Recommended

The internet is a good place to explore awakening. I’ve listed the resources that have helped me but of course there are many, many others.

Beyond Karma

My writing is influenced by material I recommend on this page. What I write about is non-duality and awakening. I try to stay clear of fluff, dogma, mysticism, spirituality and beliefs, and write from direct experience–experiences with depression, anxiety, addictions, unhappiness and recovery from all of these. It’s all about the simplicity of Awareness and Release—the two-step dance of awakening.

Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle is of course the present icon of spirituality. Tolle’s awakening was ‘accidental’ at 29. He came to it from debilitating depression and anxiety. This is reflected in his writing, in that his focus is not so much on techniques, but on the ego and pain-body, and what it means to be awakened. Tolle recommends being present, watching the mind, accepting, and using the body to be present. I find the book “Power of Now” most useful.

An excellent forum: Eckhart Tolle forum

Sedona Method

The Sedona method is an excellent and natural release technique. I got most of what I needed from the book and the web site. The emphasis on insistent marketing may put some off, but there is no question the technique is very useful. The technique is described in the first few pages of the book. The rest of book is about analysis: delving into the cause of emotions and beliefs and I found this too heady. Give it a go!

Great Freedom

I love the simplicity of the message and practice. It’s just Awareness. Everything else–thoughts, emotions, beliefs and so on–are simply points of view in Awareness. The practice is as simple as can be: string together short moments of Awareness many times over.

Adyashanti

An effective and affable Zen teacher.

Krishnamurti

Krishnamurti was an excellent teacher, but he uses the language of his day and can be difficult to read. I recommend his quotations.

Rational Recovery

This is a technique to recover from addictions, including alcohol, nicotine and other drugs. The technique is based on recognizing the voice of the ego, and it is completely consistent with the awakening process. Jack Tripp has an easy-to-read style, and I like that all information and techniques are available for free on his website.

ARO Meditation

This is an excellent, practical guide to meditation. Even if you don’t want to meditate, the explanations are clear and useful. There is a free email subscription which delivers the course in a timely fashion.

EFT

EFT manual is available for free on line. I am exploring and experimenting with the technique. The premise of interrupting emotional energy by tapping particular points makes sense, much like acupuncture.

Vipassana Meditation

This is a wonderful organization which teaches meditation. They offer, on a charitable basis, a ten day silent retreat. It is rigorous and requires commitment, but you will learn to meditate after this.

Others

Joan Tollifson, Byron Katie, Jed McKenna, Jackie O’Keeffe, Gina Lake, Tony Parsons, Jan Frazier, Scott Kiloby, Rupert Spira, Gangaji, Ramana Mahirishi, Nisgardatta, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Ashtavakra Gita, Alan Watts, Thich Nhat Hanh, Anthony de Mello, Rumi, Ramesh Balsekar, Lao Tzu, Dalai Lama

Blogs

There are many excellent blogs. I encourage you follow the links back from the comments.