Original Goodness: Book Review

 

Drawing from the deep spiritual well of the world's Christian mystics, author and spiritual leader Eknath Easwaran (1910-1999), carves out a pathway to inner peace for his readers in his transforming book "Original Goodness".  Easwaran uses the Beautitudes of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount to provide a framework in which he introduces the themes of  purity, humility, simplicity, patience, love, mercy, peacemaking, and desire.  Inspiring passages from mystics like Meister Eckhart, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Teresa of Avila, and John Ruysbroeck fill each page with insight and wisdom adding beautifully to Easwaran's rich reflections.

"We do not have to figure out how to make ourselves good; all we need do is remove what covers the goodness that is already there...The spark that burns in you, in me, is lit by the fires of heaven."  p. 12/229

Easwaran's idea of original goodness comes from the truth that within each one of us there lies a core of goodness, buried and hidden, waiting to be discovered. "...before original sin was original innocence...that is our real nature." This core of goodness is the very essence of God and has been experienced the world over by mystics throughout all religions. Once discovered, the fruit of pure love is born, having encountered the Divine.  "...all the treasures and pleasures of this world are worth nothing if one has not found the uncreated light at the center of the soul.", Easwaran reflects.


This transforming reality can only be accessed and spurred onwards to flourish and grow by developing an awareness of what lies within.  An awareness that can be achieved through the training of our minds; namely the repetition of a mantram (or mantra) ,the practice of meditation and acts of love and kindness. As our practices deepen and we begin to unravel the layers of consciousness that cover up and dim the light emanating from the eternal spark buried beneath layers and layers of conditioned ego, our encounters with others then become transformed, now centered in love. Easwaran urges that to change the world, we must first change ourselves.

" As our desire to draw closer to the Lord within us deepens, it draws self-centered desires into it like tributaries into a great river. The power of that love swells until it becomes cataclysmic; we begin to inspire other people through the transformation we have wrought in ourselves." p. 166

Within "Original Goodness" are reminders of the hurried lifestyle that permeates much of our largely ego-centered modern life today. Called to the reader's attention  is the fact that we are being  consumed and destroyed by the very tools of technology and industry whose purposes were originally intended to create an increased quality of existence.  Easwaran emphasizes  our need to realize the interconnectedness that we share with all living things, human and non-human and to consider and be mindful of how our choices as consumers effects the lives and welfare of others.  Such an awareness of the unity that we share with all that is around us is realized through our spiritual disciplines. This sense of unity fills us with a deep empathy and compassion, allowing us to be troubled when others are troubled around us, and spurring us to put others before ourselves in acts of love to relieve the pain we sense in them.

"For those who love God, when anyone dies, a part of them dies too. In the highest sense, this is the meaning of the Passion, the reason why the Messiah was called "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Living in all, you suffer whatever they suffer. But this awareness of unity is also the source of the greatest joy, because it brings the love, compassion, and creativity to relieve suffering wherever you go." p. 153

Easwaran has a very positive view of humanity. The rare kind of hope that is fueled only be experiencing the tangible results of the principles of which he speaks.  There is no doubt the profound impact Mahatma Gandhi had in the shaping of his spiritual path. Easwaran first met him while in college and had the privilege of listening to him teach as well as see him in action. Through his interactions with Gandhi, Easwaran shares how he witnessed firsthand how the humble power of one man could transform violence into peace, hatred into reconciliation, all by the power of love. Easwaran's inspiring message is that  in discovering our original goodness we too, can have a transforming impact on the world around us.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found writing a review for it increasingly difficult as there were large volumes of passages that lifted themselves up from the pages that I would have liked to have shared with all of you! It was difficult to choose just a few.  I will undoubtedly use some of the themes and passages I was unable to include in this review in future posts, including describing more in depth the technique of passage meditation that Easwaran introduces to his readers and I, myself, have implemented into my own practices.

I couldn't recommend this book enough. It has personally catapulted itself on the top of my list of favorites. The words of Easwaran and the mystics flow into a seamless symphony of truths and insights that absorb into the mind and heart of the reader as edifying drops of living water, springing up a new sense of awareness of the Divine that awaits to be encountered within, and stirring the heart to set sail on a spiritual journey of personal transformation. 

 

Thoughts? I'd love to hear them! Please leave them in the comments section. Thank you!