Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #344832 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Synopsis
The Ninja are a mysterious warrior elite said to be so spiritually advanced that they know the mind and will of God. Regarded with awe as masters of invisibility and "warriors of the shadow-self", their legendary skills include the ability to command the elements and transform themselves into Fire, Water, Air, Earth and Void - the nothingness from which all things stem. In this book, Ross Heaven reveals the training exercises and mental discipline used by the Ninja to develop these extraordinary physical, emotional, mental and spiritual skills. Central to Ninja philosophy is the understanding that there is no higher power than the actualised human being. The Ninja believe there are four gates to freedom and, to pass through them, we must overcome four initiatory ordeals. Succeeding at these enables us to combat fear, find true power, clarify our vision and overcome the soul fatigue that is at the root of our personal and social problems in order to embrace our positive energies and realise our talents.

Ross Heaven guides us through these four gateways with exercises and initiations that utilise the energy of the lover, seeker, magus, soul warrior and mystic, as well as dealing with their shadow manifestations that may be causing problems in our lives. We learn how to break the destructive habits of the past and create bushido, a personal code to live by. Without initiation, we cannot access and channel our energies; they remain uncontrolled or even work against us to turn these elemental forces into allies.

Customer Reviews

Mastering the Four Gates
I agree with the reviewer who says this book is mismatched title. I think that's right. What this book really is is a very accomplished personal development and work of psychology and spiritual discovery. The exercises are excellent and the medicine wheel teachings are brilliant. They give you a map for your life and your spiritual journey. All of this is illustrated with stories from the ninja and other warriors but I dont get that this was ever intended to be a book ABOUT ninjas. Its more a book about YOU and where youre at. Its not uncommon for publishers to give books jazzy titles aimed at selling loads of copies which somethimes have nothing to do with the book! I think that's the case here. But I hope this book DOES sell loads of copies because it deserves to and because it WILL help any reader to find their own direction. It gets my 5 stars.

A great book
This is a great book which contains some really useful techniques for self-awareness, motivation, and empowerment, drawn from various warrior traditions, and also psychology, as well as Ninja philosophy. The temptation with books like these is to NOT do the exercises they contain, but I really suggest you do because many of them are immensely powerful and really unique. I learned a lot from this book - almost nothing about martial arts because the book is, as the title says, about SPIRITUAL PRACTICES - but I learned a lot about me and really felt I grew from the experience of reading it. Recommended.

Slightly misleading title, me thinks!!
NINJUTSU STUDENTS: BEWARE.....This should be titled "The spiritual practices of various tribes from around the world"
I felt slightly cheated by this book, as I am a Ninjutsu student and genuinely interested in Eastern religion and philosophy. Still, I stuck it out to the end (barely!)
Only a fraction of this book is dedicated to the Ninja . Ross Heaven manages some how to base this "self help" book superficially around philosophies of the ninja. The real accomplishment, in my view, is how he manages to entangle such a variety of quotes and philosophies from around the world. From Bruce Lee to John Wayne(?!!), the Bible to Carl Jung, he's chucked it all in! In fact, Heaven has crammed in so many random quotes that the book would be half as long if they were taken out. This owes just as much to positive pyschology and shamanism as it does to the Ninja!
Stick to Hayes or Hatsumi!!!