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The Perfume of Silence
This book is about enlightenment, spiritual awakening, self realization, meditation, awareness, consciousness, happiness, love, relationships, psychological suffering and human predicament.
Based largely on actual dialogues between Francis Lucille, a spiritual teacher of non-duality, and some of his disciples, the music of freedom that it conveys resonates between the words, and gives the reader an inkling of the peace and happiness that are experienced in the presence of an authentic master.
Francis Lucille was for over twenty years a close friend and disciple of Jean Klein, a well recognized French teacher of non-duality. They both belong to a lineage of Advaita Vedanta teachers stemming from India. (Advaita Vedanta is the main nondualist Hindu spiritual tradition). Jean Klein's guru, Pandit Veeraraghavachar, was a Professor at the Sanskrit College in Bengalore. Their teachings, despite some superficial similarities, are quite different from those of most contemporary western neo Advaita teachers.They emphasize for instance the importance of the direct transmission from guru to disciple, through presence, beyond words, and they recognize that the same universal truth was expressed by various saints, philosophers and teachers throughout history and across the world.
That which matters here is not the form of the teaching, direct or gradual for instance, as much as the authenticity of the teacher, the vibrancy of his realization, the outpouring of his love, the freedom of his humour, the brilliancy of his intelligence, the splendor of his poetry, the spontaneous sharing of his peace.
Nonduality is the common ground of Buddhism (especially Zen and Dzogchen), Advaita, Sufism, Taoism, the Kabbalah, the Gnosis and the teachings of Jesus in the Thomas Gospel, the teachings of Parmenides, Plotinus, Gaudapada, Abinavagupta, Meister Eckhart, Ramana Maharshi, Atmananda Krishna Menon, Ananda Mai and many others.
Based largely on actual dialogues between Francis Lucille, a spiritual teacher of non-duality, and some of his disciples, the music of freedom that it conveys resonates between the words, and gives the reader an inkling of the peace and happiness that are experienced in the presence of an authentic master.
Francis Lucille was for over twenty years a close friend and disciple of Jean Klein, a well recognized French teacher of non-duality. They both belong to a lineage of Advaita Vedanta teachers stemming from India. (Advaita Vedanta is the main nondualist Hindu spiritual tradition). Jean Klein's guru, Pandit Veeraraghavachar, was a Professor at the Sanskrit College in Bengalore. Their teachings, despite some superficial similarities, are quite different from those of most contemporary western neo Advaita teachers.They emphasize for instance the importance of the direct transmission from guru to disciple, through presence, beyond words, and they recognize that the same universal truth was expressed by various saints, philosophers and teachers throughout history and across the world.
That which matters here is not the form of the teaching, direct or gradual for instance, as much as the authenticity of the teacher, the vibrancy of his realization, the outpouring of his love, the freedom of his humour, the brilliancy of his intelligence, the splendor of his poetry, the spontaneous sharing of his peace.
Nonduality is the common ground of Buddhism (especially Zen and Dzogchen), Advaita, Sufism, Taoism, the Kabbalah, the Gnosis and the teachings of Jesus in the Thomas Gospel, the teachings of Parmenides, Plotinus, Gaudapada, Abinavagupta, Meister Eckhart, Ramana Maharshi, Atmananda Krishna Menon, Ananda Mai and many others.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 1, 2019
Lucille was an unknown to me, having read in nonduality for many years, a 'hidden' gem. I rarely rate a book 5, preferring to see 5 as a rarity. The Perfume of Silence I cannot rate less than rarely exceptional.
This wise treasure chest of gems of guidance, sessions of dialogue in satsang, bring one word to mind as descriptive: inspirational. Lucille's style is simply beautiful in itself, flowing with the effulgence of Truth he points us to. His use of commonplace imagery to represent profound wisdom is amazing. Yet, for Lucille, the amazing is in plain site, so close and so ordinary we miss it. Lucille guides with humbleness and gentleness, yet can be lovingly stern and direct.
Some guides in Lucille's genre of work, appear to present a perfectionism that betrays the essence of nonduality as something we must relax into and embrace the mess of duality itself as an expression of Truth. Some guides, likewise, appear to conflate monism (1) and nonduality (1 + 1=1). Lucille, to me, invites duality alongside nonduality, or the marriage of the One and the Many.
