Awakening to the Natural State [Paperback]

John Wheeler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

John Wheeler met Bob Adamson (a student of Nisargadatta Maharaj) on a trip to Australia in 2003. In short order, Bob cleared up John's doubts and questions and pointed out to him the fact of our real nature: self-shining, ever-present awareness. Bob Adamson has encouraged John to share this understanding of 'who we really are.' The articles contained in this book (extended by another 30 articles in this edition) cover some of John's experiences with meeting 'Sailor' Bob Adamson and various aspects of the understanding which subsequently unfolded. Interspersed with these are chapters of email correspondence with enquirers who have been drawn to this radical and direct approach to self-realisation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Non-Duality Press; Revised edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0954779231
• ISBN-13: 978-0954779238
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Simpler Than You Think, March 3, 2006

By 

Natalie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Awakening to the Natural State (Paperback)

I met John Wheeler at a talk and book-signing event in the summer of 2005. The funny thing was, he wasn't really peddling his book very hard, and as the talk went on, I understood why not - John's whole message is that you don't need another book. So that was my introduction to unique thing #1 about John Wheeler: he's about pointing right at the simplicity of Being, not selling books or anything else. Just showing you the way - clearly, patiently, and as some would say, relentlessly.

Unique thing #2 about John Wheeler is that he looks like he could be the guy at the next desk in the office - no flowing garb, no eccentric hairstyle, no etheric gaze - and, there's no fuss along with his presentation - no request for silence before he enters the room, no bell-ringing, no photos of gurus on the wall. He's just a regular working guy, and the reason I mention this is that it was this very quality that instantaneously brought his message into focus for me - for the first time in my life, I realized this business is for regular people like you and me.

But I'm not saying being with John *felt* like being with the guy next door - far from it. The total clarity of his presence somehow knocked all the thoughts right out of my head (Unique thing #3). I sat in that room listening to people ask John questions, and I was sort of dazed, grinning, and thinking, what do these people think they have to find out? Can't they see there's nothing more to know - that they are already what they're looking for?

The reason I'm making this book review so personal is to tell you that I know first-hand, John Wheeler is the real deal. You can completely trust what he says, and his pointers are very clear. I followed up with John by reading this book, and his second book, "Shining in Plain View," and they have been described really well here by reviewer R. Haigh. A few emails and a phone call later, my twenty-five-year search was over. John is that clear, and that effective.

What John talks about in "Awakening to the Natural State" is not theoretical or metaphysical - he doesn't ask you to take anything on faith, but instead asks you to look and see for yourself (Unique thing #4). John continually shows you what direction to look and what kind of inquiry will assist you. His whole point as a teacher is to take you beyond the need for further help. And this he does directly and swiftly, by illustrating the utter simplicity of what we make such a muddle of in our heads.

Not just "highly recommended" - more than that! John Wheeler could end your search. Don't pass up this opportunity.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very easy to "get", June 25, 2006

By 

L. Finkelman (Ct United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Awakening to the Natural State (Paperback)

John Wheeler's writing is direct and easy to "get." Since starting to read this book (I'm nearly through it) presence awareness is very obvioius most of the time and there is a deepening into it. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has been reading non-dual books and still seeking. This could be what makes things very obvious.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, July 7, 2007

By 

Randall Friend - See all my reviews

This review is from: Awakening to the Natural State (Paperback)

John Wheeler is simply a master at gently but ruthlessly throwing you back on that which you already are - presence awareness. This book is mostly a series of question and answers - John has a very simple and loving way - he's very patient but also unfailingly catches the questioner as they fall back into the mind, into the sense of "I" - John gently directs them back and continuously reminds them of what they are. John is one of the most "respected" authors writing about Advaita or NonDuality today - a student of Bob Adamson - he has gone beyond the mind and resides in the clear presence awareness of which he speaks and points to. To be more clear - he shows that there is no one to go anywhere, no one to achieve or attain, nothing to do but BE WHAT YOU ALREADY ARE. All of his books are very highly recommended.