Nothing Personal Seeing Beyond The Illusion Of A Separate Self

Advaita and nondual teachings are about finding the Truth. This Truth is not a dogma that you study; it is the Truth about life †the Truth about who you really are. This Truth is discovered, not learned. It is discovered through sincerely inquiring, Who am I? What you discover is that who you are has nothing to do with self-images or roles and everything to do with what you experience when you ask this question. What you discover is that who you think of yourself as is just that †a thought! And beyond that thought is a great Mystery †an experience of nothingness, which is your true nature.Nothing Personal leads you to the experience of your true nature and helps you explore its depth. Through exposition, questions and dialogues, it brings you to a place of realization of the Truth: you are that spacious Awareness in which everything appears, including your thoughts and feelings. Your thoughts and feelings do not define you but merely appear within Consciousness along with everything else. This Consciousness is who you are.Nothing Personal offers a gentle and persistent guide to seeing the underlying truth of your ultimate nature. In this concisely edited collection of satsang talks and dialogues, you are invited to honor the limitless love that is your true nature and to enjoy the sweet richness that is revealed when you give this Truth your undivided attention.From the introduction:Unlike most books, this one is not meant to add to your knowledge or understanding. It is about the Truth that cannot be spoken or written. Although the Truth cannot be contained in this or any other book, each word written here is intended to point you toward that Truth. Many of the words and ideas may seem paradoxical or contradictory because what they point to is larger than our conceptual frameworks. Many questions are asked, which are not answered anywhere in the book. Find out what the experience is like to ask yourself these questions, even if they leave you emptier of knowledge and understanding. In this emptying, you just may discover what you are looking for.The Truth is revealed when we allow ourselves to not know, so I invite you to set aside all that you know for the time being and allow yourself to look with innocent eyes at what the words are attempting to unveil. Take the time to experience the unspoken truth in each section before moving on to the next. Resist the temptation to read these words with your mind, which is likely to rush right past the Truth. Allow the words to sink into your heart and reveal the truth of who you are.

"The beauty of this collection of Nirmala's talks and dialogues is that it covers much of the spectrum of spiritual awakening, from the initial experience of one's true nature to the practical challenges, which always call for a deeper seeing and deeper understanding of how spirit manifests as all of life and beyond. Within these talks and dialogues you, the reader, will find Nirmala to be a living invitation to look within. Nirmala welcomes whatever arises within the field of experience. In the midst of this welcoming is always an invitation to inquire deeply within, to the core of who and what you are. Again and again, Nirmala points the questions back to the questioner and beyond to the very source of existence itself--to the faceless awareness that holds both the question and the questioner in a timeless embrace." -from the Foreword by Adyashanti

Brian takes us on a journey into the paradox of the human condition, to the depths of human suffering, where there exists the transformational healing opportunity of waking up to the essence of who we are. This is described in many contemplative wisdom traditions that point to a reality that exists beyond the identification with the separate self - the sense of me; to a reality that is unconditioned and considered the ultimate medicine to pain and suffering. With the phases of the Moon serving as a metaphor for waking up out of the darkness of the separate self, this book opens our eyes to the healing power of awakening to our true nature in the midst of some of our most terrifying experiences. The states of confusion, fear, and shame; the experiences of trauma, addictions, grief and loss, and the suffering of spiritual seeking itself, can be met with the restorative power of awakening. When we embody surrender, grace, attention and openness in our darkest moments, we can begin to see that in the evening of despair, lies the moonlight of our own awakening.

A systematic treatment of Advaita which demystifies it, differentiating between approaches and teachers, enabling you to decide which approach is most suitable for you.

Oneness is not only a profound and very personal life-changing experience, but a perspective that can transform the world by bringing more love, light, compassion, and truth to the world. Oneness connects us all. We are all affecting each other in every moment, and recognizing this to whatever degree we can is transformative. Everything is included in this oneness, which all spiritual teachers and enlightened leaders point to. In embracing everything with an attitude of its essential worth and value, we can go beyond the illusions of separation to a simple resting in the beauty and mystery of all of reality. This book is a collection of articles and essays, which continually point to this oneness and the all-inclusiveness of life. In it, you will find responses to many common questions posed by seekers, which will help you in your search for greater peace, love, and understanding

What is the source of the aliveness and awareness, which are fundamental to all life? What is the nature of desire, and how do our desires relate to suffering? How do we know what is true? What is the nature of belief, and how do our beliefs affect our ability to experience the deeper reality that is always here? And in the midst of these mysteries, how do we live our daily lives in the most satisfying and integrated way? Meeting the Mystery explores these questions and will help you discover new dimensions and possibilities in your life. This collection of articles and answers to questions posed by spiritual seekers is a springboard to ever deeper inquiry into the greatest mystery of all—Presence, which is who you really are.

You are about to experience the most incredible life imaginable! There are many techniques, secrets and manifesting tools contained within this manual, which over the next 90 days will awaken the most powerful forces in the Universe that are deep inside you. An unlimited source of energy has been dormant up until now, "sleeping," waiting for the right moment in time to rise up magnificently throughout your being and ignite miracles in your life. Opening up this cosmic energy is not as difficult as you may think, yet is a metaphysical exploration that is more satisfying, loving, and empowering than anything you could imagine!

A comprehensive, yet entertaining introduction to Advaita, the non-dual philosophy which provides a completely reasonable explanation for who we are and the nature of the universe. There are many self-help approaches promising enlightenment and happiness but most are illogical and lack any proven capability. Advaita has a guru-disciple tradition stretching back for several thousand years and can guarantee the sincere seeker a progressive path to self-realization. A 21st Century treatment of this ancient eastern philosophy, this book addresses all of the issues that are covered by both traditional teachers from the lineage of Shankara and by modern satsang teaching and Direct Path methods stemming from Ramana Maharshi and Krishna Menon. Topics are explained in an accessible and readable manner, using amusing quotations and stories along with an abundance of metaphors from a wide variety of sources.