The heart of Anthony de Mello's bestselling spiritual message is awareness. Mixing Christian spirituality, Buddhist parables, Hindu breathing exercises, and psychological insight, de Mello's words of hope come together in Awareness in a grand synthesis.In short chapters for reading in quiet moments at home or at the office, he cajoles and challenges: We must leave this go- The heart of Anthony de Mello's bestselling spiritual message is awareness.
Mixing Christian spirituality, Buddhist parables, Hindu breathing exercises, and psychological insight, de Mello's words of hope come together in Awareness in a grand synthesis.In short chapters for reading in quiet moments at home or at the office, he cajoles and challenges: We must leave this go-go-go world of illusion and become aware. And this only happens, he insists, by becoming alive to the needs and potential of others, whether at home or in the workplace.Here, then, is a masterful book of the spirit, challenging us to wake up in every aspect of our lives. I picked up this book at a monastery in Northern California about 10 years ago and have kept it close ever since.De Mello, espousing no religious agenda, contends we've been brainwashed as to our typical ideas of love and happiness. This untypical priest-his writings were denounced by the Pope-says our attachments, illusions, conditioning and general unawareness keep us anxiety-ridden. (Maybe the Pope didn't like de Mello's appreciation of the prostitute scene in Fellini's '8 1/2.' )The author I picked up this book at a monastery in Northern California about 10 years ago and have kept it close ever since.De Mello, espousing no religious agenda, contends we've been brainwashed as to our typical ideas of love and happiness.
The Prodigal God Timothy Keller. Stop straining your spiritual muscles. PRZEBUDZENIE – Anthony De Mello Polish Book Polska Kiazka. Those who knew him during his earlier years in the order described him as somewhat conservative in his theology and reluctant to explore other religions. Anthony de Mello - Przebudzenie / Awareness. Likes 1 Huallywood & CO best pdf files are for my visitors only. I spend 2 hours per day to find and upload pdf files to this website so my visitors can download any of them anytime they wish.
This untypical priest-his writings were denounced by the Pope-says our attachments, illusions, conditioning and general unawareness keep us anxiety-ridden. (Maybe the Pope didn't like de Mello's appreciation of the prostitute scene in Fellini's '8 1/2.' )The author says, 'If we really dropped illusions, we would be alert. The consequence of not doing this is terrifying and unescapable. We lose our capacity to love.
If you wish to love, you must learn to see again.How can you love someone whom you do not even see? Do you really see someone you're attached to?'
And once we have the 'awareness' he asks, 'Can you imagine the relief when you don't have to impress anybody anymore? Oh, what a relief. Happiness at last!
You no longer feel the need or the compulsion to explain things anymore.' Read this book and feel free. Awareness, Anthony de Mello's most popular book, is a beautiful bridge between Western and Eastern spiritual thought. De Mello was a Roman Catholic priest who grew up in India, and his intimate familiarity with both traditions combined with a deep understanding of world mysticism provide seekers of a Western background (i.e., Christian) a thought provoking introduction to Eastern spiritual thought.
After his death in 1987, de Mello was censured by the Vatican's Defeneders of the Faith (headed at Awareness, Anthony de Mello's most popular book, is a beautiful bridge between Western and Eastern spiritual thought. De Mello was a Roman Catholic priest who grew up in India, and his intimate familiarity with both traditions combined with a deep understanding of world mysticism provide seekers of a Western background (i.e., Christian) a thought provoking introduction to Eastern spiritual thought. After his death in 1987, de Mello was censured by the Vatican's Defeneders of the Faith (headed at that time by Joseph Ratzinger, the current Pope). Consequently, his books are not allowed to be sold in official Roman Catholic bookstores. All the more reason to read them;-).
How to write a best-selling spiritual / self-improvement book?Challenge peoples thoughts. Destroy their beliefs, no matter what they are.
Tell them how miserably they are leading their lives, what scoundrels and idiots they have been.(Yes, people love to hear that. Probably, that's the reason they have taken up that book/course. A perfectly happy person would seldom pick-up a spiritually enlightening book.)Ask them tough questions. What is 'happiness'? What is life's goal? You don't How to write a best-selling spiritual / self-improvement book?Challenge peoples thoughts. Destroy their beliefs, no matter what they are.
