Essence Revisited: Slipping Past the Shadows of Illusion

by Darryl Bailey

Statements such as "there is no self," or "there is only God" are very simple descriptions of ordinary, everyday existence. All that's necessary for understanding them is a clear acknowledgement of your own life experience. Few people ever admit how life actually presents itself. This book points to your most basic experience of existence and asks you to consider what it reveals. Be prepared for surprises. Spontaneously drawn to meditation at age fourteen, Darryl spent the next seventeen years exploring awareness and concentration practices from Eastern and Western traditions. He went on to connect with Jiddu Krishnamurti and Robert Adams, as well as spending nine years apprenticed to mindfulness teacher Ruth Denison and another six years as a Buddhist meditation monk in the Thai forest tradition, under the guidance of Ajahn Sumedho. With these last two he was asked to begin teaching. He is the author of several books including Dismantling the Fantasy, also published by Non-Duality Press.

Genres: Spirituality

124 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2011

Reviews

[Sayme White · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I’m done searching and seeking

Wow. All of the non dual speakers I spent countless hours listening to on YouTube were all supposedly saying this but making it sound so unobtainable and mystical. Immediately after reading this book and understanding clearly I went to YouTube and listened to a non dual speaker that previously I could not understand . Now I totally understand what he is saying. This book is so clear. I wonder how I will fill all my time now ?
Beautiful. I am very grateful.

[Sukanya Viswanathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In any moment, everything is the only possible expression it can be. Seeing this doesn’t make everything pain- free or flow in a pleasant way. It simply acknowledges that, in any moment, life is whatever it is, and it’s not personal."

One of the authentic books on nonduality expressed without any bells and whistles.

There is still something missing though - the sheer bliss of transcending the body-mind, the absolute exhilaration of this freedom, the grace this bestows on the body-mind is missed out. You don't come back to daily life after a realization like this. You have seen a higher truth, you vibrate with the energy of that truth, and this elevated consciousness makes everything different. Yes it is still within the flow of the universe but to that body -mind, there is absolute freedom and grace blessing every aspect of its expression.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those very very special books that has the power, if you relate to it, of making you say to yourself: "of course this is true - this is how it is, I have always known it. It is elegant, spare, poetic, jargon free and utterly illuminating about Life. I have read it several times and would thoroughly recommend it - especially to those drawn to the nondual approach.

[Roberto Gejman]

This is a surprising work. It proposes only one idea, but this idea is so universal and powerful that it explains it all and solves it all. Paradoxically, knowing and accepting this idea doesn't accomplish anything, by definition. If anything, it brings you a little more calm. It is a very radical idea, but you cannot help but agree with it.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hallelujah

Thought-stream reactions: Crystal clear uncompromising what a relief coherence at last direct honest THIS describing THIS nothing more needs to be said

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read and very clearly communicated, albeit a bit too repetitive.