Click here to support the Daily Grail for as little as $US1 per month on Patreon

Million Pound Puzzle

By Gregon

An intriguing new website promoting an upcoming book: the Maranatha Puzzle. The website is advertising a 1 million pound prize guaranteed to be awarded to whoever uncovers the ‘key’within the book Maranatha: Et in Arcadia Ego. Additionally, the website states that one third of all profits from book sales are to be given to registered charities:

Within this book, written by an anonymous author and sponsored by a private investor, is a genuine secret, a ‘Key’ that has been kept hidden for centuries!

This ‘Key’ unlocks the greatest treasure known to history. To some that treasure is called ‘Nicolas Flamel’s Philosopher’s Stone’, to others it is known as the ‘Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar. But to most it is called the ‘Holy Grail’

Nicolas Flamel Discovered it, Leonardo da Vinci Encoded it, Will you Reveal it?

The book will be available in retail outlets on 29th October 2005, or you can pre-order online now to receive a copy on the 13th October. Thanks Frank.

Greg
Editor
Greg is the owner-editor of The Daily Grail, as well as the author of a number of books including Stop Worrying, There Probably is an Afterlife.
Related

26 Comments

  1. Maranatha
    Interest is piqued. Is it my imagination or are we finally nearing critical mass? As I sit here and read the information on this site and note the new members coming on every day (of which I am one), I am getting the feeling that its not only me that wants to find the ‘truth’, whatever that may be…

    1. Maranatha Marathon
      Welcome to the Daily Grail, Vornstar. I always thought it was our witty one-liners for the news that attracted new readers. 😉

      I don’t think there’s been any significant increase in the number of people wanting to find out the ‘truth’. It’s more a case of information being a lot more accessible these days — books, internet, touring lecturers, etc. The world is getting smaller, so to speak, and we’re now noticing likeminded individuals and groups for the first time, even though they’ve been there all along. Take away certain forms of communication, and you’d be hardpressed to know for sure that you’re not alone in seeking the ‘truth’. Which is why I tip my hat to the truthseekers of the past, before they had the internet and mass book publishing and lecture tours. If this makes sense, let me know.

      But then, I could be wrong! I’m sure Greg has readership figures for TDG over the past year that’ll debunk my theory. 😉

      Enjoy TDG, and invite your friends.

      Rico

    2. welcome..vornstar
      critical mass………97..98…99….now all we need to do is get this monkey off my back and we will have the…100th !

      DISCLAIMER:the opinions and veiws in this post are mine only and do not nesessarily reflect those of others.

  2. Up for it?
    So come on then – is anybody going to buy it? I kind of imagine that the majority of the people who frequent this space will be more interested in the alledged secret than the money…!

  3. mmm…
    One cannot help be suspicious of such a book. I have not been able to take a look at the website, so I am hoping to be proved wrong here, but a quick look at this opening advert and I smell a whiff of something smelling deeply of fish and an attempt at one almighty cash-in.

    Lets see….They are clearly aiming to attract readers of Harry Potter (Nicolas Flamel dicovered it.) and The DaVinci Code (Leonardo Da Vinci encoded it) – Two of the most successfull books of all time and a phenomenon of our present western culture.

    Worst of all, and against all grail princples, they are usuing the readers own ego to sell books – allowing them to think they may be able to uncover some great secret on their own if they ‘decode’ the secret key within and gain knowledge of such a massive esoteric secret – AND win 1 million in prize money!! Does that really make sense to anyone who is seeking truth?

    The secret of the grail, if there is one, does not reside in money making books. As it is stated in grail-lore over and over, it lies in humility and servitude.

    Should the philosopher’s stone hold the key to eternal life then one should turn to Oriental internal alchemy rather than the diluted and ego centric western equivelant.

    To assume, and buy into the notion, that the great secret lies within an annonymous book that will separate its readers on an individualised race for knowledge, given to them by someone they have effectively paid money to and will probably never meet seems bizzare and retrogressive.

    Surely, those thinking of taking this seriously will only stutter and stall in their true quest (albeit light years infront of it’s author!). And those thinking of indulging ‘just for fun’ well, you have bought the book so thats ok!

    IF(?) the grail resided within Mary Magdeline then it can reside in us all – for free!! If(?) it can be discovered by Nicholas Flammel then it can be discovered us all – for free!!

