THE MOST DIRECT MEANS TO ETERNAL BLISS

From the Introduction chapter of the book..."11.It is possible to be free of all sorrow and sufferingand to experience absolutely perfect infinite eternal joyhere and now in this lifetime.12.It is possible for all humans,not just a few humans.13.There is a rapid means toinfinite bliss.14. That rapid means is taught in this book."This book is unique contribution. It is an 'Instruction manual for enligtenment'. It contains extremely practical step by step instruction to the 'direct experience of reality'. The first three chapters are devoted to understanding the ego and tricks of the ego and how it keeps one from waking up. These chapters are extremely insightful and I personally found it very useful. One of the several ego's tricks which I Identified in myself after reading the book was a preference to engage in endless reading and discussion instead of devoting time for actual practise. Then there is a chapter on the importance of the 'desire for liberation' and how it can dissolve all obstacles to enlightenment. There is a chapter devoted to 'how to awaken the extreme desire for liberation' which is also very insightful. There are two meditation practises offered for daily practise as the 'most rapid and direct means to direct experience of reality'. The first one is the 'Awareness Watching Awareness'(AWA) method, and the second one is the 'Abandon Release Method' (ARM). According to the author AWA is the most rapid and ARM is the second most rapid method. These two methods alone are worth the value of the book. There is an extremely useful chapter on further clarification on 'Awareness watching awareness' method which addresses all possible doubts or questions one might have during the practise. The author gives very practical tips and pointers to address any questions which might cloud the meditator's mind during practise.E.G. from chapter eight..."10. Don't expect any type of experience.11. If you are wondering if you will have some kindof spiritual experience, then that very wondering meansyou have added something to awareness watching awareness.12.Never add anything to awareness watching awareness.13. The key is to be content just watchingyour awareness and not to move from thatand not to add anything to that...165. Don't expect any of the experiences described in this chapter.Expectation will destroy the effectiveness of the practice.166. If it seems boring the first few times you try theawareness watching awareness practice, that is OK.Continue to practice."Initially when I started practising AWA, I found it to be quite difficult. Then I took the authors suggestion in the book and practised ARM first for a few months and then swithed to AWA. It has been about two years since I started practising seriously and the results are amazing, I can definitely say that I am on the right track. The following quotes are from chapter 6."67. From the very first moment one tries this practice,one is abiding as awareness!68. There is no waiting!69. It is so easy.70. This is not meant to implythat from the beginning the ego ends.71. It takes years of continuous practicebefore the ego meets its final end.72. However, from the moment one tries this simple,easy to understand practice, one is abiding as awareness!""There are also several supplementary methods which are not meant for daily pracise but can be pracised once or twise to get a deeper understanding of the primary method. There is also a chapter titled 'reminder' which is meant to be read everyday to motivate one to practise the methods every day. There is a chapter titled "Experiences, the Journey and the Final Goal" which is a new addition in the latest edition of the book; This is the biggest chapter in the book and bound to be a big source of inspiration for everyone.Well how does one know whether this is infact the 'most direct means to liberation'? Quoting the author from chapter 6."123. The only way to find out if the Awareness Watching AwarenessMethod is or is not effective for you is to practice it.124. If without trying it, you come to the conclusionthat it will not be effective, then you have allowed the imposter (thinking)to rob you of a great opportunity125. With thinking you have a conclusion, an opinionor an assumption that may be correct or may not be correct.126. With practice you will know for surewhether the Awareness Watching Awareness Methodis or is not effective for you.127. Therefore, consider giving ita sincere, fair try."In my case, the unconditional joy and bliss that is starting to fill my being and is deepening with each practise session is enough confirmation that the AWA method really works.Very Highly Recommended!Edit: Recently the author also posted a free voice lesson, which I find to be quite powerful and transformative. I am not sure if Amazon would let me post the link here, but you can find it by searching for "Michael Langford Lesson one" on youtube.

