The Essence of Enlightenment: Comprehensive Guide to Self-inquiry and Enlightenment - Softcover

Reddy, Raj

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1711829021 ISBN 13: 9781711829029

Publisher: Independently published, 2019

Synopsis

Enlightenment simply is finding the truth of existence and that includes you as you are not separate from existence. One may ask why should one bother about the truth of existence. Answer is by touching the truth of existence one achieves the highest freedom available in the universe. And ultimate freedom leads to unbounded happiness.

As happiness is the driving force behind all human pursuits, one may as well go for the quintessential gold of enlightenment rather than the pursuits of the typical worldly life which though may provide some happiness here and there for some time, inevitably leave one high and dry constantly searching for the next object or relationship in the hope that somehow they can provide the answers one is looking for only to be satisfied for a period of time before starting on the next seeking.

There is so much confusion as to what constitutes enlightenment with many cultures expressing the concepts in a variety of ways leaving humanity searching for meaning of existence for pretty much all their lives. I present material of this book precisely, without beating around the bush in a no nonsensical manner. I give only necessary explanation and reasoning so as not to put the reader to sleep.

One may come across some Sanskrit and Vedic terminology in the book in some sections. I have taken a cautious approach not to overwhelm the reader with any unnecessary burden of learning some other language or culture to grasp the necessary concepts. So, I kept such terminology to the minimum to avoid being distracted and only presented them to the absolute minimum level in a proper context.

My view is that the truth is beyond language, belief system and cultural practices. One should have equal access and appreciation for the truth in English just as one has in Sanskrit or any other language. So, even if I presented few terms of Sanskrit and Vedic lineage, I made sure that English is the medium of presentation throughout without any loss of details.

My hope is that after completing this book, the reader is fully equipped to lead an empowered life by understanding the big picture of life within the framework of enlightenment.

I presented the complex topics of spirituality in simple terms so it's easily understood and put into practice in the material world as spirituality that doesn't bring practical value to life is of little use.

Some of the topics covered in the book:

• Main Categories of Human Pursuits

• Problem of Human Condition

• True Source of Bliss

• What is Spirituality?

• Spirituality, Ego and Desire

• Existence, Consciousness and Bliss

• What is Enlightenment?

• Qualifications of a Seeker

• Definition of The Real

• Relative Levels of Reality

• What is Non-Duality?

• Two Steps to Non-Duality

• Identification with Body, Mind and Intellect

• Gross Body, Subtle Body and Causal Body

• Why the Self is Beyond Three Bodies?

• Five Sheaths/Layers

• Why the Self is Beyond Five Layers?

• Waking, Dreaming and Deep Sleep States

• Death and Transmigration

• Concept of Reincarnation

• Ignorance

• Sequence of Ignorance, Desire and Action

• Nature of Maya

• Problem of Spirituality

• Concept of Karma

• Types of Karma

• True Yoga, Types of Yoga, Yoga Sutras

• Vedas, Bhagavad Gita

• Concept of Time and Space

• True Love, Altruism

• Why is There a Manifestation?

• Who Gets Liberated?

• Enlightenment Insights and Myths

Edition details

• Publisher: Independently published
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1711829021
• ISBN 13: 9781711829029
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192