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Original Goodness: Eknath Easwaran on the Beatitudes (Classics of Christian Inspiration Series)

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This is simply one of the finest and most inspiring books I've ever read. It takes the famous Beatitudes of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" and shows how we can train ourselves mentally and spiritually to be living embodiments of their wisdom in our everyday lives. Easwaran begins with the premise that our innermost core or essence is one with the divine ground of all being. It is timeless, indestructible, and purely good. And he shows us how we can cultivate a spiritual path which lets this goodness shine through our conventional, constricted, egoic selves. His path is based on the "perennial philosophy" that he and many religious scholars and sages say forms the heart of all the great religious traditions. But while he quotes liberally from mystics of various traditions, his focus here is on Christian mysticism. Meister Eckhart and St. Teresa of Avila figure prominently in the book, and their words grace the reader with profound wisdom and inspiration. The chapter on love alone is worth many times the price of the book. It has impacted my life more than I can say.

Do yourself a favor and get this book, make it a part of your life, and share the sweet fruits of your efforts with those around you. Thw world will be a better place because of it.

Eknath Easwaran is one of my favorite authors on spiritual subjects. His style is engaging and his approach non-dogmatic. From his own experience, he is able to see the core teachings of every faith and lead the reader to a greater understanding and tolerance of other paths. This book will be equally appreciated by Christians and those of an Eastern bent wishing to find a bridge with their Christian acquaintances.

This boook is profound in that the author's voice exemplifies the universal values and principles espoused in his book--clearly he has lived his words. Sri Easwaran's familiarity with world religious traditions, his compassionate nature, and his love for all living beings make his words nonsecular and completely applicable to anyone's life. I felt I was embraced by love as I read this book. It inspired me to rededicate myself to living the higher values of humankind.

Drawing from the deep spiritual well of the world's Christian mystics, author and spiritual leader Eknath Easwaran (1910-1999), carves out a pathway to inner peace for his readers in his transforming book "Original Goodness". Easwaran uses the Beautitudes of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount to provide a framework in which he introduces the themes of purity, humility, simplicity, patience, love, mercy, peacemaking, and desire. Inspiring passages from mystics like Meister Eckhart, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Teresa of Avila, and John Ruysbroeck fill each page with insight and wisdom adding beautifully to Easwaran's rich reflections.

"We do not have to figure out how to make ourselves good; all we need do is remove what covers the goodness that is already there...The spark that burns in you, in me, is lit by the fires of heaven." p. 12/229

Easwaran's idea of original goodness comes from the truth that within each one of us there lies a core of goodness, buried and hidden, waiting to be discovered. "...before original sin was original innocence...that is our real nature." This core of goodness is the very essence of God and has been experienced the world over by mystics throughout all religions. Once discovered, the fruit of pure love is born, having encountered the Divine. "...all the treasures and pleasures of this world are worth nothing if one has not found the uncreated light at the center of the soul.", Easwaran reflects.

This transforming reality can only be accessed and spurred onwards to flourish and grow by developing an awareness of what lies within. An awareness that can be achieved through the training of our minds; namely the repetition of a mantram (or mantra) ,the practice of meditation and acts of love and kindness. As our practices deepen and we begin to unravel the layers of consciousness that cover up and dim the light emanating from the eternal spark buried beneath layers and layers of conditioned ego, our encounters with others then become transformed, now centered in love. Easwaran urges that to change the world, we must first change ourselves.

" As our desire to draw closer to the Lord within us deepens, it draws self-centered desires into it like tributaries into a great river. The power of that love swells until it becomes cataclysmic; we begin to inspire other people through the transformation we have wrought in ourselves." p. 166

Within "Original Goodness" are reminders of the hurried lifestyle that permeates much of our largely ego-centered modern life today. Called to the reader's attention is the fact that we are being consumed and destroyed by the very tools of technology and industry whose purposes were originally intended to create an increased quality of existence. Easwaran emphasizes our need to realize the interconnectedness that we share with all living things, human and non-human and to consider and be mindful of how our choices as consumers effects the lives and welfare of others. Such an awareness of the unity that we share with all that is around us is realized through our spiritual disciplines. This sense of unity fills us with a deep empathy and compassion, allowing us to be troubled when others are troubled around us, and spurring us to put others before ourselves in acts of love to relieve the pain we sense in them.

"For those who love God, when anyone dies, a part of them dies too. In the highest sense, this is the meaning of the Passion, the reason why the Messiah was called "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Living in all, you suffer whatever they suffer. But this awareness of unity is also the source of the greatest joy, because it brings the love, compassion, and creativity to relieve suffering wherever you go." p. 153

Easwaran has a very positive view of humanity. The rare kind of hope that is fueled only be experiencing the tangible results of the principles of which he speaks. There is no doubt the profound impact Mahatma Gandhi had in the shaping of his spiritual path. Easwaran first met him while in college and had the privilege of listening to him teach as well as see him in action. Through his interactions with Gandhi, Easwaran shares how he witnessed firsthand how the humble power of one man could transform violence into peace, hatred into reconciliation, all by the power of love. Easwaran's inspiring message is that in discovering our original goodness we too, can have a transforming impact on the world around us.

Each page of "Original Goodness" brings new understanding in my search for "What is Goodness?" How can Goodness teach me to know myself more deeply and, thereby, find peace in a sometimes terrifying, mystifying world? Eknath has been teaching meditation and peace practices for a half century and has a clear voice for the Seeker in all of us.

As far as I can tell, Easwaran only mentions Jesus in this whole book once. You would think Meister Eckhart is the more important spiritual figure than Jesus Christ, although the book purports to be about the Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The book is well-written, but I find this kind of spiritual co-opting to be very misleading. I can't help but wonder if the ulterior purpose of an author such as this is not to diminish Jesus' stature by effectively turning him into just another mystic. I have no problem with spiritual books having nothing to do with religion. But I find it misleading to market the book as if it is a book about Christianity, right down to the picture of Mary adoring the baby Jesus on the book's cover.