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Awakening: Conversations with the Masters
From the bestselling author of Awareness and The Way to Love comes a classic reissue of lessons to inspire readers every day of the year.
With more than two million books sold and countless admirers throughout the world, Anthony de Mello is regarded as one of the most influential religious teachers of the past fifty years. Since his death in 1987, widespread recognition of his work’s enduring value has continued to grow. In Awakening , de Mello explores “the wisdom that cannot be conveyed in human speech.” Through 365 meditations, blending the mystical traditions of both East and West, he creates the lessons of a profound “master” to his “pupil,” illustrating our common need for harmony and enlightenment. The daily parables, sometimes cryptic and often witty, are not meant so much to instruct as to awaken the understanding deep within the human heart.
With more than two million books sold and countless admirers throughout the world, Anthony de Mello is regarded as one of the most influential religious teachers of the past fifty years. Since his death in 1987, widespread recognition of his work’s enduring value has continued to grow. In Awakening , de Mello explores “the wisdom that cannot be conveyed in human speech.” Through 365 meditations, blending the mystical traditions of both East and West, he creates the lessons of a profound “master” to his “pupil,” illustrating our common need for harmony and enlightenment. The daily parables, sometimes cryptic and often witty, are not meant so much to instruct as to awaken the understanding deep within the human heart.
229 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
63 people are currently reading
775 people want to read
About the author
Anthony de Mello
162 books985 followersAnthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist who became widely known for his books on spirituality. An internationally acclaimed spiritual guide, writer and public speaker, de Mello hosted many spiritual conferences.
The few talks which he allowed to be filmed, such as "A Rediscovery of Life" and "A Way to God for Today," have inspired many viewers and audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and Central America. De Mello established a prayer center in India. He died suddenly in 1987. His works are readily available and additional writings were published after his death.
In 1998, some of his opinions were condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote for the Congregation:
"But already in certain passages in [his] early works and to a greater degree in his later publications, one notices a progressive distancing from the essential contents of the Christian faith. ... With the present Notification, in order to protect the good of the Christian faithful, this Congregation declares that the above-mentioned positions are incompatible with the Catholic faith and can cause grave harm."
Some editions of his books have since been supplemented with the insertion of a caution:
"The books of Father Anthony de Mello were written in a multi-religious context to help the followers of other religions, agnostics and atheists in their spiritual search, and they were not intended by the author as manuals of instruction of the Catholic faithful in Christian doctrine or dogma."
The few talks which he allowed to be filmed, such as "A Rediscovery of Life" and "A Way to God for Today," have inspired many viewers and audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and Central America. De Mello established a prayer center in India. He died suddenly in 1987. His works are readily available and additional writings were published after his death.
In 1998, some of his opinions were condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote for the Congregation:
"But already in certain passages in [his] early works and to a greater degree in his later publications, one notices a progressive distancing from the essential contents of the Christian faith. ... With the present Notification, in order to protect the good of the Christian faithful, this Congregation declares that the above-mentioned positions are incompatible with the Catholic faith and can cause grave harm."
Some editions of his books have since been supplemented with the insertion of a caution:
"The books of Father Anthony de Mello were written in a multi-religious context to help the followers of other religions, agnostics and atheists in their spiritual search, and they were not intended by the author as manuals of instruction of the Catholic faithful in Christian doctrine or dogma."
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 14, 2009
You may not agree with Anthony De Mello in every point. But you will have to admit that the way he analyses human nature is often true to the bone. What's more, De Mello wants us to disagree, to wonder, to question everything he says, what makes "Awakening" truly compelling reading.
June 12, 2021
Одамна немав разлистано некоја книга со конкретно духовна содржина, па оваа ја прочитав речиси во еден здив. Апсолутно ми недостигаше! Секогаш кога читам вакви книги ми е тешко да опишам колку сум уживала или каков ефект имале (и после ова што го прочитав, најдобро е да не се обидувам да опишувам). Она што де Мело го зборува е како шамар и навидум контраинтуитивно, но истовремено како некој нежен аларм за будење... Кој ќе го слушне - слушнал и се разбудил едноставно, и светот продолжува да се врти. Фантастична книга.
