Customer Reviews

From the Bottom of the Pond: The Forgotten Art of Experiencing God in the Depths of the Present Moment

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4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Hurrah for a short, easily-read book that also rewards return visits with plenty to reflect on! A gentle but very effective spiritual kick-start....

I read the first few pages of this book on the 'look inside'. I knew I had to read the whole book. Don't be put off by the thinness of the book, it more than makes up for it in profundity. Buy this book, read it carefully, listen to what it is saying. I wasn't disappointed and neither will you be. This book is in it's second printing. I am not surprised. Simon has written a classic.

From The Bottom Of The Pond, focuses on an aspect of Spirituality that has by enlarge remained in the closet of mainstream Christianity; the art of contemplation seems much more at home in a Buddhist monastery than in the Church Of England. That said it appears that more priests, especially the younger generation are realizing that people are in need of the spiritual nourishment that sitting in contemplation can offer.

This uplifting little book offers insight into this spiritual strand of Christianity, the side that focuses on the inner journey and personal connection, rather than the judgmental and wrathful God I remember hearing about during my childhood. This strand is `the way' of the great Christian mystics, which had been lost down the centuries, but now is re- emerging to help us still our minds. If you have forgotten how to pray, it will remind you that prayer is many-fold, and as individual as we are.
You can listen to an on-line interview with the author about this book on My Spirit Radio - Feed Your Mind, Change Your Life with June-Elleni Laine

I have now read this book twice over and shall no doubt read it again. It is quite a small book, divided into short chapters. Its style is deceptively simple. I feel that it is a distillation of a great deal of knowledge taken from many disciplines and wide reading. Some of the chapters are quite chatty and anecdotal, in others the author combines thought, images and words to create something quite remarkable. He manages to give us a glimpse of the ineffable and to point beyond to that which cannot be described. This book could be described as an introduction to meditation (or contemplation, as the author calls it). I have been meditating for many years and I have really enjoyed reading this book, preferably in the early morning. It is both profound and wise, and as I said, a very easy read. Perhaps deceptively so. Which is why I shall have to read it again.

A very timeless philosophy - simply but succintly put by Simon Small. Helps me to realise how much I need to live in the now and quieten my mind to find the peace and contentment that passes all understanding. Very accessible - good for young people.
Can't recommend this too highly. Buy it NOW!!

For someone who, for many years, has been trying to live more intensely in the present, and walk a more committed spiritual path, it is just the perfect book.

I am so delighted I found the book and the author, which was through a number of synchronistic happenings.
I think the book could be an inspiration to many people of all ages.

This book is a 'must' for all those wanting to learn about contemplation and it is not what the 'ordinary' person means by 'contemplation' or 'prayer'. For those from a Christian background wanting to draw closer to 'God' it is in my opinion an essential, but very readable, book. For those from Buddhist backgrounds and similar, there are many experiences and teachings that are relevant to their practices.

This charming book is written in short sentences to make easy reading. The chapters, too, are short.

The chapters are as follows:
Prologue (From the bottom of the pond), Contemplative prayer, Christian prayer, "I can't pray", Three-fold prayer (Talking, Listening, Being), Morning, The Christ Within, Another Morning, Contemplation and order, The Body of Christ, Life, Contemplation and time, Contemplation and reality, Contemplation and love, Contemplation and truth. The rocky path of contemplation (Fear, Depression, Walking the rock path) and the Epilogue - The Cosmic Christ.

The blurb says it all: This is a book about knowing God. It is for those for whom just believing (or not believing) is no longer enough. Through personal experience, anecdote and humour, a priest shares an ancient, but neglected aspect of Christian prayer. Contemplation takes us into the depths of the present moment, the only reality there has ever been and so the only place where God can be found. It takes us at different times into mystical oneness with the All, into profound self-knowledge and reveals love in the midst of the world.

Contemplation is the universal experience at the heart of all religions. It is the place where their differences fall away and their uniqueness celebrated. 'From the Bottom of the Pond' says nothing new, but says it in a new way; a way rooted in our western culture and history. It suggests that the essence of the great and wonderful enlightenment teachings of the East was always here, hidden in plain sight.

This is a beautiful book. It gives clear and simple guidelines for meditation and is open to all faiths. I found it relaxing and already have favourite chapters . A few of the anecdotes were less meaningful to me. However this does not detract from its value in any way. A gift.

i bought this book after seeing an interview with the author on tv.I found him clear simple and profound, the contemplation he teaches is suprisingly effective,accessable,and enjoyable.I recommend this book to every one.

I'm not sure that it's correct to call this book 'Christian'. Christ is at best a footnote and barely gets a mention anywhere.

Right from the very first words 'I rest at the centre of space', this book is self-indulgent and self-centred. Of course it's helpful at times to take a moment to consider a beautiful sunset or spring flower but the author seems to view being a 'contemplative' with unhealthy pride.

Christian service and humility are nowhere to be seen. If you want guidance of substance on contemplation, then I suggest authors like Richard Foster or C.S. Lewis. If you want to indulge yourself and be no real use to God or to your fellow man, then read this book.