Ultimaya 1.0 by Saniel Bonder
|
With the publication of Ultimaya 1.0, Human Sun Media begins business as the publications wing of Saniel Bonder and Linda Groves-Bonder's Human Sun Institute.
Linda Groves-Bonder is Saniel's full partner in their advanced spiritual teaching work in Human Sun Institute and in the democratic Waking Down in Mutuality work that he founded.
A professional singer and songwriter, her first album of original songs and jazz standards, I'm Here, has elicited comparisons to such greats as Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald.
Listeners praise her new album of wordless toning, Joy of Being, as "haunting, evocative...awakens the spiritual heart and gives us a glimpse of eternity."
“Equal parts spiritual quest, unlikely love story and existential cautionary tale, Bonder’s soulful science fiction novel is about one man’s fantastical journey to understand himself – and God … “The portrayal of Stokes as a deeply flawed man is a risky but brilliant narrative move; readers will identify with him and experience his transformation on an intimate, profound level. Powered by a subtle sense of humor, brisk pacing and an action-packed, metaphysically nuanced storyline, this novel is simultaneously entertaining and enlightening; it’s powerfully moving and edifying without coming across as preachy or heavy-handed. “An engaging, deeply spiritual story of salvation that will compel readers to look at the world – and themselves – in a different light.” — Kirkus Reviews
|
The Matrix meets Alice in Wonderland in Ultimaya 1.0, which takes us way, way down the rabbit hole. Saniel Bonder serves up a rollicking good read in which deep metaphysical insights are married with gritty Southern dialogue, fascinating twists of fate, and perspective-bending scenes generated by a more-than-mischievous computer program, all leaving the reader wondering what ground we can actually stand on. The journey of spiritual liberation has rarely been explored with this much panache. I highly recommend this book!”
— Stephen Dinan
“What a wild rumpus of a novel! I sometimes wished I could've just reached into the pages and shaken small town Carolina banker Leopold Stokes to help him wise up – but his lessons here are really lessons for all of us. We're all far too familiar with the disastrous consequences of unrestrained greed that nearly destroyed our economy in recent years. It helps that Saniel Bonder is a gifted writer with a sense of humor and a folksy Southern touch, as well as a lot of heart and deep wisdom.
“I recommend Ultimaya 1.0 as required reading for every banker, trader, financier, corporate executive, economist, regulator, and entrepreneur on the planet. Read it and see why for yourself!” — Monika Mitchell
“At once a refined work of art that kept me thinking of Faulkner's imaginary and real South, a spiritual transmission that invites deep reflection on issues of ultimate concern – and a fun and accessible read!”
— Michael Schwartz, Ph.D.
|
|
“Ultimaya 1.0 is a worthy and admirable plunge into some extremely deep territory, written both with unusual flair and uncommon spiritual savvy. Its colloquial yet engagingly nuanced texture and flow give us ground for the launching of the protagonist, Leopold Stokes, into a reality-unlocking adventure (one that we all, sooner or later, will have to take). “The description of his journey, both inner and outer, is wonderfully compelling reading; there is something (including between the lines) there we can't directly get at with language, but Saniel's way of telling it brings that ‘something’ into richly tangible focus. 
“Ultimaya 1.0 doesn't explain the Mystery, but deepens our intimacy with It. Sit back, relax into the story, fasten your seatbelt, and keep your eyes as open as possible as the rollercoaster crests its first big hill and starts to really fly... Highly recommended!”
— Robert Augustus Masters, Ph.D.
“It's obviously written by a spiritual master who is, at the same time, a regular guy -- a man with a gift for taking us from the mundane to the fantastic, from everyday consciousness to ecstatic bliss.
I felt my awareness expand and contract as the adventure unfolded, swept up by this delicious metaphysical adventure story,
a cross between Tron, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Harry Potter.
“A grand journey through the looking glass and beyond.” — Lion Goodman
|
“Every texture of this brilliant yarn of life feels amazingly real. Bonder's style is fluid and engaging; his characters and dialogue deliver a sense of fun and energy throughout. And Leopold Stokes' wild adventure draws you in, touches the heart, and leaves you wondering – what is it to live consciously in our strange and challenging world today?”
— Gena Netten
“Ultimaya 1.0 is a compelling novel that is highly imaginative and rich with astute insights. This daring tale has everything – adventure, mystery, romance, wisdom, tantalizing twists and turns, and truly memorable characters. It is sure to inspire and entertain you!”
— Susanne West
|
“What a pleasure to dig down deep into the underworld of Ultimaya: fast-forward to a world of wishful-thinking-made-real-including-the-consequences, while you paint pictures and characters so real you could reach out and touch them as well as laugh with them.
“This was nothing short of a brilliant exploration of realms of consciousness, from Proustian detail to cosmic landscapes and imaginings that take the reader to, could I say, ‘novel dimensions.’ “It's rare that I take the time to read a novel these days, but this one just grabbed me and off to the races we went. Life was what was in the way between opportunities to pick up where I left off, and then life became infused with the wisdom the book brings to it. As I was rounding toward the end, it made me laugh and cry – the relationship of these two friends Leo and Charley is precious and classic.” — Mitchell Rabin, psychotherapist
|