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Rating: 
Summary: From An Undergraduate
Review: As an undergraduate student, focusing on Hindu Studies and Indian Philosophy, I wrote my senior thesis on comparative systems of nondualistic philosophy in Indian religion. As I grapppled with the idea of nonduality, trying to wrap my brain around the concept, trying to tie together all I had learned in my studies on Kashmir Shavism, Vedanta, and Tantric Buddhism, I was recommended Loy's book by my professor. David Loy manages to connect western and eastern philsophy and psychology to create an interpretation of nonduality that resonates with the western mind. Loy strengthens his interpretation by setting out philosophically, steering psychologically, and reinforcing with literature. Loy's book is a delight to read, is easy to understand, and is thought-provoking throughout. Included in this text is the most complete exposition of nonduality and eastern thought as pertaining to post modern literary theory, dealing mainly with Derrida. Few have attempted to correlate these apparentaly discordant traditions, and I beleive Loy does it best, re-presenting much of his scholarship in previous articles with new twists and interpretations, though never regurgitating old work. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in eastern thought; it makes an excellant introduction for the beginner and a place of growth for the intermediate. The text would also be of great value to anyone teaching eastern thought becuase it is so inclusive and clear-speaking. Its phenomenological-existential edge will make it appealing, breathing life into an amazing topic, which is so often presented in a poor and dry manner.
Rating:
Summary: The very Best on Non-Duality
Review: David Loys book is simply too far ahead of its time. That's why it is so under-appreciated (see the lukewarm editorial reviews).
In 20 years this will be a classic. If your "on the verge" this book can help you do the quantum-leap.
Rating:
Summary: The very Best on Non-Duality
Review: David Loys book is simply too far ahead of its time. That's why it is so under-appreciated (see the lukewarm editorial reviews).
In 20 years this will be a classic. If your "on the verge" this book can help you do the quantum-leap.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating but flawed
Review: I am a great admirer of David Loy's work, especially his book "Lack and Transcendence." This work is chock full of fascinating information and discussions, and I have learned a great deal from it, but the material Loy presents for discussion is a good deal better than the conclusions he draws from it. Loy's philosophical background is in the Heigegger/Derrida continental tradition, and unfortunately he has inherited some of the logical sloppiness of that tradition. Worse, and this is a flaw that pervades just about the whole book, is that he seems not to fully understand that the Nagarjunian theory of the two truths means that you cannot meaningfully mix the conventional mode of discourse with the ultimate. Certainly you cannot draw logical conclusions from such a mixture. This failure to grasp the most foundational point of Madhyamika leads to a variety of confusion, such as his discusson of the role of sense organs in non-dual perception. Worse, it completely undermines the thesis of his central chapter, the Deconstruction of Dualism, in which he tries to show that fundamental identity of the different non-dual traditions he discusses: Mahayana Buddhism, Sankara's Advaita Vedanta, and Taoism. Loy's is certainly the most sophisticated attempt I have seen to defend this "perennial philosophy" blenderized view of eastern religions, but all Loy succeeds in doing is to create the proverbial the coal bin at midnight in which all cats are black.
But I still recommend this book. It is full of treasures, and it is a pleasure to enter into a mental discussion with a writer as sharp and learned as Loy.
Rating:
Summary: A very important book
Review: I find this book truly amazing and I hope it receives all the attention it deserves. The term "nonduality" is mentioned again and again in books on Buddhism and Eastern philosophy. Here, the author makes an amazing discussion of what nonduality means, as far as word can express this. This book is not "easy-reading" in all places, but it's very well worth the effort. The chapters on "nondual perception" and "deconstruction of dualism" are absolutely amazing. I have reread this book and parts of it many times, and will have to do so again.
Rating:
Summary: A very important book
Review: I find this book truly amazing and I hope it receives all the attention it deserves. The term "nonduality" is mentioned again and again in books on Buddhism and Eastern philosophy. Here, the author makes an amazing discussion of what nonduality means, as far as word can express this. This book is not "easy-reading" in all places, but it's very well worth the effort. The chapters on "nondual perception" and "deconstruction of dualism" are absolutely amazing. I have reread this book and parts of it many times, and will have to do so again.
Rating:
Summary: A vastly under-appreciated work
Review: I have studied this book on and off for a decade. My interest is in philosophy of mind, not in religious issues, but this work is one of the very few that offers a true alternative to the all the untenable and currently accepted views of person-in-world (esp.: material reduction; dualism; functionalism; neutral monism). It lacks a psychogenetic-developmental perspective, and I hope to fill that important and illuminating gap some day in a companioon volume.
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