Tell them how miserably they are leading their lives, what scoundrels and idiots they have been.(Yes, people love to hear that. Probably, that's the reason they have taken up that book/course.
A perfectly happy person would seldom pick-up a spiritually enlightening book.)Ask them tough questions. What is 'happiness'? What is life's goal? You don't have to offer any intellectual answer. Just ask the questions and say 'nay' to the fragmented answers.Now, tell them the things they already know, in a suave manner, with lots of funny anecdotes that they can relate to or laugh about. Quote some philosophers / gurus of the past.
'Know Thyself', 'Desire not, Suffer not.' If you can fuse the ideas of different cultures/ belief systems, you become a rock-star. And finally conclude with something like, 'Live in the present. Don't think about the past.' , 'Transform yourself if you want to see a change in the world', 'Be aware of your surroundings', and you will see people nodding around.
![Mello Mello](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125642169/419750934.jpeg)
That gives the hope to people who still believe that there is much more to life than the wretched mechanical life they are clinging on to.P.S. If you have already read J Krishnamurthy or Osho's books, you can safely avoid this book. And if you haven't read those books, then read those first. I have read this one 5 times now. How obvious it is that we don't want to wake up. We don't want to admit, or give up our attachments! I have tried to focus on his teachings for years now, and denounce my attachments but I always end up back in square one.
![Mello Mello](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125642169/596115677.jpg)
I fall into the same patterns and expectations. How did he do this? Better, how do I do this?
My biggest concern with this book is that he wants us to 'give up' attachments like our family for example. He claims that once you no longer 'need' I have read this one 5 times now. How obvious it is that we don't want to wake up.
We don't want to admit, or give up our attachments! I have tried to focus on his teachings for years now, and denounce my attachments but I always end up back in square one. I fall into the same patterns and expectations. How did he do this?
Better, how do I do this? My biggest concern with this book is that he wants us to 'give up' attachments like our family for example.
He claims that once you no longer 'need' them, they lose the power over you and you will truly love them. How are you to form close relationships with family and loved ones if you don't participate in the human connection? What is love then really if you don't experience the feeling of withering inside when let's say you end a long relationship. How do you rewire your brain to simply not get attached to any person or thing?
I understand this theory in regards to detaching oneself from material objects better than I do the detachment from people. I hated almost every minute of this book but had to read it for a class. De Mello combines Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and New Age worldviews mixed with a dose of radical individualism to create a spirituality devoid of any significant beliefs except for the fact that we don't need other people if we are aware of ourselves.Throughout the book there were sentences and sometimes paragraphs that I thought were insightful. But I continually found myself wishing that I was finished with this book. FIN I hated almost every minute of this book but had to read it for a class.
De Mello combines Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and New Age worldviews mixed with a dose of radical individualism to create a spirituality devoid of any significant beliefs except for the fact that we don't need other people if we are aware of ourselves.Throughout the book there were sentences and sometimes paragraphs that I thought were insightful. But I continually found myself wishing that I was finished with this book. FINALLY, I am. Don't waste your time. Awareness ReviewWell, I must really love this book. I’ve read it 3 times in my life.
There was a time in my life where I wanted to wake each day with a favorite quote – I chose 52 different quotes (one for each randomly drawn card from a deck) from 5-6 books, with about 10 of the quotes from this one. The reading this most recent time in an effort to better understand the culture of India, where I am now working with several of their citizens. Anthony de Mello brought Buddhist parables, Hindu ph Awareness ReviewWell, I must really love this book. I’ve read it 3 times in my life. There was a time in my life where I wanted to wake each day with a favorite quote – I chose 52 different quotes (one for each randomly drawn card from a deck) from 5-6 books, with about 10 of the quotes from this one. The reading this most recent time in an effort to better understand the culture of India, where I am now working with several of their citizens.
Anthony de Mello brought Buddhist parables, Hindu philosophies into Christian spirituality. So there is a fine mix of a Catholic template with an overlay of Eastern mysticism.
At times in this life, I reach out from the Puritan work ethic and strict quid pro quo level of spirituality to someone who is saying, “not this, not this”. Try this DeMello quote from the middle of the book: “When you said, ‘I was a success,’ you were in error; you were plunged into darkness.