I have hesitated for a long time on writing a review of this book but finally, after four years, decided to do so.The reason I hesitated to write anything on the book is because I believe the author is sincere and his teachings as expressed in this book are based on his personal experience. The book contains so much valuable guidance, expressed in a pithy and informative manner, that many seekers could receive much of value to help them on their journey home. I don't want to detract from any of this. I believe the author wrote from a place of sincerity that what he has found in his own experience is valuable for others, too. I respect his.However, there is something else that comes through in this book which I do not find so helpful. That is what I term black and white thinking. I, too, have a personal history with these teachings and many of the teachers. I was in India in 2004 and spent time with a man whom I believe was awake. He was authorized by Nisargadatta to teach along with one other student. After I returned to the US I noticed that my life and my experience of it had markedly changed. I do not claim personal awakening in this sense. However, like many of you, I have tasted a tiny bit of this I am awareness and the vast ocean of who and what we really are beyond the ego masquerading as us. There are many other examples, as we all have.In the 70's I met a German Buddhist monk who spoke on Buddhism. He called it The Onlyest Way. Not just the Only Way but the Only-est Way. This book's title, The Most Direct Means to Eternal Bliss, is cut from the same cloth. I call it black and white thinking. My way or the highway. The whole book reeks of this thinking. This is the only way, there is no other way. If you don't choose this way you will choose suffering and hell.It reminds me of the noxious ranting of some Fundamentalist Bible thumping backwoods preacher.Spend every waking second focusing on I am awareness or else.The author is absolutely convinced that this book is unlike anything else and merits attention that no other teaching ever has merited. I quote from Chapter 13, verses 89-90 " 89.For the first time in human history a spiritual book has dealt with and exposed in detail the tricks of the ego; their extent, their cause and the solution, without any ego contamination or non-essentials. 90.This book has created a spiritual revolution. At the beginning, only a small number will see this. In the years ahead many will see this."I find it embarrassing to even read such drivel. There is absolutely no way Nisargadatta, Ramana Maharshi, other teachers would ever say such things. To label those who do not accept this 100% ( as the author does in Ch.13, verses 86-87) as "spiritually immature, lack intelligence, discernment, sincerity, discrimination, or the ability to perceive subtle differences" is pathetic and not the mark of a true teacher, in my own experience.I, too, claim some experience in such matters. Such language pollutes the entire book.This take no prisoners approach of this author is so fear based, so rigid that it threatens to derail the entire affair.My suggestion is as follows. Buy this book. Read it and pick one of the exercises to do. Disregard the black and white, rigid thinking. Let your personal, non-goal oriented ( ie.non- ego based) experience from I am awareness guide you.You are It. You do not have to find It. You already are It but your thoughts tell you otherwise. Just settle into your I am awareness. The book contains several useful exercises for this.Do not think about your experiences. Just know that All is Well whether you believe it or not. You can keep your eyes open or closed when you sit with I am awareness. You can walk with It. It is you regardless of the situation. I focus on this awareness when I am driving my car to work, during the entire work day, when I am with patients ( I am a physician), when I am eating, etc.It is the most real experience I know of.Do not try to find It. Let It find you, as it were.It is 100% here for you now and always. Always has been, always will be. It is the white background upon which the words of the book are printed, as it were. The eternal backdrop. Don't focus on the words. Focus on the unchanging backdrop, so to speak.Be very gentle with yourself in all of this. Very, very sweet and gentle.Think of the person or pet you most love, the one who brings a smile to your face. This will take you into your heart center From this place, ask I am awareness for help, for guidance, for immediate direction. It will always help you. It is the Satguru, the inner teacher, as well as everything else.When you find yourself frustrated, stop and take a break. Go to your heart center and pause. Ask to experience Who am I awareness, that which is constant, the I am awareness that is knowing I am awareness. It is not a feeling, a thought, an anything you can point to. It is without any qualification. It is you, the real you. Just relax and let It Be as It already is. Nothing else. Just This without any qualification or distinction whatsoever.This is not a religion in spite of the author's name for his press, Freedom Religion Press. We do not need more religions in this world.Do not ever compare yourself with me or the author or anyone else. That is not at all helpful. Your own personal experience is 100% valid. Let it guide you.Use this book as a helpful reference, not as a Bible with its numbered verses and chapters.It is a useful tool but never forget that you are already home but sometimes you are unaware of that.All is well regardless of what the mind may ever suggest.The very fact that you have come this far is proof positive that All is well and that you are on the right path.

This man is a blessing to us all, no doubt. He is brave and admirable in his search for true self.However, some of the text will put people off, because he recommends sitting or 'watching your own awareness' from anything from 2 hours up to 12 hours, in the search for your true self. Most people have not got this time and I understand that if you are searching for 'God', then you need to be practising peace. The thing is, peace is found by delving into the daily challenges of life, not by becoming a recluse, it is not ideal for people who want to balance their 'spirituality' with every day working lives. You've got to 'live' for God as well as sit down and be peaceful. If God wanted you to sit down all day and meditate, you'd probably be a monk or a nun, if you're not a monk or nun, then try balancing your peace in daily activities. The way to God is accepting the Holy Spirit's challenges throughout the day, not by hiding yourself away from them.  An eSpirit's Guide: 37 Steps To Finding Yourself In A World Of Chaos (Ps. Sssshhhhhh! Without Becoming a Recluse, a Monk or a Nun)  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Get-Satisfaction-Intuition-Relationships/dp/0956805647/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452090612&sr=8-2&keywords=steven+burgess An eSpirit's Guide: 37 Steps To Finding Yourself In A World Of Chaos (Ps. Sssshhhhhh! Without Becoming a Recluse, a Monk or a Nun)

This is not a regular book. The title explains its contents. It is a book that is a gateway to the SELF. Very well thought out, clear and clean. The author could not have writen this except from his own experience and is giving this experience to the reader. It is excellent.

if you read one book in your life, make it this one. now I just need the courage to follow the instructions

This book has some very interesting points in it. It is not a book I would personally recomend as either a life changer or a great read, however some points have stayed with me, little pieces of the puzzle called life if you like. So if you are buying more than one book & have a few pennies to spare definatly worth a read. Gnostics will probably get alot from this. However for a more live changing book I recomend "Freedom from the Known" by J. Krishhnamurti.

One could easily make the mistake of quickly judging this as unsophisticated and worthless rantings/ramblings. It is hard to explore the background and credibility of the book as little 'colour' appears available on author or history.However for those who are seeking happiness/nirvana/enlightenment/freedom/peace/etc this book is interesting and potentially very valuable. It offers some genuinely interesting alternative views and thinking.One common thread is how the ego fights for survival, and fools us with false posturing. Another is attaining "infinite-eternal-awareness-love-bliss", including through a state of 'my awareness watching my awareness'.