July 21, 2013
Though the prose was a bit difficult to get used to (the book is a collection of retreat and conference talks/lectures), I really appreciated what the author encouraged people to do. His precepts are difficult to explain (I am still unpacking the book), but I encourage anyone to read it who would like to better understand the world and themselves.
February 14, 2009
I loved this set of meditations on life. It was humorous as well as poignant.
August 6, 2009
My second read... always find a nugget on every page. Anthony provides a road map for self-awareness and awakening to who we really are.
July 9, 2011
This is a book of short stories about a fictitious spiritual master. Many of the stories are humorous and thought provoking at the same time.
July 11, 2011
a great book, liked it very much
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 22, 2012Interesting and wonderful
July 25, 2013
Condescending psychobabble, very low quality of literature.
March 28, 2014
Life changing
Read
October 22, 2015Amazing book on spirituality
February 23, 2022
Some stuff to remember
Noone can give you a method or a technique for self observation. Because the moment you pick up a technique you are programmed again. Self obeservation is not the same as self absorbsion or self preoccupation. Observe yourself as you were watching someone else. Observe in you and around you. I OBSERVE ME.
You do not personalize anything that is happening to you. Look at it as if you have no connection with it whatsoever.
First we come to the awareness of things (me), then thoughts then the thinker:
- i am not my body
- i am not my thoughts
The reason why you suffer from your depressions and your anxieties is that you identify with them.
I am not depressed, I is experiencing a depression right now.
I am not joyful, I is experiencing joy right now.
Everyone carries a shopping list around. That someone else has to measure up to: tall, dark, handsome, according to my taste...
Lost adjectives or nouns that you would use to describe yourself.
When you are suffering:
1. can you pick up the desire under that suffering?
2. This is not a simple desire, this is a craving. There is identification there. The I, or even more, the existence of I is tied up to this desire. See if you can find thay.
There is one evil - fear.
There is one good - love.
The important thing is not to know who I is or what I is. You will never succeed to describe it, there is no words for this. The important thing is to drop the label. When you stop identifying with labels, most of your worries cease to exist.
Hapiness is not caused. It is a natural state.
The beauty of an action comes from sensitivity, from consciousness, from clarity of perception and accuracy of response.
If you are attached to appreciation and praise you will view people in terms of their threat to your attachment or their fostering of your attachment. Attachment destroys your capacity to love.
Love is sensitivity, love is consciousness.
The system is about as good or as bad as the people who use it.
You don't live until you realize that it does not matter whether you live or die. Only when you are ready to lose your life, you live it. When you are protecting your life, you are dead.
The progress is when you are more loving.
You are never in love with someone. You are only in love with your prejudiced and hopeful idea of that person. If not. How did you fell out of love then? Your idea changed...?
Similarly, you never trust anyone, you only trust your judgement of that person.
Loneliness is not cured by contact with other people. It is cured by the contact with reality.
Wear culture the way you wear clothes.
Noone can give you a method or a technique for self observation. Because the moment you pick up a technique you are programmed again. Self obeservation is not the same as self absorbsion or self preoccupation. Observe yourself as you were watching someone else. Observe in you and around you. I OBSERVE ME.
You do not personalize anything that is happening to you. Look at it as if you have no connection with it whatsoever.
First we come to the awareness of things (me), then thoughts then the thinker:
- i am not my body
- i am not my thoughts
The reason why you suffer from your depressions and your anxieties is that you identify with them.
I am not depressed, I is experiencing a depression right now.
I am not joyful, I is experiencing joy right now.
Everyone carries a shopping list around. That someone else has to measure up to: tall, dark, handsome, according to my taste...
Lost adjectives or nouns that you would use to describe yourself.
When you are suffering:
1. can you pick up the desire under that suffering?
2. This is not a simple desire, this is a craving. There is identification there. The I, or even more, the existence of I is tied up to this desire. See if you can find thay.
There is one evil - fear.
There is one good - love.
