The Recognition Sutras: Illuminating a 1,000-Year-Old Spiritual Masterpiece

The first time I heard the first Sutra read to me I knew that I was hearing a deep truth. "Awareness free and independent is the cause of the performance (at that time the translation was accomplishment) of everything." It was by happenstance that I decided to take this online course with a guy I had just met in a yoga course I was taking, but obviously the universe was working in my direction. As the title says there was a feeling of recognition for me. It articulated something that I had experienced several times but could not put into words. It was amazing to me that this was a thousand-year-old text. I think of Ksemaraja as my Guru. (For me it is somehow easier to have someone who is long gone because I don't have to worry about finding out some big scandal, I don't need to be sidetracked.) I have been studying with Christopher (Hareesh) for eight or nine years. Although I have studied some other things with him, is this this text that keeps me coming back. When I first studied it was probably a 50-page notebook that mainly consisted of the sutras and Ks own wise commentary from a millennia ago! What a blessing to now have a 500-page book so beautifully put together, in a paper book in a permanent and easily accessible format...and Kindle.... From the many classes he has taught with some of our best discussions and points of view articulated so completely (to be read again by me at my own pace). He had to explained to us in response to one of my questions that the translation wasn't complete until it was brought into modern day vernacular and life experiences. I was lucky enough to study with Hareesh as he was unfolding his contemplations and expanding his commentary on the Sutras. In a couple Immersions I did with him, I got to see him asking us as students which words and concepts would best explain what he was trying to get across. All of the sessions were recorded. I listened to most of them at least twice. I'm a bit slow I guess, I needed to go over it and over it too have a deep understanding of what was being said. Or maybe I just like being bathed in the wisdom. They are deeply moving for me, and reading it as a slow process because I really want to take in the words and the feeling and the meaning. The book is a gift because those expansions of the original teachings are now put down in a graceful and articulate manner, a lot of the same material that was taught to me before in an oral tradition.. It is evident to me that this book was transforming for him. It is unique in that he is both a scholar and a practitioner , which makes the book have a different feeling, clarity and passion. The introductory part is very moving. There are some great passages on how to implement the teachings mainly coming out of the later Sutras. 1000 years ago! And it's lovely, direct prose. This will be a book that I read over and over, I've been feeling that I can let go of most other spiritual books that I've accumulated over the years. There's so much in this 1-500 page book. With even nice plates of the original Sanskrit text.for those like that kind of thing. (My preference is to have someone who's been studying Sanskrit and these texts since he was very young do the language learning and translation for me has Christopher has dedicated his life.) One of the beauties of this book is that you can just read a Sutra and contemplate it and go deeper and deeper into the understanding of the nature of the universe.. Or you can take the path of reading the deceptively simple and carefully chosen words slowly. A clearly contemplated choice of translation can allow me to slip into a deep and altered state. That's personally what I want In a book like this. Most of the favorite books I have a psychological or spiritual manner touch me touch me both in my heart and my intellect. This certainly does that for me. Or maybe as it is taught in the sutras it is a co-creation that evokes the deep understanding and engagement. I strongly recommend this for all serious spiritual Seekers. I think it will be of great interest to people in the yoga and Buddhist (especially Dzochen) World and perhaps Mystic or shamanic traditions, rounding out the other sacred texts that are more commonly taught. As you will see when you read the book, we are very blessed that this text wasn't lost in antiquity. Do yourself a favor, buy it and either breeze through it as one person I know did or go through it slowly to get the experience of immersing yourself in it. Or a little of both

Modern science considers ‘Consciousness’ to be a ‘hard problem’. Presented here are the findings of a lineage of brilliant thinkers who explored Consciousness with analytical rigor and the experiential data of deep meditation. More than just developing a theory, they developed a set of practices to experience life to its fullest extent. They revealed the practical application of their discoveries which are here presented and available to ordinary people, householders, without discrimination; and which invite all to a more embodied engagement with life in the world as fully realized Consciousness. This tradition spread for a millennium, influencing India, Tibet, and most of Asia until several hundred years ago when the escapist religions (fundamental Muslims, Christians, and philosophical materialists) sought to bury its truth. The wisdom and beauty was written elegantly in texts which survived and Christopher Wallis does an excellent job of bridging the cultural divide to bring us this translation of ‘The Recognition Sutras’, as well as insightful commentary with reference to many related texts. Here one is presented with more than an advanced and encompassing world view; one is presented with numerous practical methods for centering within one’s essence of Consciousness and engaging with one’s daily life more fully. This is not a religion with mythical promises, but rather an invitation to logically deduce Consciousness as the foundation of life and employ methodology to experientially enrich life and know the joy of the gift of being alive. While one will have one’s modern world view and may be challenged by some of the commentary stated and perhaps even disagree with minor points, the overall systematic approach of this tradition, to engage life, the world at large, and one’s personal relationships, as a being of Consciousness is the obvious logical conclusion and intelligent choice being expounded. If one allows the greater inquiry into one's own personal living experience, allowing this mental journey to be a stepping stone, one may live both centered and at peace, as well as expanded and engaged with radiant good vibrations. Presented is a path of Freedom for those who embrace it.

A Translucent Gem of Supreme Wisdom In the Midst of A Dark Age The Recognition Sutras elaborated and translated by Christopher D Wallis and originally written by the Tantric mystic saint Rajanaka Kṣemarāja (क्षेमराज) (late 10th to early 11th century) is a thorough and at times breathtaking endeavor at pointing out the essential nature of all reality, which is pure & full awareness. It sounds so simple and yet as both Christopher and Ksemaraja expound, we perpetually contract this open radiant essence in favor for the content of its own projection. At times a bit esoteric and cryptic, at others straightforward; The Recognition Sutras offers many different angles of perspective into the luminous essence which shines indefinitely, awaiting its re-cognition to melt our burdensome shackles into bliss. The resurfacing of this text in the modern era is truly a miraculous blessing -- bestowing the opportunity to surrender this life of mediocrity and agony to the eternal flame of our own joyful play. At times Christopher expounds his perspective to academic proportions, and at others gets a bit poetic allowing his own mystical revelation to make itself evident, garnering the experience for both the scholar and lay practitioner. Although I can't say I agree entirely with some of Christopher's conclusions, I realize the genius behind these Sutras is to be both profoundly simple, and invite rigorous philosophical inquiry. In fact, many of the Sutras completely stupefied me, causing hours of contemplation and cognitive grappling, which of course was most likely the original intention. It is evident Christopher was extra careful in his translation not to take for granted the readers knowledge of Sanskrit terms and/or yogic ideas. With that said, to really fully grasp many of the concepts completely, one should probably read the authors other work, 'Tantra Illuminated' to gain a thorough understanding & context. Overall, I give this work 5 stars. A truly stellar translation and commentary on a spiritual masterpiece. The only criticisms I can muster are the occasional academic digression into the nuances of the translation and perhaps the nature of the work itself, which is to reiterate it's main point in a cyclical fashion -- perhaps to give the seeker of truth the necessary affirmation that the succulent nectar of Goddess Awareness awaits and is imminent right now.

I discovered this work as I began a transformative physical, mental, and spiritual practice of yoga with a gifted teacher. I wanted to understand more about the philosophy that underlies yoga, but I am also a scholar and professor, so I’m always inclined to dig deeper into things. I wanted more than the platitudes and simplicities that one finds in new age spirituality, and what I discovered in Wallis’s work is a truly powerful and serious examination of non dual Tantra that I had not known about at all, and which my usually skeptical self found to be truly remarkable and transformative. Wallis is a self-described scholar-practioner, and I was deeply impressed with the scholarly depth of his translations and interpretations of the Recognition Sutras and their applicability to the problems of modern life and the quandaries of self-identity that are especially poignant at present . A work like this looks quite off putting at first glance : a thousand year old text and tradition, written in Sanskrit, distant across time and space, with complex conceptual terminology. What Wallis has done is bring this text and tradition to modern readers in an outstanding translation and a crystal clear, gripping writing style that I found irresistible. Whatever challenges one initially faces from the seemingly esoteric nature of the text and tradition melt away with Wallis’s magnificent presentation, analysis, and most importantly, his ability to present to us the exceptional relevance of this philosophy for transformative self and soul work. You would be hard pressed to read this and not find yourself awakened in so many unexpected and powerful ways.

