Arunachala Talks: Spiritual Wisdom Offered in a Direct Simple Expression to Touch Your Heart - Softcover

John David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0955573025 ISBN 13: 9780955573026

Publisher: Open Sky Press Ltd, 2007

Synopsis

Arunachala Talks consists of eight talks given spontaneously at John David's Arunachala Retreat in Tiruvannamalai, South India. These talks begin the demolition of the prison created by the mind, removing anything in the way of any seeker who wishes to step out of the illusion. John David lovingly and humorously guides us to see that we are not the experience my life , but rather the awareness in which the experience happens. The talks discuss the effects of Devotion, Trust and Destiny, bringing us to Presence.

About this title

Review:

6 months ago I stayed at the community where John David lives and gives wonderful meetings about spirituality. He kindly gave me this book as a gift. It is a beautiful little book, that covers everything from the nature of our true Self, to sex and love affairs! The underlying message is the incredibly simple suggestion to surrender into the moment, into what is. John David gently repeats this again and again, reminding us that if we actually look for an 'I' who is doing something and who can struggle with tough decisions, and dramas, we find that there is nothing there, just memories and old reactions. The book contains a series of 8 talks that were given in Aunachala, a holy mountain in India, where the renowned Sage Ramana Maharshi lived. The talks were spontaneous, so the reader really feels the power in the words, and how they come out of the presence of John David. The talks take the form of dialogues with people attending the retreat, and is really moving to see the progression of the conversations, and how they are guided into the simple message of surrender. In this surrender, John David speaks about 'Authentic Love', a state of being which is prior to our sense of self, in which there is no struggle, and just Being itself, with no separation. The book is also lovely to look at, with paintings and photos by John David appearing throughout the book, marking new chapters. Above all, the wonderful thing about this book is that you need no particular understanding of spritual terms or ideologies, just the openess to meet yourself as you are in the present. In the words of Premananda, when asked how to get to the Source of life and love: 'You are the Source. If you would just stop, and do nothing, you would see it. If you absolutely surrender to this moment you can't avoid realising that you are the Source, right now, here, in this moment. You see the illusion of this movie that plays, and you realise 'that's not me'. I am now living in the community. Enjoy the book! --Atma

About the Author:

John David sees the unfolding of his whole life as a chance to remind people of their true potential. He expresses this in a multi-faceted, creative way as a Satsang Teacher, Author, Film Director, Painter, Gallery Curator, Architect, Community Director and World Traveller.

The Open Sky House Communities enable his creativity to be supported by an intimate group of close fellow travelers from distinctly different cultures in Western and Eastern Europe, and also creates a powerful and supportive space for a deep inner work to take place.

- John David: www.johndavid.international

- Open Sky House International: www.opensky.international

About this edition

• Publisher: Open Sky Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0955573025
• ISBN 13: 9780955573026
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192