Product Description

Dennis Waite sees Advaita as the philosophy underlying most religions, including Christianity, though it is more usually associated with Hinduism. Its essence is summed up in its Sanscrit name, which essentially means "there are not two things". The full title of the philosophy is "Advaita Vedanta". Vedanta, derived from the scriptures which form the last part of the Vedas, means "the end of knowledge", in the sense of being the highest knowledge one can attain. It is not in itself an organized religion, however - there are no churches or priests. Waite believes that Advaita Vedanta provides the answers to the questions of "life, the universe and everything". His book aims to be practical, yet satisfying to the intellect, providing a simple framework within which the problems of life and death may be understood and resolved.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #290400 in Books
• Published on: 2003-12-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
'A masterful and profoundly insightful survey of the Advaita teaching and the contemporary scene. This book will greatly contribute to a deeper understanding of this important movement, sweeping the West, and which eventually leads to Self Realisation.' Alan Jacobs, Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK.

About the Author
Dennis Waite follows the "Direct Path" school of Advaita, being particularly influenced by Francis Lucille. He teaches Spiritual Advaita in Bournemouth, England, and has also written The Seeker's Essential Guide to Sanskrit.

Customer Reviews

The 'textbook' on modern advaita
There are many books on the market that focus on the theme of advaita (nonduality). However, what separates Waite's book from the others is his meticulous and yet practical approach to its theory and practice. Many modern schools of advaita advocate the 'nothing to do, nowhere to go' approach - this is fine in itself but can be greatly misunderstood to be a form of hedonistic fatalism. Whilst acknowledging that, ultimately, the ego is a non entity, Waite offers useful techniques and delineated steps along the path to freedom. Written in an elegant and accessible style, 'The Book of One' is, in my opinion, the standard 'text book' for modern-day advaita. Highly recommended.

East Meets West as Dennis Towers!
I read the book with the ardour of a high school student.

Dennis has done a wonderful job in covering the entire gamut of
advaita all the way from its Vedic roots to the masters of the new age. The effort is commendable both for its contents and the way they have been organized in a very systematic manner.

The paperback has eighteen chapters, perhaps an intentional or
unintentional take on the Bhagwad GItA, the advata classic, and makes very delicious reading for an aspiring palate. No wonder therefore that masters and veterans like Isaac Shapiro, Leo Hartong, Jerry Katz, Alan Jacob, Dr. Gregory Goode, Pamela Wilson, K. Sadananda and Jay Lakhani are all praise for it.

Dennis, as I know him from his profound contributions at Yahoo Group Advaitin and other web communities is a systematic researcher. The pains he has taken to collect, organize and elaborate information is obvious from beginning to end.

As the veterans have eloquently noted, it is a precious reference
book too for all advaitins. Dennis maintains a well-organized, very helpful website at http://www.advaita.org.uk. Just a peep into it reveals his great mastery and involvement. This book, the crowning glory, brilliantly supplements his web efforts. It should therefore prove a precious asset to libraries of philosophy the world over.

Dennis, the philosopher, doesn't forget to smile. In fact, he smiles all through, infectiously so, so that the reader keeps smiling too! Reading his book is like taking a stroll on the shores in the evening breeze in the company of a friendly uncle with the ocean of advaita roaring beside. Yet, Dennis is less avuncular than friendly. And, there lies the secret of this book, which is quite unlike others on the subject that leave the reader more confused than enlightened.

The book is a must for Westerners and English-educated Easterners
interested in Advaita. Any book on advaita should stand above
continental diversities. It is very heartening that Dennis and his work stand tall and tower above them.

I am sure all advaitins, both aspiring and accomplished, would
cherish to possess this book and ruminate on its illustrative
examples.

I wish the book universal acclaim.

Madathil Nair
An ardent Advaita enthusiast

An Excellent Manual for Students of the One
Dennis Waite's `The Book of the One' must surely have been a labour of love. As an author myself, I cannot image how long it must have taken him to compile such an extensive summary of the essential teachings of Advaita Vedanta and write in such an accessible style.

The publishers, O Books, seem to be setting a standard with such works, where philosophy is not merely left to the realms of high intellectual thought, but brought home by making the primarily mystical insights of Vedanta relevant to our postmodern world, as well being pragmatic, with crucial chapters on meditation and other spiritual exercises.

This book remains one of my key references on the subject. Any student of non-dualistic wisdom will surely find `The Book of the One' indispensable, as it covers numerous core areas of philosophy and spirituality, such as facing our fears, the subject of death, what consciousness is, the limitations of the intellect and ultimate questions about Reality.