The Master Game: Pathways to Higher Consciousness
byRobert S De Ropp
Kindle $14.33
Michael A Holden
5.0 out of 5 stars Is Cosmic Consciousness the only game worth playing.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2013
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This book is about the different ways in which we can raise our consciousness. De Ropp describes the 5 levels of consciousness as 1. Deep Sleep, 2. Dreaming sleep 3. Waking sleep (aka normal everyday consciousness) 4. Self-transendance (bliss) 5. Cosmic Consciousness.
Written in the 1960s, the book does go into a lot of detail into the various ways in which people use pyschadelic drugs to reach level 5. We are left in no doubt, however, that 'Creative Pyschology' is the only way. ie Go into the silence as much as possible and for as long as possible - stops thoughts. Secondly know what you are doing and why - mindfulness.
I'll be honest in that I will need to re-read this book several times, but isn't that the case with books that are worthwhile.
I would recommend that anyone on a spiritual journey add this to their collection.
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wacrompton
5.0 out of 5 stars Good for those who know what they're doing.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 August 2014
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For those who have done a little work on themselves, and would like to see how some of the cults, gurus, phoney teachers, tricksters (yes, and even genuine 'teachers') act, this book will be a help. I read it and loved it.
The more you discriminate on the different kinds of advice given, the better. Expensive, but in MHO, worth the dosh.
Warning. Don't fall for Gurdjieff rubbish. It's years out of date, and the likelihood is, the man lost his way years before he setled in Paris.
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K2
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book which ties in with Gurdjieff
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 July 2014
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Very good book which ties in with Gurdjieff, Bennett and most other "systems" out there but this is very clear and he writes like he knows what he's talking about! Good Book!!
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David Farmer
5.0 out of 5 stars excellant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 July 2013
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brilliant book every home should have a copy.makes adifficult suject easy,simplyfied and possible to under-stand.would not live with out it.
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M. Clifford
5.0 out of 5 stars Holds up well over time
Reviewed in the United States on 21 January 2013
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First, I should disclose that I am currently living in the house that deRopp built on Sonoma Mountain as the Church of the Earth. I learned this a couple of years after I moved in, when my landlord showed me a copy of the "Church of the Earth"), a book by deRopp with great stories and photos of the process of building this place. That book, which seems to be unavailable currently, also details deRopp's "Three Pillars" philosophy of community: the Garden, the Temple, and the University). It was an experiment to try to create a community united by spiritual principles living in sustainable harmony with the earth. It failed after deRopp drowned on one of his sea kayaking trips, during which he would gather food from the ocean for the community. (disclaimer: the story of deRopp's drowning is based on oral tradition told among long-term residents of the North slope of Sonoma Mountain. I have not fact-checked it.)
There was a powerful synchronicity in learning this. After living here for a year--before I learned about the origins of this place--one day a flood of ideas came to me about a new religion; I wrote the ideas as they came in a composition book. The religion was called "The Church of the Earth is God" and it's main premise was that the religion our species needs now should be based on the premise that the Earth is God... and that this should not be held in the way that we think of "ultimate creator God" but instead as a way to cultivate reverence and respect for the earth. Was I channeling deRopp? Who knows. But I digress.
I first read The Master Game in the late 1970's. It made a lot of sense to me then. It's been good to revisit it in this new edition. I can see how deRopp's ideas have influenced me over the years. The writing style is very much of the period in which it was written, which to me feels like a sweet contrast in tone with more current pop psychology/spiritual guidance/self-help books (it's all three of those categories, in my opinion). It is hard for me to sort out how much of my enjoyment of it is sentimental, and how much is based on its objective qualities; therefore I have not been recommending it to my friends and students---just quietly enjoying it on my own while I sit under the Oak Tree where the residents of the Church of the Earth eventually learned to make peace with the bees.
That said, I acknowledge that Robert deRopp has a place among the ancestors of the various lineages that have guided my development, and for this I am grateful to him.
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David Getzschman
5.0 out of 5 stars Relevant, full of insight and speaks to our need to evolve as a species
Reviewed in the United States on 16 April 2016
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"The Master Game: Pathways to Higher Consciousness" may have been written in the 1950s, but it is astonishing in its relevance to the present.
de Ropp frames human existence in terms of the games man plays, grouping them into object games (the pursuit of wealth, fame, and resources) and meta games (the pursuit of beauty and truth), and identifying the Master Game (the pursuit of enlightenment) as the only one worth playing.
I've found his candor and utter disdain for object games and organized religion really refreshing, and he is as eloquent on the drug experience as he is honest about how it will not lead to enlightenment.
I haven't read anything with this much enthusiasm in years!
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Thomas M. Mcgovern
5.0 out of 5 stars Self-realization 101
Reviewed in the United States on 26 September 2015
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This is the book that I read in 1970 that started me on the path of self-development. It was written by a bio-chemist and is based loosely on the Gurdjieff system, but it includes information from many traditions. You might think of it as a "Self-realization 101" book.
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Jennifer Wherrett
5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend it, although it is not light reading
Reviewed in the United States on 18 July 2016
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He's absolutely right! This book is extraordinarily revealing and provides valuable insight into human psychology and the human psyche. I highly recommend it, although it is not light reading. You can actually look back over human history and see the different, often dangerous games that have been played out. This book provides the insight into those different games humans play and the reasons for those games. More importantly, though, which game do we, as individuals, tend to play? And why?
