Enlightenment has been eagerly sought for generations as a means to remove the limitations that compromise one's happiness. Vedanta, the science of self-inquiry, has been described as the grandfather of all enlightenment traditions. Author James Swartz explains and unfolds the methods of Vedanta in his direct style, while unraveling the myths and mysteries behind the enlightened state. Qui How to Attain Enlightenment does not simply present one more set of spiritual techniques; it presents a comprehensive body of knowledge and practice that has successfully directed the inquiry into the nature of reality by untold thousands of enlightened beings.
The ancient teachings of Vedanta, once available only to those who could receive them directly from the sages of India, are now accessible to anyone with a hunger for freedom and enlightenment.
Introduction xi
1 Inquiry into Object Happiness 1
Security, Pleasure and Virtue 1
Subject and Object 3
Limitation of Object Happiness 5
Removing the Wall 5
Object Happiness Not Permanent 7
A Zero-Sum Game 7
The Fourth Pursuit - Freedom from Limitation 8
2 What is Enlightenment? 3
The Path of Experience 9
The Path of Knowledge 15
The Value of a Means of Knowledge 20
Enlightenment Myths 21
No Mind, Blank Mind, Empty Mind, Stopped Mind 22
No Ego, Ego Death 24
Nirvana 27
The Now 28
Experience of Oneness 30
Transcendental State 31
Enlightenment as Eternal Bliss 32
Levels of Enlightenment 33
Enlightenment Is a Special Status 38
Enlightenment as Energy 39
Fulfillment of All Desires 40
3 The Means of Knowledge 42
What Self Inquiry Is Not 43
Importance of a Teacher 63
Listening, Reflecting, Contemplating 64
4 Qualifications 68
An Open Mind 70
A Reasonable Mind 70
A Discriminating Mind 71
A Dispassionate Mind 72
A Disciplined, Observant Mind 73
Self Duty 75
A Patient, Forbearing Mind 76
A Balanced Mind 76
A Motivated Mind 77
A Believing Mind 78
A Devoted Mind 79
A Masculine Temperament 79
The Teacher 80
The Grace of God 84
5 The Self 85
6 Obstructions 91
Extroversion of Mind 91
The Causal Body 97
Microcosmic Ignorance 101
The Subtle Body 102
Ego and the Inner Enemies 104
The Separation 104
Desire 105
Inner Conflict 105
7 Inquiry Into Karma and Dharma 107
There Is No Doer 107
The Factors Involved in Action 108
Knowledge Causes Karma 109
Action in Inaction and Inaction in Action 111
Karma and Dharma 113
Three Kinds of Karma 119
Karma, Vasanas and Reincarnation 120
8Inquiry into Practice 123
Karma Yoga 131
9 Love 139
Special Relationships 139
The Soul Mate 141
Marriage 142
A Different Kind of Marriage 143
Converting Emotion into Devotion 145
Spiritual Practice and Psychological Work 147
Devotion 147
Karma Yoga as Devotion 154
Devotional Dispositions 154
Devotional Conversion Identities 158
Primary Devotion 162
10 The Assimilation of Experience 165
The Ropes 165
Enlightenment and the Assimilation of Experience 169
How Can I Get a Pure Mind? 180
The Value of Values 185
11 Lifestyle 191
People, Food, Sex and Money 191
Money 192
Sex 193
Diet and Lifestyle 197
The Rajas-Tamas Complex 201
12 Knowledge Yoga 215
The Methodology of Inquiry 220
The Practice of Knowledge 221
Cause and Effect 224
The Real and the Apparent 226
Essential and Non-Essential 228
Change and Changelessness 229
Subject-Object 230
The Three States 231
The Five Sheaths 236
Why There Is Only You 238
The Location of Experience 239
Nothing Ever Happened 240
The Opposite Thought 242
Name and Form 246
The Mirror of Awareness 246
Something to Work Out 247
13 Meditation 248
The Arrested Mind 250
Happy Thoughts 250
Mantra Meditation 251
Insight Meditation 252
The Gap 253
Meditation Practice 254
An Excellent Technique 255
The Breath 256
The Silence 257
14 After and Beyond Enlightenment 260
Pseudo-Enlightenment or Enlightenment Sickness 261
The Liberated Person 266
More or Less Enlightened? 270
Beyond Enlightenment 272
15 The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi 274
16 Neo-Advaita 304
Multi-Path Confusion 305
Ramana Maharshi, Osho, Papaji and the Rise of Neo-Advaita 306
Neo-Advaita Versus Traditional Vedanta 307
No Teacher, Seeker, Path, Knowledge or Ignorance 309
Being Present, Dropping Suffering 309
Qualifications for Enlightenment 311
I Am Not the Doer 311
Importance of Karma Yoga for Self Inquiry 312
Devotion to God 313
Where's the Methodology? 314
Seeking Emotional Fulfillment 316
About the Author 319
Overview
Enlightenment has been eagerly sought for generations as a means to remove the limitations that compromise one's happiness. Vedanta, the science of self-inquiry, has been described as the grandfather of all enlightenment traditions. Author James Swartz explains and unfolds the methods of Vedanta in his direct style, while unraveling the myths and mysteries behind the enlightened state. Qui How to Attain Enlightenment does not simply present one more set of spiritual techniques; it presents a comprehensive body of...