5.0 out of 5 stars Hacker's Guide to Enlightenment

T.A.M. · September 12, 2013

I'm only a third of the way through this book, and I haven't put it to practice yet, but it sounds absolutely amazing. It sounds like a hacker's guide to enlightenment.There seem to be some parallels between the end result of this process (unexplainable sensations/experiences of "beingness") and more mystical spiritual traditions like Tantric (Tibetan) Buddhism (Dzogchen).I Love NLP. Love love love. Genuinely understanding how our brains work and can be re-programmed for the better. The subconscious is amazing and tapping into that can be a serious endeavor. NLP takes hundreds of years of mystical teachings that can take a lifetime for an ordinary person to master (if they're lucky) and gives you an incredible shortcut. No need to master meditation or esoteric philosophy on the "absolute nature" of things, etc...With the many books on Tibetan Mysticism and Philosophy that I've come across, I've just felt at a loss to really absorb any of it. I knew the whole point was to find that amazingness within, to shift from that victimhood mode to a more abundant mode. But sometimes traditions that have taken hundreds of years to develop can become overcomplicated with time. I couldn't stay patient with how short our time is in this society. NLP gives you a ticket directly to the finish line. I've always been frustrated at the use of words like "enlightenment" and "being", which mean absolutely nothing to me. But through the Core Transformation process I better understand from a psycho-scientific perspective what it all means. You don't go through life happy even when bad things happen - but you keep your strength, focus, repose, from a deep core within - a "wellspring" within - so you can handle things with confidence when you otherwise would fall apart, freak out, or otherwise act irrationally. I really appreciate the plain English. I've been so incredibly sick of meaningless translations of words and prose from hundreds if not thousands of years ago from around the world. It's been otherwise like trying to understand Shakespeare, which I don't have the patience to bother with.I would say for the most effectiveness, one should lead a life of service to bring happiness and well-being to others. Be community and relationship oriented. Then this shortcut to "enlightenment" will make more sense. It's not something that can or should be achieved in a solitary life. There are many books that take the Boddhisattva (spiritual warrior) path of Mahayana Buddhism (including Tibetan and Zen) and discuss the importance of compassion, giving, generosity, abundance, gratitude, mindfulness, etc. All of this helps the "Core Transformation"....But I am nothing short of flabbergasted at how simple and elegant the Core Transformation process is. I've always felt it's unfair for "enlightenment" to be limited to only the most dedicated practitioners who often already live a comfortable life and with minimal stress/pressure. Everybody deserves to go through life with strength and clarity and feeling empowered instead of weak, even if life gets challenging. This cuts to the chase.I will warn that as much as our negative/destructive behaviors are often working against us, sometimes there are legitimate reasons for us to be angry, fearful, etc. Sometimes we need to attend to our life's challenges (securing income, shelter, food, leisure time, etc) and so we have to strive for a better/simpler life as well. Sometimes life is a mess (after losing a job, for example) and so mileage may vary - sometimes the stress is practical. But hopefully you'll be able to get through it with a bit more strength and confidence than before.I'm relieved that I can have my "own" way to become a more centered person without feeling like I have to jump on the eastern spiritual bandwagon. At times I feel so jealous/envious, but I feel at such a loss because it takes years of focus which I don't have (as a single parent) to even seem legitimate and not some 'faker' looking for approval. I've felt a certain resentment/bitterness towards people who act enlightened, full of nothing but gratitude and love and bliss.... when I have struggled in my life. My life has been a struggle and it bothers me that others can act so happy. It's insulting and totally unrelatable to most of the people who go through life scraping on by. In that sense I've felt like I don't want to be like them at all. At one point I had a direct interest in eastern spiritual paths but was looked down upon in somewhat of a condescending way as a "faker" looking for approval. Ever since then I've felt bitter about it all and have stayed far away. But now I feel like I have a means to be at their level on my own terms without active naively "happy".Now I can feel like I can be around "enlightened" peers and behave more confidently and not feel so insecure/inferior. I'm keeping this wonderful secret (and anything NLP) to myself.

