Being Aware of Being Aware (The Essence of Meditation Series) Kindle Edition

Rupert Spira quoted his teacher as saying the truth has to be reformulated by every generation. In my opinion, Spira did a very good job of reformulation.Spira presents an ancient truth in modern language that anyone can understand. He reveals that realizing our true nature -- pure awareness -- doesn't involve taking a spiritual journey, because our true nature is already at hand in the here and now. He explains this using a metaphor of a movie projected onto a screen. There is no separation between the ever-changing image and the ever-present screen. Other wonderful metaphors are used in the text, like the one of a small wave upon a boundless ocean.The only criticism I have about this book is that it is easy to confuse the meanings of the simple terms that were used. For example, it wasn't always clear whether "mind" was referring to the individual ego mind or the boundless Eternal Mind. Also, the terms "consciousness" and "awareness" seemed to be used interchangeably, although I suspect they may have slightly different meanings. So although it was commendable that Spira avoided esoteric Sanskrit terminology, there were times when a little more specificity would have helped to understand what he meant. The metaphors were most helpful in understanding the meaning of being aware of awareness.Spira says the great difficulty people have in becoming aware of awareness is entirely due to the fact that awareness cannot be observed from an exterior vantage point, as is the case in normal object/observer dualism. So although awareness really is closer than close, it seems distant and inaccessible because of this non-dual property. He drives home this point by using the metaphor of the Sun illuminating itself.This is a short book, and it can be read in a little over an hour, but I'd recommend savoring it to get the most from it. You may even want to read it twice. ;-) I disagree with other reviews that complained that the book didn't say anything new. After all, how many versions of he truth are there? Although the book is indeed quite brief, it is well worth five stars in my opinion. The significance of a truth doesn't depend on the total number of words that are used to reveal it.

This is it! This is the pathless path. Rupert Spira has instilled the essence of meditation in this little book. In 50 years of searching for a method, this is the one that brings us to awareness of ourselves. You will forever be glad you got this one.This is the simplest method in plain English. So easy, you'll laugh.

This is the clearest description I have ever read of what meditation is and how awareness manifests itself in the world. A must read.

Rupert Spira's teaching is perfection. But let's not have anyone tell him so, as each new publication shows his dedication to refresh, renew and refine expressing the inexpressible. We are thus brought more clearly and easily "home," to that which we all really are, but just didn't see quite so simply and obviously. This book is his best so far, for me anyway. Call this approach what you will -- non-dualism, Advaita Vedanta, the Direct Path -- the emergence of several teachers whose differences are merely stylistic and personal, suggest that the potential of our time for a revolutionary yet ancient shift of perspective is real and growing. But for me, Rupert Spira's work stands out. His writing is conceptually and intellectually consistent and rigorous, but much more importantly, seems singularly designed to open us to experience, to directly know, and to feel, the truth to which the ideas merely point. Again and again. Until the glimpses become a way of life, a way of seeing and understanding that remains alive in our hearts as well as our minds.

This is a great introduction to non-dual teachings in the form of self-inquiry through the Vedantic approach. I recommend those new to non-duality and Spira to go onto some of his other books after this one. My favorites were the Nature of Consciosuness and The Art of Peace and Happiness. I think those two expand upon the foundation of Being Aware of Being Aware and really take the discussion on Enlightenment all the way home.

Really enjoy this book. It is wonderful!

This has got to be one of the most difficult topics to write clearly on. One has to twist normal syntactical logic inside out and make sense of incredibly subtle thoughts which challenge natural logic. Given this challenge, I must say this author does a really fabulous job of achieving coherence and communicative quality despite the very very elusive nature of this matter.There are many many riders who have worked on this topic, Too many to name but many are of great respect, Alan Watts, Peter Ralston, oh I can’t even think of how many… Somehow Rupert Spira gets his thoughts across in a way that holds meaning for me despite my usual head shaking mine twisted confusion on manners of absolute reality and trends in dental consciousness before and above the mind. I have always been unable to take anything home from books of this nature, perhaps I’m just too much of a simplistic suburban material list, however I’ve really wanted to make sense of this so important manner, I find Spira does a relatively excellent job of getting us through this… Somewhat like a good writer on the topic of quantum physics, you’ll probably be confused through the whole book but at least you’ll get something out of it that gives you a handle on the matter. For this reason I award a five star rating and advise you read this book.

I love the style of how this book was written. It really helped me stay present and focused on my awareness as I read. The analogies were also excellent in aiding my understanding.