Original Goodness: A Commentary on the Beatitudes

by Eknath Easwaran

Uncover the core of goodness within.

Love, compassion, meaning, hope, and freedom from fear are not qualities we need to acquire. We simply need to uncover what we already have.

Original goodness is Eknath Easwaran’s phrase for this spark of divinity hidden in every one of us, regardless of our personal liabilities or past mistakes.

Easwaran is one of the twentieth century's great spiritual teachers and an authentic guide to timeless wisdom. His books on meditation, spiritual living, and the classics of world mysticism have been translated into 16 languages.

Commenting on the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, Easwaran shows how this spark of divinity can energize our lives – beginning with a simple method of meditation that gradually removes the conditioning that hides our native goodness.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Theology

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Eknath Easwaran (1910–1999) is the originator of passage meditation and the author of more than 30 books on spiritual living.

Easwaran is a recognized authority on the Indian spiritual classics. His translations of The Bhagavad Gita, The Upanishads, and The Dhammapada are the best-selling editions in the USA, and over 1.5 million copies of his books are in print.

Easwaran was a professor of English literature and well known in India as a writer and speaker before coming to the United States in 1959 on the Fulbright exchange program. In 1961, he founded the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation, based in Tomales, California, which continues his work today through publications and retreats.

His 1968 class on the theory and practice of meditation at UC Berkeley is believed to be the first accredited course on meditation at any Western university. For those who seek him as a personal spiritual guide, Easwaran assured us that he lives on through his eight-point program of passage meditation.

"I am with you always”, he said. “It does not require my physical presence; it requires your open heart."

Please visit bmcm.org for a fuller biography.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, more than, really, any other I've read, sums up my approach to life, the universe and everything. It gave me nothing new, except positive strong reminders about where I'm lacking, but Dr. Easwaran spoke the words of my conviction better than I've ever been able. There is nothing better, in my mind, than to be remided of our original Goodness - the uncreated potential to love and be loved.

[Steve]

I had to return this book just as I was beginning the chapter titled Humility that corresponds to the beatitude "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The CAC Daily Meditations had a week of devotional readings on the Beatitudes with the same perspective on what poor in spirit means. It means an inner emptiness and humility, a beginner's mind, and to live without a need for personal righteousness or reputation. Eknath Easwaran carries this idea further. I am also interested in what other beatitudes he writes about since I can't tell from his chapter titles. The others I am currently most interested in are:

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Thomas Merton wrote that "meekness" is the Biblical word for non-violence.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
Richard Rohr says the words right and righteousness are common faulty translations. The word in Greek clearly means justice.

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without wanting to be overly optimistic, I feel like reading this book has helped make me a better person. It is written by a man born in India, who values the teachings of all the world's religions, and focuses on the "divine spark" concept. The book examines each of the Beatitudes. I feel like it helped me better understand the concepts of suffering and unconditional love.

[Arun Rajappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. The author makes clear the Beatitudes, not in a literal sense, but rather through his own experiences and interpretations. The one thing I liked about the book: the repeated emphasis on meditation, in each chapter, as the path to understanding the great truths.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another meandering book by Easwaran; reflections of all sorts of spirituality and how to apply it to your life. A loose format, with lots of reflection. My only criticism of Easwaran's work is that the same stories appear in different books - so you might not be reading something new all the time, but still, valuable to study and read.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for study with my satsang group. What beautiful examples Easwaran provides. Timeless, relevant ideas for all human beings striving to better the world.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Easwaran and one of the three books he wrote concerning Christianity and his approach to making one's life a gift to one's self and to the larger world. He covers how to mediate daily and use a mantra. Covers how we need as human being something more than the physical world can offer with it's lies of finding fulfilled in stuff instead of being fulfilled by love. It is not necessary to be a believer in God to benefit from Easwaran's approach to finding a meaningful and full life. The book can be just as valuable or more valuable to an atheist or agnostic as what he lays out for one to practice is simply the way to find one's true self and road to self-worth and a meaningful life through loving one's self and others as one's self. Very practical and beautifully written.

[Karl Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insights.

The author explains so well how the Beatitudes can be applied in daily life. There is so much insight that one reading is not enough. I will read this book again and again.