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The Natural Bliss of Being
The author designed his book to be a transformative journey that conclusively reveals one's own "enlightened self-nature" directly, leaving no room for doubt or uncertainty. For those who are serious about self-realization, this book offers explanations, insights and practical methods that can easily be applied without prior knowledge or experience with meditation or Eastern practices. The key teachings originate in the Tibetan wisdom tradition known as the "The Great Perfection", but are inclusive of other traditions such as Zen, that offer insights and methods into discovering our True Nature immediately and directly, not after months or years of study, meditation and practice. The author also studied deeply the teachings of the Sufis in Kashmir, India which revealed the wisdom of the Heart and Love, both necessary qualities in realizing one's true nature. The approach shared is very direct and capable of revealing immediate benefits. The overall goal is the acquisition of a completely new perspective on life that is grounded in spontaneity, freedom, joy and unconditional love for the benefit of oneself and others. The journey includes delving into the nature of thought, mind and ego-self to learn how we create our own suffering. From there we are introduced to our own inner jewel of enlightened awareness and knowingness that has always been present but never or rarely noticed. We then learn methods of how to broaden the "recognition" and how to stabilize and integrate this wisdom awareness into all aspects of our lives. Finally we are introduced to the nature of our spiritual Heart the seat of unconditional love and True Being. We learn how we are all just "one life", and with this recognition we find joy for ourselves and love for all beings. The author has spent over forty-seven years in pursuit of the wisdom teachings that can bring about enlightenment and liberation from personal suffering. As a result his travels to meet actual masters who were themselves accomplished in this path, took him to India, China, Nepal, Japan, Korea, Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. This book represents the essence of those teachings yet are presented in a completely generic and unique approach that anyone can benefit from. The author "It is my hope that seekers of all types may find the realization of their goals fulfilled through the reading and application of the teachings as offered in this book and are able to realize the immediate presence of the Natural Bliss of Being for themselves as I have, and 'Relishing and celebrating life's journey is the realization of Enlightenment itself!'"
- GenresBuddhismSpiritualityZen
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2013
27 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 20, 2013
I have read this book. Previous readings from the same person have been very valued, and this book lays out the simplicity of Awareness/Enlightenment/God. . . whatever you wish to call it, with an ease that allows 'direct' access to what is said...
February 21, 2019
The best and only Dzogchen book I've read to date. I may lower the rating later if I find better sources. This contains several useful instructions, and does not mess around by withholding information, using obscure language, or letting metaphysics get in the way of instructions. That said, there is a fair amount of metaphysics, and it's pretty hilariously bad, centering on Peterson's conception of a "quantum intelligence". Luckily its easy to ignore.
Chapter summaries:
1. First chapter is personal background stories of precognition, receiving information in dreams, etc. Peterson mentioned receiving training in many traditions, all of which have different approaches to awakening. Once he received good instruction from one on how to awaken, why did he continue to seek instruction in so many other traditions?
2. The very first exercise in the second chapter blew my mind. This is the meat of the book IMO.
3. Seemed mostly pointless, though it describes some elements of searching for selfness.
4. Starts with afterlife and out of body experience, feeling the life force of trees at a distance (lame superpower). Remainder elaborates on content from chapter two and is worth reading.
5. A literature review of direct insight techniques from several traditions, then chakra/qi realism and bad physics.
6. Author's theory of "quantum intelligence" explained. Panpsychism as an explanation for psi effects. Horrible mess of the following: coincidences/synchronicity, lasers as quantum phenomena, holographic universe, entanglement, holographic brains, observer effect, the net of Indra, information theory... I gave up at this point but there was plenty more.
7. Moving consciousness to the heart as a path to enlightenment. Some brief instructions for a metta-esque practice.
I would read chapter two, three, flick through four until you get past the tree stuff and then read the rest. Flick through chapter seven, you'll know if you want to read it in more detail or not. Appendices contain clear instructions on several different practices which are worth looking over.
Five stars for clear writing; no deductions for the woo since it's so easy to just ignore it. Skip the woo and the remainder is short and sweet.
Chapter summaries:
1. First chapter is personal background stories of precognition, receiving information in dreams, etc. Peterson mentioned receiving training in many traditions, all of which have different approaches to awakening. Once he received good instruction from one on how to awaken, why did he continue to seek instruction in so many other traditions?