You identified yourself with things. You’re going to cling to them, you’re going to be worried that they may fall apart, and that’s where your suffering comes in. That is what I meant earlier when I said to you, ‘If you’re suffering, you’re asleep’ suffering is a sign that you’re out of touch with the truth.”I am told that the Catholic Chuch, under the writings of future Pope Benedict, issued a notification questioning if de Mello went too far in his belief system. Along the line of “the only knowing is unknowing: the less identification with the world, the better. For most of society, I would believe this to be true. But isolation can go too far.
Speaking of all of reality as illusion doesn’t leave a person much to grab a hold of. Here is the full Bishop Ratzinger notification. Nowhere does it say that he’s some sinister, dangerous writer though.
I think he’s a refreshing change from a life of immersion.What I get into from de Mello is his easy grasp on what might be the most common U.S. This one’s kind of fun, because it poker at India adapting to American habits. “In India, many of our poor people are starting to get transistor radios, which are quite a luxury. (May as well be a smart phone). ‘Everybody has a transistor,’ you hear, ‘but I don’t have a transistor; I’m so unhappy.’ Until everyone started getting transistors, they were perfectly happy without one.
Until somebody told you you wouldn’t be happy unless you were loved, you were perfectly happy.”The frolicking short 2-3 page chapters made the book especially amusing. Like a good homily, you get a soundbite to catch your attention, a couple of Buddhist parables to twist your assumptions a little and then a drumbeat of his different themes which stretch through the book.
This style is made effective through some level of repetition that I’m sure some readers find frustrating: “Quit telling me to release myself from the dependencies of the world in 57 different ways. I get it already!” But most everyone does not.
If you ask a person if they could give up their established way of life right now and accept that the suit of armor known as your body is temporary, could most do it? De Mello wants to wear you down to the point where you could give it all up for a better reality.But the book seems to have an ephemeral quality to it. Most of what I’ve seen of self-help books have anecdotes of current people in current situations for the therapist/psychiatrist to draw off of. De Mello chooses the timeless metaphors, leaving the book to read like a New Testament set of readings and accompanying homily. Where is the mention of current Presidents or Prime Minister or Social Issues?
It’s refreshing that he steers clear of politics or personal struggles and moves to the struggles that we must all go through. I can imagine for some readers though, this book will seem like an exploration of Mars for solutions to problems on Earth.
It’s out there a bit, with the spray of allegories.So, one of the frustrating parts of working through the Eastern mysticism is the continued theme of “if you meet the Buddha on the road, shoot him!” as if to say if you are trying to find the truth, you had better believe that what you find won’t be the truth. But unlike my typical experience of Eastern philosophy, this one seems to point to a way forward rather than just where NOT to find the truth. He points to a model of viewing what is happening to oneself as the “me”, where there is an additional, eternal “I” who is looking on as the omniscient observer. The “me” can be in pain, can be confused, can be divided, can be feeling elation, but each is transient and the forever “I” knows that all of it is the experience of being alive.
I kind of like this.What I liked even better are the concepts introduced on the last pages, beginning with the Chapter “Saying Nothing About Love”. A taste of the destructive powers of drugs, a taste of the human bodies insatiable need for approval, appreciation, attention and then a treatment on the nourishment of life. You might be surprised by what you see here.
Considering the length of Awareness (184 pages), it’s taken me a long time to read what I have of it. As a matter of fact, I haven’t quite finished it, but it’s due at the library and I’m taking it back.It’s taken a long time to read, partly because the book is a collection of meditations and, of course, the whole point is to take time to reflect on them. In addition, though, I have to say that, like a dictionary, it offers very little in the way of plot. There’s just one message in each of its Considering the length of Awareness (184 pages), it’s taken me a long time to read what I have of it. As a matter of fact, I haven’t quite finished it, but it’s due at the library and I’m taking it back.It’s taken a long time to read, partly because the book is a collection of meditations and, of course, the whole point is to take time to reflect on them. In addition, though, I have to say that, like a dictionary, it offers very little in the way of plot. There’s just one message in each of its little commentaries and vignettes: letting go.
