Is there such a thing as a book which gives the reader secular knowledge
affording them and advantage over all other humans?
Obviously all books do that, but I mean a book which contains truly profound
knowledge, such that the reader might afterwards be considered 'Englightened'?

If so.. What does it contain?

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Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 24 Oct 2004 01:16 PDT

Grangar, 

There are several separate issues here, IMHO: 

- You're looking for a book that "gives the reader secular knowledge".
I could point to a single book like that for you, but I have the
feeling that you wouldn't be happy with my answer: any good
encyclopaedia would give you much knowledge. If you want me to, I can
post as an answer some links to such books.

- You're looking for a book that gives a person "advantage over all
other humans". If there is such a book, wouldn't everyone who had read
it have an advantage over all other humans, which makes it logically
impossible (since some of the other humans are also people who have
read it)?

- You mentioned the "Book of Thoth" and then again, mentioned "secular
knowledge". Since that book does not deal with secular knowledge but
with mysticism, it is not relevant to our discussion. However, it is a
very interesting subject and I'll be happy to give you an answer about
this book, its history, it significance, etc.

Tell me what kind of answer would you like to receive and what you had
in mind. In general, though, you might want to think about it: no
scientist would claim for absolute knowledge. There are always things
that are beyond our current understanding of scinece. If someone
claims to have a total explanation of the universe, it probably means
that this is not science, but religion, or parareligion.

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Clarification of Question by gragnar-ga on 24 Oct 2004 05:33 PDT

Certainly if everyone read such a book then no single person would be empowered.
However you'd suspect that the owner/s of such a book would realise
this paradox, and try to limit readership somehow, perhaps using some
arcane selection process?

I don't think I move in the sort of circles that might see me come
into contact with any such book. Which is why I call upon your
researching powers.

As regards the secular or otherwise nature of the mythical (or
otherwise?) Book of Thoth, I suppose it depends upon how you qualify
'secular knowledge'.
Antibiotics cheat death, and in the age of the gene replacement
therapy there doesn't seem any logical reason to suspect that mankind
will not eventually triumph over death altogether? I have little doubt
that any book of the type I'm seeking might couch it's knowledge in
religiose terms. But the knowledge non-the-less would be secular. Why
not the obvious books of wisedom?
Essentially the book I originally mentioned claims to give the reader
the ability to cheat death and commune with super beings. It's
knowledge of this sort of depth I'm seeking. I don't want to have to
interpret the knowledge from a series of anecdotal stories, I seek
overt answers.

I have read several books which certainly seem to give enlightenment
in some area or other. Such as Platos Republic, Machiavellis 'The
Prince', K.A.Stroud's 'Engineering Mathematics'.

But yet although I may be more enlightened than the majority I still
don't feel I've been quite given the right book yet?
For surely if I had, I wouldn't have to weed my front garden right now?

I have heard the tarot cards described as the book of thoth (I think
in Oswald Wirth's book on the Tarot). But this is probably not what
you had in mind.

I'm left wondering what 'enlightenment' has to do with having
'advantage over all other humans'...?

As a former owner of a 'metaphysical' bookstore I can tell you that if
you found such a book, you (and the rest of us) would be in deep guano
. . .    :-)

Having said that, you might try Ken Wilbur's "A Brief History of
Everything".  What he lacks in modesty, he makes up for in
thoroughness and erudition . . .

as for the Book of Thoth . . .  forgettaboutit if you want to preserve
your sanity and humanity; Aleister Crowley touted himself as being a
black magician; better take the Buddhist track and, as the Dalai Lama
says: if you can't find a way to help people, at least do no harm....

Another recent classic I would highly recommend:
Drive Your Karma; Curb Your Dogma  ... by Swami Beyondananda
available at Swami's website, called WakeUpLaughing.com
https://secure01.epiphanet.com/~wakeupl/epistore/

hope this helps!

If I had access to secret knowledge that would give "advantage over
all other humans," the last thing I would do would be to publish this
information, thereby giving this supposed advantage to anyone who read
the book.

I picked up the Ken Wilbur book in Manchester airport once.
I doubt whether any book actually giving a knowledge of everything would be 
available there. Not that Manchester airport isn't nice.

<But yet although I may be more enlightened than the majority I still
don't feel I've been quite given the right book yet?
For surely if I had, I wouldn't have to weed my front garden right now?>

Before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.
 --- Suzuki Roshi

Even Crowley didn't get the goods on the grim reaper . . .

What about The Lazy Man's Guide to Enlightenment by Thadeus Golas . . .?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/158685190X/qid=1098651408/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-0071740-7269721?v=glance&s=books

cheerios!

Many books have made such claims, but I know of none that deliver long term.
 Often "advantage over others" is unethical if not ilegal, Most
persons who follow these ways come to grief. Less spectacular, but
longer lasting is dedicating your life to honesty, and helping others
find long term success and happiness.  Neil

that's simple whatever we wrote in the past on relegion has been
accepted blindly therefore this must too

This whole chop wood carry water thing reminds me of Voltairs "Candide".
A book which romps through the misfortunes of life to give the reader
the enlightement : work brings peace and happiness.
A theme later expounded in 20th century socialist thinking  from Mao's
"Let a thousand flowers bloom" to Hitlers "Work Brings Freedom".
Although there is the other element to chop wood carry water, which is
obviosly that you cannot chop water... Patently though.. you can, if
you freeze it.
That goes to show you that eastern wisedom isn't any better or worse
than western wisedom. At least non that I've ever been privvy to.

As regards my posessing ultimate knowledge being bad for everyone else.
I'm a fairly magnanimous chap.

"Reading about enlightenment is like scratching an itch through your shoe"
  
-- Roshi Philip Kapleau

But how can one remove a shoe one is not wearing already?

Unless of course one assumes that enlightenment is inate, and only
requires a few hours of quite contemplation to achieve.
A cursory glance at a passing teenager will relieve one of this notion rapidly.
Enlightenment must surely come from experience, and reflection upon such.
The more evocative, and stimulating the experience, surely the more enlightening.

Thus... A great profound work such as the book I'm looking for should
provide all I need?

No.
Perhaps the trick is to pusuade the Grim Reaper to go to work on the
weeds in your front garden...
(he comes with tools)

The object of the Tarot, Thoth or otherwise, is to gain knowledge
regarding the self. The Book of Thoth is a reflection of the entire
Universe, at least as Aleister Crowley saw it. For more info on the
Thoth Tarot, check out <a
href="http://www.thelemapedia.org">Thelemapedia</a>...there is lots of
info about Tarot, Crowley, and magick in general.