The Transparency of Things: Contemplating the Nature of Experience

By Rupert Spira

Book Overview

The purpose of The Transparency of Things is to look clearly and simply at the nature of experience, without any attempt to change it. A series of contemplations leads us gently but directly to see that our essential nature is neither a body nor a mind. It is the conscious Presence that is aware of this current experience. As such, it is nothing that can be experienced as an object, and yet it is undeniably present. However, these contemplations go much further than this. As we take our stand knowingly as this conscious Presence that we always already are, and reconsider the objects of the body, mind, and world, we find that they do not simply appear to this Presence; they appear within it. And further exploration reveals that they do not simply appear within this Presence but as this Presence. Finally, we are led to see that it is in fact this very Presence that takes the shape of our experience from moment to moment while always remaining only itself. We see that our experience is and has only ever been one seamless totality, with no separate entities, objects, or parts anywhere to be found.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1626258805
• ISBN13: 9781626258808
• Release Date: October 2016
• Publisher: Sahaja
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Clear and Penetrating

This is my first review of a book purchased on the Internet and I must say that Rupert Spira is a master at describing the indescribable. While it goes without saying that the experience on non-duality cannot be made an object of dualistic commentary, Rupert manages a clear and precise penetration that allows "us" to loosen the grip on the idea of a self running the show and points to an ever-present vast, crystal clear space in which to see all things arising and disappearing while never, for even a nanosecond, leaving the Consciousness that is our true nature. Rupert displays with simple, surgical statements how one can very quickly uncover the false premises on which our view of the body,mind and world experiences rest. Having opened up the body of false assumptions he then leads one to an ever expanding view that eventually embraces the whole universe. I would recommend his interviews on both Conscious TV and Stillness [...] for a visual taste of his teaching.

Smart and Sensuous

Rupert Spira pole dances on the lamppost of consciousness. This book is smart and sensuous in equal measure. Some of Rupert's moves are basic: "All we have is experience. The mind is simply the experience of the mind. The body is simply the experience of the body. The world is simply the experience of the world." Some are intermediate: "We conceptualize a mind, a body and a world that exist outside, separate and independent of experience, that are considered to exist when they are not being experienced. However, such a mind, body and world have never been experienced. Nor would it be possible to have such an experience because, as soon as it is experienced, it would, by definition, fall within experience and would therefore no longer be outside, separate from or independent of it." Some moves are advanced and wondrous: "Experiencing is the essential ingredient of the mind, the body and the world, and Consciousness is the essential ingredient of experiencing. "What would the mind, the body and the world look like if experiencing were removed from them? "And what would experiencing look like if Consciousness was removed from it?" Rupert breaks down the advanced and wondrous moves into its basic parts, thus clearing and widening the path to self-realization. METHODS: Rupert suggests looking "more and more deeply into the nature of ourselves...." He gives experiments for looking into experience, sense perceptions, and consciousness. Throughout certain chapters are peppered questions, some of which are addressed in detail and others which stand as inquiries for the reader's consideration. "...take a sound that would normally be conceptualised as taking place at a distance. Refuse any story that the mind tells us about the nature and whereabouts of that sound. Does it not occur in the same place as the thoughts and sensations? Does it not arise within consciousness? Are the sound and Consciousness not one seamless experience? Is the sound at a distance from Consciousness, separated from it? Is there a border or interface between the sound and Consciousness?" THEMES: The themes of life are considered: Deep sleep: "Deep sleep takes the shape of the dreaming and waking states and is their substance...." Ego: "It is Consciousness pretending that its essential nature has the same characteristics as the body/mind in which it seems to appear, and which in fact appears in it." Happiness and Desire: "Desire is the form of Happiness. It is the shape that Happiness itself takes when it overlooks its own presence and begins to search for itself elsewhere." Experience itself: "We experience `one thing,' a multifaceted object comprising mind, body and world, and this `one thing' refers to the totality of our experience at any moment." Art: "[Cezanne] felt that art should lead us to Reality, indicate that which is real, evoke that which is substantial. It should lead us from appearance to Reality." Ethics: "...if we truly feel that everything a

