Awareness: Conversations with the Masters - Softcover

Anthony De Mello

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0385249373 ISBN 13: 9780385249379

Publisher: PRH Christian Publishing, 1992

Synopsis

“Wisdom from one of the greatest spiritual masters of our time.”—James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage

The heart of Anthony de Mello's bestselling spiritual message is awareness. Mixing Christian spirituality, Buddhist parables, Hindu breathing exercises, and psychological insight, de Mello's words of hope come together in Awareness in a grand synthesis.

In short chapters for reading in quiet moments at home or at the office, he cajoles and challenges: We must leave this go-go-go world of illusion and become aware. And this only happens, he insists, by becoming alive to the needs and potential of others, whether at home or in the workplace.

Here, then, is a masterful book of the spirit, challenging us to wake up in every aspect of our lives.

About this title

About the Author

Anthony De Mello was a Jesuit priest born in Bombay, India in 1931. He is widely known for his ground-breaking work that integrates western and eastern spirituality. He is regarded as one of the 20th century's foremost spiritual philosophers. Although he died in 1987, his books and message continues to flourish.

From the Inside Flap

What you are unaware of controls you and controls your life. What you are aware of you control and direct toward the experience you wish to have, which, after all is said and done is happiness. When you understand that, you change.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

ON WAKING UP

Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though they don't know it, are asleep. They're born asleep, they live asleep, they marry in their sleep, they breed children in their sleep, they die in their sleep without ever waking up. They never understand the loveliness and the beauty of this thing that we call human existence. You know, all mystics—Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, no matter what their theology, no matter what their religion—are unanimous on one thing: that all is well, all is well. Though everything is a mess, all is well. Strange paradox, to be sure. But, tragically, most people never get to see that all is well because they are asleep. They are having a nightmare.

Last year on Spanish television I heard a story about this gentleman who knocks on his son's door. "Jaime," he says, "wake up!" Jaime answers, "I don't want to get up, Papa." The father shouts, "Get up, you have to go to school." Jaime says, "I don't want to go to school. "Why not?" asks the father. "Three reasons," says Jaime. "First, because it's so dull; second, the kids tease me; and third, I hate school." And the father says, "Well, I am going to give you three reasons why you must go to school. First, because it's your duty; second, because you are forty-five years old, and third, because you are the headmaster." Wake up, wake up! You've grown up. You're too big to be asleep. Wake up! Stop playing with your toys.

Most people tell you they want to get out of kindergarten, but don't believe them. Don't believe them! All they want you to do is to mend their broken toys. "Give me back my wife. Give me back my job. Give me back my money. Give me back my reputation, my success." This is what they want; they want their toys replaced. That's all. Even the best psychologists will tell you that, that people don't really want to be cured. What they want is relief; a cure is painful.

Waking up is unpleasant, you know. You are nice and comfortable in bed. It's irritating to be woken up. That's the reason the wise guru will not attempt to wake people up. I hope I'm going to be wise here and make no attempt whatsoever to wake you up if you are asleep. It is really none of my business, even though I say to you at times, "Wake up!" My business is to do my thing, to dance my dance. If you profit from it, fine; if you don't, too bad! As the Arabs say, "The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in the marshes and flowers in the gardens."

Edition details

• Publisher: PRH Christian Publishing
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0385249373
• ISBN 13: 9780385249379
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 184
• Editor: J. Francis Stroud