Electrical Christianity: A Revolutionary Guide to Jesus' Teachings and Spiritual Enlightenment Paperback – 23 July 2013
by L. Ron Gardner (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
Electrical Christianity is a revolutionary guide to Jesus' teachings and spiritual en-Light-enment. It provides clear-cut, in-depth instructions on how to directly "plug into" the Divine Being, the Holy One, and literally "pull down" His Power.
Grace is not an abstract principle; it is the palpable experience of God's Spirit-power--and anyone who religiously (or devotedly and intensely) practices the discipline of true Holy Communion presented in this book can experience the descent of Divine Power, the Holy Spirit. The true Eucharist, the practice of Holy Communion (which in its "awakened" form implies reception of the Holy Spirit), is the very heart of real Christianity, and the foremost method for attaining salvation (spiritual en-Light-enment). Electrical Christianity not only details the radical (or gone-to-the-root) practice of Holy Communion, but also analogizes it to an electrical circuit. The Eucharist is simply Ohm's Law applied to spirituality, and once you grasp the Eucharist-Ohm's Law connection, which is explicated in this book, you'll become like Jesus: a spiritual revolutionary. In addition to explicating the Eucharist-Ohm's Law connection, the book also sheds penetrating light on psychology, politics, and sociology. It presents a vision of integral psychology that differs markedly from Ken Wilber's, considers Jesus' politics in a modern context, and examines the history and future of Christianity in the New (or Aquarian) Age.
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172 pages
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Beyond the Power of Now: A Guide to, and Beyond, Eckhart Tolle's Teachings
by L. Ron Gardner
Paperback
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Customer Reviews: 4.4 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
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L. Ron Gardner
I am a mystic-philosopher and spiritual teacher and have authored three books – “Beyond the Power of Now: A Guide to, and Beyond, Eckhart Tolle’s Teachings,” “Electrical Christianity: A Revolutionary Guide to Jesus’ Teachings,” and “Kill Jesus: The Shocking Return of the Chosen One.” The first two books are nonfiction, while the third is a novel.
When I’m not writing I regularly abide in a state of blissful at-one-ment with the Spirit. Over the past forty years, I have practiced Transcendental Meditation, Self-Realization Fellowship meditation, Buddhist Vipassana Meditation, Zen Meditation, Tibetan Buddhist meditation (Mahamudra and Dzogchen), J. Krishnamuti's "choiceless awareness," Ramana Maharshi's Self-enquiry, Adi Da's radical understanding, Kashmir Shaivist Shaktipat, and hermetic Holy Communion. I now teach my my own method of meditation: Plugged-in Presence.
Because I specialize in sociopolitical philosophy as well as spiritual mysticism, I enjoy mixing in sociopolitical insights with spiritual ones in my books.
I have a B.A. in sociology from the University of California, San Diego, and currently reside in Tijuana, Mexico. Beyond meditation, philosophy, and writing, my interests include working out, tennis, and travel.
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Dr. Andreas Ullrich
5.0 out of 5 stars Die ultimative Meditation
Reviewed in Germany on 3 November 2013
Ich habe dieses Buch als Ergänzung zu "Beyond The Power of Now" gekauft (siehe meine dortige Rezension). Es greift die dort angesprochenen Themen auf und erläutert die genaue Meditationsmethode. Ron Gardner stellt eine sehr sinnvolle Analogie zwischen Ohms Gesetz betreffend Elektrizität und dem Hineinfließen von spiritueller Energie in das menschliche Körper/Geist-System her.
Es wird auf die Trinität im Christentum, im Buddhismus und im Hinduismus eingegangen. Besonders aufschlussreich fand ich die Erläuterung des Herzzentrums, und damit ist nicht das Herzchakra gemeint, sondern ein Bereich, der im Körper in Höhe des Herzens etwas rechts vom Brustbein gefühlt wird. Seine Erläuterungen decken sich völlig mit jenen Ramana Maharshis. Er stellt auch den Bezug zur "niederen" Kundalini am unteren Ende der Wirbelsäule und zum Chakrensystem her.
