Though based on the ancient wisdom and knowledge of Vedanta, it comes as a breath of fresh air. A biased outlook may regard this information as old and musty, but the modern perspective display’s a new approach to this gleaming and invaluable treasure.

Any worldly and material knowledge is incomplete, for it is merely a miniscule part of the whole Universe. But self-knowledge, which emphasizes oneness and the non-dual, presents knowledge which is complete and whole.

This book goes through the entire gamut of topics covered by the Vedas, making use of yoga, detachment, the ego, karma, dharma, love, meditation and much more, to bring about an inner growth, wherein is visible the enlightened and luminous self.

—East and West Magazine

In the introduction James Swartz states that these are not the philosophy, beliefs or opinions of himself or that of some mythical sage but the ancient science of knowledge.

In that respect you are not going to learn it all in one reading, you need to treat it as a reference book, as a bible of self knowledge, therefore, you will need to go back to it time and again to assimilate and digest the concepts involved. The book is subtitled The Vision of Nonduality, that is the combination of object and subject that merge into one experience that is going to last for some time.

If I have any criticism of this excellent book it is that I expected a full chapter on what this concept actually meant, however, it is fully explained throughout the book. It is important to grasp this principle in the early on in the book in order to fully understand the following chapters.

I like the way the book explains the means by which we acquire knowledge, the qualifications needed and the obstructions that existence within ourselves and the society in which we live. James Swartz makes a point in many other spiritual philosophies that we need to deal with the ego to achieve any state of enlightenment or be of any use to others. The book is not all philosophy; there is a very useful chapter on practicing meditation practice.

There are two things that puts this book in the realms of ‘reality’ by anyone’s perception of what that means are firstly, lifestyle and in particular diet and lifestyle. On these issues James Swartz offers some very sound advice from a spiritual perspective that can really help people live a full and active life particularly in their later years. He makes the point that enlightenment is not just in the mind, you have to live it and do it as a fundamental human right.

The second, is the concept of ‘enlightenment sickness’ a symptom of this is where people feel the need to” live the wisdom of love each moment”. What made me smile was the comment, “If you believe that your words are gospel and that your deeds, whether or not they correspond to common sense and reason or whether they are in harmony with dharma and tradition, are a teaching stratagem, you need help.”

This book or what I would describe as an enlightenment seekers bible is essential reading for anyone going down a spiritual path, for it is both enlightening and grounding. I am pleased that I received this book for review as it is something that I will read many times over. 5 stars and highly recommended.

—Trevor Mayes, owner and founder of The New Age Blog

Sentient Publications presents its next best-seller, How to Attain Enlightenment – the Vision of Nonduality by acclaimed author James Schwartz, who offers his ample wisdom on the ancient teachings of “Vedanta”.

In Hinduism, Vedanta is a system of philosophy that further develops the connotation in the philosophies that add to the theology of ancient Hinduism.

In his first chapter, Inquiry into Object Happiness Schwartz holds the key to what it means to discover enlightenment… rather, a higher sense of awareness and consciousness to receive guidance and be in unison with the power of the Universe:

“What we call reality is governed by the uncertainly principle,” writes Schwartz, “Because our source of food, animal or vegetable, is unconcerned about our need to survive, we are forced to either pursue it or cultivate it. Shelter does not simply happen on its own but requires effort to obtain.” The same principle holds true in what he further elaborates that even when material needs have been met, individuals often find that they are still not completely fulfilled or satisfied in their lives – this is where having and maintaining a state of Vedanta helps soul seekers to be at one with the self and with the Universe, regardless of life circumstances.

If you are on a quest for wisdom and are ready to manifest a heightened state of consciousness so that you can become liberated and freed from the limitations that negate your personal and spiritual happiness, then gain the knowledge you need that Schwartz offers in his book How to Attain Enlightenment through a vast array of teachings, meditations, and more.

—CarolAnnB

View a video version of the review on YouTube.

Would you like to learn how to attain enlightenment? Well regardless of the semantics of whether enlightenment is something to be attained, welcome to the enlightenmentdudes.com review of How to Attain Enlightenment by James Swartz.

This really is a handbook of enlightenment. He covers what enlightenment is not, such as not an experiential state, and then gets into what enlightenment is. He talks about qualifications, or a background of spiritual maturity the seeker needs to have. And he explains what self inquiry really is.

Swartz also spends time debunking enlightenment myths and exposing the inaccuracy of the teachings of neo-advaita (primarily western) instant enlightenment spiritual teachers.

The book reminded me of how it is to enter a relationship. It started off well, but then you reach a point where you ask yourself whether you want to go on. There was a period where I was wondering what kind of point he was trying to make and if it was actually going anywhere. Like weathering a relationship through the tough times, I went on, and I’m glad it did.

Swartz is very funny in parts of the book, and it was refreshing to see a guy write in a fashion that uses descriptive terms that don’t have you reading the words consciousness, awareness or pure being in every paragraph. There are too many spiritual books full of that crap, and Swartz is a very pleasant departure from that.

The writer has a very keen understanding of self inquiry and other methods on the spiritual path, and he discusses the benefits of each. Swartz spent considerable time in India learning self-inquiry and has a chapter dedicated to questions about Ramana Maharshi. Swartz’s teacher was not a Ramana follower so there are areas where he differentiates from Ramana. He also discusses how one’s lifestyle has a major impact on enlightenment and he differentiates terms awakening and enlightenment as being two different things.

Overall, if you can get through the slow parts, this is an excellent and comprehensive book. You’ll realize when you get through it that slow parts actually were part of a plan and have importance. Enlightenmentdudes.com highly recommends this book, and gives it an 8 out of 10 on our infinity scale.

—Enlightenmentdudes.com

How to Attain Enlightenment explains and focuses on Vedanta, the science of self-inquiry, and considers the myths behind the state of enlightenment and its connections to happiness. The ancient teachings of Vedanta form a foundation of knowledge and practice that has questioned the nature of reality itself, and this survey of love, lifestyle, experience and more offers a fine survey perfect for new age libraries.

—Midwest Book Review

The Vision of Nonduality explains methods of Vedanta in his survey of spiritual techniques, pairing theory with practice and explaining the myths and realities behind an enlightened state. From reflections on moving to a larger living space and clutter to assimilating experiences, How to Attain Enlightenment is a powerful survey any new age library needs.

—The Bookwatch