"This book belongs in what may be called the sahaj (or nonarduous) lineage of the direct path of inquiry and is good reading for anyone interested in the awakening life.
Fully Present: Daily Reflections on Nonduality is a candid and moving narrative of the quotidian isness of 365 days, rendered remarkable in their freshness. Recording both the writing life and the phenomenal world (states of mind and body, thought and feeling, the report of the senses) in unpretentious, expressive prose, it celebrates the simple pleasures of the discerning palette, delight in the world of books and music— all of it held in a spacious backdrop of stillness.
Notably, although the personality with its likes and dislikes and memory is registered, this is not the entrenched story of a me— rather, there is simply the noticing of what arises. The journal debunks myths of the spiritual life cherished by seekers who prolong the search, complicate what is simple, and postpone what is here and now."
Gurleen Grewal, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor in English, and Director, Center for India Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa. Click HERE for Dr. Grewal's Web site.
Fully Present: Daily Reflections on Nonduality is a candid and moving narrative of the quotidian isness of 365 days, rendered remarkable in their freshness. Recording both the writing life and the phenomenal world (states of mind and body, thought and feeling, the report of the senses) in unpretentious, expressive prose, it celebrates the simple pleasures of the discerning palette, delight in the world of books and music— all of it held in a spacious backdrop of stillness.
Notably, although the personality with its likes and dislikes and memory is registered, this is not the entrenched story of a me— rather, there is simply the noticing of what arises. The journal debunks myths of the spiritual life cherished by seekers who prolong the search, complicate what is simple, and postpone what is here and now."
Gurleen Grewal, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor in English, and Director, Center for India Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa. Click HERE for Dr. Grewal's Web site.
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Excerpt from Fully Present
Friday, January 15
A word about the diary's title. It comes from Chapter 45 in Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, which reads, in part:
True perfection seems imperfect,
Yet it is perfect itself.
True fullness seems empty,
Yet it is fully present.
These words beautifully point to the fact that it is not "me" who has become unconditionally present. But rather, there is simply the presence of awareness itself. Indeed, there is the seeing and understanding that awareness has always been unrestrictedly there. The body and mind are merely appearances in that awareness, and therefore quite secondary (which is not to discount their marvels and uniquenesses). And ultimately, of course, the body/mind too is nothing but presence.
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News & Info
Fully Present is now available at the superb Powell's Bookstore, in Portland, Oregon.
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Fiona Robertson interviews Rodney on Nic Higham's NONDUALITY NETWORK!
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And click HERE to purchase Fully Present at Barnes & Noble.
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And go HERE for the press release for Fully Present.
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For Tami Brady's review of Fully Present in TCM Reviews, go HERE.
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"Fully Present is an elegant addition to the growing literature on nonduality as it is being uncovered, lived and understood in the modern West."
--Philip Goldberg, author of the best-selling American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation--How Indian Spirituality Changed the West. Philip's Web site can be found at www.philipgoldberg.com.
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"Rodney Stevens opens his daily life and thoughts to us in these immensely natural and pleasant ramblings of one who is fully engaged in life, love, nonduality, and cinnamon muffins."
--Catherine Ann Jones, award-winning screenwriter, spiritual workshop leader, and author of The Way of the Story: The Craft and Soul of Writing. Her Web site is www.wayofstory.com
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Rodney is also the author of A Vastness All Around: Awakening to Your Natural State, a powerful and elegant collection of essays, discussions, interviews, and powerful pointers. It can be ordered directly from the publisher at Lulu Press.
Feel free to read a review of the Kindle Edition of Vastness on Amazon.
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Nonduality Magazine has published a discussion with Rodney about his work and book. The extensive and wide-ranging interview was done by John LeKay, the magazine's editor.
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"I like your approach in A Vastness All Around. The stories, thoughts and vignettes of your life seem wonderful ways to make people stop and pay attention to where they actually are right now, rather than in some imagined past or future. They show that you don't have to be some specially qualified person, preferably with a title and a name in Sanskrit, to pursue the spiritual quest. Your message comes across particularly well in such pieces as 'Sheerness of Being.'"
--Valerie J. Roebuck, Ph.D., Honorary Research Fellow, University of Manchester (England)
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I am now doing phone consultations via Skype! Each conversation will take about an hour, and a $25 donation will be greatly appreciated.
I am also scheduling teaching events at this time. If you would like to arrange something in your area, you may email me at: writerguy (at) fastmail (dot) fm
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This blog is generally updated every Sunday afternoon, Eastern Standard Time.
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