I bought this book as a supplement to Beyond The Power of Now (see my review there). It takes up the topics addressed there and explains the exact meditation method. Ron Gardner makes a very useful analogy between Ohm's law regarding electricity and the flow of spiritual energy into the human body
The Trinity in Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism is discussed. I found the explanation of the heart center particularly insightful, and this does not mean the heart chakra, but an area that is felt in the body at heart level, slightly to the right of the breastbone. His explanations are fully consistent with those of Ramana Maharshi. It also relates to the "lower" kundalini at the bottom of the spine and to the chakra system.
Dieses Buch wird in einigen Jahren ein Klassiker sein, da bin ich mir sicher!
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Friend
3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed bag...Profound and Silly
Reviewed in the United States on 3 March 2021
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L Ron is quite notorious for his ruthless Amazon reviews. More often that not I actually agree with his critiques; he often correctly points out that many teachers are confusing early stages of awakening with final Self-Realization. Yet, I also wonder why he is so narrowly obsessed with using his spiritual wisdom/knowledge for such petty ends, which I would suggest is holding back his own Self-Realization. As far as his own book is concerned, the meditation/holy trinity/ohms law portion of this book is quite well done and useful. I'd give it 5 stars on it's own. Unfortunately, the book is also accompanied by high school level political and philosophical analysis that seems woefully out of place for a book that could actually be quite profound. Separate the wheat from the chaff and it's a good book. All in all, 3 stars.
4 people found this helpful
Victorsque
5.0 out of 5 stars The end-game practical guide to spirituality and meditation
Reviewed in the United States on 4 September 2020
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This book encompasses the esoteric teachings of East and West
and it’s credibility backed by a meditation method that really works.
I’m deeply thankful to the author for the contribution.
Take this advice from a guy who couldn’t sit still for five minutes.
After spirit baptism, there is not much effort needed in meditation.
You are being “meditated,” resting in the down-pour of shakti.
Also, the recommended reading list alone is priceless
Author is the authority on spirituality and meditation.
Namaste
2 people found this helpful
Freddy
5.0 out of 5 stars interested in christian mysticism?
Reviewed in the United States on 26 August 2019
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If you are more interested in contemplative practice than in intellectual speculation, you may like this book.
Ron Gardner presents an unusual metaphor and work hypothesis. The suggested experiment integrates both the consciousness and the energetic aspect of meditation in a kind of ecstatic dance. Put it to the test. On the side I suggest you read articles on his web site as well (like the one on trekchö), the author is well-read, critical and very outspoken.
2 people found this helpful
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From other countries
R. Reviere
4.0 out of 5 stars Valuable book built from a Traditions orientation
Reviewed in the United States on 17 August 2015
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I read Electric Christianity several months ago. I usually write reviews promptly, but this one is a hard nut to crack and even now not fully digested in my case. Here goes anyway. As a matter of recommending this book, this part is easy. If you feel you benefit from L. Ron's many reviews of other books on this site, then you will be very happy with your choice to buy this book.
It is the more substantial work that illuminates and expands on L. Ron's points made in-between his remarks on other books. If you can't bear the, how shall we say, free-for-all atmosphere of his collection of reviews… well, you have been warned, not that you even need this warning.
For my part, nothing L. Ron says (or could say) offends me, because my own choice is to treat the matters discussed seriously (with my definition of serious), and therefore my choice is to focus on the light when it appears and ignore the heat. I recommend this method in reading L. Ron and any similar writers where a lot emotion is employed and the emotion is essentially beside the point (as in, it isn't an action, romance or other type of novel we are reading). In any case, I very much respect the seriousness (using his apparent definition of serious which often includes negative characterization) that L. Ron displays in writing on these matters.
On to the book itself.
I have not read 2000 books on spirituality topics (more like only a hundred or so), and therefore I found it somewhat hard to follow Electric Christianity's myriad equivalences of Traditional spiritual concepts (and vocabulary). So this review is necessarily covering only the part of the book that I feel that I actually understood.
