Colin Drake

All of the following guided practice 'links' need to be copied and pasted into the browser as they are not 'dynamic' i.e. not 'clickable'. If it appears that the link is not working or has been truncated you can contact me at colinj108@gmail.com and I will send you a list of the latest clickable links.

For a spiritual biography of the author, and list of all books, scroll down below these links.

Guided Practices Links

14minute meditation/contemplation based on Simply Free To Be., the first practice that I developed after my awakening in 1996: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ldruu8b5umi4o6/Simple%20Meditation.mp3?dl=0

16 minute meditation/contemplation based on a poem which considers The Absolute and The Relative aspects of Reality: https://www.dropbox.com/s/527g6rusgcupn8j/On%20This%20and%20That.mp3?dl=0

20 minute meditation/contemplation based on the ‘Investigation of Experience’ which underpins all of my books: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6fuxszc9xdk7k0x/Investigation%20Of%20Experience%282%29.mp3?dl=0

21 minute relaxation, using the body/mind as an instrument through which Awareness (Consciousness at rest), denoted as ‘The Lover’, to feel Its own manifestation (Consciousness in motion), denoted as ‘The Beloved’, designed to increase the endorphin level in the body, an updated version of Nurturing The Bliss:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uhdj3rrxbbjnnrc/Feeling%20The%20Bliss.mp3?dl=0

22 minute deep relaxation designed to increase the endorphin level in the body, with no mention of Consciousness or Awareness!:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3q769mnod4iv1pm/Deep%20Relaxation.mp3?dl=0

23 minute relaxation, using the body/mind as an instrument through which Awareness (Consciousness at rest) to feel Its own manifestation (Consciousness in motion), designed to increase the endorphin level in the body:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gdaqr5f4xooz0qm/Nurturing%20The%20Bliss.mp3?dl=0

27 minute yoga-nidra given by me, where the breathing section has been augmented by a practice designed to increase the endorphin level:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/liykblagdiwqxye/Turbocharged%20Yoganidra.MP3?dl=0

30 minute meditation on the nature of Reality, starting from this moment of direct experience and extrapolating on what is discovered:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r78utdnbb33yz6n/Meditation%20on%20Reality.mp3?dl=0

A link to a 32 relaxation where the body/mind is used as a vehicle for Consciousness to know and enjoy Itself in both modes – at rest as Pure Awareness and in motion as cosmic energy, the manifestation:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ur4pua2g99dewei/Consciousness%20knowing%20and%20enjoying%20itself.MP3?dl=0

41 minute relaxation/meditation ‘Love Loving Itself’, the first of these practices to be developed, where the body/mind is used as a vehicle for Consciousness to love Itself in both modes – at rest as Pure Awareness (the lover) and in motion as cosmic energy, the manifestation (the beloved):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1tgh41sfcj49zfg/Love%20Loving%20Itself.mp3?dl=0

42 minute relaxation/meditation (which has been augmented by a practice designed to increase the endorphin level) where the body/mind is used as a vehicle for Consciousness to love Itself in both modes – at rest as Pure Awareness (the lover) and in motion as cosmic energy, the manifestation (the beloved):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f6o404fs2b9wwtb/Consciousness%20Loving%20Itself.MP3?dl=0

57 minute relaxation/meditation (which has been augmented by a practice designed to increase the endorphin level) where the body/mind is used as a vehicle for Consciousness to know and enjoy Itself in both modes – at rest as Pure Awareness and in motion as cosmic energy, the manifestation:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8r396uzufgikfiq/Extended%20Consciousness%20Knowing%20Itself.mp3?dl=0

54 minute relaxation/meditation (which has been augmented by a practice designed to increase the endorphin level) where the body/mind is used as a vehicle for Consciousness to love Itself in both modes – at rest as Pure Awareness (the lover) and in motion as cosmic energy, the manifestation (the beloved):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4n10ouul5k2f6fp/Extended%20Consciousness%20Loving%20Itself%20.mp3?dl=0

