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Start your review of A Brief Tour of Higher Consciousness: A Cosmic Book on the Mechanics of Creation

My research into consciousness exploration continues with A Brief Tour of Higher Consciousness by Itzhak Bentov. Having predominantly read books like this by artists (Jurgen Ziewe and Kurt Leland come to mind), it was refreshing to have a first person narrative by an engineer. Itzhak's lens of perception is so different than my own- I loved it. There is a part towards the end, What is a Hologram, and a chapter by another author, Essay on Cosmology by Edward Apgar, that I didn't resonate with at My research into consciousness exploration continues with A Brief Tour of Higher Consciousness by Itzhak Bentov. Having predominantly read books like this by artists (Jurgen Ziewe and Kurt Leland come to mind), it was refreshing to have a first person narrative by an engineer. Itzhak's lens of perception is so different than my own- I loved it. There is a part towards the end, What is a Hologram, and a chapter by another author, Essay on Cosmology by Edward Apgar, that I didn't resonate with at all. But, perhaps for the most scientifically minded, those parts will be your favorite.

Itzhak has simplistic doodles scattered throughout the text which brings a "Randall Munroe" feel to the book- the use of simple pictures to illustrate complex and abstract ideas. This author definitely feels to me as if he was a bit ahead of his time in both his presentation and materials.

Itzhak's explanation of "lens of consciousness": As consciousness evolves and information starts pouring in, the information is couched in a language best understandable to the person involved. For instance, a poet will be shown the nature of Creation in poetic images, an artist in visual symbols, and a mathematician in abstract equations; a nuts-and-bolts fellow like myself will have it shown to him as structure. ... Fortunately, since like-minded people contain it (all creation) in similar forms, cross-checking of information is possible. I am lucky to have met several people whose experiences have been similar to mine, so that I have been able to compare my information with theirs. To my great surprise, our experiences agreed not only in general, but also in many unexpected details. This knowledge appears, therefore, to be consistent and reproducible. pg 5 I was reminded of Robert Monroe's Journeys Out of the Body in which he puts emphasis on recording and comparing out-of-body experiences for consistency and real world applications to bring legitimacy to the practice. If anybody practices meditation and has a background in music, art, and Greek/Roman mythology, I would absolutely love to compare my experiences with you. :)

I've heard that we're all made of star dust and I really liked Itzhak's description of it in this passage: "Stars collect into clusters or galaxies, and as they die, they explode and create cosmic dust, which again condenses into new stars and planets. Everything in the entire universe, including our bodies, is made of one cosmic substance. We contain atoms from the most distant galaxies and are thus connected to the whole universe." pg 13

Everything is vibration: "In short, consciousness in a vibratory state manifests itself as our familiar matter, from which the different forms that we see around us are made. The table, the flowers, the scent of the flowers, and our bodies are all made of rapidly vibrating consciousness." pg 20 Wild!

A discussion of how to interact with devas (an ant deva to be precise, which is kind of silly, I realize), which Itzhak describes as "The name given to a being that is the rudimentary consciousness of any structure": "To negotiate with her, the currency of exchange is love. Just send the ant deva a lot of love, which will stimulate her evolution. Even ant devas need love, in order eventually to know their Creator." pg 33

In my meditations, I've frequently experienced what Itzhak describes in this next passage. It was nice to finally have a reason why: (While in a meditative state) "Wiggle your body. This causes a disturbance, a vibration, to spread ... (This is similar to a fly falling into a spider web. The vibration of the web signals the spider and it shows up to investigate its dinner.) The deva .. appears immediately, looking worried and saying something like "What do you want?" or "Who are you?" pg 35

I've also seen a bunch of animals in my meditations too. Here's Itzhak's "absolute zoo": "You push on into the darkness. After a while, some light becomes visible far away, and you go there. ... You go nearer and look in. What a surprise: a whole zoo of animals! ... You are very puzzled. A zoo in the Absolute? Why a zoo? Then the answer comes. Something is explaining that this is only a mental image to symbolize how we human beings embody in various degrees the traits that these animals represent." pgs 74-75 Good to know.

I'll close with this excerpt of Itzhak's philosophy: "There is nothing absolute and final. If everything were iron-clad, all the rules absolute and everything structured so no paradox or irony existed, you couldn't move. One could say that man sneaks through the crack where paradox exists." pg 78

If you enjoyed this book, you may want to take a look at Otherwhere by Kurt Leland or Multidimensional Man by Jurgen Ziewe. If you liked the doodles of complex concepts and want more of that, try Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words by Randall Munroe.

