Demystifying Awakening: A Buddhist Path of Realization, Embodiment, and Freedom

by Stephen Snyder

See the potential that is within each of us—the realization and embodiment of our true nature.

With Demystifying Awakening, senior meditation teacher Stephen Snyder skillfully marks the subtle path of the Awakening process. With loving care, personal examples, and gentle suggestions, Stephen plants the seeds of practice and meditation by:
- explaining Awakening in an accessible way that draws on Zen and Theravada Buddhist traditions;
- guiding readers through more than thirty foundational and advanced meditations and practices that support each step on the path of realization;
- offering advice for identifying and working with resistances to Awakening; and
- encouraging the embodiment and lived expression of realization through an exploration of the pāramīs, the Buddhist perfections of behavior.

Demystifying Awakening transmits a practice path for Awakening in this lifetime.

Genres: Meditation, Buddhism

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2022

About the author

Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi, began practicing daily meditation in 1976.Since then, he has studied Buddhism extensively—investigating and engaging in Zen, Tibetan, Theravada, and Western nondual traditions. He was authorized to teach in the Theravada Buddhist tradition in 2007 and in the Zen Buddhist schools of Sōtō and Rinzai in 2022. Stephen is a senior student of Mark Sando Mininberg, Roshi, and a transmitted teacher in the White Plum Asanga—the body of teachers in the Maezumi-Roshi lineage.

Stephen’s resonant and warmhearted teaching style engages students around the globe through in-person and online retreats, as well as one-on-one coaching. He encourages students to turn toward their true nature and, with realization of their true nature, embody their true identity. Stephen is the author of five books, including Liberating the Self, Trust in Awakening, Demystifying Awakening, and Buddha’s Heart. He coauthored Practicing the Jhānas. For more information, visit awakeningdharma.org.

Reviews

[Ihor Kolesnyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Як для вчителя медитації із багаторічним досвідом практики, ця книга вийшла дуже громіздкою. Тут усе одразу: тхеравада, дзен, ваджраяна, кеншьо, саторі, ваджрне тіло, татгагатагарбга, Абсолют, Пробудження, Припинення, універсалії, боротьба із еґо, супер-еґо.. Припускаю, що ця книга повністю перекриває читачам потребу у власній практиці, помилках і відмінних інтерпретаціях власних історій із медитацією.
І ще один момент.. у назві йдеться про демістифікацію пробудження, але у тексті більше про ре-містифікацію або звичайну інтерпретацію релігійних доктрин. Так і не побачив прозорості понять, прикладів із звичайного людського життя (навіть бгікку людина!).. Але у певних моментах були і позитивні враження, наприклад згадка суто практична, що певні ефекти (дг'яни) досягаються однаково увагою до дихання і практиками метти. Тут мій досвід схожий.

[Polina Borisova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of Stephen Snyder's books. Demystifying Awakening is a resplendent map of the contemplative paths, written with the authority and intimacy of someone who has traveled every inch of the way. The chapter on formless realms is just exquisite - a powerful description of the territory that is every bit as expansive as the awareness it points toward. It is the kind of writing that could only come from a true master. Beyond that, the chapter on the paramis and character development really got me. His description of patience in particular felt like a mirror. It helped me see the importance of being patient with your own deepening on the path and recognizing that we're not in control of how that process unfolds. I also really appreciated reading the sections about Stephen's own journey, the big realizations and also the hard parts. What makes Stephen Snyder so rare as a teacher is that he is both a complete master and utterly sincere - and this book really reflects that.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational. The author mixes both Zen and Theravada traditions. I have the feeling that the Awakening (I guess it's known as insight knowledges in Theravada) is more Zen oriented. The formlessness practice is mostly recognizable Theravada though. I got this book expecting to read something similar to the Theravada Awakening described as the path of insight as in Manual of Insight by Mahasi Sayadaw, since it's the method/stages of development of wisdom that I am familiar with. So this book doesn't correlate directly to my current practice, but inspirational, especially the author's personal story and experience.

[Tom Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great meditation & life practice guide. Snyder has walked the Buddhist path in both Theravada and Mahayana. He is one of my favourite contemporary spiritual teachers.

[Thomas Zegray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I am already on the path this book cemented my beliefs that Buddhism is the best or only path for me. This book is excellent for beginners and knowledgeable teachers...