About the author
Peter Ralston is an American martial artist and teacher who founded the Cheng Hsin School in Oakland, California, after becoming the first non-Asian to win an international full-contact martial arts tournament in Hong Kong in the late 1970s. He has spent decades combining that training with contemplative practice, teaching what he calls "effortless power," the subject of his book "Cheng Hsin: The Principles of Effortless Power." His later work turns more directly toward the nature of consciousness and self, notably "The Book of Not Knowing: Exploring the True Nature of Self, Mind, and Consciousness" and its sequel "The Genius of Being." Most of his books, including the question-and-answer collection "Consciousness Dialogues," are published by North Atlantic Books and grow out of his ongoing teaching practice, addressing readers interested in the overlap between martial arts discipline, meditation, and inquiry into the nature of mind.
📖 Where to start with Peter Ralston
💬 What our editors say about Peter Ralston's books
“Ralston and Paige offer a compelling dissection of self-inflicted psychological pain, challenging the notion that suffering is unavoidable. The text provides clear insights into how unique cognitive processes create distress,…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Ending Unnecessary Suffering: How to Create a Powerful, Complete, and Peaceful Life
“Ralston’s text is a sophisticated manual that successfully demystifies the Zen mindset for practical application. It excels in offering clear pathways to enhanced spatial acuity without resorting to rigid instruction. However,…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Zen Body-Being: An Enlightened Approach to Physical Skill, Grace, and Power
“Ralston’s work stands out for its rigorous insistence on direct experience rather than theoretical understanding. While powerful for dedicated practitioners, it will likely frustrate readers seeking quick fixes, dogmatic answers,…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Book of Not Knowing: Exploring the True Nature of Self, Mind, and Consciousness
📋 Editions by Peter Ralston in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ending Unnecessary Suffering: How to Create a Powerful, Complete | 2025 | Simon & Schuster/ Inner Tr | — | 9781668145517 |
| Zen Body-Being: An Enlightened Approach to Physical Skill, Grace | — | North Atlantic Books | 200 | 9781583941591 |
| The Book of Not Knowing: Exploring the True Nature of Self, Mind | 2010 | North Atlantic Books | 600 | 9781556438578 |
| The Genius of Being: Contemplating the Profound Intelligence of | 2017 | North Atlantic Books | 232 | 9781623171124 |
| Reflections of Being | — | North Atlantic Books | 88 | 9781556431197 |
| Cheng Hsin: The Principles of Effortless Power (Revised) | 1999 | North Atlantic Books | 208 | 9781556433023 |
| Consciousness Dialogues: From Beginner's Mind Through Enlightenm | 2018 | North Atlantic Books | 408 | 9781623172282 |
