Resurrecting Jesus: Embodying the Spirit of a Revolutionary Mystic

Follow up Review 5/9/14Finally finished reading this book. It took me quite a bit of time to get through, I left and had to return to it several times. This was never the case with any other books that I have read by Adya, or other similar teachers.I wish that I could give the book a 3.5 as I am now slightly torn between 3 and 4. Most of the book just talks about how Jesus is a living allegory that mirrors the path of awakening in many regards. Yet there is not a lot of how to walk the walk, rather more pointing out the various "sights" you will see along the way. I almost feel that this in itself could be a trap for some. Some of those places where he talks about some of the road signs you may cross can potentially inspire one to want to be that, but in the same vein, deepen their own felt sense of separation. Looking back, there were very few parts over the chapters about Jesus that really resonated with my own spirit. It felt more like a pep rally than anything else. I guess one could say that he spoke more of what happened to Jesus rather than what was taught by Jesus.If you are a seeker, than by all means this book could very well be an amazing call to look within. If you are no longer a seeker and find yourself abiding in the kingdom of heaven, but know there are still parts within that are still unconscious, then this review pertains more to that.THE JEWEL OF THE BOOK.The real gold for me, were in the last few chapters of the book. Not because of any climax or resolution from the previous chapters. Rather it was from a complete deviation from the previous chapters. About 3/4's into the book he ends the story of Jesus and turns to look at everyone else in that unfolding of Christ. This was the gem of the book and where Adya really started to shine again. In an almost Jungian way, he shines light on the various people throughout the life of Jesus. From Mary, to Luke, to Pontius Pilate, to the misunderstood and shunned Judas, he examines each one of them as a beautiful expression of the various ways we deny our own Christ within. Each as a metaphor or allegory of the parts of our own humanity that struggle against the light. In a personal sense I find that this is more akin to where I also find my own experiences. Already awaken and abiding in almost constant Christ consciousness, there are yet still parts of me that deny it. It was here that the book started to come to life for me. I started to see and accept the various struggles of Judas, Mary, Pontius and Luke within.******************************************************************************************************FOLLOWING WAS INITIAL REVIEW POSTED IN APRILplease Note: There are many books by Adya, some of which I deeply appreciate. This review is not a"bashing" of the author in any way.I really wanted to take a moment to write this review even though I am halfway through the book. I plan to return soon and finish my review as well. However, with Easter Sunday coming up, I wanted to get this up here.Most of the book so far really is just adya talking about his own personal experiences and past. A lot of effort goes into trying to sell you on why he is authoritative enough to discuss Jesus as a teacher. I really see no merit in that task at all. Consider Ramana, after awakening, he could read any book and discern the meaning and communicate its message perfectly. The reason is simple, once awake to the truth, you understand all the pointings to it much clearer. That first chapters really felt like they were either filling up pages or trying to sell him to a doubtful audience. These are merely guesses of my own musing in wondering what the purpose or intent of spending so much time talking about Adya at best.Moving on in getting to the good stuff, I find myself still thirsty. Here allow me to point you to a story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus offered her living water. Saying that if one drinks from the living water that he offers, one will never be thirsty again. She asks for this living water so that she never needs to return to the well again. We know however in truth that she will physically return to the well because she would die of thirst otherwise. So what well is she drinking from that makes her thirsty all the time that she is constantly returning too? Simply the well of knowledge, of thought, of ego, of the false self. The water that Jesus offered her was living water, the wisdom of God here on earth, the living god. If I may suggest, reread that story to yourself from a place of being. See what wisdom it holds for you. What wells are you drinking from that always leave you thirsty?Speaking from my own experiences, I have tasted this living water and surrender to it in every moment I see that I am not. I could say that I have had moments and states of pure bliss, unity consciousness, that states come and go and the real self is known. Yet I do find myself at times still enraptured in this dream and person. Sometimes with lament, sometimes with joy. Perhaps some spring cleaning may still be in order, perhaps it is as it is for the moment. These experiences from this unfolding aside, I want to return to the review of the book.I must say that I am quite disappointed. I feel there is very little living water that quenches my thirst so far in this book. There are many parts that speak to the beauty and wisdom of Jesus. However so far in the telling it's been more akin to "Jesus is freaking awesome and was extremely enlightened!". It really comes across in retrospect to traditional shepherding lost souls by talking about how mega awesome Jesus was and could raise the dead, etc. Yet there is very little wisdom of his teachings yet to be found or read. This is why I feel so thirsty so far in reading this book.Usually I don't go for readers that shun a product and then point to another, they often feel sketchy to me and fake. Yet I really want to share another author with you that is also awake to being and has a deep love for the wisdom of Jesus. It's from one of her books that I truly understood the Good Samaritan story in a way that it came to life for me. Ultimately that really is the magic of the living word, it comes alive for you, it speaks to you at the deepest level of being and lights you on fire like a burning bush.If I may recommend another similar book that I have read that I resonated deeper than with Resurrecting Jesus would be "Wisdom Jesus". The book touches on many key points such as the teachings of Jesus are Kenosis, or self emptying. Reading over Kenosis it really starts to mirror the same teachings of Advaita and the witness of no self, to be empty and still.Wisdom Jesushttp://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Jesus-Transforming-Mind---Perspective-ebook/dp/B005DXOM62/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397671912&sr=8-1&keywords=jesus+wisdomAs stated, I truly plan to return once I finish the book. I hope that it gets into some deeper ground at some point in regards to the actual teachings of Jesus. So far it's just been praising his awesomeness. Yet that very awesomeness is also conveyed in the other author's books, the fact that if he was as real and historical as they say, and his life unfolded in the way that it did, then it is perhaps one of the most closest examples we have of god in the flesh living for god above.

“Resurrecting Jesus” is not, and may never be, sanctioned by the RC Church. It is, however, a deep look at ‘the Jesus story’ from an American (Californian!) Zen practitioner who is himself, by all indications, ‘awakened’. Adyashanti describes the awakened state as something completely within reach for each of us. He sees Jesus as both human and divine (awakened) whose divinity took root during his baptism by John, the one who lived “on the fringe of society.” What I found refreshing as the story itself is how Adyashanti weaves us into it, suggesting that “until we pour ourselves into the story, until we become the story in ourselves, in our blood, flesh, and bones, it doesn’t fully come alive.” At the end, he looks at five main characters/archetypes, besides Jesus, who exemplify personalities and “the spiritual impulse” that we can relate to: Peter, John, Judas, Pontius Pilate, and Mary Magdalene.“Life is this simple: we are living in a worldthat is absolutely transparent and the divineis shining through it all the time. This is notjust a nice story or a fable, it is true.” Thomas MertonThe same is true for this book.

Fresh contemporary look at the essence of the Christian message from a Buddhist perspective. Adyashanti’s interpretation may not sit well with Christian Theologians but Adyashanti’s view is not about belief structures and tradition but rather a pointer to the experience of the Kingdom of God which he argues is the core reality of all human experience, the transmission of which is clothed in stories from a different cultural and historical setting. He also states that the goal of Christianity differs from that of Buddhism in that the former places emphasis on fundamental reality or the divine consciousness incarnating into space and time, a merging of both in the Now as show by Jesus, as opposed to the transcendence of space and time as seen in the latter. A good book for lapsed Christians who are interested in the Perennial Wisdom.

I grew up catholic but I was never taught the story of Jesus the way Adyashanti did. This book offered me a chance to look at Christianity with a different lens and even to consider giving it another chance. The author compares the moments in Jesus' life as an example of our own spiritual journey, the characters in the story as parts that live within ourselves, and invites us to connect with the divine while we are alive. Very powerful.

I couldn't put this book down. Read it in one day. The introduction was written by a smug minister with a subtle put down. She views the author as lacking scholarship when it is she that shows a lack of spirituality.This is one of very few books that really explains the spiritual aspects of Christianity. It discusses Jesus as a mystic in a secular world that is frightened of true spirituality and the message. Ministers want obedience, guilt, and money from their followers. Jesus just wants you to understand the spirituality that you aready possess at birth. Incredible book that cover the real Jesus not the commercial version!

Adyashanti is a beautiful teacher of non-dual spirituality. I feel like I know the life of Jesus Christ in a new way I can really understand and love.Natalia K Burgess

This book has expanded my understanding of Jesus’ life in a new way, looking at his life through a mystical lens. Very readable and fascinating.

Such a magic book.

This book portrays Jesus so powerfully. It provides such a different interpretation of his life. It’s the Jesus that came to confront more than comfort, but lived with such a radical love and compassion for mankind. Definitely worth reading.

This book offers the useful perspective that the Christian Gospels can be read as metaphor and in turn situates the place of such metaphors within the spiritual journey. A useful and insightful approach that might have been offered in 10 pages or so. It is a useful aid in moving beyond the literal or the magical Jesus and exploring parameters of the spiritual life. There’s a depth to be experienced from these insights and for this, persevering with the text was worthwhile. But beyond this, the work is at times trite, tending on the simplistic. While the book seeks to guide one to move through a transition into the depths of being one-in-divine, it’s a talk about the walk, more than a guided walk itself. For those wanting to move beyond the limits of received Christianity, this book is a start, but only that - a start. It does guide one through the anatheistic transition, nor does it pretend to, and for this it falls short.

This set of CDs are just amazing ....you must have practice and spiritual desire to understand the message..but if you chose to just listen and be open to all that the Being of the Universe had to offer you ..Wow!!!Love to you..Sarah'

A refreshing and in some ways compelling view and insight into the meanings behind the story and teachings of Jesus. I highly recommend it!!!