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The Ease of Being
One of the most consistently popular titles by Dr.Klein, The Ease of Being is a collection of dialogues with seekers both in Europe and the United States.
I’ve come to hear you for the first time, so would you tell me about your philosophy of life?
Jean Let’s begin by first looking at why you have come here today. As you search for the reason, you may discover a feeling of inner deficiency in yourself, a kind of hunger which you have come here to try to satisfy. So before going on let’s understand that there is really nothing to attain. The moment you are completely convinced of this, there is a halt. All energy previously expended towards some end returns to its origin, and you are brought back to your presence. At first this may be a presence to something, because it is in the nature of the eyes to see and the ears to hear. But when seeing and hearing become free from motive, end and intention, they no longer belong only to the eyes and ears. Unqualified attention is the whole body hears, and you may feel, although not in a sensorial way, that hearing and seeing appear in you, in your global presence. In the end even hearing and seeing dissolve into this presence and you are one with it. Ultimately there is no longer a subject who sees nor an object which is seen. There is only oneness.
This is what I come here to communicate. Identity with this presence, this wholeness, this fullness, is meditation, but there is no meditator nor object upon which to meditate. This, then, does not belong to a philosophy; it is your real nature.
About the Author
Jean Klein (d.1998), master of Advaita Vedanta in the tradition of Ramana Maharshi and Atmananda Krishna Menon and author of many books on non-dualism, spent several years in India going deeply into the subjects of Advaita and Yoga. In 1955 the truth of non-dualism became a living reality. From 1960 he taught in Europe and later in the United states.
I’ve come to hear you for the first time, so would you tell me about your philosophy of life?
Jean Let’s begin by first looking at why you have come here today. As you search for the reason, you may discover a feeling of inner deficiency in yourself, a kind of hunger which you have come here to try to satisfy. So before going on let’s understand that there is really nothing to attain. The moment you are completely convinced of this, there is a halt. All energy previously expended towards some end returns to its origin, and you are brought back to your presence. At first this may be a presence to something, because it is in the nature of the eyes to see and the ears to hear. But when seeing and hearing become free from motive, end and intention, they no longer belong only to the eyes and ears. Unqualified attention is the whole body hears, and you may feel, although not in a sensorial way, that hearing and seeing appear in you, in your global presence. In the end even hearing and seeing dissolve into this presence and you are one with it. Ultimately there is no longer a subject who sees nor an object which is seen. There is only oneness.
This is what I come here to communicate. Identity with this presence, this wholeness, this fullness, is meditation, but there is no meditator nor object upon which to meditate. This, then, does not belong to a philosophy; it is your real nature.
About the Author
Jean Klein (d.1998), master of Advaita Vedanta in the tradition of Ramana Maharshi and Atmananda Krishna Menon and author of many books on non-dualism, spent several years in India going deeply into the subjects of Advaita and Yoga. In 1955 the truth of non-dualism became a living reality. From 1960 he taught in Europe and later in the United states.
- GenresSpiritualityPhilosophy
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1984
32 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 28, 2019
I'm not sure if I will ever finish reading this book, because I keep re-reading each section several times, they are so full of meaning. And continuing the journey through this book without finishing it is fine with me, because it supports the concept of just being instead of doing and finishing! This is not an easy read, but as a student and teacher of Yoga and meditation, and the author of a book about mindfulness, this is a lovely, lyrical, and deep exploration of what it means to abide in being. I know this book will be by my side for a long time to come.
October 24, 2025
i guess it's like poetry to me, hunting for some meaning in ostensible non sequitur
listen with the body bro
something i wrote from my more detailed notes that i'll just copy paste here
I quite liked the section on improvisation. Over the past half year, I’ve been quite obsessed with what I know as the [artistic] impulse. Some call it the flow state, Jean Klein refers to it as improvisation, but in a more general sense than the artistic impulse. Tapping into it involves letting go of all sorts of mental barriers. An acceptance of improvisation in the passing moments is a cornerstone of the ease of being. We are talking, we are flowing, we are freestyling. Of course, we are all prone to moments of hesitation, but the absence of this ease is immediately apparent: these are the people overthinking the moment, the people pausing far too often for the next word, the people who hate small talk.
This ease exists in everyone. Everyone reaches for it, whenever they talk to somebody else, in unpremeditated conversation. They’re flowing, in that moment. It’s just a question of how often they can summon that flow.
Keep it going, keep it going.
listen with the body bro
something i wrote from my more detailed notes that i'll just copy paste here
I quite liked the section on improvisation. Over the past half year, I’ve been quite obsessed with what I know as the [artistic] impulse. Some call it the flow state, Jean Klein refers to it as improvisation, but in a more general sense than the artistic impulse. Tapping into it involves letting go of all sorts of mental barriers. An acceptance of improvisation in the passing moments is a cornerstone of the ease of being. We are talking, we are flowing, we are freestyling. Of course, we are all prone to moments of hesitation, but the absence of this ease is immediately apparent: these are the people overthinking the moment, the people pausing far too often for the next word, the people who hate small talk.
This ease exists in everyone. Everyone reaches for it, whenever they talk to somebody else, in unpremeditated conversation. They’re flowing, in that moment. It’s just a question of how often they can summon that flow.
Keep it going, keep it going.
September 23, 2024
Yıllardır kitaplığında duruyordu, birkaç kez de okumayı denedim ama gitmedi, tam da Gestalt ile yakından ilgilendiğim bu dönemde bana yaklaşımları çok benzer geldi ve hızla aktı. Özellikle doğu felsefesi ile ilgilenmelerin çok şey bulacağına eminim, bireysel olarak nasıl pratik yapabileceğinizi de anlatıyor. Tabii konu bırakmak olunca pratikler de alıştığımız metotlar olmuyor ancak denemeye değer. Zamansız farkındalık ve kendini kabul etme, her deneyime açıl olabilme tanımlarını çok beğendim. Anda olabilmek ancak böyle mümkün. Türkçe çevirisi yok ancak İngilizcesi akıcı ve yalın.
November 29, 2025
The book is a profound spiritual guide rooted in Advaita Vedanta, emphasizing a direct path to self-realization beyond mental striving. Readers praise its lyrical depth, simplicity, and invitation to abide in pure awareness, welcoming life without manipulation. Though challenging, it fosters authentic being through non-dual insights and practical presence. Ideal for yoga enthusiasts seeking timeless wisdom on acceptance and the boundless body of existence.
December 16, 2020
After reading a number of Klein's works, all based on his talks, I have received them as superb. The talks are denuded of spirituality jargon and religious dogma. Klein offers a simple but challenging way - for we are socialized otherwise - to live in the spirit of welcome, allowing life to unfold free of manipulation and the true personality - often called elsewhere True Self - to shine forth.
March 13, 2024
Beautiful.
The depth of these words , in simplicity the love shines. Direct, honest, authentic knowing of being.
I enjoyed that Klein addresses the same body as all. Body without borders, an inner or outer. The body of being being all.
I've read many books on non duality, this one walks with truth.
So glad I found it.
The depth of these words , in simplicity the love shines. Direct, honest, authentic knowing of being.
I enjoyed that Klein addresses the same body as all. Body without borders, an inner or outer. The body of being being all.
I've read many books on non duality, this one walks with truth.
So glad I found it.
April 8, 2021
A small and very profound read, as all writing of mr klein, no wonder i have this immense energy after finishing every book of him, god bliss him 🙏
April 28, 2024
Jean Klein is a profound teacher.
February 28, 2022
Un altro libro con le parole di Jean Klein. Qui risponde alle domande dei ricercatori nei dialoghi sulla < via diretta >. Gli incontri registrati hanno avuto luogo in Europa e negli Stati Uniti tra il 1980 e il 1986.
" Esplori, indaghi come si sveglia al mattino e, cosa molto importante, come va a dormire la sera. La notte si liberi sistematicamente di tutte le qualificazioni. "
Titolo originale: The Ease of Being.
Edizione: Manganelli Edizioni; 1987
" Esplori, indaghi come si sveglia al mattino e, cosa molto importante, come va a dormire la sera. La notte si liberi sistematicamente di tutte le qualificazioni. "
Titolo originale: The Ease of Being.
Edizione: Manganelli Edizioni; 1987
January 4, 2020
All’inizio lo odi, poi ti rendi conto che sei dentro al tuo giudizio. Una volta letto vorresti rinascere o semplicemente hai fatto tabula rasa e cominci ad Essere.
June 11, 2023
This book will kill "you" :-)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews