“By religious feeling, what I mean altogether independently of anydogma, credo, organization of the Church, Holy Scripture, the hope of personal salvation, etc.—the simple and direct fact of a feeling of the‘eternal.’ This feeling is, in truth, subjective in nature. It is a contact.” Romain Rolland
“‘God’ must be free of properties and is thus unlike anything else, and indescribable.”Moses Maimonides
“an unqualifiable and attribute-less is the nature of ‘God.’”Mulla Rajab
“If you understand, it is not God.” St. Augustine or Augustine of Hippo
“The Tao [the absolute principle underlying the universe] that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth.”Lao Tzu
“God has no form, no shape, no color, no differences, no race, no religion, no country, no place, no name, neither beginning nor end. God is the grace that lives within all lives.”Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
“You should love [God] as he is a non-God, a non-spirit, a non-person, a non-image, but as he is a pure, unmixed bright ‘One,’ separated from all dualities; and in that One we should eternally sink down, out of something into nothing.” Meister Eckhart
“The name Christ, an unknown significance, just as the title ‘God’ is not a name, but represents the idea, innate in human nature, of an inexpressible reality” Justin Martyr
Today is the launch of my new book- The Garden of Eden in This Life. It is available in paperback, hardcover and kindle on Amazon. The following is the book description. With Metta, Rodger Ricketts.
What if the story of the Garden of Eden wasn’t just ancient myth, but a timeless guide to reclaiming our original wholeness? What if the “fall” from innocence was not the end, but an invitation to return—consciously—to a deeper unity with ourselves, each other, and the world?
In The Garden of Eden in This Life, Dr. Rodger R. Ricketts—a clinical psychologist, mindfulness teacher, and lifelong student of the Buddha’s teachings—unveils a profound perspective linking ancient wisdom, modern psychology, and the apophatic (negative) spiritual tradition. Drawing from over forty years of study and practice, he explores how non-dualistic teachings from Buddhism, science, and multiple faith traditions reveal the limits of language, the illusions of separation, and the path back to an integrated state of being.
You will journey through concepts like Sunyata (emptiness), the via negativa, and the psychology of transcendence—discovering how humanity’s separation from nature and spirit can be healed through direct experience, compassionate living, and expanded awareness.
This is more than a philosophical exploration—it’s a practical roadmap for living with clarity, joy, and interconnectedness. Through cross-cultural insights, reflective practices, and meditative approaches, Dr. Ricketts shows how embracing the ineffable mystery of life can dissolve division, foster ecological and social harmony, and restore our inner paradise.
Whether you are a seeker, a meditator, a student of comparative religion, or someone simply longing for a more meaningful existence, The Garden of Eden in This Life will inspire you to see beyond duality and step into a living experience of unity.
If you are ready to move beyond dogma, transcend the limits of language, and reawaken to the timeless ground of being—this book will guide you there. Open these pages and begin your journey back to the Garden… in this life.
Your submission Embracing Apophatic Philosophy: A Path Towards Personal and Societal Transformation has been accepted
Contemporary society increasingly has a fragmented view of the world, it sees its diversity but not the unity that underlies it. This fragmentation is at the root of tribal mentality, environmental degradation, polarization, and other problems. Apophatic philosophy provides a much-needed alternative to traditional cultural and religious materialistic viewpoints. Contrary to religions that assign known anthropomorphic characteristics to a power often referred to as “God”, apophaticism teaches that we cannot positively know or assert anything about the nature of “God”. At the heart of the discussion are the key characteristics and enormous benefits of ancient spiritual wisdom; an apophatic, non-dualist approach to life, as well as its links with Buddhist philosophy and economics. It is a wisdom that converges the findings of modern science, with the observations of eminent mystics and religious personages from across time and different backgrounds, as well as my own extensive experience in modern psychology and Buddhist practice. In this book, I establish how a non-dualist approach to life can preciously revolutionize our personal well-being as well as that of society and the relationship with the Earth.