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Apr 25, 2011 Will Jeffries rated it it was amazing

This book was quite enlightening. Basically, according to Itzhak Bentov, Creation is a big hologram. You are the Supreme God of this system (meaning, your particular version of reality that you live and create within). Also, Love is the cosmic law and the whole system is designed so that the more a consciousness learns, the more responsibility it receives in turn. Other thoughts that blew me away were that "The thoughts of all human beings are interconnected, affecting each other and in turn aff This book was quite enlightening. Basically, according to Itzhak Bentov, Creation is a big hologram. You are the Supreme God of this system (meaning, your particular version of reality that you live and create within). Also, Love is the cosmic law and the whole system is designed so that the more a consciousness learns, the more responsibility it receives in turn. Other thoughts that blew me away were that "The thoughts of all human beings are interconnected, affecting each other and in turn affecting the entire universe. Whatever one thinks or does becomes part of the universal hologram." Of course, my mind flashes back to images in the film Avatar - with the spirit Aywa and the trees that store and hold the universal consciousness of Pandora.

We truly live in a magical universe built around Love and Creativity.

Enjoy the life you have been given.

Peace and blessings...

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Oct 20, 2013 Karl rated it liked it

I must say from the beginning that this is another one of those instances where I thoroughly enjoyed an earlier book written by an author and then was underwhelmed with a subsequent book.

The first book written by I. Bentov, "Stalking the Wild Pendulum" was entertaining, informative and written in such a way that a person who did not have in depth knowledge could still follow along. I enjoyed reading that book and I will read it again, likely more than once. In contrast to that, I found this book, "A Brief Tour Of Higher Consciousness" to be one that I will likely not pick up for the second time. The content in this book is certainly more esoteric than in his original book and I can understand that such material is more difficult to discuss; however, even with that caveat I still did not find this book very enjoyable or relevant to my journey.

For example, a significant amount of the book is dedicated to describing the "model of the universe" and while it may be an accurate representation of the spiritual nature of the cosmos, discussing, at length, the hierarchy of the beings that create the universe is irrelevant to me. Whether there are seven levels of creation or 70 levels of creation, or if the universe is in the shape of a watermelon or a grapefruit, is not something that I concern myself with.

On a positive note, the information about holograms presented in the appendix was informative, I enjoyed reading Foreword wherein some background information into the books creation was discussed, and I did glean a few nuggets in the text itself. In addition, I do admire the fact that someone with a more scientific background took a chance by writing a book that revealed their personal beliefs about the nature of the universe and cosmology.

In conclusion then, this a book that is not on the list of my favorites and I predominantly added a "Book Review" because there will undoubtedly be some readers who can relate to Itzhak's experiences and who would benefit from reading about them.

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Jan 03, 2012 ed rated it did not like it

disappointing. "A Cosmic Book..."? more like a cosmic pamphlet. one with little actual science to back the explanations of the author's views. i appreciate the straight-to-the-point approach (and this was a very quick read), but the attempt to make it "lighthearted" ended up making it downright silly. disappointing. "A Cosmic Book..."? more like a cosmic pamphlet. one with little actual science to back the explanations of the author's views. i appreciate the straight-to-the-point approach (and this was a very quick read), but the attempt to make it "lighthearted" ended up making it downright silly. ...more

Mar 26, 2018 Audrey Layden rated it really liked it

A Brief Tour of Higher Consciousness by Itzhak Bentov, Destiny Books, Vermont, 2000

Some time or other you may have come across a book that provoked and teased you into looking closer at some habit of thinking you had or to examine things you hadn't spent much time thinking about at all. Itzhak Bentov's A Brief Tour of Higher Consciousness is just such a one for me. A small paperback book, about 5"by 8", 112 pages with a scattering of drawings, it purports to introduce the reader to the structure

A Brief Tour of Higher Consciousness by Itzhak Bentov, Destiny Books, Vermont, 2000

The author, with whom I was not familiar, is presented as a scientist, an inventor of bio-medical instrumentation and an early exponent of consciousness studies among other things. Introductory notes about him in the book are enticing.

"In his search for the cosmic connection, Ben offers us a delightfully ingenious cosmic comedy on the nature and structure of ultimates. Here are traveler's tales such as you rarely find- metaphysical jaunts from one end of the universe to the other." page xvii, Jean Houston, Ph.D.

I settled in to be entertained. I didn't expect to be challenged. Relaxed enough about the idea that the thoughts of all human beings were connected and in turn affected the universe, and about the vibrational nature of manifest creation, after all, Einstein had already told us that everything is energy vibrating at different rates, I got stalled and turned off by phrases like interference patterns, reference beams and coherent light. I had skeptical reactions to the notions of devas and luminous Alephs. But I soldiered on, prodded by agreeing with the notion of an ever-expanding cosmos, liking his "egg" analogy, and being somewhat impressed by the high regard his earlier and longer work, Stalking the Wild Pendulum, seemed to engender among apparently intelligent people of some repute.

