The Awakening West : Evidence of a Spreading Enlightenment

By Lynn Marie Lumiere and John Lumiere-Wins

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0970479204
• ISBN13: 9780970479204
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Clear Visions Publications
• Length: 355 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.

Customer Reviews

inspiring

If you are looking for stories of teachers who got what you don't seem to have, you may more or less enjoy this book. It will keep Liberation at a safe distance: only for the few "awakened ones" and not (yet) for you, the reader. If you really want to know what true awakening is, you'd better read Tony Parson's book "As It Is". Or a book from Steven Harrison, Chuck Hillig or Nathan Gill. I am disappointed the whole enlightenment issue is personalised in this book. Not all the teachers in these interviews do so, but one has to be careful, here. Several claim to be awakened, or to be special - or at least they allow people to say so. And I am sure they really are special: it is indeed very inspiring and powerful to be around with those teachers, to connect with them, to listen to them. The resonance may be very powerful. A lot of readers however may be confused about all that. Liberation has nothing to do with a person, and even less with perfection or holiness (as is suggested in a lot of books from the East). Remember: awakening has nothing to do with me or Ramana or Nisargadatta or John or Thimothee, it is about That which we all share. And when we keep that in mind, this book is very inspiring, indeed. And highly recommended. If you like interviews, you may also read "Dialogues With Emerging Spiritual Teachersby John W. Parker". I interviewed myself some of these teachers in those 2 books, like Mira, Tony Parsons, Douglas Harding, Eckhart Tolle and Francis Lucille, and can indeed tell you that seeing these people may be very inspiring indeed. I also had interesting conversation with Mark Mc Closkey (puresilence.com), UG Krishnamurti and Chuck Hillig. If you read books like these, just don't get confused by the personal stories, use them as pointers to the infinite.Jan Kersschot, author of "Nobody Home"

A Welcome Companion

A magnificent contribution! This book is a welcome companion on the journey of awakening. It has a special place on my bookshelf alongside three other recent books of similar consciousness: "The Healing Companion" by Dr. Jeff Kane, "After the Ecstasy, the Laundry" by Jack Kornfield, and "Widening Circles" by Joanna Macy.

Part of the Awakening

Reading The Awakening West offered me the opportunity to discover with each of the 15 men and women interviewed - what it's like to live an awakened life and to realize that I am not exempt from this awakening but am a part of it. In each of the interviews, the same questions were asked to each person, starting with the classic question "Who am I?" I found that the unique responses and dialogue with the authors often touched my heart and opened a doorway in my mind. I have been exposed to many teachers and teachings from various traditions over the years and appreciated how each interview pointed to the luminous quality of presence that is always here in each of us. Many questions I didn't know I had were answered. Of the 15 interviews, there was only one I didn't complete. I think this is an important book for exposing people to deeply committed teachers who are mirrors of our own inner wakefulness. Each interview is like dipping into a rich and unique reservoir of understanding that is refreshing and original in its perspective and yet pointing to a universal truth.

An overview of western enlightened teachers

This book is composed of fifteen interviews with western teachers who have had profound spiritual awakenings. The book is a must for anyone on the path who is interested in the impact the eastern spiritual teachings have had in the west, and for the awakening that is taking place now on this planet. The book is compelling...I couldn't put it down as I read the different perspectives, essentially all pointing to the same truth. It's also an excellent resource for those new on the path as an introduction to powerful spiritual teachers who are from the west.

Shows that awakening can happen NOW

The authors' interviews with 15 Westerners who have achieved strong degrees of "awakening" show that it is possible for Westerners, and it is possible NOW, not in the imagined future. Also, the personality varieties of the awakened ones, and their resultant teachings in the book, show that everyone can find a way through the thicket of "me" into the light of reality. As four-year serious meditatiors, my wife and I both gained great inspiration and motivation from this book. We wish the same to you. May all beings be happy!