The important thing is not to know who I is or what I is. You will never succeed to describe it, there is no words for this. The important thing is to drop the label. When you stop identifying with labels, most of your worries cease to exist.
Hapiness is not caused. It is a natural state.
The beauty of an action comes from sensitivity, from consciousness, from clarity of perception and accuracy of response.
If you are attached to appreciation and praise you will view people in terms of their threat to your attachment or their fostering of your attachment. Attachment destroys your capacity to love.
Love is sensitivity, love is consciousness.
The system is about as good or as bad as the people who use it.
You don't live until you realize that it does not matter whether you live or die. Only when you are ready to lose your life, you live it. When you are protecting your life, you are dead.
The progress is when you are more loving.
You are never in love with someone. You are only in love with your prejudiced and hopeful idea of that person. If not. How did you fell out of love then? Your idea changed...?
Similarly, you never trust anyone, you only trust your judgement of that person.
Loneliness is not cured by contact with other people. It is cured by the contact with reality.
Wear culture the way you wear clothes.
October 5, 2022
TO SEE IS TO BE ENLIGHTENED. TO SEE THE HOLLOWNESS OF SUCCESS, THE EMPTINESS OF ACHIEVEMENTS, THE NOTHINGNESS OF HUMAN STRIVING. THIS ISNT PESSIMISM AND DESPAIR BUT THE EXCITEMENT AND FREEDOM OF THE EAGLE GLIDING OVER A BOTTOMLESS RAVINE.
HAPPINESS IS ATTAINED BY BEING CONTENT WITH WHATEVER ONE GETS. THEN IT DOESNT MATTER ABOUT DESIRES.
A good way to discover your shortcomings is to observe what irritates you in others.
To find God look at creation, dont analyse it.
People dont want to give up there jealousies and anxieties, their resentment and guilt, because these negative emotions provide them with their kicks.
The giver should be thankful.
When words and thoughts are silenced the universe blossoms forth.
Only a foolish person would give up everything in exchange for truth.
A happy person has no resources and no hopes - and doesnt desire any.
The principal reason why people are not happy is that they get a perverse satisfaction from their sufferings.
Harmony is achieved not through control but through surrender.
To those who dare to surrender to the experience of the present moment - with no thought about the experience, no desire that it return or to be avoided - time is transformed into the radiance of eternity.
You are destroyed by life's tranquility, only disaster can save you.
Cleverness ordinarily leaves no room for awareness.
The only single enemy of the human race is fear.
Where there is awareness problems dont arise.
You can find God in action by loving the action wholeheartedly, regardless of the fruit it brings.
The greatest obstacle to truth is the reluctance to face the facts.
HAPPINESS IS ATTAINED BY BEING CONTENT WITH WHATEVER ONE GETS. THEN IT DOESNT MATTER ABOUT DESIRES.
A good way to discover your shortcomings is to observe what irritates you in others.
To find God look at creation, dont analyse it.
People dont want to give up there jealousies and anxieties, their resentment and guilt, because these negative emotions provide them with their kicks.
The giver should be thankful.
When words and thoughts are silenced the universe blossoms forth.
Only a foolish person would give up everything in exchange for truth.
A happy person has no resources and no hopes - and doesnt desire any.
The principal reason why people are not happy is that they get a perverse satisfaction from their sufferings.
Harmony is achieved not through control but through surrender.
To those who dare to surrender to the experience of the present moment - with no thought about the experience, no desire that it return or to be avoided - time is transformed into the radiance of eternity.
You are destroyed by life's tranquility, only disaster can save you.
Cleverness ordinarily leaves no room for awareness.
The only single enemy of the human race is fear.
Where there is awareness problems dont arise.
You can find God in action by loving the action wholeheartedly, regardless of the fruit it brings.
The greatest obstacle to truth is the reluctance to face the facts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2020
Oh my God! This book is an eye opener! Tons of self help books and how to attain happiness can be summarized in this rather small book!
Ever wondered why people are toxic? Or how your loved one is being abusive or need to treat you better?
well guess what? You need to wake up because in your everyday feelings of unhappiness and discontent, therein lies your unawareness!
