Recently, I got back into the text of Our Natural Potential to tidy a few typos, update a few small things, and add a glossary. The content is basically the same except for the glossary (and a number in the subtitle).
The updates have been posted and will spread through the various outlets over the next day or so.
Davidya
As Maharishi once said about the generation of courses at MIU, “Get it out, then get it right, then get it out right!:D
(laughs) I went through the text over and over, as did my editor and several readers. And still a few typos got through. As well as a couple of glitches in formatting. The usual. You do what you can. 🙂
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What I hadn’t realized is just how much terminology I use. Some of it’s been a normal part of my day for decades. But I did get requests for a glossary and finally tackled it.
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The book has a reduced version based on the words in the text. But even then its about 16 pages!
I ordered my third book yesterday. This time, I am not giving it away to my Governor friends. LOL.
(laughs) Best laid plans…
Thanks, Gary
Great book, thank you David. Saw few errors when I read it the first time, and not many in later readings. It should sell in the millions. How are your new books coming along?
Hi Kjetil
Thanks. The Yoga book has finished editing. It awaits my tackling page layout. It’s been a few years…
The layers book is in editing. Ran into the usual road bump of explaining the profoundly abstract, but I think I have a solution.
Totally looking forward to your two books. I can understand the complexity of writing these two books on such subtle and abstract topics. Maybe it will be a little like Maharishis wish “to get it out”, then “get it right”, often in other book-cases it is first in the third edition things really shape up? But maybe it has to be totally right first time in this case, with the topics your books are about?
Cheering you on.
Hi Kjetil
The Yoga book is a bit more straightforward as it has a lot of applied content. It’s also prestructured, as it’s a translation and commentary.
The levels book begins with pure Divinity, then Brahman, then consciousness, so begins beyond many peoples experience. Analogies don’t work when there are no comparables.
The writing itself has to be as clear as possible, but it’s almost impossible to be error free. There are always bugs, hiccups, and simple typos. But you do what you can.
Writing the book is just the first step. There is also editing, book design, page layout, cover design, ebook conversion, and the publishing and distribution process. It’s something of a miracle that books get published at all. 🙂
(The process is a bit faster if you go digital only, but some skip steps, resulting in a lower quality book.)
Hi David
Great that you are at the editing stage with both books, that is impressive.
A lot of work to write any book, and with these subtle and abstract themes of your books it gets even more challenging.
I understand the massive challenges with the stages book, describing what there are no words for and where so few are as of today.
Maybe some extra challenges with finding the original Yoga Sutra-text, with different and varied translations over time, and with the different Yuga it was written in, on top of doing the commentary itself?
I am impressed with your stamina and patience.
Together with Our Natural Potential and The Incredible Reality of You these two new books will be a treasure for humanity. They should sell in millions, at least when we get to the Mini-Satyuga, which is approaching.
Deep bow
Kjetil
Hi Kjetil
There is a maze of translations out there already, yes. Many come from an approach of control, but there are a few examples that were decent. There were no good examples of Shankara’s commentary, though. The somatic studies also helped deepen understanding as Patanjali does talk about grasping and resistance.
The original Sanskrit text was not hard to find. My alma mater has an online library of hundreds of Vedic texts, painstakingly converted to Devanagari if not (many are in Hindi, Telugu, and others). I had previously put the Sanskrit verses and several translations into a spreadsheet to use when quoting the Sutras. That became a great resource for my translation.
We’ll see. In some reading or other, it was mentioned my first book will be around for 2 more generations. By then, I suspect the needs will have evolved. 🙂
Interesting on the background, thank you.
These books will stand as a lighthouse and inspiration for both this and future generations.
Also inspiring that so many in the DSI-group/the group around L&L are reaching these high states, and more are approaching.
🙏
We’re in a powerful time for spiritual progress, Kjetil, but also some intensity that may trigger resistance. It’s a great time to practice allowing. 🙂
And I agree. A large part of the depth of my understanding of stages is being able to see many examples. That group was a big resource. It also helped me develop my support skills.