So – I googled some phrases I wasn't familiar with, coming across ideas from physics that were as wild as some of what I had read in Bentov's work, and went back and read it again. Halfway through I stopped and ordered a copy of his earlier and longer work, and after finishing the second read, got on the computer to look for an online course in cosmology.

If you are willing to look into the apparently absurd and follow the thread of logic shining through it you may have a surprising experience reading A Brief Tour of Higher Consciousness and end up studying the latest in cosmology with an MIT professor, free, online as I have just signed up for. There's nothing like curiosity to keep life interesting.

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Aug 16, 2020 Beatričė rated it it was amazing

A light read about systems that are hard to describe.

For those interested in spirituality, cosmos, and the meaning of it all, this book is a must-read. Surely, not everyone will enjoy the subjective explanation of higher consciousness - there is close to none science to back Bentov's statements (although the last chapter shows how science is slowly discovering the systems described in the book).

Yet for some, including myself, the book offers an enlightening ride along the author's intuitive jo

A light read about systems that are hard to describe.

Yet for some, including myself, the book offers an enlightening ride along the author's intuitive journey inwards. For open and curious minds, Bentov offers a glimpse into his personal spiritual odyssey. If it resonates, you are in for a joyous ride. It's a true pleasure to find bits of yourself in somebody else's experience.

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Sep 01, 2019 Clancy Birrell rated it really liked it

The authors view of the cosmos was compelling and well delivered to simplify some complex esoteric descriptions that I've seen elsewhere. sadly the book felt incomplete as it was published post humously. The extra chapter at the end regarding more physical sciences concepts was a little contrived and drawn out. I feel it detracted from the main message and the book was not specifically improved by this additional content. I do appreciate the attempt of the compiler to make the book more accessib The authors view of the cosmos was compelling and well delivered to simplify some complex esoteric descriptions that I've seen elsewhere. sadly the book felt incomplete as it was published post humously. The extra chapter at the end regarding more physical sciences concepts was a little contrived and drawn out. I feel it detracted from the main message and the book was not specifically improved by this additional content. I do appreciate the attempt of the compiler to make the book more accessible to a wider audience however. All in all worth your time and consideration. Highly recommended. I'm now keen on reading Bentov's other works. ...more

Aug 31, 2018 Greg rated it liked it

i probably would've had some interest/curiosity about something like that. recall something like design thinking / construction / flow, not sure what else from this one. there might be a bit of a zoinks for shaggy in it. i probably would've had some interest/curiosity about something like that. recall something like design thinking / construction / flow, not sure what else from this one. there might be a bit of a zoinks for shaggy in it. ...more

May 21, 2012 Eleni rated it it was amazing

This was from a blog I did in 2007: There is something about Itzak Bentov that tells me he had a lot of wisdom. So few authors that deal with Kundalini have come across so authentic and inspirational to me. I think the fact that he is not selling a religion allows him to be more objective. With each turn of the page, I am amazed at the level of depth this man had. I highly suggest reading, Stalking the Wild Pendulum: On the Mechanics of Consciousness."
Anyway, I was focusing on one aspect of his This was from a blog I did in 2007: There is something about Itzak Bentov that tells me he had a lot of wisdom. So few authors that deal with Kundalini have come across so authentic and inspirational to me. I think the fact that he is not selling a religion allows him to be more objective. With each turn of the page, I am amazed at the level of depth this man had. I highly suggest reading, Stalking the Wild Pendulum: On the Mechanics of Consciousness."
Anyway, I was focusing on one aspect of his book, that the brain is not the originator of thought. Thoughts are energy fields and the brain tunes to a thought. I've been experimenting alot with thoughts throughout the day. It's so hard to stay in the moment without focusing your attention to do so. And still, the mind always seems to have a mind of its own!!
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Apr 15, 2010 Mary rated it it was amazing

I enjoyed it! I'd like to, in my future research, try to disprove Bentov's theories...in hopes that my findings prove his model of cosmology and higher consciousness to be true! I enjoyed it! I'd like to, in my future research, try to disprove Bentov's theories...in hopes that my findings prove his model of cosmology and higher consciousness to be true! ...more

Mar 10, 2013 Dianna rated it really liked it

Loaded with good solid foundation information.

Itzhak Bentov was a inventor, mystic and author.
His many inventions, including the steerable cardiac catheter, helped pioneer the biomedical engineering industry.
He was also an early exponent of what has come to be referred to as consciousness studies and authored several books on the subject.
He had a lifelong interest in meditation to describe quantum physics and the advanced states of higher a Itzhak Bentov was a inventor, mystic and author.
His many inventions, including the steerable cardiac catheter, helped pioneer the biomedical engineering industry.
He was also an early exponent of what has come to be referred to as consciousness studies and authored several books on the subject.
He had a lifelong interest in meditation to describe quantum physics and the advanced states of higher awareness in ways easily grasped by readers. ...more