Customer Reviews

Free Spirit: A Guide to Enlightened Being

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I was looking forward to reading this book after attending an intensive with him in Toronto. Energetically, it was one of the most profound satsangs that I have ever attended and I have sat with many.

I loved this book for the energetic stillness that I sensed while I was reading and I also appreciated Sundance's ability to communicate the principles of nonduality with such clarity. I read a little of Nisargadatta's "I Am That" every day and it has been one of my favorites, although often I cannot understand what he is explaining. Sundance's insights are deep and profound, but he speaks in such a pragmatic manner that points us directly to the heart of awareness. He brilliantly demystifies the process of awakening to who we really are in a grounded and intelligent way.

I was especially helped by the section on Self-inquiry. In fact, it may be one of the clearest presentations that I have ever read. The chapter entitled "Realizing Freedom Now" was also helpful by making me more conscious of the root of all suffering in order to transcend this fear of the unknown.

Rather than conceptually telling us how to Self-realize, he asks the right questions and then points us where to look, so that we discover directly the deeper insights. Finally, he has a good sense of humor and in case you haven't noticed, this path can sometimes be quite strange.

I recommend this book for people who are interested in awakening and for those who are ready to go the distance and realize the Truth.

Free Spirit is a calmly breathed introduction to nondual teachings. Beyond that, it is a deeply inscribed invitation to inquire, ask questions, and simply see what is obvious. While there are notes of surrender, the dominant tone is that of self-inquiry.

Lots of questions:

There are entire pages filled with questions, and they culminate in the chapter entitled Realizing Freedom Now, which is about how to practice self-inquiry. "The direct inquiry is: Absent thought or any identification with its appearance ... Who am I? Living within this question is the opening to its answer."

The use of questions aligns with the book's purpose, which is "not to give you more objective knowledge about yourself, as you cannot know yourself as an object is known." We need to "deeply feel and witness our existence."

Theme - Beliefs:

Sundance makes it very clear that belief is not discriminative intelligence, rather beliefs are artificial and do not bear on reality. Beliefs leave us in a bad situation of limitation, fear, and inability to release them.

Theme - Suffering:

The author reminds us not to get attached to suffering since it is tied to beliefs and, like beliefs, suffering does not change reality.

The only hope for release from the grip of beliefs and suffering, it might be said, is hopelessness. I like how Sundance says it: "The beauty of hopelessness is that when we truly encounter hopelessness, we STOP! ... and settle into Self. We experience simply being. We are absolutely present and disarmed of all mental and emotional protection."

Twin Books:

While Sundance Burke focuses on questions and self-inquiry, his wife Katie Davis in her book, Awake Joy, which is the twin to this one, is more inclined toward surrender. The books make a valuable pair.

Jerry Katz

Sundance Burke in Free Spirit compassionately invites us to notice the Awareness in which everything is happening instead of being lost in the content of the mind and experience. He continually points us back to the place of Freedom, Peace, and Love, which is our true nature. It is clear that Sundance is intimately familiar with this place of Freedom, and reading Free Spirit brings us into it as well. His writing is clear, and his tone is that of a true spiritual friend--one who has the wisdom of experience and the joy that inspires him to share it. -Gina Lake, author of Radical Happiness: A Guide to Awakening

I am only about 40 pages into this wonderful book and I had to write a review. I have read soooooooooo many of these kinds of books , but this is surely different. The author has a way of stating things I have heard before in a much more practical, accessable and immediate way. I highy recommend you buy this book. Here is an excerpt:

The Insider


Don't be an outsider, go within.
Turn yourself around.
On the outside there are stop signs and dead ends.
Haven't you been reading the signs?
The outside has clearly stated limitations.
You are never free as an outsider.
Isn't that so?

Turn yourself around.
Turn your life outside in.
You've been wearing yourself inside out.
You look silly that way.
Your True Self is laughing at this mistake.
But not at You.