Lucille, of all nonduality guides I have read, offers the most clarifying insight into progress in moving from being located as body, and, so, in objects, to being consciousness in which body, and all objects, appear. Some guides will advise not to engage any spiritual practice and deny any progress, while Lucille advises acknowledgement of both of these. For Lucille, practice is to be engaged without a purpose, or goal, trusting the process itself. Lucille, then, agrees with other nonduality guides who stress that goals of progress block realization of oneness. I have, yet, to discern how anyone can advise spiritual practice, speak of the benefits, and, then, advise engagement of a path to those benefits without a purpose. One could say this is an apparent contradiction, expressing the paradox of the path, or that this is a performative error in most teachings on nonduality.
Two key concepts in Lucille's teaching are "welcoming" and "benevolent indifference." Wisdom, for Lucille, is welcoming life to unfold on its own, our participation arising from that unfolding, without our seeking to determine outcome. We love life, yet are indifferent, not as a cold, uncaring attitude, but joyful and trusting communion in mutual welcoming.
Simply put, Lucille invites us to trust life itself and ourselves as that life. Lucille points us to the freedom in moving from "my will" to "thy will." In that "thy," we welcome God ~ a term Lucille is not hesitant to use, thankfully ~ and, so, ourselves.
This wise treasure chest of gems of guidance, sessions of dialogue in satsang, bring one word to mind as descriptive: inspirational. Lucille's style is simply beautiful in itself, flowing with the effulgence of Truth he points us to. His use of commonplace imagery to represent profound wisdom is amazing. Yet, for Lucille, the amazing is in plain site, so close and so ordinary we miss it. Lucille guides with humbleness and gentleness, yet can be lovingly stern and direct.
Some guides in Lucille's genre of work, appear to present a perfectionism that betrays the essence of nonduality as something we must relax into and embrace the mess of duality itself as an expression of Truth. Some guides, likewise, appear to conflate monism (1) and nonduality (1 + 1=1). Lucille, to me, invites duality alongside nonduality, or the marriage of the One and the Many.
Lucille, of all nonduality guides I have read, offers the most clarifying insight into progress in moving from being located as body, and, so, in objects, to being consciousness in which body, and all objects, appear. Some guides will advise not to engage any spiritual practice and deny any progress, while Lucille advises acknowledgement of both of these. For Lucille, practice is to be engaged without a purpose, or goal, trusting the process itself. Lucille, then, agrees with other nonduality guides who stress that goals of progress block realization of oneness. I have, yet, to discern how anyone can advise spiritual practice, speak of the benefits, and, then, advise engagement of a path to those benefits without a purpose. One could say this is an apparent contradiction, expressing the paradox of the path, or that this is a performative error in most teachings on nonduality.
Two key concepts in Lucille's teaching are "welcoming" and "benevolent indifference." Wisdom, for Lucille, is welcoming life to unfold on its own, our participation arising from that unfolding, without our seeking to determine outcome. We love life, yet are indifferent, not as a cold, uncaring attitude, but joyful and trusting communion in mutual welcoming.
Simply put, Lucille invites us to trust life itself and ourselves as that life. Lucille points us to the freedom in moving from "my will" to "thy will." In that "thy," we welcome God ~ a term Lucille is not hesitant to use, thankfully ~ and, so, ourselves.
April 10, 2018
This is It.
Not much can be said about this book except that if you are truly thirsty, you must read it. .
Not much can be said about this book except that if you are truly thirsty, you must read it. .
February 21, 2023
TL;DR — wow. wow. wow.
considering that i’m familiar with the direct path and have acquainted myself with many of rupert spira’s writings, i figured it would serve me well to examine those of his teacher and longtime friend, francis lucille.
i cannot quite express the effect that this book has had on me. although i’m intellectually well versed on non-duality, this book almost appeared to read my mind at times; it answered many questions i had not managed to articulate, with francis matching his intellectually stimulating expositions of consciousness with the charm and wit of an old friend (not to mention his characteristic snark, which is a nice change of pace from rupert’s exceedingly british politeness).
i truly feel like francis has struck gold with this one. whereas books such as rupert spira’s “the nature of consciousness” are compelling scaffolds to an intellectual understanding of non-duality, this book feels equally like a revelation and a celebration of truth; inasmuch as experienced individuals would benefit from reading this, i am confident that newcomers to the direct path — or, for that matter, any “spiritual” path — would gain a lot from giving this book one (or multiple) reads.
it is said that the truth that can be expressed in words is not the truth, and this is absolutely certain. that being said, the direct path — and francis’ charting of it — is one among many of the valuable maps which we can use to guide us along our search for life, or for god, or for truth, or simply for ourselves (all of these are the same thing). this book is nothing short of a masterpiece, and a must-read for anyone wishing for yet another way to evoke the sensation of something deeper, something higher, and yet something so intimate and true to who we are that it — by its very nature — cannot be expressed.
