The Presence Process: A Journey Into Present Moment Awareness

Have you spent a great deal of time and money trying to learn how to live in the present moment? I sure did. Just as I was about to give up, just as I was screaming, "No more!" the "Presence Process" entered my life experience. I'm only on the third session and I feel different already. I'm learning how to feel EVERYTHING. The book repeatedly and strongly recommends we 1)trust The Process 2)complete The Process no matter what happens and 3)apply ourselves sincerely to what is asked of us each week. It discourages us from making any major life decisions or starting a new project (ie. a diet or exercise program) during the 2 1/2 months it takes to complete The Process. Many spiritual teachers tell us it's urgent that more people wake up if human beings are to survive. "The Present Process" is not easy but it is the fastest and gentlest way I have ever encountered. The book guarantees that we will "evolve from reactive to responsive beings" and actually start "to live life instead of thinking about life". Not everyone will respond favorably to The Process. As Michael points out, "Some people still need their sleep". I DO appreciate all the teachers, books and approaches I've encountered along the path. I DO feel relief and immense gratitude though for the Divine nudge that encouraged me to try one last book. Thank you Michael. You are a true trailblazer and "The Presence Process" is a great gift to anyone who is ready for this journey.

Similar to Dr. Bahder, I am both a physician and a spiritual practitioner. As a physician I specialize in integral psychiatry and work with people in a holistic fashion (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) to get to true cause in the matter of their suffering. In over 15 years of practice I have not found a guide that helped myself or my patients to such an extent... to face themselves and their own undigested emotional experiences from the past. In contrast, I have read many of Eckhart Tolle's books; but like Krishnamurti, Tolle's work is more a description of a level of consciousness and less a set of specific and ongoing instructions that lead you there in a relatively ego-proof manner. (The instructions "Listen to silence. Observe your thoughts. Be in nature. Be aware of your breath as often as you are able" are insufficient in the face of our unconscious emotional discomfort and the ego's desire to avoid real change.) The Presence Process is a simple, direct, how-to manual to finish your emotional past so that you can stop reacting to it; stay in this glorious and eternal present moment; and respond to life. It is a very powerful tool and the most rapid and effective tool I have found to empower you to heal your inner emotional discomfort. It is that inner emotional discomfort that drives addictions and illnesses (physical, mental, and emotional) AND that keeps us from being here now for any significant length of time. You can acknowledge the power of now and say "yes to what is; however, the unconscious pain of the past keeps drawing us away from the present moment through constantly asking, "What happened?" because it was so painful and, "How do I keep it from happening again?" This drives our unconscious needs and wants which ever drive us from this moment. "This isn't it" is the way of being we are stuck with until we face, embrace, digest, and integrate the emotional past. Simple and difficult. Challenging and exciting. Not for everyone. But if it is for you and you do it... you will be astounded. Highly lucid. Highly effective. Highly recommended.

I am both a medical doctor who works with people in a holistic fashion to get to the root cause of their problems and a spiritual practitioner myself moving along the path. In my over 25 years of practice I have not found a guide that helped people to such an extent to face themselves and their own self-deceptions as this book. This book is really an invitation to experience your authentic self. If you have been stuck or feel that something is still lacking in your life, this book is certain to become your best friend.

Years ago, I read Eckart Tolle's "The Power of Now". It's a fantastic book but I found it difficult to achieve the state of present moment awareness it describes. "The Presence Process" is the "how to" manual to achieve this priceless state. Michael Brown's brilliant book has substantially deepened my understanding of this subject. It's a catharsis to know for example, that the pursuit of happines is basically our effort to "fix" our adult life but not realizing that the cause of what's wrong with our life has its origin in our childhood. Therefore, getting that new car, more money, a beautiful spouse, etc., won't make us happy. There's alway an empty feeling. Fix the cause and one can start experiencing true happiness. This book tells you in a very precise manner how to do that. Outstanding!

This is a fantastic guide to what I would call Intentional Living - being in the moment, being aware of what the author calls your Inner Presence - the little piece of God within each of us. Solid and deep information leads to practical "hands on" sessions including breathing exercises. This is a book that is an excellent companion to Eckhart Toll's Power of Now. I'm going to call it the "Power of How"!