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Summary: Change YOur Life
Review: This book can change your life. Although De Mello's emphasis is spirituality, it deals with cognitive issues. His approach is practical & straight forward. I am a counselor & his ideas dovetail into the theory of Albert Ellis, who is an atheist!
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Summary: Wake up call in late afternoon
Review: Whenever I want to move someone from spiritual laziness and try to give him/her direction to spiritual path I give them this book as a gift. It is sure eye opener and beleif shaterer. It cuts through our masks and our maya with scalpel precisity. It is not always pleasent feeling but sure it is neccesary. So if you are at start of spiritual path read this book, and if you are somewhere near the path read it to remind yourself of some important things.
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Summary: Awareness
Review: This book is a must read for anyone who needs enlightenment. It helped me when I was going through a hard break up and it made me understand things the way they are and I appreciate myself and myself worth.
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Summary: Simply profound
Review: A very good friend of mine handed me this book during a difficult time in my life. That was six years ago, and since then I have read and re read it many times. DeMello's words are simple and profound and changed things for me. The messages bring perspective, clarity and a sense of grounded-ness. I have since given this book to many friends and family.
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Summary: sweet and profound
Review: This is a sweet and funny and profound book which warmed up my heart and consistently made me laugh. De Mello was a universally respected Jesuit priest who managed to go far beyond the orthodox catholic dogma and into the very heart of spiritual alivennes and connectedness. Several centuries earlier a similar attempt was made by Loyola, another Jesuit troublemaker; however, in A., DeMello dispenses with the extraneous mumbo jumbo and goes straight to the heart of the matter. God is presence itself and through awareness we are simultaneously connected to who we truly are and to the sacredness of all life. De Mello reminds us time and again of this simple yet profound truth; i especially admire his skilfull use of anecdote and parable, which reminds me of another great spiritual teacher... Perhaps it is not coincidental that De Mello lived and worked in Goa, that syncretic ex-Portuguese colony known for its eccentric inhabitants and practices. What impresses me the most about this book is that DeMello manages to weave into his teachings the best elements of Buddhist and Hindu traditions (their emphasis on awareness, mindfulness) and combines them with what is best in Christianity (the emphasis on love, openness of the heart). In addition to that, he is consistently funny (no mean feat for a work on spiritual matters)... and even manages to be cranky in a way that makes me laugh. Perhaps as importantly, the book shows that Christianity may not be all about biblethumping -in the right hands it is a vibrant, contemporary, compassionate, and profound spiritual practice. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about mindfulness from a master teacher.
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Summary: amazing
Review: I'm a student of the Bates Method of vision education. When I read this book a few weeks ago I thought about how closely de Mello's points cooresponded to those of Bates and make complete sense. I had slowly been exposed to this way of thinking, so this book wasn't a shock to me. Even still, it affected me greatly, and already I am beginning to live by what he conveys. Everyone, no matter his/her profession or way of life, needs to read this book. I am sure that many people have read this book and were so disturbed by what de Mello says that they have put this book down and tried to forget it.
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Summary: A Must Read for Everyone!
Review: This my favorite book of all time! For anyone who really wants to figure out how to be one with their soul and truly awake - this is a must read! I have every one of De Mello's books and they are all great but have re-read this book at least 10 times. The complexity of what he is trying to share - not teach- is compelling. In my opinion - everyone should read this book!
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Summary: Transformational
Review: This book pulled me out of a state of contant anxiety and depression. After reading it, I find myself looking at the world, to borrow de Mello's metaphor, as a beautiful symphony. My life has become a constant joy. While I have read books on mindfulness and also books by Jiddu Krishnamurti, none have had the impact that this book has had on me. One of the reasons that I believe that this book was had such an impact is that it addressed a point in my life where I had become disillusioned and doubful of the ideas of the afterlife and a personal God as taught in Christianity. If this is you, this book is definitely for you. However, if you are a person who is happy and content in your ideas in a personal God, and you're certain of a personal afterlife, I'd actually discourage you from reading this book. It will likely only upset you.
Rating: 
Summary: familiar themes
Review: This book may work for you, but it did not hit me in any powerful way. The style is casual and confident, at times seemingly overconfident and hyperbolic. As with other books in this area, the ends are presented with words (like "wake up") that almost make it appear easy to achieve, yet whether it is easy or hard depends on the person. It is tempting to get caught up in the mystique of eastern ideas. Probably readers with little exposure to minfullness and detachment will find it more useful than did I.
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Summary: Beware - This book will change your life!
Review: If Anthony DeMello were still alive...he'd be well on the way to attaining the status of one of his favorite teachers - J. Krishnamurti. "Awareness" is one of the greatest spiritual wisdom books I've ever read. It combines the grace of Christ and the wisdom of Buddha without compromising either one. I read this book in one sitting and got up from my chair and felt as if I was seeing the world for the first time. I may read it every week for the rest of my life! You may want to buy more than one copy so that you can give it away to someone you love. You will LOVE this book!!!!
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