…you will certainly enjoy Anthony de Mello.
Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist. If his being Catholic leads you to believe that perhaps his view of faith might be different from yours, look further. He didn’t preach dogma, he preached awareness, which was actually the title of one of his most famous books: Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality.
Reading him is like reading a little Eckhart Tolle (dying to the ego and disidentifying with thoughts), a little Byron Katie (accepting what is) and even Meister Eckhart (detachment). Overall, he embodies the wisdom of the sages and saints throughout time.
His approach is a little different–he’s part Aesop, part Joseph Campbell, part Bill Hicks--making his points with parables, fables and jokes (admittedly his jokes were a little cleaner than those of Bill Hicks). His reading style is very easy, because many of the books he has “authored” are simply transcripts of seminars he gave to increasingly expanding audiences, up until he died prematurely at the age of 56.
There are some conspiracy theories about his death–he, like Thomas Merton, died an untimely death just when their popularity could be construed as a threat to the strict teachings of the Church. Both Merton and de Mello melded Buddhism with Christian faith. De Mello also often drew in teachings of the Bagavad Gita and other sacred teachings of his native India. I don’t personally have any opinions as to the cause of his death: as he himself would say, who cares? But I only mention it because it shows how he, like many spiritual leaders who are most interested in the truth, defied fitting into a box based on ideology or religious precepts.
I read Awareness some time ago, and loved it then. I don’t know why, but I was compelled to go back and read a little more–I guess as part of my New Year’s resolution to increase my mindfulness.
So, you know how when you go to Amazon, they say, “If you enjoyed THAT book, you might enjoy THIS book”? Well, if you enjoy Eckhart Tolle quotes, you might enjoy this de Mello quote:
As you identify less and less with the “me”, you will be more at ease with everybody and with everything. Do you know why? Because you are no longer afraid of being hurt or not liked. You no longer desire to impress anyone. Can you imagine the relief when you don’t have to impress anybody anymore? Oh, what a relief. Happiness at last!
If you like Byron Katie quotes, you might enjoy this de Mello quote:
Suffering points out that there is falsehood somewhere. Suffering occurs when you clash with reality. When your illusions clash with reality when your falsehoods clash with the truth, then you have suffering. Otherwise there is no suffering.
And if you like Bill Hicks, you might enjoy this bit of de Mello stand-up:
Silent Entry 
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