A short spiritual biography

I was born into a strict, but joyful, Methodist family. From the ages of 11-17 I was sent to a Methodist boarding school, which I left with the conviction that organized Christianity was not for me. I could see that what Christ said about living was wonderful, but that the church did not really promote his teachings rather concentrating on him as our 'saviour' and on the purportedly 'miraculous' facets of his life. It was also very apparent that many so called Christians were not interested in practicing what he taught. This was now 1965 and living in central London during the years of flower-power I experimented with various hallucinogens, finding them very beneficial for opening my subconscious which allowed years of conditioning to pour out. This left me feeling totally 'cleansed' and unburdened, ready to start life anew in a spirit of investigation as to the nature of reality. The psychedelic states also presaged, gave a glimpse of, mystical states which I suspected were attainable through spiritual practices. I then embarked on a study of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky which I found absolutely fascinating and was convinced that self-realization was the purpose of life. However, they made the process sound so onerous that (being young, foot-loose and fancy-free) I decided to shelve the whole project temporarily.

It was not until eight years later that I resumed the spiritual search when Janet (my partner) introduced me to my first yoga-teacher, Matthew O'Malveny, who inspired us by quoting passages from the Upanishads, Dhammapada, and other scriptures during the class. He also emphasized the importance of relaxation and meditation. There followed a few years of investigating various spiritual paths including a prolonged dalliance with the Brahma Kumaris (Raja Yoga) whose meditations were wonderful, but whose dogma was very hard to take. We then moved into the country to start a pottery and immersed ourselves in Satyananda Yoga, an organization which had no dogma but taught a wide range of yogic practices. We were both initiated into karma sannyas by Swami Satyananda and adopted a yogic lifestyle consisting of asanas, pranayama, yoga nidra, meditation, kirtan and vegetarianism.

Then in 1996 I encountered a disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi, Gangaji, who said 'Stop! Be still, you are already That'. The message being that the effort and search were masking that which is always present; all that was required was to 'stop' and see what is always here. After many years of struggle and effort this news came like a breath of fresh air and I glimpsed the essence, that undeniable ever-present reality. This was followed by a seven day silent retreat which resulted in my first 'Awakening', and also in an ecstasy that slowly faded over the following year.

My first book Beyond the Separate Self, The End of Anxiety and Mental Suffering (published in 2009)came about from the realization that occurred then and has matured over the following years. Since then I have written many articles, for an e-mail news group, based on my meditations/contemplations and answers to questions, on which all of my books are based.

All of my books are written in a 'stand alone' format so that one does not need to have read the previous ones to follow the pointers to 'awakening' that they contain. However, as they are in a chronological sequence and rely on the discoveries I have made, and insights I have had, regarding 'awakening' and the nature of Reality it would be useful to read them in sequence.

Beyond The Separate Self - The End of Anxiety and Mental Suffering 2009

A Light Unto Your Self - Self Discovery Through Investigation of Experience 2011

Awakening and Beyond - Self Recognition and its Consequences 2012

Awareness of Awareness - The Open Way 2013

The Happiness That Needs Nothing - Pointers to That Which is Always Here 2014

Freedom From Anxiety and Needless Suffering - Pointers and Practices to Aid Awakening 2015

The Simplicity of Awakening - Pointers to The Ease of Being 2015

Ripples in The Lake of Eternity - Pointers to Realizing and Loving The Source of Being 2016

Enlightenment Is For All - Pointers To Awakening 2016

Fundamental Questions - Pointers to the Nature Of Reality 2017

Sensual Awakening - A Tantric Approach - Enhancing Awakening By Use Of The Senses 2017

The Golden Dawn Of Awakening - Pointers to Self Realization By Investigation of This Moment 2018

The Ocean of Consciousness 2019

Hidden In Plain Sight - The Obvious Truth of Self-Identity 2020

Absolute Reflections 2021

The first thirteen have also been published in poems and are titled 'Poetry From ... The Book Title (on which they are based)'

I have also published a book comparing the world's major religions and how they define Humanity's essence and 'place' in the universe:

Humanity - Our Place in the Universe - The Central Belief's of the World's Religions 2010

Many of my articles and books in all formats may be found at

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/ColinDrake

And my interview with Conscious TV is viewable at

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey_ECAtfdS4