I agree with many of the other (positive) reviewers that there is something new and distinctive here. Other reviewers have helpfully pointed out many of these specifics. I would add to their comments that, to me, the work stands as synthesis of mostly old school Spiritual Traditions (plus Objectivism and Da-ism being the newest sources of ideas and therefore the exception)…and so it is valuable to anyone with deep familiarity with any of these Traditions. Not so much if you have never delved into any of them. This is not a beginner's book.
If Tradition (plus) is good enough for you, then this book and L. Ron's reading list will provide plenty of grist for your mill. Some of us, though are bothered the focus on the Traditions because this a) neglects the new, experimental/experiential work being done, b) is encumbered by all sort of translation challenges (between languages and cultures, often involving great spans of time) that lead to an uncertain amount of uncertainty and imprecision, and c) involves mountains of material that is frankly categorical and assertional and therefore is no more valuable than the (limited) power of reason (building models from data aka induction, and extracting 'specific predictions' from models aka deduction). People today have been seduced by this process and have forgotten that 'reason' always results in something with less truth/truthfulness in it than the original observations (subject to the usual list of caveats of course that mostly deal with competence).
So rather than just complaining about the focus on Traditions, here's an additional sources list if you want your reading (and hopefully experiences) to go beyond Tradition (and the singular focus on Plugged-In Presence per Electric Christianity (and the recommended reading list therein).
-everything mentioned in the Monroe Institute website (this material is focused on Out of Body Experiences - OBEs). Monroe is experiential and Tom Campbell's writings are partially experiential but mostly metaphysical.
-everything mentioned in the Researchers of Truth website (Dr. Atteshli's work is particularly fine). This is a highly comprehensive metaphysics. Plugged in Presence is called "At-One-Ment" in this body of work, and it is a high attainment.
-the whole body of work on Psychedelics (start with Rick Strassman's books & the associated videos) plus the many other authors with offerings in this space
-any decent collection of reports on Near Death Experiences
-For those who have or want to develop beyond childish skepticism (such as 'rationalwiki' and anything 'skeptic.com'), then be sure to read Rupert Sheldrake's work, plus Irreducible Mind and other similar sources...
For those who are interested in Electric Christianity's topics and are put off by L. Ron's background as an astrologer, I would say this: at least L. Ron is clear about his primary use of astrology, which is as a model to understand personalities. Thanks to L. Ron for making this clear… I had previously had little interest in this subject because of my lack of any beginning of a dim imagining of how spatial position of large bodies in the universe can cause or affect anything on the vastly different scale of individual personal predilections. I still lack that dim imagining. But at least now I can see where astrologers over the centuries evidently focused their work: psychology. This makes a lot of sense.
A comment on L. Ron's frequent references to Ayn Rand and Objectivism, as well as the libertarian-rants included in Electric Christianity. This indeed seems out of place in a volume devoted primarily to an esoteric subject, i.e. achieving Plugged-In Presence.
On the other hand, L. Ron is likely correct in the general surmise that, when humanity-on-earth has reached a high degree of Plugged-In Presence and the other (consequent?) forms of human wisdom, then indeed coercive government will collapse… no one will want it. It sort of follows that anyone in the here-and-now that practices any degree of Plugged-In Presence is unlikely to be supportive of coercive government (or coercive anything). Because it's coercive, which is highly Not-Plugged-In. So for those of you who get in a kerfluffle over the lack of liberal pass-a-law-to-fix-it values in Electric Christianity, relax.
L. Ron does not seem to subscribe to an integral (K. Wilber style) or Spiral Dynamics (D. Beck style) human development scheme, so of course he will not see a place for your interventionism (with implied coercion) within the context of social values evolution where it makes a kind of sense.
Just skate by these discussions, which aren't important for YOUR critical path internal/esoteric work. Don't get distracted… the politics narrative is almost entirely a side issue… go back to the middle of page 17, take a big breath, and start taking that in at a deeper level.
To finish up, I would love to walk around and live my life enjoying always-on Plugged-In Presence (At-One-Ment). And I'll be working on this. But I'm just a humble brother of yours, here in the Worlds of Separation (to use a Researchers of Truth term), and I seem to have a lot of Resistance (per Electric Christianity) at this point. I now have a slightly better idea what the Work is, and I am thankful to L. Ron for his contribution to this understanding.
