Nothing Personal
Seeing Beyond The illusion Of A Separate Self
By Nirmala
Reviewed by Dennis L. Trunk
Note: Since the time when this review was written, Nothing Personal has become available in a new expanded edition. Part One is available as a free download in PDF file format from Satsang with Nirmala.
"There is no God higher than the truth," said Mahatma Gandhi. And Nirmala's Zen teacher, Adyashanti, seems to agree. In his brief foreword to this collection of Nirmala's talks and dialogues, Adyashanti explains that "Telling the truth is the secret of all true spirituality, and in order to tell the truth, you must find out what truth is." He then sums up Nirmala's primary message and teaching method for finding the truth: "inquire deeply within to the core of who and what you are."
And what you are, as the book's title hints, is nothing personal, because the truth is beyond the illusion of a separate self. What you are is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the whole truth. The truth of wholeness versus the falsehood of separation is a persistent theme pervading the collection. Nirmala emphasizes repeatedly that belief in separation is the primary misunderstanding which constantly distracts truth-seekers from seeing the ever-present whole truth.
Adyashanti continues: "The beauty of this collection...is that it covers much of the spectrum of spiritual awakening, from the initial experience of one's true nature to the practical challenges, which always call for a deeper seeing and deeper understanding of how spirit manifests as all of life and beyond." That is Buddhist wisdom. Although there are some who say that enlightenment can't be deepened, that depends on what they mean by enlightenment. As Nirmala says, awakening is different than liberation. The tendency to identify continues after awakening, although greatly weakened, and can be met with compassionate understanding and deepening discovery of one's nature. He offers a variety of subtle spiritual practices for inquiring and seeing the truth all about you in every moment and, most importantly, accepting it. First, you find the truth through inquiry; then you stay with it until you rest in it; then you fall deeply in love with it.
And falling in love is inclusive of everything. Another beauty of this collection is that Nirmala does not attempt to reject anything that arises in consciousness by "hiding out in the Absolute." As he says, accepting the whole truth means that nothing matters and everything matters: "The goal of spiritual life is not to transcend the world or be done with it but to bring the Absolute to the suffering of the world." Again, that is Buddhist wisdom, and it is also genuine compassion. It deserves to be written in golden letters.
Besides wisdom, you will find honesty and humor in these talks. In one story Nirmala relates about himself, the humor arises from honest self-recognition. When he becomes repeatedly angry with himself over the inadvertent loss of an opportunity, he decides to go into the feeling. What he finds is that he is actually enjoying his anger. From that time forward, he sees his anger in a new light; it has become humorous and lovable.
The story might seem minor, but, along with other portions of the text, it reveals something very important about the Heart of Being: that which we truly are radiates joy in existence itself and for its own sake, and it enjoys equally all that it experiences. Joy, totally unconditional and independent of any cause, is the permanent, innate expression of being. It might reveal itself in many ways. It might peek out suddenly as a warm presence, shining as quietly and naturally as the sun appearing from behind clouds. The revelation may have a touch of humor about it, too, stirring an intuition that all the events of your life, no matter how pleasurable or painful, are your own creations and are rooted in joy. As if a joke is being played, the revelation may expose the most somber of daily affairs as nothing more than a creative amusement.
This book points to that which we truly are - the already present and permanent source of joy and happiness, the Heart of Being.
Published by Endless Satsang Press, 2001
$15.00 U.S. for paperback version.
Part 1 of Nothing Personal is a free download in PDF file format.
Two Excerpts From The Book
Finding What Doesn't Come And Go and Nothing Personal
About Nirmala
Nirmala is a student of Neelam and Adyashanti and has been influenced by Ramana Maharshi and Sri Poonja. He offers Advaita satsang around the U.S. and Canada as a celebration of the possibility in every moment of realizing the truth of who we are.
For More Information
Satsang recordings and books, including Nothing Personal: Seeing Beyond the Illusion of a Separate Self, can be purchased from Satsang with Nirmala. Also, several e-books, including Nothing Personal (Part One) and Gifts with No Giver, can be downloaded for free. Nirmala is available for phone consultations by emailing him at nirmalanow@aol.com.
Copyright © 1999-2009
Dennis L. Trunk
All Rights Reserved
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