Relaxing Into Clear Seeing: Interactive Tools in the Service of Self-Awakening

There are an every increasing number of spiritual books available, this one is definately a cut above the rest. As well as insight, this book offers practical tools to make enlightenment a living reality. I read this book when it first came out in 1997, and loved it. I took all six levels of Arjuna's Living Essence Training, and I've been using the tools ever since, on my own and with other people. Having just re-read the book, I wanted to rave again, this is the best book on the market about spirituality. It is down to earth, punchy and, thank God, practical!

It is really hard to fault this book! It is clear, funny at times, and extremely practical. I love it. It is so much more embodied than many of the other spiritual books I've read. Makes me feel like I want to learn more.

This is a how-to book of enlightenment from a hypnotists perspective. Arjuna gives several hypnosis-type "induction" scripts to bring one to an experiential understanding of otherwise spiritual concepts like: Surrender, Self Enquiry, Separation, Memory, God, Higher Self, Right Livelyhood, Desire, Fear and Judgement. I can see this book being useful if you have a partner who you can work with. Probably less effective if you record or buy recordings of the scripts. For some students this will be exactly what they need.The book didn't have the impact for me like the words of Ramana (who is often quoted in the book) Maharshi or Nisargadatta. Arjuna claims to be a disciple of Poonjaji who was Ramana's famous student and has several photos in the book of himself and Poonjaji.

Although Arjuna's book deserves all the accolades, the hype obscures his message. Arjuna insists that there is nothing to attain because we are already That which we seek. To that end, his book is about self-empowerment (my word and an apparent anomaly ... a nondualistic reference!), attentive exploration and inquiry. He presents a number of optional tools (which are to be discarded when they have served their purpose) to aid one to "unobscure" the Self and to deepen and stablize the awakening of "the view". He speaks to those who are attracted to Truth within their present responsibilities of family and job.I found this to be a very practical and clear book.

With all the high praise and stellar reviews of this book, what more can be said? A little testimonial: when I first heard about this book I thought "oh, no, not another book saying more of the same" but especially after participating in a weekend "Beyond Belief" with Arjuna and his partner Pamela, I can only humbly recommend this book as a treasure of insights and simple "practices" drawn from the waters of the greatest spiritual teachings. A workbook/study resource guide and a compelling tale of deepening, this is a jewel of a book celebrating life at its most personal and impersonal.