Worth a read and ponder.

There are several eloquent reviews on this page about how meaningful and accessible this book is. I agree with all of them, and I would like to offer something else... Imagine that there were a time and a place, a thousand years ago on the other side of the world, where people took great effort to look deeply into themselves and the world around them to find the essence of things - of everything. And they succeeded. Now imagine that one of them took painstaking effort to write down what he learned so that others could find it and join him there. Perhaps that particular text becomes a bridge to our place and time, and perhaps someone we could understand is able to cross that bridge and navigate both the world the text came from and our own. Now if such a thing could happen, and if this person were a torchbearer for tradition and authenticity, could you trust such a guide to take you across that bridge and show you the secrets of that distant place and time? A place where beautiful letters dance across a page in a subtle fusion of sound and meaning, taking on a life of their own, working their own magic on their audience under the guidance of a trusted hand. A place where the essence of all that is constantly reveals itself in a continually expanding kaleidoscope of perception. It is possible that such a journey across that bridge would be an interesting historical tour, a view into another world so different from our own. And yet, it is also possible that your guide is offering you a path to your own possible future, another way of experiencing your own present world, and it could change...everything. Maybe this is an engaging and colorful translation of a thousand year old text...and just maybe it is something else entirely. Who can say? Are you brave enough to pick up a text that reads you more deeply than you are reading it? A sage in yet another place and time once said, "All the world is a narrow bridge, and the important thing is to have no fear at all." How brave are you? And can you live without knowing?

There is little to add that has not been added. This and Wallis's other book, Tantra Illuminated, are the most valuable and accessible books on Tantrik Shaivism I have come across. It is a deep and difficult topic, so challenging to reveal, and Christopher manages to do so in both books.

I purchased both the audible version and the printed version and I'm glad I did. I LOVE listening to Christopher read his own work. He's a very good teacher. Clear and personable. But every sentence is a gem and I find myself wanting to read the printed version so I can go slower and re-read and marinate in the ones that particularly stand out. I'm on my second listen through and I know there will be more. Christopher clearly has deep knowledge and lots of personal experience with the concepts and teachings he shares. If you know in your heart that "....each of us is a complete expression of the energy of Consciousness. Each of us is a perfect movement in its endless dance of self-exploration, self-realization and self-love.....You are the one Divine Consciousness made flesh. Your task is simply to become aware of this miracle, this fundamental fact of your being." than this book will help you embody that. Highly highly highly recommended. Thank you Christopher, for this fabulous work.

I was at first intimidated by the size if this book but I must say it is so easy to ready I am enjoying every single page of it. I have never found an author who is able to explain concepts that are 1000 years old in such an easy to understand, down to earth manner. I love this book and will read it over and over!

You know when a book falls into your lap at the right time in your life. This one fell on me just when I was ready for it, two years into my searching on spirituality and Kashmiri Shaivism. It was as if everything came together, little by little, without effort, like pieces of a puzzle masterminded somewhere else. I don't know if I would have treasured it so much had I read it as a virgin from any such knowledge. But all I know is this book opened my mind, touched my heart and is going to accompany my practice from now on. I have copied and summarised chapter 18 that contains the practical tools for reaching the centre of our being, I feel guided as if I had met a guru and intend to follow each step. My gratitude.

Very good comentaries and explanations. It's suggested very often to deepen to refer to his previous book tantra illuminated. I had it, and as I liked so much I bought this one too, reading both is a very complete vision of classical tantra.

For anyone interested in Shaivite Tantra, yoga of the whole self (Patanjali, Odier, Swinburn), inner alchemy, or the Vajra Yogini path, this book is a lovely and beautiful thing, which I strongly advise you to read. It’s accessible without being simplistic or dumbing down, devotional / spiritual without proselytising.

bon livre