13 people found this helpful
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M
5.0 out of 5 stars I would strongly recommend anyone interested in Spiritual life and its goal of ...
Reviewed in the United States on 21 January 2016
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I would strongly recommend anyone interested in Spiritual life and its goal of Holy Communion (the Truth of the Christian Eucharist) or en-Lighten-ment to not only read Electrical Christianity by L. Ron Gardner but to earnestly practice the technique he teaches for establishing a relationship with God through his Holy Spirit/ Shakti (blessing power).
In this book he compares the process to Ohm’s Law, the relationship among electric current, resistance, and voltage; which to my knowledge is a completely original insight and one that should be a great benefit to seekers. He also ties together the 3 aspects of Ohms Law to the 3 vows of a Christian Mystic : obedience, poverty and chastity.
Although the title of the book is Electric Christianity and is chiefly concerned with the Christian Eucharist he draws upon other great traditions Hinduism (mostly Kashmir Shaivism) and Buddhism (mostly Tibetan Dzogchen) to show similarities in terms and practices that mirror each other and strengthen and clarify the readers grasp of the material.
I would also suggest others to check out some of the Authors own Amazon reviews for more enlightening and helpful reading. The author has obviously spent much time and effort in understanding and practicing the spiritual traditions of man and has done a service to others with his discerning reviews that will save people time and point them in the right direction. His suggested reading list at the end of Electrical Christianity is excellent.
7 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Writer, Book, and Explanation of the Holy Trinity
Reviewed in the United States on 6 July 2015
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I own 1905 books on spirituality and related topics! (Yes, it is one thousand nine hundred and five books; I counted them one by one last year.)
A few of the books I own and read could be what I consider an ‘all round, all inclusive book.’ Most of the books sound like one of Barack Obama’s State of the Union speeches: long on rhetoric but short on specifics. Occasionally I read a book that leads me to think, ‘I wish I had written that.' Electrical Christianity is one of those books. The author's attention to detail coupled with broad-based erudition all infused with Eastern thought, Western esotericism, and practical experience—is staggering. It’s very hard to impress me, but with E.C. I’m truly, enthusiastically impressed.
Bits that resonated with me:
1) First of all, I like front page picture. It is well done and the artist deserves praise.
2) I like the question and answer format. The book is short but the thought and style is so tense and intense that it requires additional reading .It would be redundant to repeat that Ohms law and Holy trinity analogy is superb. Ron L. Gardner should protect it as intellectual patent and propriety.
3) After reading E.C. I can say that first time in my life I understand the concept of the Holy Trinity and the trinitarian nature of reality. Before this book, Holy Trinity looked like big theological fog and ‘theological shape-shifter.’ Gardner is doing free revival and advertisement for Christianity. It seems that Christianity is in the possession of great mystical secrets but they are explaining it wrongly or they do not understand it at all. After reading Gardner, I have an impression that Christian theology and tradition has spiritual diamonds covered with pile of theological lies and dung, and the author is doing the Herculean task of cleaning Augean-Christian stables and exposing real mystical jewels.
4) I like his personal story (mystical experience) with doctors (page 65.
5) I learned from this book the difference between true prayer and true meditation.
6) I like his book recommendations and annotated Spiritual reading list. Other authors just copy -paste endless list of books and I despise such lazy approach. Out of his life-long spiritual quest Gardner distilled the best books and provided us with explanation what books he considers the ''creme de la creme'' and WHY.
7) Gardner is not a slave to empty ‘sweet talking’ of ‘spiritual -political correctness.’ I think that ‘'spiritual political correctness’ is the newest form of intolerance, and it is especially dangerous because it comes disguised as tolerance. It presents itself as fairness, yet attempts to restrict and control an author's language and ideas with strict codes and rigid rules. It is form of spiritual censorship.
I have found one (minor) weakness in the book.The book does not have an index. I was forced to make one for myself for later analysis of names and concepts.
Conclusion:
The book is must read if you want to understand the trinitarian nature of reality as expressed in world religions. I would like to thank the author for his original and important book and for sharing with us his erudition and lifelong quest. I am also impressed with other book by this author and with his work, and his unique, honest and open style of teaching and communication. May he never cease to ''electrify'' his readers!