Simple and brilliant

Rupert Spira's book, The Transparency of Things, is one of the clearest books on Nonduality to come along in a long time. Rupert gently leads the reader through a simple and honest look at the nature of experience, the nature of experienc-ing. He clearly peels back the layers of conceptual separation to reveal the direct fact of Consciousness - Consciousness aware of itself AS the body, mind and world. Seeing what is being pointed out in this book requires an openness, a laying aside of pre-conceived notions - yet if there is an honest look into what Rupert is saying, Reality becomes obvious. He writes that all objects which are assumed to be outside are nothing but perceptions, sensory input which is taken to be a separate world. As the investigation gets "closer to home", he similarly evaluates the sensations which are combined in concept to create the idea of a body and mind. Rupert clearly points out that this is never anything outside of Consciousness itself - nothing anyone is doing - Consciousness simply has the innate freedom to identify with an object which is appearing. This is a definite must-have in any serious nonduality library. Yet if the clear and direct message is met with the arsenal of pre-existing beliefs, confusion will remain. If there is a desire to get to the core of the message of nonduality, a willingness to lay these learned assumptions aside for a bit, Rupert's clear message may penetrate that bubble of illusion called "ME". Brilliant, well-written book and very highly recommended.

Locating Our True Body: The Reality of Sense and Perception

This book, The Transparency of Things, by Rupert Spira is a very special book. Let me explain why. Recent years have given birth to a multitude of contemporary western books on the subject of non-duality and the nature of consciousness; few have been particularly instructive. In actuality, to this reader, most are, at best, redundant caricatures of work better espoused by earlier sages. Rarely does there appear to be specific assistance to the reader attempting to investigate the nature of reality. This seems odd since, by definition, the search for truth must discount beliefs in favor of direct inquiry and experience of the truth. For this reason, it would seem that "best of breed" literature regarding consciousness would clearly enumerate specific queries and "exercises" designed to provoke deep analysis in the reader in the hope of replacing belief with the tangibility of fact through experience regarding true nature. In the ancient Indian Upanishads and Vedas, much specific instruction was given to the student on methods for discovering the truth of one's nature. This is not so often seen in contemporary advaitic literature. In fact, there appears to be a growing body of pontification on non-duality but little direct teaching or actionable guidance assisting the seeker in forming his own conclusions. The Transparency of Things is a notable exception. Rupert takes the reader on a comfortable stroll as consciousness: stopping, pointing, examining and questioning what our actual experience is in any given moment. These are not generalities cast about wholesale; these are gentle nudges designed to have you look more closely at the core assumptions of your daily living, the very assumptions that hold our illusory view of the world, body and mind together. Since the primary focus of the book is to encourage examining our experience in the 'here and now", The Transparency of Things takes a moment to dissect what comprises our moment to moment experience: name and concept from the mind and form from the senses. Rupert observes how we clothe Reality with these names and forms. He draws our attention to the appearances derived from our instruments of perception that are mistaken for the objects themselves. Gently, he delivers us to the realization that our own minds and senses act like "a prism through which the unity of Consciousness/Existence appears to be refracted into ten thousand things." Taking us deeper, he encourages us to witness the daily transition from deep sleep to waking state: a great deal can be observed when awakening daily regarding the emergence of the "I thought" and thew unfolding first, of time, and then, of space. As Rupert repeats, " Time is the first language of the mind; space is the first language of the senses". This is the point we continue to return to: Remove the perceptions of mind and senses for even a moment and what is left but Presence, Awareness, Being. In a word, consciousness is all, nothing mo

Excellent Book

This is an excellent Book. Simple to read without technical jargon ,each statement is a direct pointer to your true self.