Elements of the Real in Man

Diamond Heart #1

by A.H. Almaas

This four-volume series presents a collection of talks given by Almaas on topics such as faith, commitment, nobility and suffering, truth and compassion, allowing, and growing up. Through these talks, Almaas offers valuable guidance and advice for those on a spiritual path, and he explores the challenges and psychological barriers faced by those seeking self-realization.

Genres: Spirituality, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Mysticism

247 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2000

About the author

A.H. Almaas is the pen name of A. Hameed Ali, the creator of the Diamond Approach to Self Realization. The Diamond Approach is a contemporary teaching that developed within the context of awareness of both ancient spiritual teachings & modern depth psychological theories.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Diamond Method came highly recommended by both a friend and by The Christine Center in central WI--a place I deeply respect. Without these endorsements, I doubt I ever would have picked up anything by Almaas. I'm skeptical of spiritual teachers who talk in perpetual, sweeping generalities, who talk AT their students rather than engaging them in conversations, and who speak from a place of ultimate authority rather than curiosity. I guess I know too much about effective teaching.

But when I listened beyond these qualities, I found a lot to admire in Almaas's words. I need to learn more about the origin and technique of the Diamond Method before I can speak to it with any authority, but it seems to me to be a practical method of supporting spiritual growth using both psychological insights and Sufi tradition. The framework is fresh, feels true to my experience, and so it's giving me a lot of food for thought. I plan to spend the next week journaling in response to passages I've underlined.


So in the beginning there is no faith, then there is faith, and at the end there is no faith. Faith is the intermediate state, the transition between belief and knowing.
--A.H.Almaas, Diamond Heart, 54

[Eugene Pustoshkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and the whole series, being a transcript of lectures, is a great supplement to the main corpus of A. H. Almaas’ more densely written works. It touches essential questions of life, the Work, each and every person’s psychospiritual journey.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dunno. Been rereading lots of stuff on my "Spirituality" shelves, attempting to sort the wheat from the chaff. Almaas is smart and his theories of essence and holes is intriguing. But he writes all these books and wants to get you into a group to do "The Work" and, of course, that costs money, etc. It all seemed more cult-y to me this time around. I'm afraid I'm going with "chaff" here.

[Magdelanye · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not a matter of whipping ourselves into line. It's a matter of seeking and understanding how we are Not in line...not in harmony with the truth. p68

If you are at all interested in such a concept, especially if you are skeptical regarding its probability or the possibility of its manifestation, you may find the Diamond approach shines a sharp light on all of our excuses. This first volume of the Diamond Heart series is a pristine introduction to the work.

In the search for truth, you have to start with reality....we need to start with reality to proceed with the truth.p145

It's not that much fun, when you get right down to it, to peer behind the walls we have erected that protect all of our little lies, or to take out from the closet all the things too charged to deal with; all the things we wish to avoid. AHA takes no prisoners and succinctly cuts away at the bullshit. I do not always appreciate this and frankly, some of his advice is terrifying.

If you want to grow, you have to be willing to actually to be somebody with different thoughts, ideas, and beliefs, and experiences. Fine, you want to be happy. But it might be that to be happy you have to become a different person. p150

This certainly is not something to be undertaken lightly. There are layers of convictions and assumptions that need need to be shed, illusions to be clarified. It may be scary and unpalatable; better than lugging this baggage around.

AHA has gone from being an esoteric guide with a cult following to a personable presenter of webinars. https://sifw.diamondapproach.org/than.... I was a bit surprised at his warm and engaging presence and he has a beautiful speaking voice. ♦ His lucid, down to earth manner certainly inspires further association.

All this time I thought I had to crawl faster! I didn't know it was possible to fly. p153

[Tony Bertauski · Rating 5 out of 5]

As spiritual practice goes, AH Almaas writes the most accessible books for everyday living. Perhaps this writing isn't as useful to someone that hasn't worked with a group or teacher, whether it's Zen or some other meditative practice, but there is still much to gain from reading it.

