Dissolving the Ego, Realizing the Self: Contemplations from the Teachings of David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. Paperback – August 1, 2011

As a young professional nowadays in America, it's easy to see the ways this country is teeming with egotism: self-important college students abound, ready to ramble on about their opinions concerning the state of things; being "consistent" and "right" is the secret objective of everyone in company meetings; in the circus of American celebrity politics, it's certain death to admit to weakness or second thoughts; looking at pompous, secular sermons like TED talks that incessantly urge audiences to "rethink ______," much of the presenter's ultimate purpose there has more to do with furthering a career of insular research and socializing than imparting any sort of real, practical, lasting wisdom.Because of this, the frantic compulsion to assemble an impressive contact list, to grasp for credit, to consume tremendous amounts of information and news daily so not to be caught without an opinion or fall behind the times remains unchallenged. There is a new commercial novelty to daily life reinforced by social media, cultural mediators, and RSS feeds with most everyone wanting or thinking they deserve a channel to bloviate.As science, industry, and the relentless ego persist in seeing the world as incomplete, conceit is pervasive in attempts to control others and meddle with nature. Needs are manufactured exponentially in a perpetual, maddening routine of work and waste, all carried out in the name of economy. Over-medicated, consumed by doubt, and illusions, despite all the advances in science, answers concerning personal purpose and fulfillment are more evasive than ever."All the truth that is necessary to know has already been spoken"And with that simple, calming but provocative statement from Dr. David R. Hawkins' book "Dissolving the Ego, Realizing the Self," we're afforded a clear, refreshing perspective where all the noise of a thousand glib commentators foisting novelty, innovation, and keys to "effectiveness" upon us is at last exposed and silenced.Divided into three parts and subdivided into eleven chapters, "Dissolving," explores in part one the nature of the self, consisting of the limited ego and mind, and the inherent narcissistic qualities both possess. In part two, we're given tools on transcending the small self by understanding how to deprive the ego of its "juice," to invest in humility, and that devotion to God is the purest and most noble path one can dedicate themselves to. In part three, we're instructed on realizing the Self, the nature of Divinity, Self, and Truth, educated on the state of non-duality, and what it means to achieve Enlightenment."One's inner spiritual evolution is of greater value to society than any form of doingness."With wonderful neologisms like "thinkingness," "talkingness," and "doingness," Hawkins has a rare lucidity in summing up the vain and futile pursuits of the contemporary Western world through Eastern wisdom, evocative of the late Alan Watts. It's with this remarkable clarity that Dr. Hawkins' insight, broken up into small passages in this volume taken from his earlier work, "Power vs Force," becomes invaluable in "de-energizing the ego" and taking notice of the ever-present Truth. Radically proclaiming that all opinion and thought is worthless spiritually, it's difficult to see this point as wrong even from an unspiritual point, particularly in a world that has made generating commercial (read: meaningless), inconsequential online news content and conversations fetishistic and dominating. Those who find the current climate frenetic and exhausting will find peace in Hawkins' sensible words."Dissolving" is a book that is devoid of literal how-to's, with messages far greater than mere techniques naïve readers might want to consciously force onto themselves. Such is not the way to Enlightenment, and misses the point utterly. Rather, this book requires daily contemplation and meditation on its contents to assimilate into one's consciousness-and therefore unconscious-toward unlimited Potentiality.Hawkins' book is an awesome, eye-opening book, a timely teaching showing that the way to real change, health, and happiness requires not more talking, awareness, and self-dramatization but silence, selflessness, and non-duality."To benefit the world, it is necessary to change not the world but oneself-for what one becomes is influential by virtue of its essence (nonlinear) and not its actions (limited and linear)."

Dr. David R. Hawkins has somehow managed to put into words the ineffable direct experience of the falling away of all obstacles to Self-realization. The final surrendering to God's grace. The last step belongs to no one but God alone, and Dr. Hawkins has conveyed this magnificently. A book of astoundingly clear truth and profound beauty, going beyond mind, beyond words, to reach the heart of the sincere seeker and lover of God.✨️🤍🕊✨️

It's a shame that 'Letting Go' will be his last work as Dr. Hawkins passed away last fall. We're fortunate to have the fantastic material he's left behind, though, and 'Dissolving the Ego, Realizing the Self' summarizes it beautifully. If you're new to Dr. Hawkins work, I'd suggest starting with another text to put the short, meaty bits of reflection and inspiration found here into context. However, if you've been around the Hawkins' block or have done a fair amount of self-inquiry to now, you'll be pleased with the selection of what he argues are some of the most enlightening snippets from his previous work.In general, David addresses the needs of those who need a weightier explanation of the experiences a spiritual student might have after working on the dissolution of self for some time. In short, this and many of his other books are not for first-timers. For a first-timer, I'd suggest Tolle's 'Power of Now' as a good place to begin. Good luck to all aspirants and I sincerely hope David R. Hawkins will help put difficult times into a new light. He certainly has done this for me.One further note about what Amazon offers: The print version is quite a bit smaller than you might expect. Amazon mentions this in its description, but it is small. Nice for portability but might be difficult to read for some. The Kindle version has full-size pages.

This was/is a good measuring stick (for myself at least) in regard to after having Received The Light of Man (which is Christ) , how my Understanding was being 'trained' to See things a different way. Hawkins though can never seem to bring himself to Acknowledge The LORD, which I suspect is due to his backward (at least in part) to his devotion to psychology and psychiatry which can be a major stumbling block. This can be seen in the title itself by referring to 'the ego'..does he Realize the Ego is but the soul and that 'dissolving' the ego is referring to in Sacred Texts (Scripture) as a 'stronghold' ? But that also, the 'psyche' in the bible is but the soul. Cna one dissolve the soul? This is about Truly having 'the mind of Christ" as having received the Spirit of Truth as a result of His Redemptive work, though it is never acknowledged in this book. Realizing also, his backward, he does come off even proud regardless! I dropped his stuff as well after the first year but this was still a good book for the time though after a time one might even discern that some of what is in this book is not correct.

Although I found many things to enjoy learning in this book, I found it hard to read. It seemed too broken up into single thoughts, not joined together. Still it was worth the read.