The most important thing : discovering truth at the heart of life

Title:

Author:

Adyashanti, author.

ISBN:

9781683641919

Personal Author:

Adyashanti, author.

Physical Description:

viii, 157 pages ; 22 cm

Contents:

What is the most important thing? -- The power of a good question -- What are you in service to? -- The doorway of difficulty -- The intersection of love and grace -- Willingness to trust the unknown -- An element of surprise -- The fundamental realization -- Challenged by the great sorrow of the world -- Vital moments -- Deep wisdom in uncertainty -- Life is a series of unknown moments -- Meeting the buddha on the road -- The dirty little secret of spiritual practice -- Willingness to encounter silence -- The heart of contemplation -- Always already meditating -- When the universe contemplates itself -- Conscious of consciousness -- Know thyself -- You are the total environment -- Experience prior to thought -- Simple joy -- Pristine mind -- Being still -- Exploring birth, life, and death -- You are the buddha -- About the author.

BISAC Subject:

Subject Term:

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Format	Library	Call Number	Status
Book	Searching... South Regional Library	158.1 Ady	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

From esteemed teacher Adyashanti, a collection of writings on the search for the ultimate reality beneath the narrative of our lives

"Our inner lives are every bit as astonishing, baffling, and mysterious as the infinite vastness of the cosmos." --Adyashanti

We all define our lives through the lens of stories. Whether we see ourselves as heroes or victims, good people or bad, everyone lives according to interwoven strands of narrative.

"And yet," teaches Adyashanti, "the truth is bigger than any concept or story."

Drawn from intimate, deep-dive talks, The Most Important Thing presents writings devoted to the search for the ultimate reality of a self that exists beyond the bounds of storytelling.

Here you will find vivid anecdotes and teaching stories that illuminate the felt experience of Adyashanti's teachings--those moments of grace in which every stone, tree, ray of light, and fraught silence reveal that none of us is alone and no one is ever truly isolated from the whole of existence.

These selections consider:

Exploration of the true meaning of birth, life, and death
* Why grace can arrive both through struggle and as an unexpected gift
* Meditation as the art of "listening with one's entire being"
* Why a good question can be far more powerful than a concrete answer
* How the things you choose to serve shape your life
* Discovering the wisdom found in surprise, sadness, and uncertainty
* Embodying your innate and inextricable connection with the total environment
* The nature of ego and the ways it manifests
* The moments of grace upon which all great religions pivot
What is the story of your life? Is it happy or adventurous? Sad or lonely? In The Most Important Thing , Adyashanti shows you how to look past your personal narratives, delve inward, and connect with the truths that fundamentally animate all of us.

Author Notes

Adyashanti
Adyashanti is an American-born spiritual teacher devoted to serving the awakening of all beings. His teachings are an open invitation to stop, inquire, and recognize what is true and liberating at the core of all existence. His books include Emptiness Dancing , The End of Your World , True Meditation , The Way of Liberation , and Falling into Grace .

Asked to teach in 1996 by his Zen teacher of 14 years, Adyashanti offers teachings that are free of any tradition or ideology. "The Truth I point to is not confined within any religious point of view, belief system, or doctrine, but is open to all and found within all." For more information, please visit adyashanti.org.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Adyashanti, author of The Way of Liberation and Falling into Grace, is known for his spiritual-focused teachings that bypass dogma and provide space for readers on a quest for life's truth. His latest work contains thought-provoking essays enriched with spiritual wisdom offering unending grace for all beings seeking a deeper connection. -Adyashanti's words encourage one to pause, listen, and open up to the idea of connecting with one's inner self. Within these essays are illuminating lines providing a fresh lens aimed toward creating an expansive approach to living in the now. VERDICT A highly accessible text delving into various religious traditions with a heavy focus on Zen contemplation. For readers who appreciate the writings of Eckhart Tolle, Michael Singer, and Osho.-Angela Forret, Clive, IA © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Introduction	p. 1
What Is the Most Important Thing?	p. 4
The Power of a Good Question	p. 9
What Are You in Service To?	p. 14
The Doorway of Difficulty	p. 20
The Intersection of Love and Grace	p. 26
Willingness to Trust the Unknown	p. 30
An Element of Surprise	p. 34
The Fundamental Realization	p. 38
Challenged by the Great Sorrow of the World	p. 43
Vital Moments	p. 49
Deep Wisdom in Uncertainty	p. 52
Life Is a Series of Unknown Moments	p. 57
Meeting the Buddha on the Road	p. 63
The Dirty Little Secret of Spiritual Practice	p. 71
Willingness to Encounter Silence	p. 75
The Heart of Contemplation	p. 81
Always Already Meditating	p. 87
When the Universe Contemplates Itself	p. 92
Conscious of Consciousness	p. 98
Know Thyself	p. 107
You Are the Total Environment	p. 112
Experience Prior to Thought	p. 115
The Simple Joy of Being	p. 120
Pristine Buddha Mind	p. 127
Being Still	p. 134
Exploring Birth, Life, and Death	p. 139
You Are the Buddha	p. 149
About the Author	p. 157

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Bound With These Titles

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Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Table of Contents