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Intelligence of Awakening: Navigating the Wisdom Path
This book illuminates the path to liberation for those who turn inward, beyond the boundaries of religious denominations, and rise above the attachments in life in order to attain knowledge of their true nature. The foundation of this path is laid out in four The Study of the Mind, Understanding Suffering, The Nature of the Inner Path, and Teaching the Path. The Intelligence of Awakening describes the prospect of the transformation of our human life which—from an inner perspective—is determined through the identification with an I, which was created by the thinking mind’s restricted worldview. It provides a practical and comprehensive orientation for the spiritual seeker who looks to sort out the many competing claims and approaches to wisdom teachings that are circulating in our globalized world.
406 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2019
About the author
OM C. Parkin
41 books2 followersAs a spiritual master of the silent tradition, OM knows how to unite the Western and Eastern streams of wisdom teaching. The radical nature of his work, of his teaching and his serving the awakening path of the human being, is rare and precious in present times. The encounter with OM deeply questions what you are not and lets you fall into what you have always been.
OM shares his realisation of the Absolute in the form of talks on Being (Darshan) and Inner Work, as well as in lectures and as an author. He is the initiator of the OM Foundation Inner Science and the publishing house for wisdom literature advaitaMedia, the founder and director of the mystery school Enneallionce – School of the Fourth Way and Gut Saunstorf Monastery – Place of Stillness.
Several years of studying academic psychology did not provide him any real insight into the nature of the human being. More fruitful for him, however, was being with his Sufi teacher. Later he started studying the teachings of the Enneagram in oral tradition. Due to a serious car accident in 1990, he crossed the threshold of death at the age of 27 and awakened ego-less into the reality of the nondual Absolute. His spiritual teacher Gangaji, whom he met shortly thereafter, supported him in integrating his fundamental transformation, which completely exploded his day-to-day world of experience. She referred him to her advaita teacher H. W. L. Poonja, a direct disciple of Ramana Maharshi, who gave him the spiritual name OM and inspired his teaching from his insight into the absolute Reality of Advaita.
OM C. Parkin's spiritual teaching, which he also calls Inner Science, is based on the Eastern advaita tradition (teaching of non-duality, with Ramana Maharshi as its most prominent figure in the West), as well as on the teachings of the Fourth Way, made known in the West by Georges I. Gurdjieff. On the other hand, it is based on Western experiential paths (e.g. Christian mysticism). He also uses modern psychological and psychotherapeutic methods as teaching tools. The goal is self-knowledge through Inner Work, which ultimately leads to the realisation of the true nature of the human being.
He says: “In the innermost heart of the religions of the East (advaita, Zen and others) we find the ripest fruits of the Philosophy of BEING: The mystery of the dissolution of the world. The spiritual culture of the West has brought forth the knowledge of the evolution of consciousness – the Philosophy of Becoming. The highest teaching is the Teaching of Unification, which unites the paths of Love and Truth (Small Wedding) and BEING with Becoming (Great Wedding). Thus, in the highest realisation unites that which has never been separate.” OM C. Parkin
www.om-c-parkin.com
See also:
www.innere-schule.de
www.om-foundation.org
www.monastery-saunstorf.com
OM shares his realisation of the Absolute in the form of talks on Being (Darshan) and Inner Work, as well as in lectures and as an author. He is the initiator of the OM Foundation Inner Science and the publishing house for wisdom literature advaitaMedia, the founder and director of the mystery school Enneallionce – School of the Fourth Way and Gut Saunstorf Monastery – Place of Stillness.
Several years of studying academic psychology did not provide him any real insight into the nature of the human being. More fruitful for him, however, was being with his Sufi teacher. Later he started studying the teachings of the Enneagram in oral tradition. Due to a serious car accident in 1990, he crossed the threshold of death at the age of 27 and awakened ego-less into the reality of the nondual Absolute. His spiritual teacher Gangaji, whom he met shortly thereafter, supported him in integrating his fundamental transformation, which completely exploded his day-to-day world of experience. She referred him to her advaita teacher H. W. L. Poonja, a direct disciple of Ramana Maharshi, who gave him the spiritual name OM and inspired his teaching from his insight into the absolute Reality of Advaita.
OM C. Parkin's spiritual teaching, which he also calls Inner Science, is based on the Eastern advaita tradition (teaching of non-duality, with Ramana Maharshi as its most prominent figure in the West), as well as on the teachings of the Fourth Way, made known in the West by Georges I. Gurdjieff. On the other hand, it is based on Western experiential paths (e.g. Christian mysticism). He also uses modern psychological and psychotherapeutic methods as teaching tools. The goal is self-knowledge through Inner Work, which ultimately leads to the realisation of the true nature of the human being.
He says: “In the innermost heart of the religions of the East (advaita, Zen and others) we find the ripest fruits of the Philosophy of BEING: The mystery of the dissolution of the world. The spiritual culture of the West has brought forth the knowledge of the evolution of consciousness – the Philosophy of Becoming. The highest teaching is the Teaching of Unification, which unites the paths of Love and Truth (Small Wedding) and BEING with Becoming (Great Wedding). Thus, in the highest realisation unites that which has never been separate.” OM C. Parkin
www.om-c-parkin.com
See also:
www.innere-schule.de
www.om-foundation.org
www.monastery-saunstorf.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 9, 2025
In his comprehensive work ‘Intelligence of Awakening,’ the wisdom teacher OM C. Parkin provides disciples of the Inner Path with a kind of ‘guide’ on the path of self-inquiry.
OM draws on his direct experience of self-realisation and uses his extensive knowledge in his writing. His words are based on his knowledge of Western psychology, studies of Eastern and Western mysticism, the wisdom of his lineage of teachers, and 30 years of experience with students.
Each chapter is accompanied by a dialogue with disciples, which can answer one's own inner questions on the one hand, and on the other emphasises that even with a ‘guidebook,’ one should not walk the path alone.
Inner work as an integral practice involves the physical, emotional and mental levels of the human being. Knowledge of the Enneagram and one's own fixation plays a key role. Fixation obscures and prevents the realisation of truth. Here recognition and guidance from a teacher is required, as well as a community of seekers. A chapter at the end of the book is devoted entirely to the student-teacher relationship.
An extensive appendix with references, some of which include original excerpts from the authors cited, encourages readers to pursue their own in-depth studies.
For me, reading the book before my discipleship was a series of ‘aha moments’ and a joyful integration into my spiritual concepts.
Now, as I read more deeply and work with the texts and dialogues, new inner connections are constantly opening up and I feel the energetic flow on a deeper level.
Concepts are still there, but I can also let them go and feel a deeper inner being.
In this sense, the ten so-called „Oxherding Pictures“ are a wonderful opportunity for contemplation.
They are included in the book both in a traditional and an abstract representation.
Conclusion: if you want to walk the Inner Path, you need this unique work initially and again and again!
OM draws on his direct experience of self-realisation and uses his extensive knowledge in his writing. His words are based on his knowledge of Western psychology, studies of Eastern and Western mysticism, the wisdom of his lineage of teachers, and 30 years of experience with students.
Each chapter is accompanied by a dialogue with disciples, which can answer one's own inner questions on the one hand, and on the other emphasises that even with a ‘guidebook,’ one should not walk the path alone.
Inner work as an integral practice involves the physical, emotional and mental levels of the human being. Knowledge of the Enneagram and one's own fixation plays a key role. Fixation obscures and prevents the realisation of truth. Here recognition and guidance from a teacher is required, as well as a community of seekers. A chapter at the end of the book is devoted entirely to the student-teacher relationship.
An extensive appendix with references, some of which include original excerpts from the authors cited, encourages readers to pursue their own in-depth studies.
For me, reading the book before my discipleship was a series of ‘aha moments’ and a joyful integration into my spiritual concepts.
Now, as I read more deeply and work with the texts and dialogues, new inner connections are constantly opening up and I feel the energetic flow on a deeper level.
Concepts are still there, but I can also let them go and feel a deeper inner being.
In this sense, the ten so-called „Oxherding Pictures“ are a wonderful opportunity for contemplation.
They are included in the book both in a traditional and an abstract representation.
Conclusion: if you want to walk the Inner Path, you need this unique work initially and again and again!
January 27, 2025
This book is one of my deeply beloved companions on the inner path to truth and freedom, a guide through the illusionary jungle of the personality to the light of pure consciousness. It is written for everyone who is interested in what’s beyond the material world and the entanglements of our personal perception, so to speak for whoever is thirsty to get in contact with a deeper level of being.
The texts are philosophically advanced I’d say, sometimes challenging. But I find myself studying – instead of simply reading and forgetting about – the matter and enjoying that some (or even most) of it cannot be understood by the mind only. That means, the mind must become silent and my whole being must be fully present, for being able to read this book. Some sort of mediation…
OM C. Parkin combines so much knowledge from Advaita Vedanta over Buddhism to Christian mysticism as well as his own personal experience as a philosopher and as a teacher - it is brilliant and astonishing! A real treasure of wisdom.
What I like a lot about “Intelligence of Awakening” is that I can look up keywords suiting my current situation or topics that I am interested in. It is not necessarily a book to read through, but even better so: I can start reading from any chapter and whenever I need guidance.
Furthermore the book contains a very handy and extensive glossary.
Chapeau and thank you for this timeless pearl, Mr. Parkin!
The texts are philosophically advanced I’d say, sometimes challenging. But I find myself studying – instead of simply reading and forgetting about – the matter and enjoying that some (or even most) of it cannot be understood by the mind only. That means, the mind must become silent and my whole being must be fully present, for being able to read this book. Some sort of mediation…
OM C. Parkin combines so much knowledge from Advaita Vedanta over Buddhism to Christian mysticism as well as his own personal experience as a philosopher and as a teacher - it is brilliant and astonishing! A real treasure of wisdom.
What I like a lot about “Intelligence of Awakening” is that I can look up keywords suiting my current situation or topics that I am interested in. It is not necessarily a book to read through, but even better so: I can start reading from any chapter and whenever I need guidance.
Furthermore the book contains a very handy and extensive glossary.
Chapeau and thank you for this timeless pearl, Mr. Parkin!
January 19, 2025
When I first read Intelligence of Awakening by OM C. Parkin, I was astonished by a phenomenon I observed: as I read, I felt joyfully excited, growing more curious with each page, even though I realized I didn’t understand a single word. I read with my heart, without needing to intellectually grasp the content. There was no sense of “you have to,” no pressure, no striving. I simply read and felt joy. The truth I discovered in the book brought me happiness.
The second time I read it, I noticed that some connections became more accessible to me. I realized that, over time, a new level of understanding had developed—without me consciously doing anything to make it happen.
Nowadays, I return to the book time and again, especially during turbulent times in my life. When I do, I always find exactly what I need at that moment. The book helps me reflect, recalibrate, and make more conscious decisions—decisions that serve my soul.
I keep rediscovering life and the essence of being human through this book. It continues to bring me joy, and that is why I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in exploring life from a deeper or different perspective.
The second time I read it, I noticed that some connections became more accessible to me. I realized that, over time, a new level of understanding had developed—without me consciously doing anything to make it happen.
Nowadays, I return to the book time and again, especially during turbulent times in my life. When I do, I always find exactly what I need at that moment. The book helps me reflect, recalibrate, and make more conscious decisions—decisions that serve my soul.
I keep rediscovering life and the essence of being human through this book. It continues to bring me joy, and that is why I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in exploring life from a deeper or different perspective.
August 27, 2025
The wisdom-book Intelligence of Awakening accompanies me since more than ten years. At the very beginning I did not understand anything, I could not grasp the meaning. However I felt that what is written here throws me back on myself - it resonates with a deeper ground - and it does something to me inwardly. I study this book, read parts, look up keyword - and each time it supports me. I often discover something new which I was not able to see before and over time, I can see more about what suffering is and how my mind works. This can be experienced inside and energetically. Everything I need to know on the inner path is in this book- a book like a Bibel (which originally means ("book"). The real Master is speaking and teaching through it. It is not always pleasant to face the truth and intensity, but without this knowledge and without working constantly nothing will change- I make the experience that it pays off and offers unexpected gifts. I will go on studying Intelligence of Awakening for another ten years and joy an curiosity are both growing each time it is read. Thank you.
June 30, 2025
This is not light fare, nor is it for someone drawn to wellness spirituality or seeking a quick fix for happiness. It is a book of wisdom that requires deep engagement—an inner kind of study. I myself am reading it for the third time, often leafing through it again and searching for specific themes. And each time, my understanding deepens—not just intellectually, but as a felt experience in the heart.
This video gives you an impression of both the author and the book:
https://youtu.be/5TLBBi4KzfM
This video gives you an impression of both the author and the book:
https://youtu.be/5TLBBi4KzfM
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews