Nothing to Grasp

This clear, concise book points to the ever-present, ever-changing, nonconceptual actuality of the present moment that is effortlessly presenting itself right now. Joan brings what often feels abstract, mystifying and unattainable down to earth. This book is about being awake now, which doesn't mean picking up a comforting philosophy or belief, but rather, letting all the answers go and relaxing into the openness of Here-Now. The book explores common questions, such as: What is meant by "no self" or "not taking my life personally"? Am I the body? Is there a practice, and if there is, what is it? Who or what is in charge of "my life"? Is there free will? What is awareness, and why do some teachers say it is ever-present while others speak of cultivating it? What is enlightenment or awakening? Reviews:A lovely book and beautifully written. I want to encourage anyone with an interest in these matters to read this. A clear exposition of non-duality.—Robert Saltzman, The Ten Thousand Things and The 21st Century Self I haven't been this excited about a nonduality book in a long time. It's really wonderful, and so well written! Joan has a remarkable ability to avoid common conceptual confusions, and to explain why we often fall into them. She writes like someone who is not just tossing in all the usual recipes, but who understands and appreciates the active ingredients.—J Matthews, Radically Condensed Instructions for Being Just As You AreThe world of non-duality writing is so often filled with all the same tired, formulaic maxims that instead of pointing the reader to awakening, they really act to induce sleep! This book is so different. Joan writes from her own direct experience. She uses language that is consistently clear, alive, passionate, down-to-earth, and, ultimately, "eye" opening. It is her dedication to sincerity that powers this book to being a classic of philosophic, spiritual exploration. I cannot urge you to read this book strongly enough. For me, it is, already, a classic.—Eric Gross, Liberation from the Lie Joan is not speaking to us from a throne, she talks to us as a dear friend who doesn’t pretend to be better or more spiritual than her readers. I like that. And at the same time, you can sense she has a full understanding of what all the Zen and Advaita masters are pointing to. The advantage of Joan’s book is that she uses simple language to point to the Here/Now which is never absent. Joan writes: “true freedom is the willingness for life to be as it is, no matter how it appears. Paradoxically, in completely accepting everything just as it is, there is space for something truly new and creative to enter the picture. And this space is never not here. There is simply this present moment, as it is.” Her words are clear and down-to-earth.—Jan Kersschot, This Is It Read more