The Essence of Enlightenment: Vedanta, the Science of Consciousness

by James Swartz

The counterintuitive, radical message of Vedanta, the ancient science of self-inquiry, is that reality is non-dual consciousness. What this means and how it benefits people in their quest for freedom from limitation is the subject of this inspirational book. In an accessible style, James Swartz's new book develops teachings introduced in his popular first one, How to Attain Enlightenment, covering topics such as values and the enlightened person, dharma and the essence of enlightenment, and the relationship between consciousness, the individual, and the total. Demystifying enlightenment, Swartz makes Vedanta understandable to all.

Genres: Spirituality

250 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 2014

Reviews

[Vythand Alagappan]

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention." - Sir Francis Bacon

This book is one of the few that I consider to be amongst those worthy of deep contemplation. In fact, I consider this to be the single most important book I have ever read. I started exploring the topic of enlightenment when I was in 3rd year of college. After a year and a half of intense Self-inquiry and frustration from a lack of a complete teaching in the neo-Advaita world, I was introduced to Vedanta and the pieces of the puzzle quickly fell into place. James Swartz's book provides the intellectual framework necessary to contemplate the nature of Self, Consciousness, and Reality (all essentially synonymous). Although some aspects of Vedanta such as the composition of matter are a bit far fetched (and also arguably unnecessary for moksha), there is still plenty within the teaching for it to accomplish what it is meant to: freedom for and from the Jiva. Or rather, to allow the apparent individual to realize that, I, the Awareness with which apparent reality is known and of which it is existentially composed, is already boundless and ever-present.

In conjunction with James Swartz's videos on youtube, this book provides the knowledge needed to explore and understand the nature of Consciousness. The way in which the chapters are organized and unfolded is also essential because it provides the correct logical progression needed to understand such a counterintuitive teaching. Mr. Swartz's expertise on this topic makes it is much easier to understand the nuances and intricacies of the explanations of other great teachers such as Rupert Spira, Ramana Maharshi, and Dayananda Saraswathi as well. If you're looking for the starting point of true Self-inquiry, this book is it.

[Linda McKenzie]

In this book Swartz has mercifully left behind his formerly stated views on certain kinds of animal flesh, i.e. white meat, being "sattvic," (in the mode of purity and goodness), an idea as preposterous as it is non-traditional. He enjoins his readers to "vegetarianism" as a way of adhering to ahimsa or non-violence. While a lacto-vegetarian diet conforms to traditional practice and understanding, this still falls woefully short of what is actually required for non-violence, that is, unequivocal veganism. There's just as much, or more, violence and suffering in dairy as there is in meat. It's high time Swartz and other self-styled spiritual teachers caught up with what millions of ordinary people, who have no pretensions to anything spiritual, have already worked out. Vegetarianism as a response to the problem of violence towards animals (and other humans via destruction of the environment and exacerbation of world hunger) is no longer credible for any informed person.

Aside from this, I found the book well worth reading, as indicated by my four star rating. Swartz brings in a number of perspectives and insights I had not previously encountered in my reading of Advaita Vedanta. Ones that stand out in my mind are those concerning the meaning and role of Isvara, which is often either completely omitted or barely touched upon, and the meaning and importance of karma yoga. It's clear that these emphases are being transmitted from the teachings of his late guru, Swami Dayananda, a highly esteemed teacher of Advaita Vedanta.

To what extent Swartz has actualised the teaching in his own life I cannot say. However, he writes like someone who has a serious, longstanding interest and who is able to communicate the ideas well to a Western audience. Definitely several cuts above the standard neo-advaita fare we get from most Western writers.

[Vimal]

Vedanta’s main thematic display is brought up as it is addressed through a very comfortable attempt by writer, James Swartz, in this book of his entitled, The Essence of Enlightenment. The author/writer of this apparently enlightened and bright book, stretches through several obvious explanations about the essence of enlightenment, as he admits himself to debriefing on the nature of being enlightened. ‘The essential parts of being enlightened’ is the main focus which draws this author to make its relevance clear and simple to his readers.

The book suggests the following understandings:

1. Being a careful listener with an open-minded self while setting aside personal views and by dismissing judgmental sets of opinions, is the first and foremost ideal of a self-inquirer whose foundations vividly adapts to the science of consciousness, Vedanta. Being free and being happily endowed with fruitful and selfless knowledge makes one feel really worthy of a divine cause. This stands up as a secure reason which lasts to make matters work out for efficient meanings.
2. This same book translates further knowledge about what love is and what is the bond between ‘love’ and the ‘heart.’ What may one expect to deduce from love? How can ‘love’ be truly deduced from the ‘being loved’? As per further embraced understandings of the feelings and emotions that are tied to explanatory themes of true love and bonded love, this main idea is idealized in the concept that is derived from knowledge and self-knowledge. How may one transcend all attachments and knots to this material world while admitting and by accepting knowledge (really true knowledge)? How to pervade all unnecessary sequences of thinking patterns that lead to unproductive thoughts and ideas while disapproving selfishness and egoism? How to destroy angry, hateful and lusty thoughts by calming the mind and by silencing all the trends and flows of constant thoughts that are from evil sources?
3. The author lays a tangible approach that is originally not from his own sources, but that of the riches of Vedanta and the Science of Consciousness, while he explains that if being enlightened can change and alter wrongful and spiteful ideas from the mind while admitting fresh joy and pure happiness in lives of humans (all men and all women), ‘enlightenment’ definitely sees itself as portraying a significant role in our modern society.

While stating that Vedanta is usually meant for seekers who have been seeking throughout their lives for a long lengthy length of time, this book suggests that 'Enlightenment' is as well the fact of being ‘ignorance free’ and ‘knowledgeably accommodated to the idea of being enlightened spiritually’. This book claims that spiritual practice is not simply the resolving of inner conflicts between the subtle body and the disturbed mind, but it is a practice that has to be maintained while balancing and while nurturing the mind with peaceful ideas and peaceful resolutions—by accepting laws and principles of creations as the crucial instructed guide to man and to man’s just causes, one may lead oneself on the righteous pathway.

James Swartz explains that: “Experience is an unbroken series of inner and outer events and the reaction or response to them. The reaction of animals to experience is totally different programmed. Humans have an advantage because they have the power to think. They can study their experience, extract knowledge from it and change it, freeing them to some degree from their programming.” (Pp. 152 – 153) Growth in the spiritual field is acquired through growth occurring both physically and intellectually. Thus, this experience that is being accumulated with time and this consistent growth in assimilating values and developed choices, results in freeing one from hatred, anger, ego, jealousy, lust, envy and self-pity. Selflessness and devotional acceptance is accrued through the experience derived from pure release of unworthy and unnecessary thoughts about past events that have resulted in resentment and rage.

This book which is entitled "The Essence of Enlightenment" also states that ordinary man has the following characteristics as he uses these well in his life; these are namely: Ignorance, Desire and Fear, Anxiety and Control, Anger, Ego and Delusion.

By appreciating time and by accepting that time is precious and that it should be used wisely, one may get to some solid foundations of spiritually-oriented ideas and faiths, while staying away from ignorance. Likewise, this book advises and suggests that ‘Desire’ and ‘Fear’ are equal in the ways that it embraces egoistic and selfish thoughts and ideas. It even states that excessive desire is described as showing impulsiveness. One needs to balance ideas and planned goals in order to maintain proper stability in living life in the society. Desires and fearfulness lead to common grounds of despair as it requires a sense of obligation towards duties in order to accommodate wishes and wishful outcomes. Thus, ego grows and the true sense of duty decreases.

Anger, Ego and Delusion—are resultant substances of the ignorant minds; these characteristics derive from natures that are unhealthy.

Despite the fact that one gains lots of positive knowledge from this book, it is admitted by oneself that James Swartz often does not use the correct and appropriate written language and language structure while he writes on such a worthy theme and subject matter. While attempting to critically view this book, one will certainly find it very enlightening overall with some to many wordings that could have been opted out for more relevant choices of vocabularies.

"The Essence of Enlightenment" hails Vedanta and it valiantly applauds Vedanta’s immensity and vastness.

[Justin]

why write a book for something you say you need a guru to understand

[Fahmeda]

A journey of being self realizations to self actualization.

This book has the essence of what's the true nature of human beings. I like that there are some pre qualifications to become enlightened or self actualized. Only people who are thirsty enough to know more and beyond!

[GEORGE F. MARSHALL]

Even clearer!

James Swartz' 2009 book How To Attain Enlightenment was the clearest most helpful work I had ever found on Vedanta but he has surpassed that with this book; fleshing out the details and adding further depth of understanding. A true gem of self-inquiry. I know of no better introduction and exposition of Vedanta except spending time with James in person.