It’s a pretty important lesson—probably one we need to master at some time or another, for the sake of sanity—so I suppose it bears repeating. Up to a point.The trouble is that Anthony de Mello, S.J., was clearly a personality—one of those rare individuals who exudes energy and charisma and what we used to call in the 60’s “good vibes.” He was a popular leader of retreats and conferences, where he communicated his ideas to people through the spoken word, not the written word. He died fairly young and very suddenly, before he had a chance to compile and edit his own writings. Consequently, it seems that those who loved and worked with him have gathered every scrap of wisdom, every utterance he left behind, and captured them for posterity. The result, in this book, is a patchwork quilt of loosely stitched anecdotes, parables, and exhortations.I was eager to read something by de Mello because I’ve heard him described as a philosopher.
One of my all-time favorite authors, Teillard de Chardin, was a Jesuit philosopher, so I rather hoped to find penetrating analysis and eloquent language such as I remember from his writings. But if Teillard’s prose had the rich intricacy of, say, Handel’s water music, then the writing of de Mello is the lone, sweet melody of a Pied Piper.If you happen to be interested in de Mello, his brother’s Web site offers many insights into the nature of the man and his life. 'on dependence:-to depend on another emotionally- what does it imply? It means to depend on another human being for my happiness. Think about that.
Because if you do, the next thing you will be doing is demanding other people contribute to your happiness. Perfect love casts out of fear where theres is love there are no demands, no expectations, no dependency. I do not demand that you make me happy; my happiness does not lie in you, If you were to leave me, I will not feel sorry for myself; 'on dependence:-to depend on another emotionally- what does it imply? It means to depend on another human being for my happiness. Think about that. Because if you do, the next thing you will be doing is demanding other people contribute to your happiness. Perfect love casts out of fear where theres is love there are no demands, no expectations, no dependency.
I do not demand that you make me happy; my happiness does not lie in you, If you were to leave me, I will not feel sorry for myself; I enjoy your company immensely, but I do not cling.I enjoy it on a nonclinging basis. What I really enjoy is not you; it's something that I discovered, a kind of symphony, a kind of orchestra that plays one melody in your presence, but when you depart, the orchestra doesn't stop. When I meet someone else, it plays another melody, which is also very delightful. And when I am alone, it continues to play. There;s a great repertoire and it never ceases to play.' Very challenging personal philosophy for everyday living. At first, I almost despised the content, but as the pages went by, the ideas contained therein wormed their way into my consciousnesses and really made me think about the nature of reality and how I perceive myself in it.
The ideas are original, different and very difficult to accept. The language and tone that the book is written in seem like condescending preaching from a moral high-ground.
But, once I toned down my ego a bit, put asi Very challenging personal philosophy for everyday living. At first, I almost despised the content, but as the pages went by, the ideas contained therein wormed their way into my consciousnesses and really made me think about the nature of reality and how I perceive myself in it.
The ideas are original, different and very difficult to accept. The language and tone that the book is written in seem like condescending preaching from a moral high-ground.
But, once I toned down my ego a bit, put aside my fragile moral sensibilities - cut the bullshit - and was really honest with myself, I realized, it is just the rude-awakening that I needed! It begs the question; 'how well do you REALLY know yourself and the stream of thoughts that make you who you are?' It invites you to break down the walls of self and spiritual ignorance that most of us erect within and to instead become aware. If anything, this book is a refreshing change of perspective, especially for people living in western society.
Anthony de Mello was an indian Jesuit priest and a psychotherapist. The book definitely felt like reading a speech. De Mello argues that life is easy only if you let go of your attachments, cravings and illusions. You’ve got to drop the labels and you’ve got to understand that the negative feelings you experience are in you and not in the external world around you.
Until you drop everything, you can’t experience happiness because true happiness is uncaused unlike excitement. In order to change, Anthony de Mello was an indian Jesuit priest and a psychotherapist. The book definitely felt like reading a speech. De Mello argues that life is easy only if you let go of your attachments, cravings and illusions. You’ve got to drop the labels and you’ve got to understand that the negative feelings you experience are in you and not in the external world around you. Until you drop everything, you can’t experience happiness because true happiness is uncaused unlike excitement.