8 people found this helpful
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A. Jorge Barbosa
5.0 out of 5 stars Original and creative
Reviewed in the United States on 2 October 2017
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The way the author combines and synthesises apparently divergent theories is quite creative, uplifting and inspiring. It is also practical in its approach.
3 people found this helpful
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Vinicius
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a great presentation of esoteric Christianity and its parallels with Buddhism ...
Reviewed in the United States on 15 December 2014
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This book is a great presentation of esoteric Christianity and its parallels with Buddhism and Hinduism. It also delivers a strong form of meditation, the author's "Plugged-In Presence". If you're not a dogmatic Christian, and not afraid of an esoteric approach of Christianity, I recommend it!
6 people found this helpful
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Martin Matye
5.0 out of 5 stars No nonsense direct and clear explanation and directions to become a disciple with hopes of becoming fully awakened
Reviewed in the United States on 23 May 2014
Coming from a Pentecostal Jesus Name Church I found the explanations L. Ron Gardner gave of spiritually to be exceptional. Electrical Christianity explained why I still felt incomplete even after speaking in tongues at church which is supposed to be evidence of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost . I was surprised to find myself in agreement with the definitions, terminology, and suggestions in the book. Electrical Christianity has helped me understand how a person can go to church on Sunday and live like the Devil the rest of the week. Electrical Christianity has inspired me to resume trying to connect with the "Entity" (GOD) through the Christ with grace from the Holy Spirit.
10 people found this helpful
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Paul A
5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to accelerate your spiritual development - read this book!
Reviewed in the United States on 21 April 2016
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I have been a seeker of Truth for many years and I wish this much needed book had been written decades ago and I had read it then! It would have spared me much confusion over the years and introduced me to spiritual concepts and a practice that is sound. Ron has brilliantly synthesized his 40 years of study and experience into this book and it contains practical and tangible material that will benefit all. Thank you Ron for your generosity of Spirit.
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MeerKatExtremely
5.0 out of 5 stars Most useful book on Christianity I've ever read.
Reviewed in the United States on 16 August 2013
I looked forward to this book because I learned so much from Beyond the Power of Now, Gardner's first book. And I learned a lot more from this book, which goes beyond anything Christianity or Christian mysticism than I've read before. Unlike other books, Gardner goes into detail about the practice of true Holy Communion, which is what real Christianity is about.
And he explains exactly what all the important terms--Eucharist, Trinity, Heaven, Baptism, and Holy Spirit - really mean. I honestly feel like my understanding of Christianity has greatly improved.
L. Ron Gardner details the "Holy Communion Method" which he calls the plugged in Presence and relates it to Ohm's Law. I believe Mr. Gardner is the first to make this connection with this key scientific law and the book is worth studying for that alone. If you are interested in truly spiritual Christianity then I highly recommend this book.
Most useful book on Christianity I've ever read.
7 people found this helpful
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Passive Observer
5.0 out of 5 stars The Rest of the Journey to Enlightenment
Reviewed in the United States on 9 October 2013
I begin my review of "Electrical Christianity" by L. Ron Gardner with a caveat and a warning. First, my review is shaped by the degree of my own spiritual development. To some, the material that I discuss in my review may be old news. To others, it may be informative and helpful.
Secondly, I warn the reader not to assume that "Electrical Christianity" is solely about Christianity. It is not. Gardner very skillfully explains how the principles of Christianity are common to all of the world's great religions: Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
As one example, "Communion" in Christianity means making contact with the Holy Spirit. Analogously, the name of a principal spiritual discipline in Buddhism is called "yoga," which means, "yoke." "Yoke," of course, refers to the desired union of the spiritual aspirant with the Divine.
Another commonality is the "Eucharist" of Christianity. The Eucharist is simply the practice of Holy Communion with the Divine and, again, this is common to all religions.
Numerous writers have, to a very great degree, expounded the role of the Kundalini on the journey to enlightenment. As we know, the Kundalini is an intense energy that uncoils like a serpent from the base of the spine and rises to the crown when it is activated.