considering that i’m familiar with the direct path and have acquainted myself with many of rupert spira’s writings, i figured it would serve me well to examine those of his teacher and longtime friend, francis lucille.
i cannot quite express the effect that this book has had on me. although i’m intellectually well versed on non-duality, this book almost appeared to read my mind at times; it answered many questions i had not managed to articulate, with francis matching his intellectually stimulating expositions of consciousness with the charm and wit of an old friend (not to mention his characteristic snark, which is a nice change of pace from rupert’s exceedingly british politeness).
i truly feel like francis has struck gold with this one. whereas books such as rupert spira’s “the nature of consciousness” are compelling scaffolds to an intellectual understanding of non-duality, this book feels equally like a revelation and a celebration of truth; inasmuch as experienced individuals would benefit from reading this, i am confident that newcomers to the direct path — or, for that matter, any “spiritual” path — would gain a lot from giving this book one (or multiple) reads.
it is said that the truth that can be expressed in words is not the truth, and this is absolutely certain. that being said, the direct path — and francis’ charting of it — is one among many of the valuable maps which we can use to guide us along our search for life, or for god, or for truth, or simply for ourselves (all of these are the same thing). this book is nothing short of a masterpiece, and a must-read for anyone wishing for yet another way to evoke the sensation of something deeper, something higher, and yet something so intimate and true to who we are that it — by its very nature — cannot be expressed.
Read
April 27, 2025Francis style is very clinical, rigorous, and scientific. Also very french and humorous. This book was medicine for the soul. It cleared a lot of confusion I had about the nature of our being.
January 4, 2023
WE HAVE TO SEE CLEARLY THAT THE HAPPINESS THAT FOLLOWS THE ACQUISITION OF A DESIRED OBJECT IS DERIVED FROM THE FACT THAT, FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, WE ARE DESIRELESS AND THEREFORE HAPPY. WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR HAPPINESS COMES FROM THIS DESIRELESSNESS AND NOT FROM OBJECTS, THE MIND NATURALLY COMES TO A REST.
Meditation is to surrender the mind, the body, and the world, from moment to moment, to the silent presence in which they appear.
Fulfillment is the absence of lack.
Meditation is like washing dishes; we always start with the dish on top of the pile.
At the end of the story we dont need to tell the story; we simply not the absence of the storyteller.
Non-doing simply refers to the absence of striving.
Expectation is a subtle rejection of the now.
We find out who we are through the progressive discovery of what we are not.
Fall in love with the void, the emptiness of the now, which makes everything possible, which has room for everything.
We dont use objects to obtain happiness, we use them to celebrate happiness.
If agitation bothers us it means that we have mistakenly identified with something in the mirror instead of with the mirror itself.
I am the witness, not the witnessed.
Understand that its truly our choice whether or not we get stuck with every feeling we encounter. Its not something that is imposed on us. Its something we impose on ourselves. We do it because we like it.
Meditation is to surrender the mind, the body, and the world, from moment to moment, to the silent presence in which they appear.
Fulfillment is the absence of lack.
Meditation is like washing dishes; we always start with the dish on top of the pile.
At the end of the story we dont need to tell the story; we simply not the absence of the storyteller.
Non-doing simply refers to the absence of striving.
Expectation is a subtle rejection of the now.
We find out who we are through the progressive discovery of what we are not.
Fall in love with the void, the emptiness of the now, which makes everything possible, which has room for everything.
We dont use objects to obtain happiness, we use them to celebrate happiness.
If agitation bothers us it means that we have mistakenly identified with something in the mirror instead of with the mirror itself.
I am the witness, not the witnessed.
Understand that its truly our choice whether or not we get stuck with every feeling we encounter. Its not something that is imposed on us. Its something we impose on ourselves. We do it because we like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2024
One of the best books on Advaita philosophy I have read. You know you read a good book when it keeps you hungry for more. This is certainly not an easy read but once you understand the flow you are in. At 200 pages, Francis Lucille has given us a grand tour of emptiness and consciousness in the line of Ramana Maharshi. I certainly recommend this book to any follower of Maharshi or even the concept of Shunyata.
March 7, 2021
Beautiful read
A must for anyone seeking a direct path to the truth of who we are, Francis delivers his teaching in a style most readers will understand
A must for anyone seeking a direct path to the truth of who we are, Francis delivers his teaching in a style most readers will understand
December 13, 2021
Brilliant…
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews