The Transparency of Things: Contemplating the Nature of Experience

by Rupert Spira

The purpose of  The Transparency of Things  is to look clearly and simply at the nature of experience, without any attempt to change it. A series of contemplations leads us gently but directly to see that our essential nature is neither a body nor a mind. It is the conscious Presence that is aware of this current experience. As such, it is nothing that can be experienced as an object, and yet it is undeniably present. However, these contemplations go much further than this. As we take our stand knowingly as this conscious Presence that we always already are, and reconsider the objects of the body, mind, and world, we find that they do not simply appear  to  this Presence; they appear  within  it. And further exploration reveals that they do not simply appear  within  this Presence but  as  this Presence. Finally, we are led to see that it is in fact this very Presence that takes the shape of our experience from moment to moment while always remaining only itself. We see that our experience is and has only ever been one seamless totality, with no separate entities, objects, or parts anywhere to be found.

Genres: Spirituality, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Eastern Philosophy, Meditation, Buddhism

264 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2008

About the author

From an early age Rupert Spira was deeply interested in the nature of reality. At the age of seventeen he learnt to meditate, and began a twenty-year period of study and practice in the classical Advaita Vedanta tradition under the guidance of Dr. Francis Roles and Shantananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the north of India. During this time he immersed himself in the teachings of P. D. Ouspensky, Krishnamurti, Rumi, Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta and Robert Adams, until he met his teacher, Francis Lucille, in 1997. Francis introduced Rupert to the Direct Path teachings of Atmananda Krishna Menon, the Tantric tradition of Kashmir Shaivism (which he had received from his teacher, Jean Klein), and, more importantly, directly indicated to him the true nature of experience. Rupert lives in the UK and holds regular meetings and retreats in Europe and the USA.

www.rupertspira.com

Reviews

[Del · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, it's true. I give a lot of nonduality books high ratings, but when it comes to this subject, my ratings are based on whether the message is what I need at the time of the reading. The same book I originally gave 5 stars might warrant only 3 at another point in my search.

Spira's book was one in which the message, for me, was very timely. But since I do a lot of research on nonduality books before reading them, I'm not surprised that I find what I need just when I need it.

I'd highly recommend this one for those a reader who has already consumed those marketed in a more mainstream channel. Excellent pointers.

[Morgan Blackledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-Dual teacher Rupert Spira’s philosophical and phenomenological exploration of the nature of reality, consciousness, and perception. Spira draws heavily from Advaita Vedanta and other direct path Buddhist traditions. But Spira is fundamentally secular. Or at least he try’s hard to maintain a minimally religious, purely modern/secular outlook. What has recently come to be known as “Neo-Advita”.

Themes:

Consciousness as Primary:

Spira argues that consciousness is not a product of the body or brain but is the ever-present, aware field in which all experiences arise. Spira argues (rather irrefutably) that everything we know or can experience, including thoughts, sensations, perceptions etc. appears to consciousness and is made of consciousness.

In other words, we can only actually know our phenomenological experience. In fact, it’s the only thing we can say for certain actually exists. This is the real meaning of Renai Descartes famous “I think therefore I am.” That is (IMO) another way of saying that, the fact of consciousness is the only absolutely irrefutable phenomenon that we (as humans) can observe. Everything else appears to us as the contents of consciousness, and is as such subject to doubt in some ultimate sense (e.g. we may exist in a simulation, and there is no actual way to prove/disprove that position).

In essence, Descartes only claim is that “something exists”, but beyond that everything is subject to doubt. In Spira’s perspective, Descartes “something” is consciousness.

The Illusion of Separation:

Spira (and just about every other purveyor of contemplative spirituality) challenges the deeply held assumption (Illusion with a capital I) that there is a separate “self” observing a separate “external” world. Instead, Spira suggests that the apparent world and self are modulations of one seamless world/self nondual awareness.

Transparency of Objects:

Spira asserts that “objects” in the world/self, (including the world itself) when seen/understood clearly, are “transparent” to the light of awareness. That is, objects cease to conceal the “reality” of consciousness as fundamental, but reveal it. According to Spira (and other notable Advita teachers (Neo or otherwise) there is nothing inherently opaque or separate in experience; the sense of separateness is a mental overlay that becomes transparent with direct knowledge of fundamental consciousness.

The Direct Path: Spira advocates for a direct investigation into the nature of awareness here and now. The book offers contemplative pointers to help dissolve identification with the body-mind and recognize the presence of pure knowing.

In sum.

Spira is a rad teacher.

This book is a very good, very clear guide for any serious direct path student/practitioner/aspirant (all ironically bad and inaccurate words, that lack for better ones. But you get it.

One of the things I loved about Spira are his incorporations and references to aesthetics and art. Before Spira was a non-dual teacher/author/theorist, he was a ceramics artist. And he utilizes aesthetics quite effectively throughout this text. Additionally, he refers to Paul Cazan’s spiritual aesthetics quite a bit throughout this text. In addition to making this book, very unique (I’m not sure if anyone else has applied safe sign stinking in this context). One of the frequent criticisms of Advita-Vedanta is that it can appear to be a little “world hating/denying”. This may be a cultural artifact of Indian religious traditions that view the “world” as a painful delusion that needs to be rejected/transcended.


Spira’s implied acknowledgment of the spiritual value of aesthetics and beauty keeps this book out of that apparent “world denying” headspace. And I totally fuck with that!

5/5 (maybe 4.5/5 if I’m being totally honest) starts.

Why the .5 deduction?

I’m glad you asked.

While the first 3/4 of the book are very compelling.

The last 1/4 of the book was (for me) less clean/clear, and seemed to (IMO) smuggle in a subtle type of deification of consciousness that seems to detract from the otherwise airtight positions of the first 3/4. I would be hard pressed to give a specific example. But I definitely recall a few eye rollers in this category in there (heart and there). These probably wouldn’t have even been detectable if they weren’t so notably absent from the first 3/4 of the book. But please don’t let that very minor criticism keep you from reading this. Absolutely amazing (and close to functionally flawless) text.

It’s really really good.

And you should (by all means) read it if you are so inclined.

4.5/5 ⭐️

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hit a temporal state of bliss when I read a sentence stating that its even possible for the "I" to might not even be in the body. Sounds weird but you'd have to read it to get what I mean.

It's a collection of short essays that go over the same concept at different angles in attempt to be digestible for everyone. It is a book that I feel that I can't share though as it is too far out there. Even talking about it to others is difficult as its too far out there for the average populous to grasp.

It's a book that is worth the read and purchase but it's also book to keep to yourself.

[Dean Paradiso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this book high expectations, since Rupert is an amazing teaching and one of the modern lights of contemporary 'nondual' spirituality. He has a number of means and methods by which he introduces this teaching to his students in person and in talks and retreats. However, this books seems to be a collection of writings that have been put together with an overall focus on awareness and the nature of experience as he sees it. Read in the right frame of mind (such as after a retreat or meditative session) it can be really helpful. Read in a 'normal' frame of everyday mind, it gets repetitive, laborious and boring very fast. I happened to be reading another of his books 'Essays in Consciousness' at around the same time, and I really couldn't tell the difference between either book in any way. I prefer his shorter treatise "Being Aware of Being Aware", which cuts to the point and isn't as long or repetitive. I know that RS has many, many talks, writings and even yoga type audios, so I'd advise people to check those out before dumping his work due to this or some of his other more bland writings. This is really a 'love it or leave it' type of book, IMO, and not practical in any way whatsoever, but serves more as a gateway into the sort of experience and taste of 'awareness' that RS is trying to convey in his teachings overall.

[Cyberpayanee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very clear articulation of non duality, as far as anyone can go with metaphors and words. It surprisingly gives even a foretaste of reality - an achievement in high order logic. Bodhidharma first Zen patriach declared about Zen (reality or truth) "..beyond letters and words - direct pointing to the mind of man". Once in a while while reading words of masters, the reality of what is said sinks in, so much so , that thought process is in suspension and a benediction decends. But here in Ruperts works, mind at every turn of sentence is surprised into silence.

