An Extraordinary Absence: Liberation in the Midst of a Very Ordinary Life

by Jeff Foster, Kriben Pillay (Foreword), Philip Pegler (Introduction)

Jeff Foster invites you to forget everything you know, everything you’ve been taught, and everything you’ve ever read about spiritual awakening, Oneness, enlightenment, non-duality, and Advaita, and to consider a new the possibility of absolute freedom, right now, right here, in the midst of this very ordinary life. Using everyday language and drawing on both personal experience and age-old wisdom, Foster shares the possibility that all the seeking and longing of the mind can come to an absolute end with the falling away of the sense of being a separate individual, and a plunge into unconditional love. And in that plunge—which is totally beyond anything you have ever imagined—this so-called ordinary life reveals its great Secret. Written with stunning clarity and aliveness, this book is a love letter to the exhausted spiritual seeker who is simply longing to come Home.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Self Help, Philosophy

216 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Jeff Foster graduated in Astrophysics from Cambridge University in 2001. Several years after graduation, following a period of severe depression and illness, he became addicted to the idea of "spiritual enlightenment", and embarked on an intensive spiritual search which lasted for several years.

The spiritual search came to an absolute end with the clear seeing that there is only ever Oneness. In the clarity of this seeing, life became what it always was: spontaneous, clear, joyful and fully alive, and Jeff began to write and talk about "nonduality" (which he often calls "the utterly, utterly obvious").

He holds meetings and retreats in the UK and Europe, clearly and directly pointing to the frustrations surrounding the spiritual search, to the nature of mind, and to the Clarity at the heart of everything. His uncompromising approach, full of humor and compassion, shatters the mind's hopes for a future awakening, revealing the awakening that is always already present, right in the midst of life.

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Reviews

[Aaron Reinwald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down the most unique book I've ever read. A book that doesnt want you to understand it but to get a vibe for it. It really put things into perspective. Definitely a good reminder book when you need to ground yourself as well...

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Love says “I am everything”. Wisdom says “I am nothing”. Between the two, my life flows. - Nisargadatta Maharaj”
― Jeff Foster, An Extraordinary Absence

[Tejaswini Rentala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Awesome

Loved reading the book. The pointers are really amazing. Helpful for anyone who is exhausted with all spiritual practices and meditations

[Davide Ariasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some eye-opening passages and there is a lot, a lot of repetition. But Jeff is adorable anyway.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

sometimes you come across books that you really need right in the moment, and this is one of those. I listened to it during one of the most painful days of my life, and now I'm listening to it again a few days later and it's exactly what I need again today.

[Jurek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jeffs work!

[Karen Lewin-Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff's audio is so much better than this piece of writing. Definitely not one of the better books, on the market, re oneness.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly an extraordinary book. As the author says, it's not about understanding the words themselves. It's about seeing what words point to. From his perspective, they always point to absence.