In order to change, you need to be aware, you need to wake up.Awareness is not easy and the more you try to work hard to reach it, it becomes even harder. One story mentioned by De Mello is about this alcoholic who knew all the damage alcohol is doing to him and to his family. He knew all the facts about the situation but he could never quit until one day he wakes up lying in a gutter under a slight drizzle and he realizes the dangerous situation and becomes “aware” and from that day he never goes back to drinking”. Awareness just happens, you just become “aware”. It is not knowledge. Knowing the situation really well doesn’t mean that you’re aware of it.His words make great sense but it’s hard. How do you let go of your attachments.
He says just say it to yourself everyday but it’s hard, especially when I think of my attachment to my mother. Awareness is hard. I was craving more depth but I knew that it contradicted the book’s message which is that life is so simple, just drop your illusions and become “aware”.Some of his words:(.) If you ever let yourself feel good when people tell you that you’re O.K., you are preparing yourself to feel bad when they tell you you’re not good(.) One sign that you’re awakened is that you don’t give a damn about what’s going to happen in the next life(.) Loneliness is not cured by human company. Loneliness is cured by contact with reality(.) What you are aware of you are in control of; what you are not aware of is in control of you(.) if you identify yourself with these things. You’re going to cling to them, you’re going to be worried that they may fall apart(.) If you’re suffering, you’re asleep(.) True happiness is uncaused, happiness is not the same as excitement(.) You’ve got to drop illusions.
You don’t have to add anything in order to be happy; you’ve got to drop something. Life is easy, life is delightful. It’s only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings. Do you know where these things come from? From having identified with all kinds of labels!(.) you don’t need to belong to anybody or anything or any group(.) No one has the power to hurt you anymore. No one has the power to put pressure on you(.) Put this program into action, a thousand times: (a) identify the negative feelings in you; (b) understand that they are in you, not in the world, not in external reality; (c) do not see them as an essential part of “I”; these things come and go; (you don’t need to belong to anybody or anything or any group) (d) understand that when you change, everything changes(.) You’re never so full of yourself as when you’re in pain.
You’re never so centered on yourself as when you’re depressed. You’re never so ready to forget yourself as when you are happy. Happiness releases you from self.
It is suffering and pain and misery and depression that tie you to the self(.) we are getting feedback from reality. But we are filtering things out constantly. One demon doing the filtering is called attachment, desire, craving. The root of sorrow is craving.(.) When we were young, we were programmed to unhappiness. They taught us that in order to be happy you need money, success, a beautiful or handsome partner in life, a good job, friendship, spirituality, God—you name it. Unless you get these things, you’re not going to be happy, we were told.
Now, that is what I call an attachment.(.) this little exercise for a few minutes: Think of something or someone you are attached to; in other words, something or someone without which or without whom you think you are not going to be happy. It could be your job, your career, your profession, your friend, your money, whatever. And say to this object or person, “I really do not need you to be happy. I’m only deluding myself in the belief that without you I will not be happy. But I really don’t need you for my happiness; I can be happy without you. You are not my happiness, you are not my joy.”(.) In the beginning giving up the drug can be tough, unless you have a very keen understanding or unless you have suffered enough.
It’s a great thing to have suffered. Only then can you get sick of it. You can make use of suffering to end suffering.(.) People who are busy planning their vacation; they spend months planning it, and they get to the spot, and they’re all anxious about their reservations for flying back. But they’re taking pictures alright, and later they’ll show you pictures in an album, of places they never saw but only photographed.(.) “You know, I had all the information I needed; I knew that alcohol was killing me, and, believe me, nothing changes an alcoholic—not even the love of his wife or his kids. He does love them but it doesn’t change him. I discovered one thing that changed me.
I was lying in a gutter one day under a slight drizzle. I opened my eyes and I saw that this was killing me. I saw it and I never had the desire to touch a drop after that. As a matter of fact, I’ve even drunk a bit since then, but never enough to damage me.(.) When you get a feel for it you change. When you know it in your head, you don’t. This book reads like a transcription of talks given before live audiences. The initial chapters read like the joke-filled exhortations of a professional self-help writer, but the book begins to deepen around pages 60-70.
De Mello was a Jesuit priest, a trained psychologist, and apparently a devoted student of both Eastern and Western religion. His knowledge is broad and deep, and he has obviously brought great passion to his learning.At its core, this book is about the difference between realit This book reads like a transcription of talks given before live audiences. The initial chapters read like the joke-filled exhortations of a professional self-help writer, but the book begins to deepen around pages 60-70. De Mello was a Jesuit priest, a trained psychologist, and apparently a devoted student of both Eastern and Western religion. His knowledge is broad and deep, and he has obviously brought great passion to his learning.At its core, this book is about the difference between reality and our constructs of reality, most of which we have inherited from our culture, our parents, our teachers, the clergy, and the media. The constructs are all second-hand and almost always false. Our suffering comes from the strife we feel when reality does not conform to our false understanding of how the world should be.De Mello points out repeatedly that most people are not aware of the constructs they live.
These constructs include the ideas that we must succeed financially, that we must find another person to give us love, that illness and death are personal affronts, that we must adhere to this or that ideal, that our lives must go a certain way. Our false understandings control us through fear and desire, and they do so invisibly until we take the time to see them and root them out.Even the love we think we feel toward others is often simply an expression of our need for approval and validation. We don't see this until we look deep inside and discover that we expect to get something in return from the person to whom we think we are giving selflessly.Our most deeply cherished beliefs are the most dangerous. De Mello offers this excellent observation and parable:Reality, God, divinity, truth, love are unknowable; that means they cannot be comprehended by the thinking mind. That would set at rest so many questions people have because we're always living under the illusion that we know.
We cannot know.What is scripture, then? It is a hint, a clue, not a description.
The fanaticism of one sincere believer who thinks he knows causes more evil than the united efforts of two hundred rogues. It's terrifying to see what sincere believers will do because they think they know. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a world where everybody said, 'We don't know'?A man born blind comes to me and asks, 'What is this thing called green?' How does one describe the color green to one who was born blind?
One uses analogies.So I say, 'The color green is something like soft music.' 'Oh,' he says, 'like soft music.'
So a second blind man comes to me and asks, 'What is the color green?' I tell him it's something like soft satin, very soft and soothing to the touch.So the next day I notice that the two blind men are bashing each other over the head with bottles. One is saying, 'It's soft like music'; the other saying, 'It's soft like satin.' And on it goes.We see this kind of trouble in the world all the time. This is the difficulty of trying to use concepts that people understand to point them toward concepts that they don't understand.
People get attached to the bits they understand, and their understanding ends there, often permanently.We can only change our false concepts, De Mello says, when we become aware of them. In fact, our false understandings often lose their power as soon as we become aware of them. In this, he is in line with Socrates and the Buddhists, with the stoicism of Seneca and twentieth-century European existentialists. Life is flow. Abandon your ideas and go with it.Of course, that's easier said than done. There's nothing more terrifying than being asked to accept what you cannot control or understand. Yet with the acceptance comes freedom.De Mello notes that the few people who really do start to question their understanding of the world do so only after immense suffering.
Only after it becomes too painful for them to hold on to their ideas of how the world should be. He notes that there are only two paths for those whose world-view is completely shattered: they become insane, or they become mystics.De Mello is deeply critical not of religion, but of the way religion is practiced and misunderstood. If people devoted to awareness the time and energy they currently devote to worship, they and the world would be much better off. Toward the end of the book, he gives this excellent parable:There was a man who invented the art of making fire. He took his tools and went to a tribe in the north, where it was very cold, bitterly cold. He taught the people there to make fire. The people were very interested.
He showed them the uses to which they could put fire-they could cook, keep themselves warm, etc. They were grateful that they had learned the art of making fire. But before they could express their gratitude to the man, he disappeared. He wasn't concerned with getting their recognition or gratitude; he was concerned about their well-being.He went to another tribe, where he again began to show them the value of his invention. People were interested there, too, a bit too interested for the peace of mind of the priests, who began to notice that this man was drawing crowds and they were losing their popularity. So they decided to do away with him.
They poisoned him, crucified him, put it any way you like.But they were afraid now that people might turn against them, so they were very wise, even wily. Do you know what they did? They had a portrait of the man made and mounted it on the main altar of the temple. The instruments for making fire were placed in front of the portrait, and the people were taught to revere the portrait and to pay reverence to the instruments of fire, which they dutifully did for centuries.
The veneration and the worship went on, but there was no fire.This powerfully describes the problem of many of the world's religions, where people are taught to direct their worship outward through ritual, rather than inward toward awareness, growth, and change. They have duty without fire, maintaining the symbols without ever discovering the thing the symbols were meant to lead them to.' These are the more dangerous idol worshippers,' De Mello says. 'They use a very subtle substance, the mind, to produce their God.' True spiritual practice is not a palliative to soothe us in times of trouble.
It is the root of how we perceive and experience the world, and it comes from surrender, from accepting that we can simple be without having to know or control or even understand. 'Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow,' De Mello reminds us. 'They toil not, neither do they spin.' Awareness is the title of this book, and it's evident from the first few lines that is exactly what this book is about.
Anecdotes, parables, stories get the reader to see that everything in life has to do with awareness and perception. This book is full of short reads and the writing style is highly abrasive and entertaining. More comments to come when I finish.Some notes from the book (not my own comments here)-Eagle that was born and raised like a chicken, unaware of the heights to which it Awareness is the title of this book, and it's evident from the first few lines that is exactly what this book is about. Anecdotes, parables, stories get the reader to see that everything in life has to do with awareness and perception. This book is full of short reads and the writing style is highly abrasive and entertaining. More comments to come when I finish.Some notes from the book (not my own comments here)-Eagle that was born and raised like a chicken, unaware of the heights to which it could soar.-'The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in the marshes and flowers in the gardens.' -Your ideas and mind determine your perception.
I.e you're not in love with the person, you're in love with your prejudiced and hopeful idea of that person. You weren't let down by someone; you were let down by trusting your judgement of that person.-When you renounce something, you are tied forever to the thing you renounce; tied to it. Don't renounce, but see through it. (indifference does not empower the thing)-An openness to truth is faith (open to listening for the new; not just what you think you're hearing or want to hear).-not in line with his beliefs on the 3 categories of charity. Complexity vs.
Simplicity thought/action.-Most important is the readiness to learn something new. Nobody is afraid of the unknown. What you really fear is the loss of the known. After quite some time, I finished reading 'Awareness' by Anthony de Mello.Although it is not long, and the language is not difficult, the book is not easy to read or like.
It is not written for entertainment, but for thinking, thinking beyond everyday routine. It criticizes society and human values. It will turn your world upside down, well, at least that's what I felt after reading it. I think it will take me forever to process everything I read in the book, and, probably, forever would not be After quite some time, I finished reading 'Awareness' by Anthony de Mello.Although it is not long, and the language is not difficult, the book is not easy to read or like. It is not written for entertainment, but for thinking, thinking beyond everyday routine.
It criticizes society and human values. It will turn your world upside down, well, at least that's what I felt after reading it. I think it will take me forever to process everything I read in the book, and, probably, forever would not be enough. After all, what I came to agree with is that '.we don't want to wake up.
Waking up is unpleasant.' Recommended to everyone ready to look at one's life from another angle. This book is amazing.So short, so simple, yet so powerful. I was struck with its simple logic and its basic concepts and how hard these are for us to acknowledge. It will put a mirror to your soul and challenge you to reassess everything you ever though you knew.This book puts into perspective how we make our own lives difficult and how we truly hold the power over true happiness.
This is a book that I will read again and again. I highly recommend it to anyone that anyone that is in pursuit of This book is amazing.So short, so simple, yet so powerful. I was struck with its simple logic and its basic concepts and how hard these are for us to acknowledge. It will put a mirror to your soul and challenge you to reassess everything you ever though you knew.This book puts into perspective how we make our own lives difficult and how we truly hold the power over true happiness.
This is a book that I will read again and again. I highly recommend it to anyone that anyone that is in pursuit of happiness and inner-peace and is not yet 'awake'! This book is not for most. The author is very edgy and could easily offend a lot of people with his words. But his philosophy is to understand that you aren't offended, your me is offended.
Your I is unchanged. Your me changes just like the world changes.
You need to step outside of yourself and look at your feelings and understand they are your feelings, but they are not you. Observe and understand them, but don't associate them with your I.This is one of the many philosophies. He also has a f This book is not for most.
