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Dr. Robert Saltzman, Ph.D.

Depending On No-Thing

In my view, this body of work by Robert Saltzman tops both Ramana’s ”Talks” and Nisargadatta's “I Am That” in relevant conversations that relieve the urge to seek, itself, expressed in today’s vernacular that embraces science, anthropology, and just plain common sense. The caliber of both questions and responses is impressive. Robert’s wit is icing on the cake. Not just another spiritual book! This one is a true classic.
---John Troy
 


Robert by Catanya Saltzman

                                 

                                                                  Depending On No-Thing excerpt:
 

Question 2: Is there a difference between “I am be-ing” and “I am experiencing?”
 

A: It’s best not to get lost in words. Each of us is aware of various

objects, feelings, thoughts, emotions, etcetera. As I said, much of that

awareness consists of bodily sensations of which we are only barely

aware, and those unnamed, under-the-radar sensations give rise to the

sense of a human body in space.
 

The little-known sense of interoception—a background awareness

of internal organs—is highly influential in creating this sense

of being. Normally, one does not consider that facet of “myselfness.”

If, however, one’s attention is captured by a sense that something is

amiss—an abnormality in my heartbeat becomes apparent, or a sharp

pain in the abdomen—then one notices what was always there, but

running in the background.
 

We call that flow of sensations “I.” For example, when certain

sensations arising in the gut become pressing enough to come to conscious

awareness, one might say, “I’m hungry. Let’s have lunch.” So it

is the sensations, previously unnoticed, that are being called “I,” but it

might be more accurate to call the faculty of conscious awareness “I,”

and the bodily sensations a feature of that awareness, or the material

of that awareness.

This is difficult ground because the body is both an

object in awareness and also the living system that gives rise to awareness.

If you contemplate that deeply enough, you may find yourself

without any more questions.





 

                                                                                                    More Reviews

Once again Robert Saltzman delivers a classic. Depending On No-Thing isn't a book that makes a grand promise, there is no carrot of enlightenment being dangled in front of readers. What this book delivers is discernment and with that comes freedom from the pursuit of carrots and further items that other books and teachers may dangle as a future promise. Robert is persistent - and well he should be.

So many readers have spent countless years in pursuit of what is now and always present. Robert wants only one thing from and for us and that's to simply look for ourselves, right now, at what the moment holds and how we relate to it. Are we fantasizing about some future day of enlightenment? Are we mired in a practice that keeps us tied to the past? This has nothing to do with any power of now, it's not a magic moment, it's plainly and simply the ordinary moment of being awake to life. All of it. To do this we don't need to chase anything away, dismiss thoughts, or practice inquiry - we relax, as we are, to what we are - life in the full experience of itself. This may not be 'magical" but it's certainly pretty cool. And freeing.
---Eric Mccarty


What an extraordinary book, in scope and precision. DONT is a deep excavation into the machinations of indoctrination of belief. This is a no-holds-barred perspective on the hypnosis that grips the individual mind and collective mind.

It provides NO ultimate answers, none, diddly squat. The brilliant mind of the author brings to light our deeply rooted inculcations and nothing is spared. This entire book is written with utmost compassion with wisdom, arising from a very much alive yet rootless place, not dependent on any belief whatsoever. The author does not count himself as a teacher or guru, but an ordinary fully human being with a fresh insight into the human condition.

Any reactions to the book both positive and negative have no bearing on what has been elucidated in DONT. Please read this book in its entirety from start to finish. If approached with an open mind, the final chapter on The Myth of Sisyphus may just go down past the marrow and clear the very ground of belief. No promises though.
As Robert Saltzman says, "You get what you get when you get it"

This is neither a spiritual or religious book and does not in any way shape or form offer any ultimate answers. We have been bewitched and preyed upon with promises of ultimate truths. This book may just give the nervous system a taste of some breathing space from generations of grotesque indoctrination. This book is not about happiness. It does not massage or provide any panaceas from one’s unchosen indoctrinations from childhood, but may incinerate deeply held beliefs that were put in there, inevitably, by caregivers, society, religion, and spirituality.

I highly recommend this radically honest book. For me, it stands alone and alongside his earlier brilliant book The Ten Thousand Things. Don't take my word for it though, find out for yourself. I dare you. What have you got to lose?

---Paul Cannell