I am reading Adyashanti’s new book, The End of Your World and find it very helpful. It is clear. Practical. And an invitation to allow our human self to live within awakening with integrity, in an always more healthy and mature way.
Since I have recently read Wake Up Now by Stephan Bodian, and they both take a similar approach, I am struck by how well the two books complement each other. Wake up Now is for anyone anywhere on the path, and The End of Your World is specifically for those where there has been an awakening, whether it is non-abiding or abiding.
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Initial post (comments refer to this version):
I am reading Adyashanti’s new book, The End of Your World and can highly recommend it for anyone who has either a non-abiding or abiding awakening. As he himself says, he is reminding us of what we already know, and these are very valuable reminders.
Where Wake Up Now by Stephan Bodian is a wonderful book for anyone on the path, The End of Your World is specifically for those where there has already been an awakening.
Both books contain clear and practical pointers, come from a clear and abiding awakening, and one that is lived in a healthy and mature way. And – yes – they remind us of what we already know.
I feel deeply grateful for having these reminders in my life.
The phrase “remind us of what we already know” is a pretty dangerous statement from a pragmatic standpoint. A senior surgeon would not tell a hospital resident “you already know how to operate on this person, my saying so will remind you of this,” because that is sheer lunacy. The person has to learn, investigate, make mistakes, go through the process. Only then will the resident grow and learn.
The same holds true for a person who does not know “all this god.” Telling them “just wake up,” “you already know this” etc. will only frustrate and impede their progress. This form of Idealism mashed with logical fallacy seems like something that needs to end.
Hi Trent, that is a very good point.
Teachings are always specific to a situation, and this particular book (The End of Your World) is for people who have had an awakening, a recognition of what they are. So in this case, what he writes about are pointers to help people have more confidence in what they have already recognized.
Otherwise, I agree. In most situations, it is pretty useless to say it, even if it is true in a certain sense. For Adya’s book, it still seems OK, but not for Bodian’s book since it is meant for a more general audience. If I were to rewrite this post, I would still use that phrase for Adya’s book, but not for Bodian’s book.
I sometimes say and write things that are less than true for me, and this is one of those times. Good to notice.
Here are some additional explorations:
https://absentofi.org//2009/02/already-know-2/
I see your point and somewhat agree. I would still argue that it is not very practical even for the practitioner in the later paths, as it can be mistaken as a pointer to some eternal, abiding essence which could somehow be “obtainable” or could become the “normal” base-line of experience.
Although I would agree that “this is all god,” it will rarely show itself as such, irregardless of personal attainment. Grasping on to those god-notices-god moments is itself a form of aversion, ignorance, and by nature of the beast: suffering.
Hi again, Trent.
….“this is all god”….
Here is something about what is behind my use of that phrase:
https://absentofi.org//2009/03/all-as-god/