Sudden Awakening
Into Direct Realization

By Eli Jaxon-Bear

     Eli Jaxon-Bear is a student of Sri H. W. L. Poonja, a teacher of Zen Buddhism, and has become a teacher himself. Though Jaxon-Bear spent eighteen years studying a number of eastern practices with teachers from around the world, he came to the end of his quest at the feet of Poonja, who helped him see what Jaxon-Bear calls his true self. This awakening or self-realization is what Jaxon-Bear teaches today and brings to readers in his latest book, Sudden Awakening: Into Direct Realization.

     Though clearly written from a psychological perspective, it is not the book for the spiritual seeker who wants a road map for life or a list of spiritual practices. The book is for the person who has tried everything else and is searching for what is missing. To Jaxon-Bear, what is missing is knowledge of the true self. This he describes as the ultimate freedom that releases the person from fears and attachments to things and relationships. He leads the reader through a discussion of the nature of the soul and the ego. Once the person lets go of the reality of the self and the reality of existence, then comes the enlightenment of silence and pure love.

    Though these ideas are consistent with the teachings of Buddha, Jaxon-Bear doesn't tell his readers what happens after enlightenment. He does say that there will be repeated tests that challenge this sense of grace, of being nothing in the silence. He doesn't tell readers what to do once they have been awakened or how to live in the world. He does point his readers to the need of a teacher in order not to slip back into the "slavery" of the self.

   With all due respect to Jaxon-Bear, I would only recommend this book to advanced spiritual seekers and those, ironically, with a strong sense of self. Having that strong, inner strength is critical before someone can lose the self spiritually. Also, caution should be taken whenever seeking out a spiritual teacher.