Awakening to the Dream: The Gift of Lucid Living

By Leo Hartong

Book Overview

For centuries, philosophers and theologians have pondered questions such as Who are we? and What is the self? Awakening to the Dream is a book about you and your true identity. Awakening to the Dream is a very clear, approachable overview of the enigmatic philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, also known as non duality. Essentially, this is a book about you. It points to and from the source of your true identity. The clear seeing that it refers to is neither complex nor simple. It is not something exclusive for intellectual or spiritual elite, nor is it remote or hiding in the future. It is all inclusive, pure presence, closer than your breath. It is the heart of hearts, your birthright and innermost self. This is your invitation to remember what was never really forgotten.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0954779215
• ISBN13: 9780954779214
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Non-Duality
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.1" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Clear as a cloudless sky

Awakening to the Dream is the clearest exposition of the neo-advaitin view I've read. This view can easily be misunderstood as I noticed occurred in one reviewer below, but it's understandable. What is being presented isn't easily summarized, certainly is not a blank apace in your head, and though in one sense obvious, is illusive for the objectifing mind, hence an "open secret". The danger, if there is a danger, is believing in the concept, agreeing with the speaker, or assuming "I got it!" -- all movements of the ego. The key is in the living, silent awareness: resting in that and allowing the spontaneous movement to come from that opening. Hartong has articulated all this very clearly for those who are ripe (have ears to hear). Without that ripeness, though, this might all sound too simplistic. And yet, I can see it can happen in any moment, when the ego melts back into the background consciousness and there is just this Presence, the startling awakeness, clarity, and innocence of Pure Awareness itself illuminating all without limit. What a miracle! If you feel at all drawn to this awakening, I can't imagine a clearer way to be introduced. You've got nothing to lose but illusions. Enjoy!

a breath of fresh air

First I read the book and now the reviews. I always consider it a good sign when a single book can bring out such opposing reactions as admiration and cynicism. While Srikrishna Ghadiyaram gives it a lot of credit, the reviewer from Norway doesn't see the simplicity of this work as a plus, like I did. To make a long story short, I greatly enjoyed the book, and I am mystified how someone can see this book as an invitation to not care about life's issues. Even if it was but a small part of the book, as a woman I appreciated the point it makes that the feminine is under represented in today's society, and that this is a cause of many of our current problems. Overall the book did not feel as an encouragement to withdraw from life, but rather to be fully alive and wide open to the present. Naturally I have no way of knowing how this book will affect you, but to me it was a breath of fresh air. I like how it deals with the topic of spiritual awakening in a clear and open manner. To put his views in perspective, the writer incorporates quotes from ancient mystical texts as well as from modern day philosophers and scientists. I found quotes from all spiritual traditions, and from people as diverse as Jesus, Buddha, Einstein, Alan Watts, and many others. The overall feeling is that, while it demystifies spiritual awakening with metaphor and humor, it never gets cynical or complex. Is it worth reading? Only you can answer that question, but before buying it I suggest that you go to the writer's website (http://www.awakeningtothedream.com/) and read the excerpts there. It will save you some money if you see that you don't like it. If what you read does make sense or inspires you, then by all means read the rest of this book.

A Gem

I have read wonderful words of many enlightened teachers ranging from Robert Adams, Ramana Maharshi, Osho, Poonja, Ramesh Balsekar, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Eckhart Tolle, Swami Rama, Tony Parsons, and many others through ancient scriptures and websites. They have all added something to my being and have brought about a clarity and I am grateful to them all and I still go back to them (they are all so dear to me). At some point, I decided not to buy any more books as I saw that I had reached a point where I may be reading the books for the sake of reading. Then I learned about "Awakening to the Dream" and I liked what I saw at the author's website (which is a wonderful site). I bought the book after six months of postponing it. It is the simplest, clearest book I ever read. It does not add new concepts but washes away like a gentle wave all the concepts. I found in Leo a teacher who was talking sensibly, rationally and not from the clouds or sky above. He understands what is going on in a seeker's mind and what is perplexing the seeker. On page 99 of the book, the author said something which is very meaningful to me. I don't think I'll be buying any more spiritual books (unless another one comes from the same author) but this book is the beautiful culmination of a lifelong quest. There is now an ease, a relaxation, thank you so much Leo.

easy to read and understand; an important book to read

This book covers, in very simple language, the illusion of ego and seeking. It is comprehensive and like a smooth story. It removes the possible misconceptions about enlightenment, one-by-one, in simple style. This should be highly useful for anyone who seeks clarity in one's spiritual pursuit, as it is sure to bring some objectivity to the search within and without.On Page 9, in the foreword, Tony Parsons, the author of "AS IT IS", says"The book begins very well, with a clear explanation of its intent, and throughout the work there is the feeling of reading a letter written by a friend who gently, but passionately, wants to make something very clear. As the writer communicates his perception of the mystery, he intersperses his ideas with appropriate traditional and contemporary quotations.In simple terms, it is the absence of seeking that reveals the wonder of that which already is, but although this simple and awesome mystery is impossible to express in words, Leo's exploration is a joy to share in."The above is a very apt description of the content and style of writing in the book. The following excerpts from the book explain very clearly what is enlightenment.Page 12:"So here we go: The answer is that you will get nothing out of it because enlightenment is the realization that there is no you to get enlightened; that the sense of separation and individuality is an illusion."Page 13:"While reading texts from non-dual systems such as Zen, Advaita, Taoism, or Dzogchen, you will find the affirmation that Self-realization has no promise other than to release you from your belief in a separate self or ego. That's it. The dropping away of an illusion simply revealing THIS AS IT IS, often summed up in the phrase 'Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.'". . . . "Enlightenment not only shows that your separate identity is an illusion, it reveals that sheer purposelessness is at the heart of this whole creation. This sounds absurd to the goal-and-future-oriented mind; yet I will tell you unequivocally that the whole point of this manifestation is nothing other than this manifestation.""Realizing this is far from the bleak reality the mind imagines it to be. True, this is of no use to the ego, since it is about freedom FROM the ego, not freedom FOR the ego."The whole book is very easy to read and covers all essential points to know about enlightenment, in simple language with some logic drawn out of our day to day life. No metaphysics is involved. Beyond the general observations, the following comments are outstanding observations of the author.Page 74:"Witnessing is not something we progress to. It is not about self-improvement or mental states. It is about recognizing that which is already fully present; this presence observes both the 'I' and its states while, at the same time, it remains unaffected. If we see this witnessing as a new way to make us feel good, we are back at square one. I

Highly recommended

This is the clearest book yet by a `Westerner' on advaita / the non-dual perspective, a subject about which so much confusion exists. I really enjoyed the very patient & amazingly comprehensive approach taken by the author, Leo Hartong. Chapter by chapter, he looks at just about every aspect of non-dualism, gently exposing both the obvious & less obvious misunderstandings along the way.The book is written more as a beautiful sharing than from any position of authority... as Leo writes, "These words are nothing but a gentle reminder from yourself to yourself that you are the awakened one".