    Not all cultures know of the grail, yet they posses their own treasures that are equally mysterious. And besides, the REAL secrets are in MY forthcoming book and the prize money is one million and five!! (JOKE)

    x x x

      1. Cheers mate.
        I’m not really
        Cheers mate.
        I’m not really one for posting comments, but this one dragged it out of me.

        ps.To anyone reading Daily Grail – can anyone tell me what some of the new Maurice Cotterall books are like? I kinda gave up after Supergods and I see he’s brought out quite a few since then. Any recomendations? (sorry to deviate from the topic)

        x x x

        1. Maurice Cotterell
          I’ve had his Terracotta Warriors: the Secret Codes of the Emperor’s Army (Amazon US ) book on my to-buy list for quite a while, but I’m mathematically retarded and I look upon the subject as a cat does a dog, so I haven’t read it.

          The science seems sound, especially Cotterell’s linking China with Central America — ample evidence exists to prove this. His conclusions may be farfetched to some, but I’ve read some good reviews that rate the book highly, from both sides of the fence. It may not be as exotic as the Pyramids of Egypt, but what he discusses in the book should be discussed more than it seems to be — probably because of the mathematical side of things, which make up most of the book. Who wants to read page after page of mathematical equations? Most people would rather read what Zahi Hawass is conspiring against Robert Bauval and seekers of lost civilisations.

          Give it a go. If only so you can tell me if I should buy it or not. 😉

    2. This sounds weird…
      I have to say I definitely agree with Solar here.

      This sounds pretty weird.

      I did a quick search on the publishers and found that they do seem to exist, or at least they are listed in a UK business directory I found. I was able to find, after a tough search, that the company also publishes Travel directories…so I am guessing that secret books are a new thing.

      At any rate, it will be interesting to see if the book takes off and the ‘incentive’ works. I remember a similar thing, though not as dramatic, with a book called the Merlin Mystery. They claimed that they would pay 75000 pounds and a whole bunch of prizes to whoever could solve the puzzles in the book and come up with Merlin’s spell. I did some research a few days back to see if any solved the puzzle which was due to finish in early 1999 and no-one solved it in time. Since the deadline however a group has done so, but not in time to claim the prizes, which were supposedly given to charity. You can find the answer on the web by the way…it was really really hard to work out…and only for 75000 pounds…imagine what 1 million will require!

      I say all this because I wonder if that book sold as a result of the ‘incentive’. It would be a relevant case study for this I suppose…although with one major difference…the publishers of Merlin Mystery were HarperCollins..very well known. Who the hell, on the other hand, have heard of Priory Publications, and so, what trust is there that they would actually pay when everything is so anonymous and mysterious. It may sound too much like a scam.

      On my part, scam or not, I agree that this is a tacky way to reveal such a supposedly, important secret.

      Hmm…

      Regards

      …Jeff

      1. Alarms are ringing in my head
        This stinks of a publicity gimick Hollywood studios would be proud of. I don’t trust the book one iota. And I’ll bet my private parts that the secret is something that’s already been discussed by academics and alternative authors.

        It’s nothing more than a publicity stunt designed to hype consumers into a frenzy ala Harry Potter and the Da Vinci Code. I don’t think enough people know about the Holy Grail for this scam to work — for the majority of those who read the Da Vinci Code, it all went through one ear and out the other. Most people read it because everyone else at work was. Of course, people being the stupid creatures they are, will go out and buy the book anyway.

        Of course, I’ve never been good with puzzles, and I’m just bitter I’m too stupid to have a go at winning 1 million pounds. 😉

        I doubt anyone who really knew the secret to the Philosopher’s Stone would go about divulging it to the public in such a tacky way.

        1. Priory Publications
          I hope this dosen’t cause offence. A friend advised me to view the comments being written, as I do work for Priory Publications (GB) Ltd. We are not the Priory Publications of which has been refered to, which does publish holiday books. We are a company that solely is created to release the material advertised on the website of which you are discussing. I totally understand your suspicions and doubts. Some, we know, will be offended by how this information has been released but that is not our intent. The reward is to incourage sales, we openly agree. But it was also to incourage those who would not be interested in this field to look at it. It is hard, we admit, to hold the balance between tacky and attempting to let more people know the real material that has been searched for. (sorry)

          1. No offence taken at all
            Hi Shaun,

            Thanks for posting on TDG. I admire you took the time to respond in a friendly manner.