There is a tendency that mind gets used to a new set of metaphors and the same old patterns in modified form resume. Mind wants to be helpful, it wants to understand a litte bit more clearly - this grasping is where it is lost. This teachings are worth 'diligent' study- curiosity with light touch. Not to try too hard!

[Chris Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanity on every page.

Best read a chapter at a time, as each conveys the same general idea in a slightly different way. Probably also best if you've watched some of Spira's videos on Youtube--something about the oral question and answer format, and the urgency of the questioner, conveys the ideas in a fuller way than they are here, especially if you're unfamiliar with Non-Dualism.

As a series of short reflections this is excellent.

[Linda McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some time ago I gave this book a five star rating, years after having read the book. It was the first book I read by Spira and I was delighted by how clearly he explained non-duality in plain English, to the point that I felt like exclaiming, "Why on earth didn't any of the other teachers explain it like this?" It almost seemed as though others had deliberately mystified and obfuscated something that Spira was showing to be blindingly obvious and terribly simple once properly explained, and that anyone with basic intelligence could comprehend it if motivated to do so. Either that or these other teachers really hadn't grasped non-duality themselves and therefore had no hope of conveying an understanding to their students.

Yet that idea didn't solve the conundrum either since some notable teachers of non-duality I previously investigated are considered to be highly self realised but still didn't convey the teaching in a way that I easily connected with through this book by Spira, a refined, Eton-educated but otherwise uncharismatic and seemingly "ordinary" Englishman (as seen in his videos). Consequently I felt a sense of being very grateful and cheated at the same time!

I've continued to find Spira's teaching very valuable, reading all of his books and watching most of the videos. I appreciate the fact that over the ensuing years he hasn't been seduced into allowing himself to be elevated into an ostentatious, self-aggrandising guru role—no special clothes, hats, titles, thrones, wreaths, rituals, treatment etc. No cult of personality. No grandiose claims of being a world saviour or avatar! What a relief. He's remained very "ordinary" and grounded despite becoming well known. This for me is a refreshingly rare sign of personal and spiritual maturity.

My only complaint is that he charges fixed fees even for his online events, which is insensitive to the fact of extreme inequality and excludes those who simply cannot pay, however modest the fee may be for the online events. This is a serious issue. Although some would say that as a spiritual teacher he should not be charging fees at all, but only relying on whatever donations come, I appreciate that being able to engage in this teaching as his main occupation and hiring premises for retreats means a level of financial planning that may not work with the uncertainty of donations only. But online events cost very little and I can't see any reasonable justification for excluding people on the basis of their financial situation, especially in an environment where many people are struggling to maintain the basics of life, and some, through no fault of their own, are even failing to do that, including in obscenely unequal advanced Western countries.

I do appreciate the many free videos on You Tube that Rupert provides as well as his several books which are inexpensive on Kindle. However, I feel that on principle no one should ever be excluded from spiritual teaching events, where at all possible, such as online, based solely on their ability to pay. Spira's apparent obliviousness to this issue of social equity gives an impression of him being insulated in a privileged, upper middle class bubble, whether or not this is the case.

The reason I'm commenting on this book is that I've just read a very interesting and incisive review https://www.advaita.org.uk/discourses... of it by Dennis Waite, author of a number of books plus a blog on Advaita Vedanta. When I say "incisive" I really mean to emphasise that this is a painstaking and perceptive examination of the book from the perspective of someone who "really knows his stuff." Waite finds fault with Spira's teaching and identifies ways in which it deviates from traditional Advaita Vedanta, or simply makes no sense to him, on a number of points, all of which I find persuasive. In doing so he implicitly makes a good case for going beyond the Direct Path (inluding Spira, Lucille, Goode, Klein and Menon), existent for approximately one hundred years, to study traditional Advaita Vedanta, which has refined the teaching over thousands of years. During this time traditional Advaita Vedanta has had to answer every possible objection and challenge from other schools and thus has ironed out the kinds of contradictions and errors Waite finds in Spira's book.

As a counterbalance to these criticisms, Waite goes on to praise the book for its many insightful, accurate, poetic and aphoristic statements on the non-dual nature of reality, quoting a number of these. He mentions the "often ...very dense material that must be considered for some time, almost meditated upon." This was certainly my experience—that much of the content needed to be carefully read more than once to grasp its full meaning and then contemplated or meditated upon with no focus on getting to the end of the book but rather one of savouring it like a good piece of music. This comparison with music is one that Spira himself has used to describe his work, in which the central theme is continually “explored, questioned, modulated and restated”. Repetition is an integral part of the method here, as with classical Advaita Vedanta, necessary for patiently undoing decades of inculcation into false perceptions and beliefs about oneself and the world.

Waite concludes his review thus:

"I suggest that this book is going to be of most interest to seasoned seekers, who may find new and insightful views into some of the familiar topics in advaita. I fear that those who are not already used to the manner of speaking about non-duality will quickly discard the book – it will simply be too difficult for them. It requires both serious interest and genuine commitment to stay with it. But, for those who are prepared to make the effort there is much to savour and I recommend it highly to them. I personally found it to be a delight and a frustration (in equal measure!) and, on that basis, perhaps I ought not to award more than 4*. But there is so much good stuff in here, and it towers above most other modern books on the subject, that I have few qualms about awarding 5*."

I recommend both 'The Transparency of Things' as well as Waite's in-depth review of it to anyone with a passion for non-duality.

[maik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A difficult reading that revolves around very few concepts related to Consciousness. Perhaps I am just not ready to understand it yet as getting through it felt like a chore. Definitely not for everyone.

[Adrian Stratulat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading about idealism/nondualism starting from a more rational/scientific place; so I was prepared to go all the way in the rabbit hole, philosophy, metaphysics, esotericism and all.

But what happened instead was disarming.

I have never read something as simple, concise and elegantly expressed as Rupert's words. Instead of appealing to complicated concepts, he does a very simple, yet strikingly powerful analysis of our day to day experience.

And out of it, he manages to reveal the nature of Mind and Reality.

I honestly regret not reading this book earlier. And I will most certainly read it again.

This is a mandatory reading for all those in search of true spirituality and understanding of the nature of Reality.

[Witek · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading this book I think I get what the author trys to teach. The same thing is explained from various angles, which I think is required for this topic.

But I could not distinguish facts from assumptions and ideas, which leaves me in a place where I can not decide if the world works like Rupert Spira explains - or if some parts of it are sure others not - or if it is all nonsense.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the clearest nondual texts I've ever had the pleasure to read. It is always on the table by my reading chair.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presented as a collection of reflections, The Transparency of Things: Contemplating the Nature of Existence is wonderfully direct in its presentation and exploration into the nature of experience, that is, Consciousness. For those of you that have heard Rupert Spira speak, his renowned eloquence is conveyed neatly, so much so that I'd like to think I was surely not the only one who at one point tried to read it in his voice. As conceded in its introduction, the content here is quite repetitive, although I feel that is aptly reflective of the books intention and Consciousness itself; as elucidated by its purposely intermittent spacing and phrasing, this is not a mere story to read along to - it is more of a guided contemplation if you will, a literary equivalent of a guided meditation. Because of this, I found the reading experience to be both calming and lucid. I meditate while reading and with The Transparency of Things, this was not a struggle at all. Actually, I found it to be so much easier and a natural implication as encouraged stepping into Rupert's reflections.

As expressed time and time again throughout, Consciousness is simply all there is, because for something to have an is-ness, that is to Be, Consciousness must facilitate its existence, otherwise how could it exist outside the awareness of its presence? It is for this reason that many of these reflections seem to restate certain points because ultimately in essence, there is only one grand point to make. Each reflection is a different piece of the same puzzle, a different facet of the same holistic whole and while similar, they flow nicely into one another creating a smooth flow of contemplation that is undeniably effective at accentuating the mechanics of Consciousness.