Embracing Apophatic Philosophy: A Path Towards Beneficial Personal and Societal Transformation
Prevailing materialist assumptions have taught us that we, as individuals, are fundamentally a skin-encapsulated ego or “I” relating to a world with a sense of isolation and disconnection. Societal constructs influenced by such assumptions foster alienation and detachment, perpetuating egocentrism and neglecting the congruity and interdependence of human beings with each other and their environment. To modify resulting harmful economic systems, it is necessary to understand that economic reality is not an autonomous sub-system but a highly interdependent system of value creation. Drawing on the teachings of the Buddha, Martin Buber and others, as well as scientific research, we propose a paradigm shift towards a non-dualistic, biocentric perspective. Martin Buber formulated a model where the depersonalized, autonomous, isolated, and psychologically separated “I-It” stands in contrast to the “I-Thou” relationship. The “I-Thou” perspective promotes a non-dualistic transcendental idealism and teaches that we are interdependent, interbeing, and continually transacting with the environment and other sentient beings. Biocentric ethics, like the “I-Thou” concept, calls for a radical readjustment of the relationship between humans, nature, and all existence. Also, the entrenched individualism of prevailing societal and economic paradigms neglects the intrinsic interconnectedness of all natural entities, hindering sustainable development. Through the framework of non-dualism, biocentrism, and Buddhist economics, we discover why and how we must shift from the present predominant dogma to an alternative social and economic strategy with a view to promoting subjective well-being and societal happiness, creating comprehensive pathways to achieve harmony, eliminate economic deprivation, enable human dignity, and respect Earth’s ecosystems.
In a contemporary society increasingly dominated by radicalized viewpoints, self-interest, tribal mentality and alienation, apophatic philosophy provides a much-needed alternative to traditional cultural and religious viewpoints. Contrary to religions that assign known and defined characteristics to a power often referred to as “God”, thus presupposing that they can comprehend this entity, apophaticism teaches that we cannot positively know or assert anything about the nature of “God”. At the heart of the discussion are the key characteristics and enormous benefits of an apophatic approach to life, as well as its links with Buddhist philosophy and economics. Backed by scientific research, the observations of eminent mystics and religious personages from across time and different backgrounds, as well as my own extensive experience in traditional psychology and Buddhist practice, I demonstrate how an apophatic approach to life can revolutionize our personal well-being as well as that of society and Earth as a whole.
Also Throughout the Buddha’s teachings, transformation leading to transcendental enlightenment is an intentional psychological attainment. Enlightenment or awakening is created through the process of planned psychological/emotional change, consistently practiced by motivated learners, moving on from an uninformed way of living (acting, thinking, feeling) to one according to universal principles. This book highlights those insights and the beneficial results. In the following chapters, the reader will notice that I have emphasized not only the Buddha’s teachings but a wide range of cross-cultural non-dualistic descriptions. I have found that these universal, ancient, as well as modern teachings provide an in-depth analysis of transpersonal training and perspective. While not encyclopedic, the chapters about the non-dualistic writings are not only for intellectual curiosity. They are also a living testament of truths with vital positive consequences for the wellness and well-being of the individual, for society, and for the whole of Gaia. When understood and incorporated into one’s life, this is transformed in a transpersonal way. One frequent consideration necessary when writing this book was what noun should be used when referring to the transcendent and immanent quality that is often referred to as God, Deity, the Divine, Being, etc. In the end, I used the word Transcendent as often as possible as the most neutral yet appropriate noun for this topic. To conclude, my intent in this book is the analysis and integration of numerous non-dualistic teachings such as the Buddha’s teaching and modern scientific insights. I will explore these perspectives about the mysterious nature of the Transcendent or No-Thing and its relationship with our existence through ancient schools of thought. Also included in this book are varied meditation/prayer practices or structured activities that can lead to personal experiences that provide humanity with what is necessary for living embodied, integrated, and spiritual lives. Even in this age of dualistic and hyper-rational science and technology, non-dualism, which has stood the test of time, is an illuminating explanation of the totality of human experience.
REVIEW
“Non-Duality: What the World Needs Now” by Rodger R Ricketts is essential reading for anyone concerned about the welfare of humanity and Earth as a whole. It is also an important text for anyone interested in religion, spirituality and Buddhism. In this well-researched book, Ricketts makes a powerful case for an apophatic approach to “God” – in other words, the knowledge that we cannot know anything definite about God as this is beyond human language and comprehension. Ricketts argues convincingly that Buddhism is an apophatic path. He also provides evidence from modern psychology and neuroscience supporting apophatic views of the universe. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Ricketts points out that it is only through a return to apophaticism and Buddhist economics that we can create a sustainable life for all. This impactful and convincing book should be required reading for all!
We are all Interconnected even with the Universe 