The author is very edgy and could easily offend a lot of people with his words. But his philosophy is to understand that you aren't offended, your me is offended. Your I is unchanged. Your me changes just like the world changes.
You need to step outside of yourself and look at your feelings and understand they are your feelings, but they are not you. Observe and understand them, but don't associate them with your I.This is one of the many philosophies. He also has a fascinating idea of happiness I never heard before, and his ideas of 'labels' and 'filters' are very true.
Again, a lot of people will not like this, but give it a shot. I think learning other people's ideas is always valuable even if you don't agree. I agree with him that you should observe and understand before you dismiss.Yes, this one will make you think!
It's 181 pages, but you need to read it slowly to absorb and process the content. It is rich with the author's philosophies. The first 50 pages are more random conversational type writing that gets to be a little much.
Then, it gets better, because it becomes more of an instructional, linear writing where the author tackles awareness from multiple directions and relates it to life today by giving the reader several examples. I found myself wanting to remember some of the ideas, so I took notes!I give it 3.8 stars because the first 50 pages felt more like rambling.
Also, the writing jumped around a lot and didn't have a solid structure that would have been helpful to better understand the author. It is better than an average book, because it made me think, but the writing needed some help.I'll close with one of the many powerful quotes I took away from the book: 'The one great tragedy with us today is we KNOW too much.
We THINK we know things, so we don't DISCOVER.' I picked up this book because I am always striving to be more aware in order to live my life to the fullest. When I first started reading this book, I thought, “This guy is insane.” As I got further into his writings, I saw that he actually hit the nail on the head and I began thinking, “This guy is brilliant.” De Mello, a native of India, was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist. Throughout this book, divided into short chapters, he relates different stories from Christianity, Buddhism and Hindu I picked up this book because I am always striving to be more aware in order to live my life to the fullest.
When I first started reading this book, I thought, “This guy is insane.” As I got further into his writings, I saw that he actually hit the nail on the head and I began thinking, “This guy is brilliant.” De Mello, a native of India, was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist. Throughout this book, divided into short chapters, he relates different stories from Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism. I’m not a religious person, and I didn’t find the stories to be preachy, just good examples. His message was all about love and understanding toward ourselves and others.
I had never thought about how we have all been conditioned from the day we are born to believe what everyone else believes and that we think we have to always strive to be the best. One need only spend an hour watching television and paying attention to the commercials to see that this is true. I usually pass books on when I’ve finished them, but I’ll be holding on to this one so I can read it again.
Anthony de Mello died in 1987, but has other books. I’ll be looking for them. Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist who became widely known for his books on spirituality.
An internationally acclaimed spiritual guide, writer and public speaker, de Mello hosted many spiritual conferences.The few talks which he allowed to be filmed, such as 'A Rediscovery of Life' and 'A Way to God for Today,' have inspired many viewers and audiences throughout the United St Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist who became widely known for his books on spirituality. An internationally acclaimed spiritual guide, writer and public speaker, de Mello hosted many spiritual conferences.The few talks which he allowed to be filmed, such as 'A Rediscovery of Life' and 'A Way to God for Today,' have inspired many viewers and audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and Central America. De Mello established a prayer center in India. He died suddenly in 1987. His works are readily available and additional writings were published after his death.In 1998, some of his opinions were condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote for the Congregation:'But already in certain passages in his early works and to a greater degree in his later publications, one notices a progressive distancing from the essential contents of the Christian faith.
With the present Notification, in order to protect the good of the Christian faithful, this Congregation declares that the above-mentioned positions are incompatible with the Catholic faith and can cause grave harm.' Some editions of his books have since been supplemented with the insertion of a caution:'The books of Father Anthony de Mello were written in a multi-religious context to help the followers of other religions, agnostics and atheists in their spiritual search, and they were not intended by the author as manuals of instruction of the Catholic faithful in Christian doctrine or dogma.'
“Happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and contaminated by the stupidity of society and culture. To acquire happiness you don't have to do anything, because happiness cannot be acquired. Does anybody know why?
Because we have it already. How can you acquire what you already have? Then why don't you experience it? Because you've got to drop something. You've got to drop illusions.
You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something. Life is easy, life is delightful. It's only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings. Do you know where these things come from? From having identified with all kinds of labels!”—.