Turn yourself around.
Turn away from the outside.
You've seen it all before.
Fickle friends that don't have anything real to share.
They come and go, leaving you the outsider.

Follow me, I know your pain.
I, too, was an outsider once upon a time.
So, now, I welcome you inside.
"Who am I" , you ask.

"I am your own Self."
Nothing fickle about THAT!
Turn yourself around.
Ignore what you already know.
It's best to travel light on the inside.
Things you keep just pull you back.

Drop everything!
Yes, everything!
"I", "me", "you", "we", "it", "they".
"Dos and don'ts"
Every little thing has to go.
And voila.
Simple Really!

i have just finished reading both of your
books back
to back .......i have been reading and studying the modern mystics
as i call
you guys for the past year and a half and my life is indeed
different but
the same!!.i can taste/feel/experience the free spirit and awake
joy more
each day as i just notice and feel within....i can honestly say
that your
books are so very excellent and i loved them and you..i will reread
them
again and again as i have a few others....so clear so well
expressed can't
find the words to express what i am feeling.....at times i can just
about
reach there with your words.....a taste of it for sure.....thank
you so
much for all the time and sharing and love that has been part of
the whole
experience with you both......maybe someday we can meet face to
face and let
the love flow as it surely does and is......i really liked that you
include
the body because it has been in question for a long time with
me....as many
these days seem to shun the body as an illusion....same as the
world.and
they take on a less than quality as in bad and nothing to give any
attention
to,,,.that is not inclusive and accepting of all that is.. seems to
be a
denial of what is given us to explore this seeming world...and if
it is all
consciousness awareness including the body then what is not real about
that.....i realize it is our misidentification with the false that
has us in
its grips.....thinking what is real is false and what is false is
real.....such a conundrum as it were...so when we see the truth of
who we
really are the world which includes us and all things is returned
to what it
never left and was not to its original state within and we continue
with the
dream but from a different place inside and the world is ......and we
are....as in first there is a mountain then there is no mountain
and then
there is the mountain.highly recommended...lcw

Free Spirit is a direct encounter with enlightened being. If you are genuinely ready and interested in slipping past the limitations of the ego, instead of fixating on its dilemmas, this book is for you. Free Spirit truly is a "good day to die" for the ego.

Sundance writes with great clarity and points with profound wisdom for those who long to be free. The book is grounded and pragmatic and yet the loving heart is so sublime and evident. He really got me actively involved instead of talking at me. For instance, he very skillfully asks the right questions so that I noticed the truth. There is also a lightness about the entire adventure and occasionally gentle, intelligent humor comes to the forefront.

In Free Spirit, I sensed that every word was sourced by the silent Truth.

This book has a subtle ability to creep up on you and gently transform your perception of who you are.

On the surface it could appear to be a light, humorous telling of Sundance's experiences and philosophy. But I strongly suggest you take the time to feel into and under the words; for there you will find the living stillness within you to which the author's words point.

I like this book because of its simplicity and because Sundance does not try to conceptualise the deeper reality, the essence of Being that we all have in common. This tells me that he knows and lives the Truth, and has enough humility to leave the concepts and theories to lesser authors.

Namaste!

Break Out of Your Mind

The best book I read in a long time about the riddle of awakening and enlightenment. I highlighted and underlined the whole book. It will be a companion for a long time that I will read and reread over and over again.
O highly recommend it for spiritual seekers who long to be free of their mind chatter and be free.

This is a great book, written by a clear and pragmatic teacher! I will reread Free Spirit many times until this perception of deepening is finally resolved. Sundance has pointed to many new and profound insights that had previously gone unnoticed. There are many books available right now on spiritual awakening and realization. This is one that stands out and that is to be fully contemplated and absorbed.

Sundance described the awakened and unawakened state in a clear and simple way. Since I'am still asleep he gave many ways to look at what causes us to sleep away.Certainly if you follow his sign post's it will lead to awakening sooner or later. Well worth reading many times over.
Gary McFarlane