            Readers of the Daily Grail are a hard, bitter lot, grown cynical and warped from years of conspiracy theories. So you’ll have to excuse our initial scepticism. 😉

            Despite my reservations, I do sincerely hope I’m proven wrong about the Maranatha Puzzle. I am certainly not wishing the Maranatha Puzzle to fail — despite being cynical, I’m not selfish. I wish it the best of success. If the creators of the Maranatha Puzzle are sincere, and it’s not just a sly money-making gimick, then it will be successful. I hope so anyway.

            Our cynicism, I think, stems from our experiences with the search for the Holy Grail: more specifically, those who investigate — and debunk — it. We’ve seen crooks and conmen come and go. We’ve been lied to, we’ve been mislead, we’ve been robbed. Which is a hard thing to deal with when all you really want is the truth. So you must understand why many people on this website have reacted to the Maranatha Puzzle in such a negative way. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that after years and years of looking for the truth, but getting screwed instead, we’ve all grown very wary. That’s it in a nutshell I think.

            Secondly, I know how it is trying to promote and sell a book. It isn’t easy, and sometimes you do need to make a deal with the devil. A million pounds may seem excessive, and unfair to the little guys who don’t have that kind of money to promote their work — but if you can do it, then good luck to you is what I think.

            So I’ll reserve my judgement until the puzzle is solved — because what I ultimately think of the whole thing really does depend on what the actual secret is. I’ve been cheated in the past by hype and clever promotions, so as they say, once bitten, twice shy. As my puzzle-solving skills are about as sharp as a billiard ball, I’ll have to wait until someone solves the puzzle, or the secret is revealed by more cunning means.

            Good luck with the puzzle, and I really do wish you all the best of success — but only if it really is a sincere enterprise as advertised, and not a money-making scheme or a Catholic plot. If it’s one thing the Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter taught me, it’s to not trust the Catholic Church. 😉

            Thanks again for posting, Shaun.

            All the best,

            Rick

            PS And before my cynical, bitter TDG friends post about my hypocrisy, and how I’ve backflipped on my comments from yesterday. No, I’m not sucking up, I just had a night to calm down and think about it in a rational manner. I’m still suspicious, like a dog that’s been kicked by a previous owner, but after a chamomile tea and a good nap, I’m willing to give the Maranatha Puzzle the benefit of the doubt. Bloody hell, it’s a MILLION QUID for chrissakes!!! 🙂

          2. My Thanks
            I am so pleased that my messages didn’t offend, besides the concerns that the concept of the book could offend, I didn’t want to appear to be interupting a private discussion over the very nature of the project. My intent was simply to offer an insiders (knowlegde) opinion and offer the objectives for our project.

            All of as at work are expecting a mass of cynical responses, it would be crazy for us not to, but we don’t want our replies to those comments to simply read as ‘well just you wait and see’. I hope that message was conveyed. For genuine researchers, like yourselves, may I offer this insight to the project, something that, depending or your individual advancement in your own investigation, the first puzzle book ‘Maranatha – Et in Arcadia Ego’, doesn’t offer the Grail. As stated on the back of the book, it offers the ‘Key’, ‘the Key that unlocks the grail’. Whether you use the book or not, I hope that message helps. The Grail comes later in the series, as you all know, to understand what you are ultimately looking for needs a little more understanding. I’m really trying not to sound annoying, my apologies if I have.

            With the highest respect, once again thank you for your time.

          3. Waiting and Seeing
            Nah, just go ahead and say, “well, just you wait and see”! It really is a case of that.

            I understand the steps necessary to learning any kind of knowledge. I’ll admit that I’m impatient, and would rather turn to the last page and find out what the key is first. But then, have I really learnt anything?

            I have a book on my to-read list. Beelzebub’s Tales, by Gurdjieff. A lot of people have been turned off by the first few chapters, thinking it’s terrible writing. But they were deliberately written in a manner that confuses and frustrates the reader. Those patient enough will be rewarded with access to one level of knowledge, and so on throughout the tales. To gain the highest knowledge, you first need to know the lesser knowledges that combine to form this high knowledge.

            Perhaps people are tired of waiting. They need the truth, something to look forward to. If they find that someone possesses the truth, but won’t give it to them until they’ve jumped through a few hoops … they get cranky. That’s how I feel anyway, I can’t speak on behalf of everyone. So I’ll give the Maranatha Puzzle a go, and see if I can learn some patience.

            I get cranky with newspaper crosswords, so i can’t promise anything. 😉

          4. really now
            People who are serious about this, the secret about life and the universe and such things, or after ultimate control, how important is a million pounds for them?

            Be real Shaun. Don’t insult the true seekers, you are only after the people wanting to make a quick buck, or quid, or euro.

    3. The Prize
      Only to offer a little defense to this situation. Recently a Nun protested strongly with the filming of the Da Vinci Code at Lincoln Cathedral. She protested that the church was accepting funds from such material. The church offered the defense that the good of the funds that would be collected would out weigh the manner in which they were gathered. The use of the prize is to attract media interest and seekers who are not familiar with this subject. If those seekers then discover truth, doesn’t that out-weigh the initial greed that started their journey. Also, in balance to the ethics of offering the prize, please do not forget that one third of the profits go directly to charity. Is it not benefical for this project to be appealing for all to benefit?

      1. Charity
        You’re right, I didn’t read the bit about one-third of book sale profits going to registered charities. That’s a positive. You have to wonder if the winner of the million pound prize would donate a third to charity? Probably not. Some people will say it’s a cynical ploy to win our trust, but I’m willing to give the people behind the Maranatha Puzzle the benefit of the doubt.

        Despite being as sharp as a billiard ball when it comes to puzzles, I’ll probably buy the book and follow the progress of those attempting to solve it anyways. 😉

        Curiosity is stronger than cynicism. 😉

    1. Indeedy do!!
      Man, you Daily Grail lot are a good bunch! Restores my faith.

      Priory Publishing eh? Perhaps it’s the Priory of Sion trying to communicate their infinite wisdom to those only who have the determination and skill to find it?!

      My humble opinion (though I will probably never read it)is that it’s just plain silly rubbish and nothing but a distraction to the real persuit of the harmony between internal and external knowledge.

      As a wise man continues to say ‘ You monkeys only think your running things’

      x x x

      Ps Thanks for the info on the new Cotteral book, sounds extremlely fascinating. Will try and get through it, maths and all(fingers crossed) amd report back. Cheers

      1. Maranatha Et in Arcadia Ego
        I totally understand to those you are passionate about this subject will refer to this project as silly. Great effort was made to make this appeal to all people, and to attract those who do not research these aspects of history and life. I assure you, serious researchers, who look past the ‘Hollywood’ sales approach WILL discover material within the book that would confirm to them that those who composed the work are more than ‘qualified’ to do so. I am not asking you to like the book, or approve of it, or even buy it, I am just offering an insiders comments. Thank you for your time. Again, sorry and no offence intended.

  5. Maranatha Puzzle
    If a synchronicity is the simultaneous occurrence of events that appear significantly related but which have no discernible causal connection, what would you call simultaneous events that don’t appear to be related, but for which there could well be a causal connection?

    After reading the main page at the website, the first thing that occurred to me is that the tone of the whole thing bears a striking resemblance to the Catholic Church’s new priest-recruitment poster. (See the intro to Friday’s news). In the carefully worded page about the author’s ‘research’, I found nothing inconsistent with a Catholic priest’s studies. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that the Church came up with this Maranatha Puzzle as a way to counter The Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter. Take a look at that priest-recruitment poster, and you too may see a similarity in the thought processes that went into the creation of the poster and this puzzle.