"Consciousness cannot be described by the mind. The image and metaphors that are used in these contemplations are not descriptions of Consciousness. They are evocations of Consciousness"

For those who are perhaps more grounded in the spoken-of Knowingness, what you read may not come across as new, something to learn per say, but it is excellent in its phrasing and expression of what you would already Know. It is this eloquence that really illuminates the profundity of these teachings all the while soothing the presence in which you receive them. There are many beautiful and imaginative analogies that smoothly present to you, the quintessence of these teachings as well as countless phrases that deserve to be highlighted and embraced in presence. This is where Rupert Spira shines, for a delicate balance has been struck between utilising a mere finite source, language, to allude to the infinite, Consciousness. While literally impossible to take things all the way in this sense, we are taken more than far enough in the right direction, to a place that is fittingly ironic in its ultimately directionless and indescribable nature; for we need not go anywhere, for it is both everywhere and yet no where in particular at the same time.

"The mind does not find Truth. It does not find Reality. It is dissolved in it"

Well said Rupert...

Four stars! (****)

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a series of contemplations, English spiritual teacher of Non-Duality Rupert Spira guides us through experiential insight, dreams, and metaphors to the truth of Reality—the nature of our existence is Consciousness itself. Spira’s reflections are repetitive but profound, filled with intuitive wisdom for seekers new to the nondualist path. Even experienced students may be illuminated by the implications for time, space, causality, and relativity.

In summary:

We share our Conscious nature with the rest of the universe. It is inherently imbued with happiness, fulfilment, peace, beauty, joy, and love. It is a luminous Presence that projects the world within itself; it contains all things unconditionally.

However, this limitless Consciousness has contracted upon itself. It has formed a new identity as a limited fragment. It has built layers upon layers of clenching boundaries around this separate, vulnerable self—this “mind.” These boundaries consist of desires, fears, misbeliefs, feelings, and doubts. This is where we find ourselves, yet even disconnected as we are, we still experience our free, fearless nature. It comes to us as a longing, or as nostalgia. Thus begins our spiritual journey.

”The ultimate cause of suffering is ignorance of our true nature.”

The return from the mind to the open space of Consciousness is the unravelling of a fabric of judgments, the unstitching of a net of desires and fears. When we face our feelings with courage and openness, the mind becomes clear, the world becomes vibrant, Consciousness recognizes itself “in all things, as all things,” as the fulness of experience. This is the meaning of Love.

Yet the mind itself cannot take us there. It is, in fact, the dissolution of the mind that leads to Understanding. “The mind does not find Understanding. It dies in it.” In fact, buried misbeliefs must be fully unknotted; they cannot merely be covered with a thin veneer of nondualism.

”Consciousness liberates itself with clarity and honesty, not with the superimposition of beliefs and dogma.”

Personally, I love the teachings and the experiential approach to the topic. There were several lessons hidden late in the book that genuinely benefited me. However, I found it difficult to finish due to its repetitive and meandering structure. It may be more effective if read by chapter over a long period of time.

[Phil Calandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Transparency of Things Contemplating the Nature of Experience" is an excellent and scholarly review of Advaita Vedenta (Non Dual) Philosophy. There are few books which outline this complicated and complex theory better that the author. This book is a highly informative analysis of Non Dual Philosophy that I would highly recommend. The author's interpretation best reflects the Indian concept of this theory; however, Non Dual Theory is a common thread in other Eastern Philosophy as well as Western Mysticism. The experiences of both Eastern and Western Mystics have such similarity; however, there are wide differences in their interpretation. The author's contention is that "Consciousness" is the alpha and omega of all things. "Consciousness" is described as that the deep sleep state which we cannot remember because there are no objects to remember as in the normal waking and dream states and, therefore, no objective consciousness. The author also states that there is no world, no mind, and no body outside of "Consciousness" and that everything fits within "Consciousness". We feel that we are the mind and the body and that there is an outside world because "Consciousness" has constricted "Itself" and has been tricked into believing so. On the contrary, "Consciousness" is not the limited self of individuality but the "Unlimited Eternal Witness of Consciousness". The question that arises from this interpretation is why "Consciousness" would devolve "Itself" from "Perfection" into duality where it would experience imperfection and delusion. This theory also appears to be a secular interpretation of man that places him at the centerpiece of "Consciousness" solely in control of his own destiny. Perhaps a different interpretation would be that, indeed, we are all separate individual entities but relative ones dependent on the "Absolute" for our existence. The "Absolute" (Reality, Consciousness) beholds its own "essence" in subjective terms but can only perceive "Itself" through "Its" own "Creation". We are, indeed, eternal but are the image of the "Absolute". We carry the spark of the "Absolute" and share this "Consciousness" but it can never be said that we are the "Absolute". As the author has stated in different terms, we have become lost in our own individuality and have forgotten who we really are.