2. The very first exercise in the second chapter blew my mind. This is the meat of the book IMO.
3. Seemed mostly pointless, though it describes some elements of searching for selfness.
4. Starts with afterlife and out of body experience, feeling the life force of trees at a distance (lame superpower). Remainder elaborates on content from chapter two and is worth reading.
5. A literature review of direct insight techniques from several traditions, then chakra/qi realism and bad physics.
6. Author's theory of "quantum intelligence" explained. Panpsychism as an explanation for psi effects. Horrible mess of the following: coincidences/synchronicity, lasers as quantum phenomena, holographic universe, entanglement, holographic brains, observer effect, the net of Indra, information theory... I gave up at this point but there was plenty more.
7. Moving consciousness to the heart as a path to enlightenment. Some brief instructions for a metta-esque practice.
I would read chapter two, three, flick through four until you get past the tree stuff and then read the rest. Flick through chapter seven, you'll know if you want to read it in more detail or not. Appendices contain clear instructions on several different practices which are worth looking over.
Five stars for clear writing; no deductions for the woo since it's so easy to just ignore it. Skip the woo and the remainder is short and sweet.
May 24, 2014
On the one hand,we have in Jackson Peterson a westerner who has received high level teachings from a variety of traditions with focus on relatively short paths to high levels of realization. Lots of material here, a real grab bag of techniques that may be of benefit, presented by a modern native English speaker. Apparently, though I haven't tried it, he answers questions in a facebook group. Cool, eh?
On the other hand, the quality of the writing is below average. It is wordy, grammatically incorrect, muddled, poorly organized, repetitive. Even at the level of paragraph formation the writing fails. I feel sleepy when reading it. The teaching metaphors are not original. The clarity of the topic does not shine through. The level of instruction itself on the topic, whether you consider the topic advanced or not, is basic.
I happen to be reading Carefree Dignity by Tsoknyi Rinpoche at the same time. As befitting the topic of the clarity of the natural state of mind, the writing is powerful, direct, moving. The level of instruction is subtle and contains vividly communicative metaphors I have not previously encountered.
Tsoknyi's writing has benefitted from a team of translators and copy editors. Jackson Peterson would do well to get some help, too.
On the other hand, the quality of the writing is below average. It is wordy, grammatically incorrect, muddled, poorly organized, repetitive. Even at the level of paragraph formation the writing fails. I feel sleepy when reading it. The teaching metaphors are not original. The clarity of the topic does not shine through. The level of instruction itself on the topic, whether you consider the topic advanced or not, is basic.
I happen to be reading Carefree Dignity by Tsoknyi Rinpoche at the same time. As befitting the topic of the clarity of the natural state of mind, the writing is powerful, direct, moving. The level of instruction is subtle and contains vividly communicative metaphors I have not previously encountered.
Tsoknyi's writing has benefitted from a team of translators and copy editors. Jackson Peterson would do well to get some help, too.
January 15, 2015
Amazing book,
Jackson Peterson creates a bridge between eastern spirituality and modern western beliefs. This makes the book readable for everyone that's interested in deepening their point of view on life. This may seem drastic, but this book felt like a gift to me. It lets you view the world in such another way, that you're playfully encouraged to practice it in your own life. The power of this book lies in the practical tips and tricks that you can apply in your daily life. So for everyone that's interested in this book, buy it! You'll be glad you did it!
Jackson Peterson creates a bridge between eastern spirituality and modern western beliefs. This makes the book readable for everyone that's interested in deepening their point of view on life. This may seem drastic, but this book felt like a gift to me. It lets you view the world in such another way, that you're playfully encouraged to practice it in your own life. The power of this book lies in the practical tips and tricks that you can apply in your daily life. So for everyone that's interested in this book, buy it! You'll be glad you did it!
June 26, 2018
Essential reading to fill in the stepping stones of all Paths
This book ties in a life time Spiritual research and practice confirming my Path and bringing it all together in brilliant and Enlightening Way.
This book ties in a life time Spiritual research and practice confirming my Path and bringing it all together in brilliant and Enlightening Way.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews