message – Don’t tell me what to do; tell me what you did. Dalton definitely does that!
It’s not like any spiritual book I’ve read yet.”
Review on Amazon.com
June 20th, 2011 §
“Loved this book, in fact found it hard to put down. I’m the biggest skeptic when it comes to gurus and the like, I immediately think ‘nut case’, but this was truly enlightening, the emphasis being on ‘light’ – a really easy read. I would no longer be afraid to listen for fear of being sucked in. Loved the way it ended, very uplifting. Would strongly recommend it and will probably read it again sometime soon.”
Review on Amazon.co.uk
June 19th, 2011 §
I’ve just read Maya Noise by John Dalton. I really enjoyed reading it – it certainly made me think about some stuff I hadnt thought about before .. it also made me laugh about stuff I hadnt thought about before or laughed about before. It’s easy to read and I didn’t put it down for long. I will enjoy going back to it for another slower read and its the type of book you can easily dip in and out of.
Excellent!
Review on Amazon.co.uk
June 13th, 2011 §
“Great read about the writers discovery of his true purpose! Couldn’t put it down and finished it within a day!”
Review on Amazon.co.uk