[Jakob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spira is one of the clearest expounders of non duality I have found, and so I greatly enjoy listening to his talks and reading his books. This is my second book of his, and it reads very much like the first. It has some beautiful passages that made me see my first hand experience in a slightly new light, as well as some that put in words things that I had experienced, yet couldn't find the words for.
It does get repetitive towards the end though.

Favorite bits:

From the point of view of ignorance, the 'person' is what we are and 'meditation' is something we do from time to time. From the point of view of understanding, 'meditation' is what we are and the 'person' is something that we do from time to time.

It is not the acquired object that causes the happiness. It is the dissolution of the sense of lack, which is apparently brought about by the acquisition of the object, which allows the pre-existing happiness to be revealed.

Is not the actual experience of the body a collection of minute, amorphous, tingling sensations free-floating in the space of consciousness?

This now does not last in time. All time lasts in it.

Maya still dances, but it is a dance of love not seduction.

[Indraneel Dabhade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book on Metaphysics primarily contemplating non-dualism (Advaita), but this is far more than a simple 101 course. Rupert Spira's writing style is like a puzzle that reveals itself only when the puzzle is combined. Spira, himself, a disciple and student of Francis Lucille with whom he has also collaborated on the book 'The Perfume of Silence' brings the teachings of eastern mystics including Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj. I wish Rupert the best for his future work.

[Jeremiah gibbons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good for contemplation and looking at what is the actual experience. Highly recommend his work!

I found it best to consider what he said in silent contemplation. His description of time, space, and memory and consciousness where very helpful to me! Thank you for sharing this material.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is the third book I’ve read of his this year and with each book my understanding deepens. He has a way with a metaphor like nobody else, demonstrating perfectly the meaning of non-duality through the metaphor and making something that seems difficult to understand suddenly illuminated with clarity by it. The man is a genius. Now onto book number four, The Nature of consciousness.

[Jim Kleban · Rating 5 out of 5]

A contemplative masterpiece to be devoured a few lines at a time, Spira shares observations on the nature of consciousness and its relation to the self. A powerful book but probably one that requires quite a bit of previous work and understanding on the reader's part to appreciate.

[REID NUTTING · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work has life-changing potential

With only a few minor problems, I find Mr. Spira's work compelling and convincing. If one gives his views as described a moment's thought, it very easily could transform ones life. A very good book, and a great author.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant work by a genius.

[Tushar Agrawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most clear teachers of Non duality

Clarity is the strength of the teachings of Rupert Spira. With this clarity it kills all doubts that arise in mind

[Jeremie Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing short essays with the ability to transport a person into a state of deep presence and tranquillity.

[Zuzana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is diamond!💎 Absolut game changer!! I love Rupert Spira and I am grateful for his deep insights,wisdom and love💙♾

[Larry Branch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a primer, a virtual consciousness for dummies. It will take many hour of contemplation on the very things he sights in this book. Excellent read. This is a step beyond mindfulness meditation. If you want to begin to understand the nature of our "I am" then this is a book for you. Watching his YouTube videos will begin to put these concepts in context. This book is the technical companion to many moments for loving contemplations.

[Cher Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very solid book on non-duality. Parts of it are over my head, I must admit, and other parts shine in their clarity. Rupert Spira has boiled down the nature of existence, as he sees it, to the basics. As such, the book is quite dense. I could only read it a bit at a time. One day I hope to be able to understand it all from my own experience.