    Kat

    1. can’t rule it out I suppose
      Well, I have had the weekend to think about it – and it is good we have had the comments of an ‘insider’, respect.
      But my original point remains.
      The concepts and strategies that surrond this book are the absolute opposite to any of the principles that are connected to grail questing. I think that it is great that an entire third of all profits will be going to charity, and I am sure whoever claims the prize money will do similar.
      However, I urge that readers keep in mind that the chances of benefitting by being drip-fed information by an unknown, money orientated source seem remote.
      My appologies for being cynical, it is not usually my nature. I am not an avid persuer of the grail. I persue the principles of truth, brother and sisterhood, honour and hunilty that the grail and the quest for the grail have come to symbolize, and books can only go so far in assisting with those aspirations.
      I am interested in the comment that the puzzle is not for the grail itself, rather the ‘Key’ to unlock the secret. Am I right in thinking that the ‘grail’ will come in a sequal?
      I really hope I am wrong about this, as I mentioned in my previous posts, as I would love nothing more than for someone to tell the world how to unlock the key to the philosophers stone, and that they have chosen the Hollywood marketing approach to target as many people as possible.
      It is my opinion that it is the actions of people, not the words, that indicates how far along the path to the ‘grail’ they are. Was it not Fulcanelli himself (who is said to have dicovered the philosophers stone, but without the prize money)who ended his book Mysteries of the Cathedrals (am rubbish at french) with the bold printed and enlarged statement KEEP SILENT? That could mean many things, and yet he left behind truly genius books and perhaps encoded secrets, as did Gurdief and many others – but it was selfless and done without proclimation.
      I appreciate your comments Shaun, but I am not personally offended in the slightest. I serve only to offer a balance of opinion. And I will iterate once again, truly without cynicism and with respect – I would LOVE to be wrong. It is a beauiful and inspring subject and you really could change many lives.

      x x x

      1. Maranatha = Our Lord cometh
        Hello. I’m new to The Daily Grail, led here by a Google search for more details on this book, which I read about in the newspaper.

        Solar, I hope you have done some research about the book, its authors and publishers yourself.

        I wonder: should your doubt concerning the final revelation, the promised ‘key’, automatically make all and any other valid revelations along the way obselete? Would your reaction to the book be more positive if it conceeded to being a work of fiction for legal reasons, and did not offer a cash reward?

        Indeed, you will find a crumb-trail of research sources for the book if you search hard enough. The reference to Nicolas Flamel brings up the topic of alchemy. This article might be of interest: http://www.alchemylab.com/AJ6-3.htm#New_Releases .

        The idea behind Maranatha being a “Series” does naturally arouse suspicion as to whether the publishers are merely trying to suck out a few more dollar with every release. That initial reaction dissipates with a revelation from http://www.maranatha-puzzle.com/series.asp ; that the third and fourth books will NOT be released until the puzzle has been solved. In other words, until they have given away that million dollars, they will not make more money from new releases. In another set of words, if you don’t want to be “drip-fed” the information, or feel incapable of discovering the answers yourself, just wait until this third book comes out.

        Personally, I will try my hand at the puzzle. I’m not in it for the money (fails lie detector test ^_-), nor am I a self-declared Grail-seeker, but relieving the curiosity aroused by this book is worth the cost of the book. If it is a marketing scam, it worked on me.

        The solving of the puzzle has been slated for 6 months, but there appears to be no “expiry date” on the offer. At least we won’t get another “Merlin Mystery”.

  6. Trade descriptions
    Firstly- of course it’s a marketing ploy.

    Secondly- If it were real research, science and truth the book would be more succesful in enlightening people if it were written with the truth for all to see. We are not talking about truth seekers here, just an attempt at creating business.

    …and then – If the ‘secret’ turns out to not unlock the holy grail or the philosophers stone then everyone will be entitled to compensation as it would have been mis-sold. (unless it is just the authors definition of what the grail is !)

    All that said, i think most people would have more sense than to buy it for either the ‘secret’ or the money, if it’s a good read then it will get good reviews and sell on that basis. The ‘Golden Hare’ book (cant remember the real name but it was a book of pictures containing clues to where a golden hare was buried in the UK) was a work of art.

    I’d like to read some excerpts before commenting on the content because the marketing sure doesnt cut the mustard. I’m sure there will be some independent reviews on the net soon, I would guess that, as modern marketing goes, most of the reviews available to begin with will be linked to the advertisers. It’s a tangled web of media out there !

    The comments about bringing it to public attention are a bit suspicious, 1 million pounds would be better spent employing better marketing to fulfill this aim. It doesnt sound like they have 1 million pounds available at the moment.

    But….all the above is based on the way it has been presented so far, maybe more research was needed in developing a presentation strategy, maybe a similar level of research that allowed the authors to uncover this immense secret that has remained hidden for so long !

    Hmm

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Mobile menu - fractal