Prior to reading "Electrical Christianity," I believed that the raising of the Kundalini was the end of the journey to enlightenment. But Gardner very clearly explains that the "Serpent Power" is only the lower Kundalini. In his words, "The ascended spinal Kundalini leads a yogi to intense, absorptive samadhis (states of blissful, locked-in engrossment), but it cannot free him; only the "higher Kundalini" can. The higher Kundalini, the Holy Spirit, is the descending half of the Great Circuit, or Current, of the Divine." And so the raising of the Kundalini is only part of the entire journey to enlightenment. Unless and until we succeed in connecting to the higher Kundalini, we cannot achieve true freedom or final liberation from the Wheel of Samsara.
As a means to achieving Holy Communion with the Divine, or Absolute, Gardner presents a very thorough and fully detailed meditative practice that he calls "plugged-in presence." The idea is to plug into the Spirit-current of the Divine, the higher Kundalini. The practice advocated is an elucidation of the seer Adi Da Sumaraj's "Meditation of Understanding," instructions on the practice of "real meditation," or "radical [root-based] understanding."
Gardner explains and outlines the meditative practice as the following threefold process: (1) forgo memory and imagination and assume a state of "Presence," that is, a state of concentrated, undivided attention to the present moment, (2) seek to connect with the Spirit-current of the higher Kundalini, and (3) increase receptivity to the Spirit-current by not resisting it.
Gardner likens the Meditative process to an electrical circuit. In an electrical circuit, the current flow increases when the driving force (voltage) increases and/or the resistance to the flow decreases. In the case of our meditative practice, our potential for connecting to the Spirit-current of the higher Kundalini increases when we increase the intensity of our steadfast, unwavering attention (voltage) to establishing a connection with the Spirit-current. The flow of the Spirit-current increases further when we reduce our resistance to it once the connection is made.
Gardner has an awesome depth of knowledge and understanding of mysticism and he shares it in his book. The book is comprehensive and inspiring. It is skillfully and convincingly written. His logic is unassailable. In short, the book is a Five-Star Gem. I am very glad that he wrote it. I consider it a "must read" for every sincere seeker.
WARNING: The author's writing style tends to be a bit blunt, at times. The reader must not allow oneself to be turned off by that. There is a wealth of very valuable information and knowledge to be gained from Gardner's books.
26 people found this helpful
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rikitikitavi
3.0 out of 5 stars "A Questionable Piece of Meat Passed-off as a Spiritual Practice, wrapped up in a Right-wing Sandwich of Ayn Rand Worship"
Reviewed in the United States on 20 May 2014
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Oct 24, 2019Ishmael rated it it was amazing
Well, that was a fun read.
And I think a very valuable one at that. Very interesting, provocative dharma, written in plain English (thank you), and I will be considering it for quite some time.
The author really believes in the stuff he's writing, and he seems to really want to get it out there. I was really quite charmed when he explicated how you would 'package' his dharma to an atheist friend, a christian friend, a friend into the occult, etc in order to make it more palatable to them. It's clear to me that the author cares. He's trying to get this stuff out there, no bullshit. He's trying to get Truth as he understands and sees it out into the world.
I really liked the voice throughout the book. It was entertaining, very readable.
There was no obfuscation, which can't be said for all dharma. In fact, the author tried to make things as clear and understandable as possible, which I highly, highly appreciated. Very understandable description in plain language that the western mind can immediately grasp and comprehend. Cheers. And thank you!
In the end, it goes off on a bit of a tangent, talking about politics, but honestly, it was fun, enjoyable reading, and it was at the end, after the author's delivery of the main topic, so I didn't mind at all, and in fact, I enjoyed it.
It seems to me that the author's primary motivation was Truth, and it shines through. He's a bit of a quirky fellow, but he earned my respect. (less)
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Yasu Ogura
Sep 03, 2020Yasu Ogura rated it it was amazing
The end-game practical guide to spirituality and meditation
I tried the plugged-in method and it works!!
Also, the recommended reading list alone is priceless
Author is the authority on spirituality and meditation.