Almaas has written many books, but the five books in the Diamond Heart series are among the best. I continue to read them and gain insight every time.

Don't miss this opportunity.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first book in the Diamond Heart Series offers openings to what the Diamond Approach calls Essential Qualities, qualities of presence, of our very being, i.e., value, trust, truth, curiosity. The Theory of Holes blew my mind the first time I read about that concept (Chapter 2). It explains why so often we're searching outside of ourselves for something that we feel like we're missing (happens a lot in relationships).

[Jason Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start

This book is a great start to those interested in the Diamond Approach. It gives a taste of what's possible, what's new, what's not known, for those that yearn for it.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almaas at his most accessible. His brand of spiritual depth psychology explained in simple and insightful terms.

[Glen Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that really appealed to me as it touches deeply on the spiritual journey and the challenges that the individual encounters on the path. I have a lot of experience and so was wondering if the book and the information could help me. It did but the book and the subject is not easy reading and I had to read it a chapter or two at a time. Probably need to revisit some of the information to fully absorb it.
I have the second book and will tackle that after a breather because the book is intense.

[mrs rhys · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The truth will set you free by allowing you to be yourself"

3.5 stars. While there were some parts I thought were just in there for marketing and it might've been a tad too long, this was a wonderful beginner's exploration of different inner, psychological concepts that I thoroughly enjoyed. It also would've been nice for each chapter to have some practical applications of the concepts rather than just philosophising.

[yan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“任何事都可能发生。你根本不知道事情会如何发展。如果以任何方式去操控它，只会制止它的发展。你只能做自己，做当下的你，然后允许下一刻自然显现。毕竟生命的核心原本就是个谜。”都说人生最大的满足或者说目的就是做自己，但我一直不理解究竟要怎么做自己。如何辨别什么是虚假的需求和真实的自己？这本书让我明白“做自己”的觉悟不可能一下子就达成，我能做的就是保持开放的心态，不拒绝新事物，不给自己设限，不对未来将发生的事抱持着预期心理和偏好，敞开胸怀去体会一切，迎接从来没有想过的变化进入生活，从不断的尝试和接纳中加深对自我的认识。“做自己”是修炼的成果，不是修炼之始就要遵照的教条。
“本体的发展过程有自己的逻辑，只有当它真的发生时，你才能意识到它”，只有我认识了它，才能做到它、实现它，没有做到意味着还没有真正认识，所以不存在“道理都懂却过不好这一生”之说，这和王阳明的“知行合一”思想不谋而合，真理会以不同的形式出现。
保持好奇心，感觉、观察、聆听。

[Josh Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars.
"If you haven’t struggled with a question, you can’t receive an answer even if it’s handed to you"

Chapter on projection and chapter on "child's attitude" clarified these concepts that were previously a bit murky to me.

Extremely important psychological writing here, even if you ignore the spiritual aspects.

[Marie Gaspari · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Goes Deeper

It explains Impeccable and indulgence. What truth really means. It it so different from what I have been conditioned to think.

[Jane Tennyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

This was a little complicated but I got the underlying concept. Not sure I believe this is the answer but it does add a perspective not often expressed

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't quite finished this one but it's a seminal work by a unique teacher, who seems very successful at integrating spiritual wisdom with modern depth psychology. This is a guy who seems to have figured a few things out, rather than regurgitating the usual aphorisms and spiritual pablum. Highly recommended.

[Sean Menzies · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book and introduction to the work of the Diamond Approach. It fairly clearly describes our loss of essence, the psychological holes in our ego structure and the process of non-interfering inquiry into our own selves - itself opening a process of self-remembering.

[Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psychology meets enlightenment spirituality! Amazing stuff!

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. It's rambly at times since the book is transcribed from Almaas' talks, and he's definitely rambly, but very good stuff nonetheless.

[Sabrina Fetters · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time.

[Iman]

very deep books

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still reading.

[Ruan]

Excellent book with many detailed differentiations between the inner essence of our source and the graven images and conditions we identify with and get stuck in.