5.0 out of 5 stars NLP on steroids

L.I.N.T. · October 30, 2009

The most powerful processes in nlp include parts integration, and if you train with certain trainers you also learn Time Line Techniques, and Timeline Therapy (TM) techniques. When you learn about the hierarchy of ideas, you know that certain types of questions rewire your brain.In parts integration, chunking up questions open up abstract or big picture thinking, and resolve inner conflict. Chunking down helps you to problem solve, and get more specific. Lateral chunking opens up choices within a category. For example, if you want to buy a luxury car, and you want to consider options other than a Merecedes, you might ask (LC)'what other types of luxury car would I buy?' If you (CU)ask yourself what will having this car get me that's more important? The answer moves you through a different level of consciousness, which if you're like me could be status, comfort, luxury, freedom, peace etc. Einstein said: 'A problem cannot be solved from the same level of consciousness in which it was created.'So, if you take some of these techniques, combine them, add a splash of genius and intuition, as Connirae Andreas has done, you have an extremely powerful and effective tool of transformation, and it's also easy to use. It's more than Timeline techniques, it's more than parts integration as you may know it. It's parts integration on steroids.Values are what's important to you.CT moves an undesired behavior, limitation or internal conflict up through your values hierarchy, and enables you to access more abstract levels of consciousness, until you access your 'core' value. When you reach the core value, you may have some interesting and trance forming experiences.As the author advises, I used this on a minor behavior first...eating when I'm not hungry, and applied the state changing question, I went through a few layers such as feeling satisfied, and 'already feeling satisfied, what would that enable you to get that's even more important,... eventually I arrived at inner peace, and my core value of 'Oneness or Unity.' When I reached the core state I intuitively asked what would transform that even more, the answer for me was 'divine light.' Since then I have been able to ..catch myself in the act, and not eat when i am not hungry.Having read as little as 50 pages you can run a five step version of CT, without the Timeline technique. What enhances this more is using the core value to further transform the limitations, which makes the results even more spectacular. As you get further into the book you can add on more sophisticated techniques such as Parental Timeline reimprinting, dealing with conflicts between parts, growing up a part, and so on, which make for some intriguing and exciting experiences.If you're not familiar with nlp, this book is written for everybody, and is totally jargon free. My recommendation if you don't get an answer to your question, keep asking, it's like a hammer and chisel, sometimes it takes several hits to make a breakthrough.It's easy to imagine its huge potential for psychologists, nlp trainers, life coaches, gurus, and anyone who wants to make a change, and I plan on using it extensively from now on. I note that there are Core Transformation coaches all over the world, and it's a mystery that it's not more popular given how powerful this technique really is. This would most definitely be my desert island read. Hope this was helpful.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best therapy ever!

H.2.l. · July 10, 2010

I can not believe how well the methods worked on me! I have been diagnosed with depression back in 1994. During that year I did a lot of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) with a therapist. I also purchased the New Mood Therapy book. I did so much writing to challenge my thoughts the the combined writings were over two inches thick. After doing this for about a week or two, I felt a change in the negative thoughts I was working on. But I had to keep doing it to keep my negative thoughts in check. If I stopped, my negative thoughts will comeback after several months. Fast forward to about two months ago and I would have said that CBT is the best type of therapy out there. Then I heard about this book and how the methods had a much quicker response to the negative issues and how the changes seem to "stick" even after doing the process one time. I found that very hard to believe.Not anymore! And I have only read half of the book!!On a negative note, I don't think this book is for everybody because I don't think a lot of people can administer the steps to themselves alone. Because of my experience of doing CBT writings, it wasn't that difficult for me to do the steps. I have to say that it was different at first but I finally got the hang of it.It's too bad there isn't that many certified therapist using Core Transformation. Like some other reviewer have said, maybe it is because the therapist would not get repeat customers doing this kind of therapy. With my professional CBT Dr., I was seeing her every other week for a year. I felt like a broken record talking to her about my same issues that was gripping me.I really can't say enough on how this book has helped me. Even with the issues I had it really helped me to keep my reactions in check!!

Was looking to add to my toolkit - this just may have become my toolkit and toolbox in one.

S. · May 6, 2015

Was looking to add to my toolkit - this just may have become my toolkit and toolbox in one. The concept of embracing our limitations and transforming them through the core rather than deleting them is spot on. As a transformative hypnotist - I was looking to add to my toolkit and all of a sudden, everything I had in my toolkit now seems to have taken a massive back seat.

Pour professionnels de la santé

H.H.C.d.E. · February 13, 2020

Super bouquin qui est destiné aux personnes ayant déjà une bonne connaissance de la PNL

Powerful life-altering book as a companion to the course and by itself

D.S. · July 29, 2019

I picked up this book as a complement to the Core Transformation Workshop run by their Andreases. One doesn't need to be to have experienced the workshop in order to receive the best from this book. Packed with testimonials, real-life case studies and ample explanations about this extraordinary self-work process. Thanks to CT my life has altered in ways I never thought it would. I have replaced my daily meditation practice with CT and I intend to do this for the rest of my life. I give this book 5 stars and a hearty recommendation - this isn't a book to be merely read but to be studied and practiced. Prepare to have your mind opened and your soul soothed in infinite ways.

Another book for which I feel five stars not enough

n. · February 14, 2011

The reference to this book in Jack Elias' outstanding book 'Finding True Magic' led me to order it. I have found it to be a treasure. I am not sure how much my response to it has benefitted from a first reading of 'Finding True Magic' and Elias' masterful presentation of a number of NLP and hypnotherapeutic techniques but it has so far been immensely helpful. I am extremely grateful for both of these books ('Finding True Magic' and also 'Core Transformation') .. they suggest skills and technqiues that seem to me both astonishingly effective and remarkably helpful... not merely in terms of questions of functioning more efficiently (e.g., dealing with writer's block) but also in terms of what might be considered spiritual growth (dealing with impediments to more consistently compassionate behaviour, for example; a help in putting things more into perspective, including issues of serious health questions or life and death, and not forgetting that even such things as these are relatively minor despite what a frigthening 'shock wave' the threat of them can create).

A profound experience

R.F. · October 15, 2022

You don't need drugs to experience heightened states of being. Just let someone guide you through Core Transformation.