The Mirage of Separation

A review of Billy Doyle’s recent book by Richard Ascott

(Billy Doyle now teaches yoga in North London in the Kashmir tradition, an approach brought to the west by Jean Klein. For part of Poona one he was a sannyasin.)

In this book Billy has noted down, over the years, spontaneous insights, descriptions, and sutras from our true nature, with the direct approach of Advaita (if a label is needed!!) What flows from these words is a sense of maturity, sensitivity - a flowering of the Heart.

Each page contains a gem, a short passage that shines with clarity, showing and exposing the 'Mirage Of Separation'. Leaving what cannot be said, no words can explain. What remains is what we already are. The invitation is to rest in this not knowing, in this causeless joy of true Being.

In this book Billy goes straight to the essential Heart of the matter, not allowing the personal story to have a hold any more, it resonates with a taste of the Divine. Cutting away concepts, projections and fears, the myth of the perpetuation of the mind in order to maintain centre stage, is laid open.

The book’s simplicity and directness, combined with this passion behind the Words, is rare among the contemporary writings of Advaita. What is shown is the unnecessary struggle of ones life. That is, if one had a life to begin with!!

To give one a flavour of the sutras, here is an example:

‘not a journey for the faint-hearted
not to be taken lightly
it’s going to take heart and mind
you have to be on fire with your question
no room for self-deceit
only a ruthless honesty will suffice
no time to indulge in day-dreaming
no more detours
to dismantle yourself completely
not a fragment left
to live without yesterdays
without a persona
are you willing to be nobody’

The Mirage of Separation is published by the Non-duality Press and available through their website at http://non-dualitybooks.com

Billy Doyle’s website is at
http://www.billy-doyle-yoga.com