Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Page 103
Book Review
Going Deeper: How to Make Sense of Your Life When Your Life Makes No
Sense
Jean-Claude Koven, Cathedral City, CA: Prism House Press, 2004. ISBN
0972395458 (hardcover), 434-pages, $24.95
The author of Going Deeper is described on the book jacket as ―one of those rare,
independent and adventurous free spirits who manages to bridge the pursuits of practical
enterprise and cosmic mystery.‖ There is no reference to credentials or qualifications other
than his being ―a highly successful, respected entrepreneur for over forty years, starting
and running more than a dozen business ventures.‖ We are told he ―has studied with
masters and led workshops on six continents.‖
The cover jacket informs us that Koven ―speaks for the still, small voice in the wilderness
sent to this planet to help realign people with their soul‘s purpose.‖ He pursues this goal in
27 chapters, a 1-page Afterword, and 4-page Epilog. There are 14 pages of
acknowledgments, strangely inserted at the end of the book (pages 380-394), a 15-page
glossary, and a 15-page, two-column index. All this supportive material is impressive for a
book of fiction. The glossary, ranging from Akashic records and Atlantis, through chakra and
kundalini, to the Upanishads and Veil of Forgetting, provides a taste of the book‘s content.
The story line is the spiritual journey of Larry, ―a successful young Los Angeles lawyer,‖ and
his dog. Together, they experience a two-and-a-half day journey. Zeus, the dog, talks to
Larry, leading him through the journey of self-awareness and self-realization. White
buffalos, a raccoon, trees, and stones also talk to him. All this becomes part of both Larry
finding himself and ―the extraordinary possibilities awaiting the human race.‖
In his journey, Larry learns that he is at a ―3rd density level,‖ and he progresses to 6th
density level as he ponders the nature of reality, oneness, evolving values, the meaning of
life, and the power of free will and love. He learns there are 70 million ―Wanderers‖ or
―cosmic servers‖ who came to earth ―from other dimensions through the Veil of Forgetting‖
(xi). These beings can ―assist with the impending shift‖ to a better world. Larry‘s world was
―irrevocably changed on Tuesday, the eleventh of September, 2001‖ (13). He learns that
realizing ancient myths and a higher spiritual consciousness by channeling can ―help beings
currently trapped within the illusion to move forward‖ (xiv). The book interprets 9/11 as a
wake-up call to the need for spiritual growth and a higher consciousness.
The journey is a smorgasbord of New Age ideas taken from Buddhism, Hinduism, and their
spin-offs. The chakras of kundalini yoga are emphasized, perhaps overly so by the author‘s
interpretation of dreams as reflections of the chakras (300). An Indian guide, ―Gathering
Cloud,‖ is reminiscent of Annie Besant‘s theosophy. The emphasis on the ego is not so
different from Freud‘s conceptualization of the ego as ―the executive function‖ and adds free
will and love, similar to humanistic psychology. The author often uses a Zen-like koan riddle
technique, but, surprisingly, there is no mention of Zen. Many other concepts are similar to
those in uncited works, such as Carl Rogers‘ unconditional positive regard, Abraham
Maslow‘s self-actualization, Lawrence Kohlberg‘s universal ethical principles, Labouvie-vief‘s
post-formal development Pierre Chardin‘s evolving spirituality, and Ayn Rand‘s self-
reliance. Koven makes oversimplified forays into science, with references to quantum
physics, the possibility of a parallel universe, and lightning as a plasma force we all possess
at a lower level. It would have been helpful if the author had cautioned readers that self-
reliance and free will can be harmful if uncontrolled.
This book reflects a typical New Age approach now somewhat outdated, a remnant from the
pursuit of the Age of Aquarius of the 1960s. There is little new here. Many other New Age
books have similar content, though this book provides a current overview of those ideas and
Book Review
Going Deeper: How to Make Sense of Your Life When Your Life Makes No
Sense
Jean-Claude Koven, Cathedral City, CA: Prism House Press, 2004. ISBN
0972395458 (hardcover), 434-pages, $24.95
The author of Going Deeper is described on the book jacket as ―one of those rare,
independent and adventurous free spirits who manages to bridge the pursuits of practical
enterprise and cosmic mystery.‖ There is no reference to credentials or qualifications other
than his being ―a highly successful, respected entrepreneur for over forty years, starting
and running more than a dozen business ventures.‖ We are told he ―has studied with
masters and led workshops on six continents.‖
The cover jacket informs us that Koven ―speaks for the still, small voice in the wilderness
sent to this planet to help realign people with their soul‘s purpose.‖ He pursues this goal in
27 chapters, a 1-page Afterword, and 4-page Epilog. There are 14 pages of
acknowledgments, strangely inserted at the end of the book (pages 380-394), a 15-page
glossary, and a 15-page, two-column index. All this supportive material is impressive for a
book of fiction. The glossary, ranging from Akashic records and Atlantis, through chakra and
kundalini, to the Upanishads and Veil of Forgetting, provides a taste of the book‘s content.
The story line is the spiritual journey of Larry, ―a successful young Los Angeles lawyer,‖ and
his dog. Together, they experience a two-and-a-half day journey. Zeus, the dog, talks to
Larry, leading him through the journey of self-awareness and self-realization. White
buffalos, a raccoon, trees, and stones also talk to him. All this becomes part of both Larry
finding himself and ―the extraordinary possibilities awaiting the human race.‖
In his journey, Larry learns that he is at a ―3rd density level,‖ and he progresses to 6th
density level as he ponders the nature of reality, oneness, evolving values, the meaning of
life, and the power of free will and love. He learns there are 70 million ―Wanderers‖ or
―cosmic servers‖ who came to earth ―from other dimensions through the Veil of Forgetting‖
(xi). These beings can ―assist with the impending shift‖ to a better world. Larry‘s world was
―irrevocably changed on Tuesday, the eleventh of September, 2001‖ (13). He learns that
realizing ancient myths and a higher spiritual consciousness by channeling can ―help beings
currently trapped within the illusion to move forward‖ (xiv). The book interprets 9/11 as a
wake-up call to the need for spiritual growth and a higher consciousness.
The journey is a smorgasbord of New Age ideas taken from Buddhism, Hinduism, and their
spin-offs. The chakras of kundalini yoga are emphasized, perhaps overly so by the author‘s
interpretation of dreams as reflections of the chakras (300). An Indian guide, ―Gathering
Cloud,‖ is reminiscent of Annie Besant‘s theosophy. The emphasis on the ego is not so
different from Freud‘s conceptualization of the ego as ―the executive function‖ and adds free
will and love, similar to humanistic psychology. The author often uses a Zen-like koan riddle
technique, but, surprisingly, there is no mention of Zen. Many other concepts are similar to
those in uncited works, such as Carl Rogers‘ unconditional positive regard, Abraham
Maslow‘s self-actualization, Lawrence Kohlberg‘s universal ethical principles, Labouvie-vief‘s
post-formal development Pierre Chardin‘s evolving spirituality, and Ayn Rand‘s self-
reliance. Koven makes oversimplified forays into science, with references to quantum
physics, the possibility of a parallel universe, and lightning as a plasma force we all possess
at a lower level. It would have been helpful if the author had cautioned readers that self-
reliance and free will can be harmful if uncontrolled.
This book reflects a typical New Age approach now somewhat outdated, a remnant from the
pursuit of the Age of Aquarius of the 1960s. There is little new here. Many other New Age
books have similar content, though this book provides a current overview of those ideas and
