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Let the Moon Be Free: Conversations on Kashmiri Tantra
Encountering life through the light of Kashmiri Shaped and sustained by the nondual tradition of Kashmir Shivaism, Eric Baret's words take us back to the simple observation of our felt sense of emotion and ultimately, to pure listening. This allows a liberating the root of suffering is an illusion, and all claims to knowledge are a pretense. The dialogues recorded in this book are an invitation to celebrate life in the present moment, free from the fear of an imaginary future.“You don't need anything in life, because it all ends in the present moment. You do not have the time to build a conscious life. You cannot become anything.”
- GenresSpiritualityPhilosophy
198 pages, Paperback
Published September 27, 2018
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233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 2, 2021
Beautiful! The most breath taking poetry is this :)
I adore Eric's teachings, he gives you nothing to hold onto, no ideology, no concepts. Just a letting go, deep deep into the abyss.
They are wonderful pointings and I recommend them to the truth seeker who is ready to drop everything and be nothing. For those new to non duality I would recommend other teachers of the Jean Klein family, i.e Rupert Spira, Francis, and Jean himself.
I adore Eric's teachings, he gives you nothing to hold onto, no ideology, no concepts. Just a letting go, deep deep into the abyss.
They are wonderful pointings and I recommend them to the truth seeker who is ready to drop everything and be nothing. For those new to non duality I would recommend other teachers of the Jean Klein family, i.e Rupert Spira, Francis, and Jean himself.
January 21, 2022
Imagine you and some of your friends are getting together to play a game of basketball. As everyone is warming up and getting practice to play their best game, one of your friends, Eric, suddenly proclaims, “You know what? It’s really not important that we play basketball at all.” So he sits out.
But he’s not content to just not play basketball. Instead he has to talk about the wisdom inherent in not playing basketball and the various ways in which this is the wise and prudent approach. He acts like this is some kind of new and enlightened perspective on the world of sport. But in reality, Eric is really just irritating.
Interesting premise in this book, which is basically one long interview. It’s spotty and inconsistent. Sometimes the messages about acceptance and finding the answers within are insightful and inspiring. However, there is a fine line between acceptance of what is and defeatism. Aggressive and provocative in tone, the tone slowly became disappointing and banal.
Example:
“What does it matter if I am loved or not? When I am on my deathbed and someone is holding my hand and repeating “I love you,” what can that bring to me? It is pure fantasy. That person loves me until the moment she sees another dog and becomes infatuated with him. Nothing more. That love, she can keep. It has no substance.”
I’m sure the speaker wants to be provocative, but in this lens anyway, it feels like an overreaction and overshoots the issue. In fact, in multiple examples throughout the book when regarding love and intimate relationships, he shows a massive blind spot where he professes to understand something he clearly does not. So it’s frustrating to listen to someone fiercely ignorant of one issue and then have to try take their pronouncements seriously in the next.
For example, the messages about simplicity, the acceptance of what is and of non-attachment, of dropping the “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts”. Letting go of the story. Accepting things as they are instead of getting so invested in what emotions, people or events are supposed to mean for us. Letting the moon be free, not projecting meanings onto things. Also particularly meaningful was the story about the man imprisoned in Lebanon who was able to drop the narrative around the psychological pain of his imprisonment- wow. Hard to fathom, and I suspect it’s an exaggeration, but that’s only because I have enough maturity and life behind me to be a little suspicious of the claim.
“The true fast is the fast of the heart. Stop begging, demanding, requesting anything whatsoever. Stop wanting to be considered, to be treated in any special way. Do not ask for anything. And above all, stop imagining that you are being attacked or assaulted by a situation.” Good, right? And then “My body can be raped and I will not feel molested.” Huh? I’m just trying to illustrate some of the weird leaps he uses to get your attention that don’t work well.
Or “your health depends on your genes. You can’t help it. You are sentenced to be weak or strong your whole life. You must accept that.” Okay dude.
There are moments when he comes across as evolved, then in the next sentence he seems condescending. He’ll acknowledge the limitations of language and then butcher a meaningful pathway to understanding by expressing a limited perspective that comes across as angry and fairly black and white in thinking. It’s quite a dichotomy. Makes me wonder whether he’s spent any time around more evolved souls, and says what he thinks most people are thinking. Like the faux certainty of a Baptist preacher.
So in the end, there are plenty of insights here, but reader beware, and hold on to your own sense of knowing of what is true and meaningful.
But he’s not content to just not play basketball. Instead he has to talk about the wisdom inherent in not playing basketball and the various ways in which this is the wise and prudent approach. He acts like this is some kind of new and enlightened perspective on the world of sport. But in reality, Eric is really just irritating.
Interesting premise in this book, which is basically one long interview. It’s spotty and inconsistent. Sometimes the messages about acceptance and finding the answers within are insightful and inspiring. However, there is a fine line between acceptance of what is and defeatism. Aggressive and provocative in tone, the tone slowly became disappointing and banal.
Example:
“What does it matter if I am loved or not? When I am on my deathbed and someone is holding my hand and repeating “I love you,” what can that bring to me? It is pure fantasy. That person loves me until the moment she sees another dog and becomes infatuated with him. Nothing more. That love, she can keep. It has no substance.”
I’m sure the speaker wants to be provocative, but in this lens anyway, it feels like an overreaction and overshoots the issue. In fact, in multiple examples throughout the book when regarding love and intimate relationships, he shows a massive blind spot where he professes to understand something he clearly does not. So it’s frustrating to listen to someone fiercely ignorant of one issue and then have to try take their pronouncements seriously in the next.
For example, the messages about simplicity, the acceptance of what is and of non-attachment, of dropping the “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts”. Letting go of the story. Accepting things as they are instead of getting so invested in what emotions, people or events are supposed to mean for us. Letting the moon be free, not projecting meanings onto things. Also particularly meaningful was the story about the man imprisoned in Lebanon who was able to drop the narrative around the psychological pain of his imprisonment- wow. Hard to fathom, and I suspect it’s an exaggeration, but that’s only because I have enough maturity and life behind me to be a little suspicious of the claim.
“The true fast is the fast of the heart. Stop begging, demanding, requesting anything whatsoever. Stop wanting to be considered, to be treated in any special way. Do not ask for anything. And above all, stop imagining that you are being attacked or assaulted by a situation.” Good, right? And then “My body can be raped and I will not feel molested.” Huh? I’m just trying to illustrate some of the weird leaps he uses to get your attention that don’t work well.
Or “your health depends on your genes. You can’t help it. You are sentenced to be weak or strong your whole life. You must accept that.” Okay dude.
There are moments when he comes across as evolved, then in the next sentence he seems condescending. He’ll acknowledge the limitations of language and then butcher a meaningful pathway to understanding by expressing a limited perspective that comes across as angry and fairly black and white in thinking. It’s quite a dichotomy. Makes me wonder whether he’s spent any time around more evolved souls, and says what he thinks most people are thinking. Like the faux certainty of a Baptist preacher.
So in the end, there are plenty of insights here, but reader beware, and hold on to your own sense of knowing of what is true and meaningful.
November 26, 2020
It's hard to put into words how profound this book is for me. If you are a student of self-inquiry, already have experience in yogic meditation, kriya, etc. or perhaps your soul knows something more awaits but you know not what "that" is, then read this book. It is one of only a few books I call "life-changers".
Right away, it is stated if you come for answers, you will not find them. Is this intriguing or frustrating? If this intrigues you, read it now. If you go into it with expectations, you will be disappointed.
Remember it is lovingly translated from the French. The esoteric subject had to be incredibly difficult to translate. When I read it and get to a particularly awkward word I think, "How else might this have been translated? Are there other, less redundant words that fit here?" Doing this really made the text sparkle.
I already have years of experience & knowledge in the Indian traditions. The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita - all precious teachings to me. I especially appreciate those that teach Advaita, which brings us to Tantra.
Kashmir Shaivism, right hand Tantra, is like the The Power of Now of the 5th century. It's ancient, wise, and it points to Trika (three points of Shiva's trident) - the threefold science of man, energy & his world. Ultimately, the state of supreme reality is God consciousness, reached through changes in our energy produced by certain actions (kriya).
I've read other books about the techniques. But this book is special. Much like some of the best Indian spiritual teachers of the last century, the point is to turn the reader's attention back to who is reading. Who is asking? Who seeks? Are you listening? Who are you? The teacher here states that realization requires no action other than knowing through experience. Tricky, eh? Not if we silence the mind and turn it back on itself.
In Q & A format, the book unfolds with perplexing yet profound tidbits, similar to a koan in Zen. I read through it quickly once. Now, each day I select a page randomly & let that one sit with me all day. I will never be done with a book like this.
Thank you to the translator. While not everyone is ready for this book, I am thrilled it was here for me to pick up on my path.
Right away, it is stated if you come for answers, you will not find them. Is this intriguing or frustrating? If this intrigues you, read it now. If you go into it with expectations, you will be disappointed.
Remember it is lovingly translated from the French. The esoteric subject had to be incredibly difficult to translate. When I read it and get to a particularly awkward word I think, "How else might this have been translated? Are there other, less redundant words that fit here?" Doing this really made the text sparkle.
I already have years of experience & knowledge in the Indian traditions. The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita - all precious teachings to me. I especially appreciate those that teach Advaita, which brings us to Tantra.
Kashmir Shaivism, right hand Tantra, is like the The Power of Now of the 5th century. It's ancient, wise, and it points to Trika (three points of Shiva's trident) - the threefold science of man, energy & his world. Ultimately, the state of supreme reality is God consciousness, reached through changes in our energy produced by certain actions (kriya).
I've read other books about the techniques. But this book is special. Much like some of the best Indian spiritual teachers of the last century, the point is to turn the reader's attention back to who is reading. Who is asking? Who seeks? Are you listening? Who are you? The teacher here states that realization requires no action other than knowing through experience. Tricky, eh? Not if we silence the mind and turn it back on itself.
In Q & A format, the book unfolds with perplexing yet profound tidbits, similar to a koan in Zen. I read through it quickly once. Now, each day I select a page randomly & let that one sit with me all day. I will never be done with a book like this.
Thank you to the translator. While not everyone is ready for this book, I am thrilled it was here for me to pick up on my path.
May 6, 2019
Amazingly clear pragmatism, deep and full of insights in a very contemporary voice.
Was chosen for our group read and we all felt this book was full of profound insights as it made us pause in wonder from time to time. Ok, did not care about Ornella Muti or counterintuitive points about fasting, but wow was the main feeling as we went slowly through the book. Totally recommend!
Was chosen for our group read and we all felt this book was full of profound insights as it made us pause in wonder from time to time. Ok, did not care about Ornella Muti or counterintuitive points about fasting, but wow was the main feeling as we went slowly through the book. Totally recommend!
June 18, 2022
Beautiful and direct.
May 19, 2022
Sublime.
January 18, 2024
life changing read
Every single page is filled with incredible teachings, this is a book to be read over and over again! Highly recommend
Every single page is filled with incredible teachings, this is a book to be read over and over again! Highly recommend
January 14, 2025
Transformative
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews