Customer Reviews

Autobiography of an Awakening

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A powerful book! It had a very big affect on me and made me think deeper than I probably ever had about how important and also how delicate and dangerous it is to really walk on the spiritual path. Andrew Cohen describes his own enlightenment and his subsequent disillusionment with the integrity of his teacher. Truly, for anyone who has ever had to confront the question of a teacher or spiritual authority in whom their is unquestioned wisdom and spiritual power and yet also corruption and abuses of integrity, this book is a must read! It makes you realize how superficially this subject is generally treated. Andrew, a popular and powerful teacher in his own right, is forced to see that on one hand his teacher is without doubt a very awakened man AND a very corrupt individual AT THE SAME TIME. Yes, where have we all seen that before? Only constantly for the last 30 years. The most remarkable thing perhaps about this book is that Andrew fully addresses this subject with no cynicism! In fact, his whole message is that it is possible to live what you teach. Spiritual integrity is not only possible it should be what all of us demand from ourselves and our teachers. Thank God, amidst all of the fear and suspicion of spiritual teachers and groups these days, someone is bold enough to address these issues with intelligence, without a trace of cynicism and with what is clearly the utmost care, respect and appreciation for the sacredness and importance of spiritual life.

Andrew Cohen (born 1955) is an American guru, spiritual teacher, magazine editor, author, and musician who has developed what he characterizes as a unique path of spiritual transformation, called Evolutionary Enlightenment. He has written a number of books, such as Evolutionary Enlightenment: A New Path to Spiritual Awakening, Living Enlightenment: A Call for Evolution Beyond Ego, Embracing Heaven & Earth: The Liberation Teachings of Andrew Cohen, etc. He has also been strongly criticized by his mother (The Mother of God) as well as former followers (e.g., Enlightenment Blues: My Years with an American Guru, American Guru: A Story of Love, Betrayal and Healing-former students of Andrew Cohen speak out).

Here are some quotations from this 1992 book:

"The day after (an Indian Swami) initiated me, while I was meditating with him and a small group of people, I had an unusual experience. Suddenly it felt like the bottom of my spine was plugged into a wall socket as I felt an enormous surge of energy rushing from the bottom of my spine up to the top of my head.... This event lasted a short time, and at the end of the meditation I could not speak, but could only do my best to control myself from bursting out laughing. I was amazed, fascinated and very inspired." (Pg. 15)
"Poonjaji told me that I had the same look in my eyes as his Guru Ramana Maharshi did. He said that he had seen these eyes only three times in his life: in his Guru's, in his own and in mine... He told me that he had been waiting for me his whole life and that now he was free." (Pg. 36-37)
"My friendship with my mother continued to grow as I got older. A fundamental shift took place though when I was twenty-two years old and consciously turned my life and full attention to spiritual evolution... I increasingly began to feel a tension in our relationship... Now she had become my enemy and this was one of the most painful events of my entire life." (Pg. 63-66)
"Apparently (my mother) had heard that Poonjaji has 'skeletons in his closet'---that he had been 'womanizing' while travelling and teaching in Europe and had had a child with a young Western student years earlier. I was stunned, but then realized ... that my mother must have made it up in order to discredit Poonjaji, because she, I had been told, disliked him intensely." (Pg. 87)
"I unexpectedly met a man who had been my Guru's disciple eighteen years earlier... (he) said Poonjaji seemed not to care at all about the mess he was leaving in his wake. He further confirmed the fact of Poonjaji's promiscuity and described how Poonjaji often lied, talked behind other people's backs ... He said that Poonjaji only cared about himself and often misused his power as a Guru for his own benefit."

Loved the irony of someone on a spiritual search, finding a guru who teaches non-identification with ego (in the Ramana Maharshi lineage)...then having a huge ego-based fall out with that teacher! Wonderful read. Very human and real.

A book like this is so useful in the sense that it shows the real path of a spiritual seeker and new teacher, Andrew Cohen. Many books are inspiring in their goal oriented messages or methodologies. This book illustrates the difficulties and pitfalls. It also demonstrates the hurt (disillusionment) that can occur from expecting all teachers or gurus to be perfect.

The book does show that teachers are necessary along the path, but ultimately the final guru is the eternal Self within each human.

The book explains the reason for following a code of ethics (which all esoteric groups have) to take away the power of the ego so that one can see the permanent Truth within. This was demonstrated in such a practical, important way.

It is so gratifying to see a teacher who will not sugar-coat the truth of the spiritual pathway. Andrew Cohen truly tries to awaken people rather than simply making them feel good. Spiritual evolution is his goal. It is critical to have teachers like this. He shows that the spiritual path is truly a "razor's edge".

This book primarily covers the author's early life and negative relationship with his teacher/guru. The language in it (especially the letters to his guru) is full of dogma and dualisms. i found no inspiration in this book except perhaps, as an example of what kind of teacher to avoid on the spiritual path.