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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Journey of Awakening summary
A Meditator's Guidebook
23 mins
Brief summary
Journey of Awakening is a guide for spiritual seekers by Ram Dass. It explores the nature of consciousness, the ego, and the journey to inner peace and enlightenment.
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Journey of Awakening
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Meditation helps you to live in the present moment and find balance and clarity.
Have you ever had a moment when you felt at peace with the world – a moment totally free of self-conscious thought? It’s like being a surfer who catches a wave and moves in perfect harmony with the force of the water. This is a moment of flow.
People often refer to flow as “losing oneself” or “forgetting oneself.” It can happen when you’re alone or with people you love and trust. These moments – when your anxiety is released and your awareness expands – are the essence of meditation.
Sadly, most of the time, flow evades us – because we’re trapped by our egos.
The key message here is: Meditation helps you to live in the present moment and find balance and clarity.
Think of your ego like a room made of your thoughts – you see the world through its windows. Your ego wants to convince you that your identity depends on staying inside, where everything is familiar and comfortable. Because you’re afraid to leave, your ego can become a prison.
Outside of this prison is where flow exists. The good news is that you don’t have to destroy your ego to spend time outside its walls; you can stroll in and out as you please. How? When you begin a meditation practice, you poke holes in the walls of your ego – which helps you adapt to the idea that your thoughts are not reality.
The purpose of meditation is to help you move outside of your daily thoughts more easily so that you can live fully in the present. But perhaps you’re pursuing the healing powers of meditation halfheartedly, or for ego-driven reasons – like to increase pleasure or power. You secretly hope it won’t work, and you won’t really have to leave your familiar rooms.
Even if your initial goal for meditation is to feed the ego, the practice itself, paradoxically, leads to liberation from ego – if you can overcome your resistance to change. As you meditate more, the stillness allows deeper motives to emerge that encourage you to further your practice – and your thought prison starts to crumble.
When your mind is rooted in awareness, reality is relative. You grow less attached to your thoughts, and stop clinging to feelings – like anger and fear – that make your life difficult. In doing so, you come to see the world differently.
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What is Journey of Awakening about?
Journey of Awakening (1978) is a guide to establishing and solidifying a personal meditation practice. Combining insights from many spiritual traditions, it outlines a path to self-realization through meditation – offering sage advice on how to stay the course through doubt, fear, and ego traps.
Journey of Awakening Review
Journey of Awakening (1978) is a profound exploration of the spiritual journey and the potential for awakening that lies within each of us. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Packed with deep insights and wisdom gained from personal experiences and teachings, it offers a transformative perspective on life's purpose.
- Through personal stories and anecdotes, the book invites readers to reflect on their own spiritual journey and encourages self-discovery.
- With its compassionate and relatable tone, the book makes complex spiritual concepts accessible and engages readers on a profound level.
Who should read Journey of Awakening?
- Spiritually curious thinkers who aren’t sure where to start
- Stressed-out people looking for peace of mind
- Anyone interested in meditation
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Journey of Awakening FAQs
What is the main message of Journey of Awakening?
The main message of Journey of Awakening is to embrace spiritual transformation and find inner peace.
How long does it take to read Journey of Awakening?
The reading time for Journey of Awakening varies, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Journey of Awakening a good book? Is it worth reading?
Journey of Awakening is a worthwhile read for those looking to explore the depths of their spirituality. It offers valuable insights and guidance on the path of self-discovery.
Who is the author of Journey of Awakening?
The author of Journey of Awakening is Ram Dass.
What to read after Journey of Awakening?
If you're wondering what to read next after Journey of Awakening, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Meditation by Osho
- Be Here Now by Ram Dass
- The Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer
- Metahuman by Deepak Chopra
- Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris
- The Buddha and the Badass by Vishen Lakhiani
- Languishing by Corey Keyes
- Live More Think Less by Pia Callesen
- How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
- Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson