In the world of modern spirituality, few voices are as piercingly direct and refreshingly simple as that of Sailor Bob Adamson. His seminal work, “What’s Wrong with Right Now?: IF YOU DON’T THINK ABOUT IT,” is not just a book; it is a clinical strike against the complexities of the searching mind.
If you have spent years meditating, reading sutras, or chasing “enlightenment” only to find yourself still feeling like a “seeker” on a treadmill, this book is designed to stop you in your tracks. Bob Adamson, a direct student of the legendary Nisargadatta Maharaj, brings the radical message of Non-duality (Advaita) down from the Himalayan heights and into the grit of everyday life.
In this comprehensive 2000+ word review and chapter-by-chapter summary, we will explore why the answer to your deepest questions isn’t hidden in a future state, but is already pulsing in the very center of your being—right now.
The Core Philosophy: The Question That Ends the Search
The title itself is a “pointer.” Bob often asks his students: “What is wrong with right now, if you don’t think about it?” When we stop the mental machinery of labeling, comparing, and projecting into the future, we find a “presence-awareness” that is already whole. The “problems” we face are almost exclusively made of thought-matter. By investigating the nature of the “me” who has the problem, the problem-solver and the problem dissolve together.
Chapter 1: The Answer is Not in the Mind
The most common trap for spiritual seekers is the belief that if they just gather enough information or find the right “concept,” they will finally “get it.” Bob Adamson is ruthless here: The mind is not the instrument for truth.
Why the Intellect Fails
The mind operates in the realm of subjects and objects. It can name things, categorize them, and store memories of them. However, the mind cannot “know” your true nature because your true nature is the source of the mind. It is like a flashlight trying to turn around and shine on its own batteries—it simply isn’t built for that.
The “I Am” Thought
Bob explains that the first thought that arises is “I am.” This thought is the closest the mind can get to reality. However, we quickly attach labels to it: “I am a man,” “I am a seeker,” “I am unhappy.” Bob urges us to go back to the feeling of being, prior to the labels.
Chapter 2: Understanding Non-Duality (Advaita)
Non-duality, or Advaita, literally means “not two.” In this chapter, the book breaks down the illusion of separation that defines the human experience.
The Illusion of “The Other”
We are conditioned to see a world of separate objects: me and you, the observer and the observed, the creator and the creation. Bob points out that this separation is a mental overlay.
Just as a mirror can show a thousand different reflections without the mirror itself becoming “many,” the one Consciousness expresses itself as the entire universe. There is no “gap” between you and the world.
Chapter 3: Just as it Is
One of the most profound sections of the book deals with the concept of “Is-ness.” Bob emphasizes that reality is always “just as it is,” regardless of our opinions about it.
- Resistance is Futile: Suffering is simply the mind’s resistance to what is currently happening.
- The Natural State: We don’t have to create a state of peace; we have to stop disturbing the peace that is already here by demanding that the moment be different.
When you allow the moment to be “just as it is,” the heavy burden of “improving” the world or yourself begins to lift.
Chapter 4: Watch the Mind – See How it Operates
Bob doesn’t ask you to suppress your thoughts. Instead, he invites you to become a scientist of your own consciousness.
The Mechanism of Thought
By watching the mind, you begin to see that thoughts arise spontaneously. You don’t choose your next thought. If you don’t choose them, how can they be “yours”?
- The Labeling Machine: Notice how the mind immediately labels a sensation as “pain” or a sound as “noise.”
- The Narrative: See how the mind weaves these labels into a story about a “me” who is suffering.
When you see the mind as a functional tool rather than an identity, its power to cause distress evaporates.
Chapter 5: Be What You Are
This chapter is a call to stop “becoming” and start “being.”
Feature | The “Seeker” (Becoming) | The “Being” (Reality) |
Focus | Future attainment | Present presence |
Effort | High (meditation, rituals) | Effortless (beingness) |
Identity | A person in time | Timeless awareness |
Goal | Enlightenment | Recognizing what is |
Bob’s message is simple: You cannot “become” what you already are. You are the awareness in which the “seeker” is appearing. To “be what you are” is to simply acknowledge the fact of your own existence.
Chapter 6: The Mind Cannot Change the Mind
This is perhaps the most “devastating” chapter for those who believe in self-help or spiritual “work.” Bob argues that using the mind to fix the mind is like trying to wash blood off with blood.
The mind is a set of patterns and conditioning. Trying to use those same patterns to “liberate” yourself only creates a “spiritualized ego.” Instead of changing the mind, Bob points to the Awareness that is independent of the mind’s contents.
Chapter 7: Non-Doership
The concept of Non-doership is a cornerstone of Bob’s teaching. We believe we are the “doers” of our actions, the “thinkers” of our thoughts, and the “deciders” of our lives.
Bob challenges this:
- Biological Functioning: Does “your” mind grow your fingernails? Does it beat your heart?
- Spontaneous Action: If you look closely, you’ll see that life is lived through you. Actions happen based on conditioning and circumstances.
By realizing you are not the “doer,” you are freed from the crushing weight of guilt, pride, and anxiety about the future.
Chapter 8: No-Thing (Emptiness)
Bob describes our true nature as “No-thing.” This doesn’t mean “nothingness” in the sense of a black void; it means it is not a “thing” or an “object” that can be grasped.
- The Sky and the Clouds: Thoughts and emotions are like clouds. They have shape and color. Awareness is like the sky—it is empty of its own “thingness,” yet it allows all things to exist within it.
- The Unobjectifiable: Because you are the subject (the seer), you can never see yourself as an object. This “No-thingness” is actually the fullness of life itself.
Chapter 9: No Reference Point
Most of our lives are lived from a “reference point”—the ego. We judge everything relative to this “me”: Is this good for me? Does this person like me?
Bob suggests living without a reference point. When the “center” (the ego) is seen to be a fiction, there is no longer a point from which to judge or resist. Life becomes a spontaneous flow without the friction of a self-centered narrative.
Chapter 10: One Without a Second
This chapter dives into the heart of the Upanishads. “One without a second” means there is nothing outside of Consciousness.
If there is only “One,” then there is no “other” to fear, no “other” to lose to, and no “other” to gain from. This is the ultimate resolution of all conflict. Bob points out that this isn’t a belief system, but a mathematical and experiential fact when you stop thinking about it.
Testimonials: The “Sailor Bob” Effect
The book includes powerful accounts from students whose lives were transformed by these pointers.
- John Wheeler: One of Bob’s most famous students, John emphasizes how Bob’s direct approach ended years of fruitless seeking in just a few conversations.
- Gilbert Schultz: The editor of the book, Gilbert highlights Bob’s warmth and humor, noting that Bob doesn’t want to be a “guru”—he wants to be a friend who helps you see the obvious.
Common themes in the testimonials include a sense of “coming home,” the dropping of heavy spiritual burdens, and a newfound appreciation for the ordinary.
About Sailor Bob Adamson
Bob Adamson’s story is as unpretentious as his teaching. A former merchant seaman (hence the nickname “Sailor Bob”) and a recovering alcoholic, Bob found his way to India in the 1970s.
There, he met Nisargadatta Maharaj, the author of I Am That. Maharaj told Bob: “You have no problems, except those you imagine.” Bob took this to heart, realized his true nature, and returned to Melbourne, Australia, where he has held informal meetings in his living room for decades.
He is known for his “no-nonsense” style. He doesn’t wear robes, he doesn’t use Sanskrit jargon, and he doesn’t charge for his time. He is a living testament to the fact that “enlightenment” is available to the most ordinary of people.
What is the Author’s Core Message?
If we had to distill the 174 pages of What’s Wrong with Right Now? into a single message, it would be this:
You are already the Presence-Awareness you are looking for. The search is the only thing hiding the find.
Bob wants to convey that:
- Time is an illusion: You cannot find reality in the “future.” It is only ever Now.
- You are not the mind: You are the intelligence-energy that powers the mind.
- Simplicity is key: If it’s complicated, it’s the mind. If it’s simple, it’s Truth.
Final Review: Why You Should Read This Book
“What’s Wrong with Right Now?: IF YOU DON’T THINK ABOUT IT” is a rare spiritual book that actually tries to put itself out of business. It doesn’t give you a new system to believe in; it gives you the tools to dismantle all belief systems.
Pros:
- Radical Simplicity: Breaks down complex Eastern philosophy into plain English.
- Direct Pointers: Every chapter is designed to provoke an immediate shift in perception.
- No Dogma: You don’t have to be a Buddhist or a Hindu to “get it.”
Cons:
- Repetitive (By Design): Bob hammers the same point over and over. However, for the “thick” human mind, this repetition is often necessary to break the spell of ego.
Conclusion
This book is for the weary seeker. If you are tired of the “path,” Bob Adamson is the one who tells you that you’ve already arrived. It is a profound, life-altering read that challenges everything you think you know about yourself.
FAQs
Q1. Is this book suitable for beginners in spirituality?
Yes. The language is simple, direct, and free from heavy philosophy.
Q2. Does the book teach meditation techniques?
No. It points beyond techniques to natural awareness.
Q3. What does “the answer is not in the mind” mean?
It means thinking cannot solve the problems created by thinking.
Q4. Is non-duality a belief system?
No. It’s an experiential recognition of what already is.
Q5. Can this book help with stress and anxiety?
Many readers report deep relief by seeing thoughts for what they are.