My Secret Is Silence: Poetry and sayings of Adyashanti

by Adyashanti

This is a beautiful and inspiring collection of spiritual teachings by Adyashanti, woven together as poetry and brief sayings culled from his journals, dharma talks and dialogues with students. These unique expressions of Truth are both a celebration of life and an invitation to the deep and joyful surrender into the Self. Although awakened in the Zen tradition, his teachings spring spontaneously from emptiness, free of any tradition or ideology, and touch the heart in the tradition of the great mystic poets, Rumi and Hafiz.

Genres: Poetry, Spirituality, Nonfiction

141 pages, Paperback

First published January 21, 2003

About the author

Adyashanti is an American spiritual teacher from the San Francisco Bay Area who gives regular satsangs in the United States and also teaches abroad. He is the author of several books, CDs and DVDs and is the founder of Open Gate Sangha, Inc. a nonprofit organization that supports, and makes available, his teachings.

Reviews

[ar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not all of these hit me, but the ones that did hit like a pound of feathers going 600MPH

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.
Profound.
Grounding.
Calming.
Truth.
Love.
Peace.

[ar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of my favorite poems on the subject of enlightenment are to be found in this book, as well as a good number of poems that didn't have much of an effect on me. Still, for the highlights alone, this book is worth your time.

[Chloe Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book using simple words of wisdom. Adyashanti expresses himself in a quiet manner that is soothing and beneficial to everyday life and its hurdles. We are not immune to pain and and suffering, but we can choose to overcome it by learning to embrace the power of love and grace. My advice is to give it a try and flip through the pages of this pleasant read—it is full of thoughts that intrigue the human soul.

[Lora Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If you understand these foolish words, you can be said to be enlightened."

"You are in a Bardo state. It's called the human experience." ~ Adyashanti
Adyashanti is, by far, away and beyond, infinitely illumined transcendence expressed. Ordinarily and refreshingly so. If you are seeking the resolution of all seeming opposites, you need look no further. Abide here, contemplating the pure and simple heart of life's formless form of poetic expression.

[Sheila Pritchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some gems in here that I took to heart but I didn't like it as much as I expected to. Other things I've read have suited me more.

[Marcel Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words from the Beyond

This book is a wonderful collection of Adya's early poems and sayings. Timeless in nature and content, they arise from and point to that dimension beyond mind, of which there is truly no name. These poems and sayings are not only a joy to read, but also inspire a longing within the reader to connect to that deeper mystery within and without. This book is great material for seekers at any stage. It is not food for thought, but rather a joy for the transcendent it evokes.