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Radical Happiness: A Guide To Awakening

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Let us suppose that you have been a spiritual seeker for many, many years and then you are suddenly being pulled into Awakening. You begin to understand what the Bhagavad Gita and other sacred texts are talking about when they speak of the Self. This understanding is not at the level of the intellect, but at the core of your being. a direct and tangible experience. Let us suppose further that as this process begins to unfold, you begin seeking practical advice and knowledge for this spiritual re-birth that is happening through you because you have no grounding in how to embody and stabilize this realization and you need to learn how to deal with the intense energy that is amping up your nervous system and making your life a little different than usual.

This book is like the scene in the movie where the hero, after an exhausting, arduous journey is searching for the sacred, secret text that is the master key to his/her further unfoldment. Finally, late at night in an ancient library, the hero stumbles upon this book and everything he/she is going through suddenly makes sense, like the proverbial piece that completes the puzzle and after which everything becomes clear and nothing is ever the same again. All of the searching is completed and there is just the continued deepening in the Self.

This is an incredible book. I have been reading spiritual literature for 30+ years and this came for me at the exact right time. It is essential reading and practice for anyone in the midst of Self-realization. The book provides expert guidance and practices. It explains the process of Awakening and provides the means to help you ground and stabilize your connection with the Self.

The author clearly writes from the perspective of an enlightened being; indeed she is a master teacher and guide. I was prompted to do a counseling session with her after reading another of her books and found it, along with this book, to be among the most beneficial things I have ever done.

This book is indispensable.

Here is a work of true genius and heart that could possibly shift your entire perspective and approach to everyday life. My heart is pumping from joy as I write this review because Gina has shown me in a simple and effective manner how to access the True and Indestructable Happiness that exists for each of us right here in this moment. Have you trusted the guidance of your mind to lead you to a happier state? Has it ever succeeded in bringing you a lasting and fullfilling joy? For me the answer is, Absolutely Never! Gina shows you through many practical and observational meditations, how to shift Awareness from the confines of the mind to the spaciousness of our hearts, helping us move away from the ego's image of self to the True Self.

In "Radical Happiness," Gina Lake reminds us that happiness is basically an inside job. By blending western psychology with the wisdom of eastern non-dualism, the Author points to the reality that all of "IT" is arising from the very same source. Although this book is relatively short, Gina still doesn't hesitate in tackling many of the great questions of life: "Who are you? What's the cause of suffering? What does it really mean to wake up?" Throughout the book, Gina presents the readers with practical exercises to expand their awareness and appreciation of who (and what) they really are...deep down. "Radical Happiness" is a thoroughly enjoyable read and one that I am most happy to recommend.

This book is about real happiness, not the kind that comes from just getting what you want, but the kind that moves deeper into who we really are. Gina Lake brings her own authenticity to what she writes, showing through many illustrations what it means to turn your awareness away from illusion - what's not real - to what's already here. I've recommended this book to many people.

This is one of the clearest books I've read on non-dual Reality. It speaks straight to the heart and facilitates the shift from identification with the personal separate self to the One Universal Self. What a miracle. I am in absolute gratitude.

The central idea of Gina Lake's new book is that radical happiness is innate. It is the root, unconditional happiness of Being itself. Gina explores the nature of true happiness, what interferes with it, and how to recognize and get rid of the interference.

Much of Gina's teaching focuses on Nonduality, and it is presented extremely well. She draws on her formidable background and the noticeable influence of her Zen teacher, Adyashanti. Because of the clarity of that teaching, the book would be important for that reason alone. But, in addition, various myths about enlightenment, seldom mentioned in similar books, are touched upon and dispelled.

Interestingly, Gina diverges from some of the minimalist, naturalistic interpretations many current teachers of Nonduality have adopted and, instead, blends traditional metaphysical ideas into her discussions of Nonduality.

Perhaps the most important chapter in the book is one devoted entirely to discussing the Heart, which, as described by the famous sage Ramana Maharshi, is the seat of Awareness. Gina points to it as a living reality and explains its intuitive nature and its subtle energy. Moreover, she assures that anyone can develop sensitivity to it. And that is a valuable truth. The Heart, as Presence discovered in the silence of Being, is a universal experience. This Presence is the expression of one's Self, the innate joy of one's own true nature.

Not surprisingly, the radiant joy of the Self can be felt in these pages. Gina's book, like the radical happiness it reveals, comes straight from the Heart.

- Dennis L. Trunk, Editor Third Millennium Gateway

Gina Lake awakened into radical happiness after a deep exploration of psychology, metaphysics and astrology. Having walked that path to its end, Gina's heart-full story of what it is to be peacefully aware, loving and content in the midst of any life circumstance can serve as a bridge to countless others who share her background. Insightfully and eloquently written, Radical Happiness offers practical pointers and exercises that allow every reader to discover who they really are by their own experience. Like all great epics, there is a wonderful twist involved in your exploration. Dive in, Be Happy.

Sundance Burke, author, Free Spirit: A Guide to Enlightened Being

Gina's book is both etheric and practical. Unlike many other books dealing with nonduality and advaita, "Radical Happiness" does a wonderful job of desribing 1) what it's like to live this illusion we call "life" 2) what it's like to awaken from this dream and 3) how to live "in this world" after coming to the realization that one is not "of it".

Gina Lake speaks plainly, directly, and soundly about whatever she talks about. She is all about making sense in a way that sets aside the influence of conditioned ego and exposes essence of being. Gina makes practical nonduality look easy. Everyone 'should' have in their library at least one book by Gina Lake. Check out her other titles. This is an excellent one to begin with.

Jerry Katz
One: Essential Writings on Nonduality

Of course we can't find the one book that will enlighten us after a reading. Eckhart Tolle's works come close. So do Zen books and Taoist works and Buddhism. If there is one book that has come closest for me, it would be Radical Happiness.

With this work, Gina goes right into the root causes of suffering, which is the ego's false perception of the world. Through her words she explains how this happens and what we can do to get out of it. Each chapter is featured with exercises, from meditation to questioning our thoughts. As we work on these, we become less attached to material things and closer to peace and happiness. This book works very well with Eckhart Tolle's and Byron Katie's works.

Read this book once, then again and again. Forget about using a highlighter for the important parts. You'll end up marking every word.