Enlightenment Without God

by Swami Rama Himalayan Institute

It is a common misconception that a spiritual seeker must have faith in a god or divine entity to achieve self-realization. When one understands the teachings of the Upanishads, enlightenment is possible here and now without the word "God." The Mandukya Upanishad is for those students who want to practice spirituality without resorting to unnecessary abstract concepts.The Mandukya Upanishad provides a comprehensive map for the inward journey that shows the individual the way from the mundane to the eternal. It describes this state as the ultimate reality and the goal of human existence.When one understands the teachings of the Upanishads, then one realizes that life itself is a sort of worship that can shine on the altar of infinity. --From Chapter 1, "Awakening"

Genres: Religion

121 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1982

Reviews

[Neha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had great potential but didn't learn anything new from the book. Disappointed.

[Ben]

If, like me, you are skeptical of organized religion, and if your skepticism borders on outright hostility, you will enjoy the short first chapter of this little book, in which Swami Rama attacks these institutions in the most uncompromising terms:

"Religious beliefs may offer solace to lower, primitive, less educated, and uncultivated minds, but they have nothing to offer those who already know what to do and what not to do, and who are seeking logical answers to life's questions and guidance in learning how to be."

"The way faith is described in religious scriptures is not actually faith at all, but is blind belief based on ignorance and rigidity of tradition."

The first quote seems possibly just a tad harsh, but the second one rings true to my ears. As an alternative to religious doctrine, Swami Rama offers the timeless wisdom of the Mandukya Upanishad, which he comments on verse-by-verse in Chapter 2.

This ancient Vedic scripture describes the four states of consciousness and how to attain them, ultimately realizing the significance of the cosmic sound Om and understanding that all life is one. For me, it was a bit like reading instructions for how to build, say, the Hadron Collider. I grasp the words, and I have some concept of the end goal, but I have nothing like the mental tools needed to achieve it. Get back to me after a few decades of meditation...

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is straight forward in its homage to serious practice of meditation and working through common misconceptions about the results. The title doesn’t much fit the book until you compare it with his other book Living with the Himalayan Masters. In that book he tells stories and mythologizes to the point where an average reader sits in disbelief. Some things you just have to experience yourself and can’t take someone else’s word for.

In Enlightenment Without God he sticks to what is essential and realistic. He’s not going to pretend it doesn’t take a lifestyle change to fully let go of material attachments. You can’t trust in subtle mental interpretations at different levels of focus and awareness until you have let that go. He get's into the machinery of the unconscious and how different types of meditation can be carried out to recognize the small self and big self. To observe the small self as the big self. The psychological language, although dated, is more approachable when compared to more spiritualizing terminology.

[Roland Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

East meets west in talking of old discovered insights using the language of 20th century enlightenment. As the Enlightenment of the 1700s began our language was challenged with needing new words to replace those concepts of a western culture ignorant of science and shackled to patriarchy. Those old words are still around to hoist our minds back into the ignorance or knowledge from cultures of the past.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good nice book..only book to have complete knowledge in the shortest possible content.

It tells you All that can be learnt .
If we can somehow comprehend and put it into practice all is sorted.

[Tanmay Meher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good beginning. It explains about the fourth state Turiya, How OM could be helpful to attain turiya and then how to do sabasana.

[Gagan Umesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written. It is a good introduction to Vedic philosophy, and the secular premise of the commentary is extremely helpful to any spiritual seeker or curious philosopher.

[Lingui5t · Rating 2 out of 5]

Total clickbait in terms of the title (the book is really not about that).
The Wikipedia article on turiya will give you most of the content of this book that is of any use.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got enlightened after reading this book. It opened my eyes to the true spiritual world which transcendent religion and everything around it. Sad that this book is out of print.

[Anirudh Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

The context setting for the way to enlightenment

[Anjalica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be an excellent read.

[P M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swami Rama enunciates most complex philosophical concepts in lucid language. Book has been written in experiential and didactic mode. This makes the reader capable of practicing the concepts in daily life and attain consciousness of the 3 states of mind. Armed with such consciousness, attainment of the Absolute truth i.e. Turiya may become a reality for a serious practitioner. It is perhaps the best beginners' guide I have ever read on any subject.

[Vinod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome commentary of a timeless book.