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Endorsements Enlightenment Blues is the
account of a young man's sincere and protracted struggle to transform his
life according to the teachings of the American guru Andrew Cohen.
Ruthlessly honest and unsettling, Andre van der Braak gives a vivid
first-hand account of an uncompromising experiment in establishing Indian
spirituality in a modern Western setting. This story is essential reading
for anyone seeking to understand the allure and pitfalls of surrendering
one's authority in the hope of spiritually transforming the world Narrated with the psychological subtlety and drama of a good novel,
Enlightenment Blues is a precise,
profound dissection of the guru-devotee relationship. It should be
required reading for all who are currently engaged in or considering
studying under a spiritual teacher. A profound contribution. The maturity and balance of
this book place it at the front rank of works on contemporary
spirituality. All the major themes of the spiritual quest are here -
reason versus emotion, the problem of the ego, the guru, self-doubt, the
place of altered states. Andre van der Braak has the creative gift of
being able to hold opposing ideas in his mind without moving towards
premature closure. Hence this heartfelt account of his eleven years in the
Cohen movement is a beautiful testament to one man's quest to discover his
own reality. Enlightenment Blues deserves the widest readership. Enlightenment Blues is the personal story of
one man’s eleven year journey into and out of a group of seekers of
enlightenment with a charismatic leader who claims to be an exemplar of
perfection. What distinguishes this book are the writer’s insights and
honesty in portraying the workings of an authoritarian belief system that
operates under the guise of spiritual revelations. Anyone who has ever
belonged to such a group, or knows anyone who has, or who wants to
understand what the appeals and dangers of surrendering to a guru consist
of, would benefit from reading this book. Andre van der Braak’s
story is our own story. We walked the ‘yellow brick road’ whether it was
Zen or Yoga or Advaita. We desperately wished for or found a Guru who
could help us find our way home and we wholly gave ourselves.
Andre’s talk of it is fresh and innocent. He takes us by the hand through
a hazardous trail. Neither bitter nor estranged, nor having lost his
passion for the way, he remembers with us what really happened, and why. Andre van der Braak’s book, Enlightenment Blues, is an astounding and fascinating account of the eleven years he spent with his guru, Andrew Cohen. It tells of one human being’s attempt, in the name of enlightenment, to compel another human being into abject submission. I saw how it was done. I was there. With an honesty that takes your breath away, the author reveals his own slow disintegration in the face of his master’s ever growing paranoia and ferocious will to control. A splendid job. Luna Tarlo, author of The Mother of God
This is an important book. Read it. Andre’s experience of falling for the Teacher’s charming logic and his painful exploration of understanding the golden cage of teachers and teachings will be a useful story for many. Mark Whitwell, author of Yoga of Heart.
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