11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great short course on Self-Inquiry (Jnana Yoga), January 21, 2008
This review is from: Self-Inquiry - Dawn of the Witness and the End of Suffering (Paperback)
In the "AYP Enlightenment Series", Yogani presents what is probably the most comprehensive and complete course in Yoga that is currently available. He covers all the bases, ranging from the popularly-known aspects of Yoga such as Asanas, through the controversial and largely secret, such as Tantra and Advanced Kecharimudra. His emphasis in the Series is on teaching Yoga practically, rather than in creating an academic understanding, and in this he succeeds very well.
Jnana Yoga is one aspect of Yoga that has always been notoriously difficult to teach -- and it has been taught, not necessarily under that name or even under the name of Yoga at all, by many teachers over time. It's essence is hard to capture but one short (though inadequate) definition is 'The Yoga of Understanding'. It has long histories of enthusiastic teachers and disappointed disciples. This book, 'Self-Inquiry - Dawn of the Witness and the End of Suffering', is a short and effective course on Jnana Yoga, or Self-Inquiry as Yogani calls it.
It will be effective because Yogani has understood and explained the pre-conditions for Self-Inquiry. The book invites you to Self-Inquiry, in the presence of its pre-conditions, and explains how to continually cultivate those pre-conditions. In conjunction with other books in his series, particularly Deep Meditation, this is a great book for anyone who wants to penetrate the spiritual reality within.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book for understanding and effectively utilizing self inquiry., February 26, 2008
This review is from: Self-Inquiry - Dawn of the Witness and the End of Suffering (Paperback)
Information on how to do self inquiry can be obtained from many sources. However in order for self inquiry to be effective it is necessary to go beyond the mind. It is almost impossible to "get" the mind with the mind (intellectually).
Yogani's book covers this aspect of self inquiry, emphasizing the importance of having a daily meditation practice in place that will help transcend the mind and increase inner silence (awaken the witness in you). Once the witness is awake, self inquiry becomes a way of life rather than something you have to work at to "get". He explains how self inquiry is not about running away from the world, but to be completely immersed in your world, filled with love and compassion, without being mentally and emotionally attached to it in a clingy way.
This book covers the five stages of mind on the way to spiritual maturity: Pre-Witnessing, Witnessing, Discrimination, Dispassion, and Merging of Subject and Object in Outpouring Divine Love. The stage of mind will determine what kind of self inquiry will work the best. Taking on more than you can handle will definitely slow down progress. Self Inquiry works best when the witness is present. In this book, Yogani calls self inquiry with the witness already established (through meditation), "relational self inquiry."
Two main kinds of self inquiry are covered in this book. There is self inquiry that arises in our every day life. We can inquire into things that worry us or bother us or make us unhappy, things that are considered "mental baggage" and how to free ourselves from this. The other kind of self inquiry is for the ultimate truth. These are questions that arise in us like "Who am I?" and "Who is doing this?" The answers to these questions are found by letting go into our silent witness.
He points out the pitfalls the mind can fall into along the way on a path of self inquiry, and how to avoid them -- over analyzing, being deceived by the feeling of having "arrived," and claiming life to be "unreal" while retreating from responsibilities. He also shows how self inquiry fits into the 8 limbs of yoga, including covering the intimate and powerful relationship between samyama (an advanced yoga practice) and self inquiry.
Most of what Yogani has written has been my experience too, and I definitely recommend this book for people who are thinking of starting out with self inquiry. This will give you a good set of guidelines to follow as you move along. If you are into self inquiry already, it will be a good book to go through for a reality check.
It does not matter whether one follows a down-to-earth approach to self inquiry like Byron Katie or Eckhart Tolle, or an "ultimate truth" approach like Ramana Maharishi or Nisagardatta. This book is very useful for understanding and effectively utilizing any system of self inquiry.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thank goodness for some critical thinking, February 14, 2008
This review is from: Self-Inquiry - Dawn of the Witness and the End of Suffering (Paperback)
For thousands of years the subject of Spirituality has been steeped in superstition and dogma. Yogani, in Self-Inquiry, and all of his other writings, is clear and no-nonsense about the practices of Yoga. I have studied the subject of Enlightenment for over 30 years and Yogani is one of the only people I have come across to offer his guidance, obviously drawn from first hand experience, in a way that both supports us on our Path as well encouraging each seeker to know for themselves the Truth. He states very clearly that each must find it within. Very good for those who know, in the end, we must be accountable to only ourselves and the inner teacher. Thanks Yogani for your diligence and caring.
Self-Inquiry - Dawn of the Witness and the End of Suffering
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