Janus Magnus

Sublime, timeless.

Reviewed: 03-20-23

Not only is this book unparalleled as a record of Aghora from a lived perspective, but it benefits immensely from the wonderful narration of Dr. Svoboda, whose lively and engaging way adds a dimension of charm to the experience. I hope he releases the second and third installments of this essential work. Well done.

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1 person found this helpful

compelling and hilarious

Reviewed: 09-11-22

this was an excellent offering of a delightful hybrid of gaslight horror, Lovecraft, and Holmes. infusions of wry humor with the pitch perfect delivery of an expert narrator had me bursting into laughter several times.

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sublime

Reviewed: 04-28-21

a profound contemplation. Recommended to all who treasure the priceless Dharma. I will return to this.

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Excellent, Scholarly, Engaging, Comprehensive.

Reviewed: 12-11-20

This is an intriguing listen. Firstly, let me draw attention to the fact that Christopher MacIntosh is a respected and accredited scholar with decades of research under his belt. He is widely appreciated and is a thorough and comprehensive evaluator of the subjects which he explores. This book is no exception to that statement.

The performance of the narrator, Simon Vance, is exceptional. He is a true professional. His voice is pleasant, his annunciation and diction are just right, and his pacing is easy to follow. I wish that he were the narrator on most of the books I listen to on Audible.

This is an engrossing and deep survey of the spiritual impulses originating in the north - both spiritual and material. He leaves no stone unturned, examining connections between various historical cultures and the textual and forensic evidence of the northern influence on the world, His touch ranges from Antarctica to Greece, from Russia to the Hebrides, and more. He explicates myth and magic, religion and history, yet his writing remains accessible and friendly, with occasional anecdotal material which only serves to weave the narrative in a relatable fashion. He tolerates no biases or prejudices, yet refuses to ignore the virtues of flawed human beings who still made valuable contributions to history. Something which I particularly appreciate is his impartial and intelligent evaluation of political realities such as Nationalism without devolving into biased tirades as so many do in this day and age. It is so refreshing to engage with a seasoned scholar who holds high the virtues of impartiality and clear mindedness in the face of history.

Yet another wonderful aspect of this book is how MacIntosh peppers the text with tantalizing elements of spiritual practices and ideas which could be practically investigated by people who have spiritual aspirations. It's been a long while since I have enjoyed a book of this kind this much, and it only makes me eager for more from him.

Finally, I strongly recommend that the interested parties disregard the very few negative reviews here. They seem to be written by people who are gripped by fear, and suffering from gross misapprehensions perhaps originating in mental imbalances. There is no way that someone actively listening to this fantastic contribution could possibly come to anything other than a positive evaluation of its contents. If I were teaching a course on this subject, this would be required reading. Bravo, Mr. Mackintosh.

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Awful, biased, artificial evangelical fantasy

Reviewed: 11-27-20

Allow me to begin by stating that the original premise of this audio book is accurate- Catholicism is based upon Gnostic origins, at least partially. I was unfamiliar with the author, and I thought that I would be getting something based in serious scholarship. Instead of this, I found that the audio book is just an obsessive series of banal quotes from early church fathers peppered with evangelical tirades against the sacraments and other institutions. Though I am not particularly a fan of Roman Catholicism in some ways, I also am able to see its value in others, and my hope was that this audiobook would examine the origins of ecclesiastical Gnosticism. Instead of this, we get evangelical paranoia and obsession along with a preoccupation for justifying their existence and positions, all whilst attacking other Christians. What a disappointment. To add to the irritation, the narrator speaks in a southern American accent. There is no accurate and unbiased examination of Gnosticism or Catholicism here, and an obvious ignorance of Eastern Christianity. I don't recommend this at all.

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2 people found this helpful

sublime

Reviewed: 08-29-18

profound. recommended. Suzuki Rpshi transmits the precious Dharma, but who is Suzuki and what is Dharma? What can be said is what can not be said.

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1 person found this helpful