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kirtida gautam
4.0 out of 5 stars Really good book on Creative Psychology
Reviewed in the United States on 22 September 2017
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This is not some stupid new age BS book. It is one of the best books on Creative Psychology. The author knows his subject and presents it in matter-of-fact manner.
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Joshua
5.0 out of 5 stars Time well spent
Reviewed in the United States on 24 October 2014
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I believe this is worth reading no matter how advanced your practice is. Ideas influencing your practice compound over time and this has become one of my favorite books ever. I've read a lot of Trungpa and his teachings utilized external theater, but i've always had a hard time integrating such teachings due to a resentment of not feeling genuine. This book has given me a better perspective on the subject and one that i can more readily utilize daily.
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The Master Game (Consciousness Classics)
by Robert S. de Ropp, Iven Lourie
4.22 · Rating details · 176 ratings · 15 reviews
s/t: Pathways to Higher Consciousness
This book is a compelling exploration of the human psyche and of the specific techniques through which man can achieve the highest possible levels of consciousness. This exploration, which involves every aspect of human behavior--the instinctive, motor, emotional, and intellectual--is, in the words of the author, "the only game worth playing"--the Master Game. This best-known consciousness classic by Robert S. de Ropp sold more than 200,000 copies in the '60's and '70's and influenced two generations of readers on their spiritual paths. Scientist de Ropp's summary provides a fine introduction to the various practices of meditation, yoga, Fourth Way, and other paths. (less)
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Johanna
Aug 16, 2013Johanna rated it it was amazing
Excellent read for any Seeker or anyone who is interested in the topic. The book covered several areas of discussion on consciousness, and delves into some of the reasons why human beings have struggled to reach levels of higher consciousness in their lives. To me, it is a must read!
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Zendali
Dec 01, 2011Zendali rated it it was amazing
Shelves: religion-life-philosophies-etc
I can see why this is a classic and a bestseller.
This book has a lot of good ideas to give some thought to, I’ll come back to this book many times.
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Ed
Nov 06, 2012Ed rated it it was amazing
This book was recommended to me as an introduction to the Gurdjieff work. Splendid. It remains prominent on my bookshelf today and I often refer to it.
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Whoof
Sep 21, 2013Whoof added it · review of another edition
Flippin great
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Erik Graff
Feb 06, 2011Erik Graff rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Recommends it for: everyone
Recommended to Erik by: no one
Shelves: psychology
One social current central to "the sixties", a current in addition to the political, was what may be called "the human potential" movement. For me it began with a public speaking course taken during summer school at Maine Township High School South. Among other research projects, inspired by articles in Life Magazine, I did one on psychedelic drugs. The owners of Time-Life themselves were, as the CIA put it in those days, "experienced" and the articles were generally very positive, alluring even. I hadn't taken any drugs whatsoever at that point, but the study of them and of the persons who took and studied them got me to continue such researches and to begin experimenting myself soon thereafter.
De Ropp's book was one of many I read on the subject of consciousness enhancing drugs. It also discusses other methods of expanding the boundaries of human being such as various yogic disciplines and encouraged me to experiment with them in college. (less)
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David Hamilton
Mar 27, 2008David Hamilton rated it it was amazing
Recommends it for: self-improvement types
Recommended to David by: Sunday School
This book comports very well with early, Oriental Christianity.
It was the finest and most advanced of the "games people play" or "transactional analysis" genre of books that came out in the late 60's toward the end of the Vietnam War. It has frequent references to the social pathology of warmongers, while offering devotees of the Way a rewarding, yet difficult path to higher consciousness and being. (Devotees will be largely scorned by modern society.)
The author is an exceptional biochemist.
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Pax Analog
Jan 05, 2010Pax Analog rated it it was amazing
I re-read the earlier edition of this text, as I was interested in all game tropes, adding it to Finite and Infinite Games, by James P. Carse, and Gamer Theory, by McKenzie Wark. This text is an excellent reminder of the neglected seniority of the rigor of Consciousness, a la Zen, Gurdjieff, and other sources. Contrasted with other life games, it stands out in bold relief. I was particularly struck by the inadequacy of the Art game divorced from the Master game, and the efficacy of the two in tandem. (less)
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Kirtida Gautam
Sep 21, 2017Kirtida Gautam rated it really liked it
Shelves: chakra-5
This is not some stupid new age BS book. It is one of the best books on Creative Psychology. The author knows his subject and presents it in matter-of-fact manner.
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Ray Greenberg
Dec 07, 2011Ray Greenberg rated it liked it
Great concept, well executed. Some ideas a little scary but a lot that rang true also....
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James Hockings
Aug 23, 2011James Hockings rated it really liked it
Dated now, but the aim is still true.
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David Hunter
Aug 24, 2020David Hunter rated it really liked it
Shelves: non-fiction, occult, philosophy, self-help
I feel like this book might have started the trend of "self-help" books that include the really useful advice and exercises in appendices. Smarter, Faster, Better does this, as does another book by Duhigg. Why do authors put the really helpful pieces in the area after the main text? It makes no sense.
Still, a very interesting read, and I think very helpful as well, if you read the appendices.
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Tony Buckland
Dec 19, 2018Tony Buckland rated it really liked it
Exceptional guide to the young man planning his life. I intend now to refer to the book to determine if the outcomes of my life have gone as planned through this book and other readings by re reading it.
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John Sidwell
Jul 15, 2015John Sidwell rated it did not like it · review of another edition
Of occasional insight and interest but basically a self help book framed as something much more. The deployment of Sheldon's typology is particularly dubious as are the author's endeavours to reduce historical error to immature consciousness.
