Preface

P r e r a c e Enlightenment is asecret Ibegan teaching in 1986 and have met thousands of people. Since that time Ihave been surprised to discover how few people seem to know anything about this secret. Many speak about it, and in recent times many have written about it, but very few, Icontinue to discover, truly know anything about it. Contemplation and direct Realization of the Absolute is the most demanding and all-consuming form of medita¬ tion that ahuman being can pursue. It is so dangerous, because of the perfectly immaculate nature of the Absolute Realization. Any trace of self-interest of any kind in any form instantly corrupts that most perfect purity and automatically, although usually imperceptibly, taints its reflection. How to Realize everything and remain untouched even by that? How difficult it is to remain free from all the temptations that direct Realization invites. Even those who do know and have Realized usu¬ ally allow themselves to stop far short of that immaculate and perfect death that casts no reflection and recognizes only itself. Why is it so difficult to Realize everything, to accumulate nothing and stand absolutely alone? It is out of that aloneness that this book was created. Andrew Cohen August 16, 1991