Being aware of thy self is truly fundamental for taking a quite realistic and enlightened path in life! Highly recommend this book for everyone thinking of starting life of contentment!
Ever wondered why people are toxic? Or how your loved one is being abusive or need to treat you better?
well guess what? You need to wake up because in your everyday feelings of unhappiness and discontent, therein lies your unawareness!
Being aware of thy self is truly fundamental for taking a quite realistic and enlightened path in life! Highly recommend this book for everyone thinking of starting life of contentment!
June 25, 2024
365 paragraph-length meditations inspired by multiple traditions from the renowned spiritual guide, Anthony de Mello.
Some are confounding; most are enlightening; some are disturbing enough to awaken.
de Mello intends to upset your apple cart; confront hypocrisy, especially as it appears in religious robes; and shed light on our human struggle to find Light.
I'm on to Contact with God.
Some are confounding; most are enlightening; some are disturbing enough to awaken.
de Mello intends to upset your apple cart; confront hypocrisy, especially as it appears in religious robes; and shed light on our human struggle to find Light.
I'm on to Contact with God.
July 3, 2019
I recently finished Anthony de Mello's "Awareness" and loved it, so I was eager to read another -- but "Awakening" is awful. It's literally hundreds of ba-dump-bump spiritual insights one might find in Reader's Digest. Typical example:
The preacher was on a tour to various foreign countries.
Said the disciples, "Do you think travel will broaden his mind?"
"No," said the Master. "It will merely spread his narrowmindedness over a wider area."
Grade: D
The preacher was on a tour to various foreign countries.
Said the disciples, "Do you think travel will broaden his mind?"
"No," said the Master. "It will merely spread his narrowmindedness over a wider area."
Grade: D
March 11, 2024
Although I didn’t love the brutal way he positioned his ideas, it makes sense! He is basically talking about the ego and how we identify with the world around us. I find he could have been less aggressive and more empathetic when speaking. Yes, we are all dumb in a way, but it’s not by choice. We are all blinded by this illusion we live in since birth. Eckhart Tolle has a book called 'The New Earth' that does a great job in conveying the impact of the ego in our life.
December 18, 2024
Only a 4 as compared to De Mello's Awareness
Would probably have given it a 5 if I hadn't read his other works before.
Awakening is set in a style similar to Marcus Aurelius' Meditations
Its short bites of ideas and examples a paragraph at a time.
Sometimes some of them relate, other times its just one idea at a time.
Again with his other books, my margins are filled with notes, many sentences highlighted, and stickies marking pages.
Would probably have given it a 5 if I hadn't read his other works before.
Awakening is set in a style similar to Marcus Aurelius' Meditations
Its short bites of ideas and examples a paragraph at a time.
Sometimes some of them relate, other times its just one idea at a time.
Again with his other books, my margins are filled with notes, many sentences highlighted, and stickies marking pages.
May 3, 2022
I didn’t much like this at first but the further I got, the more I liked it. It was some good stuff to chew on. He seems to be an Indian man with Jesuit philosophy training and a psychology background. The Jesuit/Hindu/psychology mix was actually pretty good.
May 27, 2022
This is one of those life-changers. A funky narrative format at times (I listened on Audible) but De Mello brings a joyful enthusiasm to incredibly sobering truths about how we measure our worth. I will re-listen once a year or so — it’s that important.
February 22, 2023
Exceptional material on ascension and awakening. One of the best I have read.
February 25, 2024
A book that changed my life.
February 28, 2024
Great!
October 16, 2024
Inspirational and insightful for those who like to work on awareness and thankfulness
April 10, 2021
Ужасна книга. Беден израз, контрадикторност и премногу негативни примери и ситуации. Како еден добар и еден лош глас исполнет со огорченост да му ја диктирале мислата на авторот, и зборот на лошиот преовладува, наведува на егоцентризам и отуѓување од другите луѓе. Не е сѐ црно, но доминира.
February 27, 2015
Sweet and simple if you know.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews