If you are looking for something that goes right to the edge - and falls over it - then Jeff Foster may be just the answer! He consistently turns everything upside down so that one sees all one's ingrained concepts of spirituality, awakening or enlightenment blown into atoms.
Jeff Foster belongs to a younger generation of non-duality teachers. He graduated in astrophysics in 2001 and as it is being phrased on his website, he "awoke from the dream of separation" after two years of searching. Jeff has his base in the UK, but as you will see from his list of scheduled events, he travels extensively in both Europe and the United States to give meetings and seminars.
Jeff Foster clearly adheres to the general framework of non-duality and frequently makes use of its terminology. That being said, I have nowhere seen him indicate that he belongs to any lineage of non-duality/advaita teachers or masters, be it Nisargadatta Maharaj or anybody else. Which is also entirely immaterial, as far as I am concerned. To me, it is the power and consistency of Jeff's teaching that makes the difference. He never seems to compromise with conventional concepts such as "enlighthenment" or "awakening". And like the other teachers of non-duality mentioned in this blog, he ever so often points to the futility and meaninglessness of spiritual searching.
There are several books and DVD's with Jeff Foster available and you can find information on all of it on his already mentioned website. There, you also have access to interviews with Jeff for free download. In the excellent book "An Extraordinary Absence", you can read Jeff's moving story of his personal process right from being on the verge of suicide to awakening and clarity. The subtitle "Liberation in the Midst of a Very Ordinary Life" strikes the fundamental note of the book from the very beginning. It is a gigantic illusion that there should be any prerequisites for liberation! It is utterly unimportant whether our life is "glorious" or not.
Hi Poul,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you wrote about Jeff Foster;nevertheless there are still subtle carrots in what Jeff says,such as the constant refering to Love or uncunditional love,or the story of his awakening,or how he behaves now,etc...and that is what the seeker longs for!Tony Parsons sells an enegetic shift that has to happen for you to enter in the "liberated ones club",others have others subtle carrots in their pocket;but why not? only if taken seriously it is problematic! warm regards,Jérôme
Even in non duality there still is duality. There has to be. Everything arises from nothing, including non duality and duality and all the many carrots that follow! The key (a carrot) is to play and have fun in the knowing and the unknowing.
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