Itai Ivtzan - Awareness Is Freedom: The Adventure of Psychology and Spirituality

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT

AWARENESS IS FREEDOM

Dr Itai Ivtzan elucidates not only the meeting point between psychology and spirituality but the synergy and power of the two. Allow this accomplished scholar and meditator to offer you this clear road-map as you take this journey to your indwelling. This important book, peppered with research studies, validated psychological tests, and practical exercises, offers clear and insightful methods for you to re-discover your mindfulness and hence your freedom.

Dr Ryan M. Niemiec, author of Mindfulness and Character Strengths: A Practical Guide to Flourishing, and education director of the VIA Institute on Character

Dr Ivtzan has done a great service to humanity with this beautiful book. Here we have two of our most precious currents of thought, psychology and spirituality, each of which has transformed peoples lives for the better, but which until now have remained wary of each other. However, with great skill and artistry, Dr. Ivtzan has brought these together in a marriage, a union which serves to greatly enrich both partners. Moreover, Dr Ivtzan is just the kind of wise and compassionate pastor that we need to skillfully conduct such a union, with his great depths of insight and beauty of expression. However, the most important beneficiary of this marriage is the reader, who is invited to embark upon their own personal journal of transformation. Through a series of lessons, including structured reflections and exercises, the fortunate reader is led gently down a path of mystery, towards realms of the self and of the universe that they may not have suspected existed. Truly, this book has the power to change your life.

Dr Tim Lomas, author of Masculinity, Meditation and Mental Health

Awareness Is Freedom provides a clear and practical course in spiritual training. Its an ideal introduction that quickly takes the reader from the shallows to the depths. Save yourself the trouble of learning Sanskrit, Pali or Tibetan in order to read the ancient sutras. Instead, I would advise you start your journey with this illuminating and accessible book. I wish I had had the opportunity to read it years ago before I wandered off to the East.

Tim Ward, author of What the Buddha Never Taught: A Behind the Robes Account of life in a Thai Forest Monastery

Dr Itai Ivtzan draws on his vast amount of personal and professional knowledge to give readers insight into a very powerful topic area in an incredibly approachable way. Ivtzan is indeed a pioneer and leader in the field and his humour, wisdom and creativity will challenge readers, in so many ways. The book is engaging, stimulating and thought provoking as Ivtzan passionately melds theory with personal exercises and reflection sections.

Dr Kata Hefferon, author of Positive Psychology and the Body: The somatopsychic side to flourishing

First published by Changemakers Books, 2015

Changemakers Books is an imprint of John Hunt Publishing Ltd., Laurel House, Station Approach,

Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK

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For distributor details and how to order please visit the Ordering section on our website.

Text copyright: Itai Ivtzan 2014

ISBN: 978 1 78279 851 4

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publishers.

The rights of Itai Ivtzan as author have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Design: Stuart Davies

Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY, UK

We operate a distinctive and ethical publishing philosophy in all areas of our business, from our global network of authors to production and worldwide distribution.

CONTENTS

To the reader

Introduction

Lesson 1: Psychology and Spirituality

Psychology

Spirituality

Religion vs. spirituality

Psychology and spirituality: The meeting point

Psychology and spirituality: Interdependence

What stands in your way to living a full and free life: The concepts of personality and ego

Here and now exercise 1: Naming your ego concepts

Why must a personality/ego be created?

Psychological measurement 1: Personal need for structure questionnaire

An idea of your self

Weekly exercise 1: Discovering your ego concepts

Lesson 2: The Meditative Skill

The influence of meditation

Different kinds of meditation

Defining meditation

Here and now exercise 2: The wandering mind

Who is in charge of your awareness?

If you are washing the dishes, just wash the dishes

Meditative technique vs. meditative state

Breathing meditation

Understanding meditation

Weekly exercise 2: Breathing meditation

Meditation: Retraining your attention

Simplicity

Patience and subtle changes

Psychological measurement 2: Personal growth initiative scale

Beginning to meditate

Different meditation sessions

Lesson 3: Aware and Unaware Thinking

The thinking obsession

There is nothing wrong with the mind

Resting in your inner home

Aware vs. unaware thinking

Cultivating aware thinking

Here and now exercise 3: writing your thoughts

Ego concepts grow and shrink

Gradual progress

Breaking the attachment

Non-reactive attention

Psychological measurement 3: non-attachment scale

Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional

Weekly exercise 3: Observing your thoughts

Lesson 4: The Illusion of the Self

The concept of self

Trapped in patterns

Is there a container?

Separation

Here and now exercise 4: can you find the experiencer?

Attachment to the self

The mind fights for its existence

Enlightenment: An alternative to the ego formed self

Awareness of the layers that conceal your authentic self

Facing your self

What is the experience of enlightenment?

Psychological measurement 4: Compassion scale

Weekly exercise 4: Consciously choosing enlightenment

Lesson 5: Everything is Neutral

Here and now exercise 5: The clock experiment

Schema theory

Priming

Spirituality and schemas

The neutrality of life

Weekly exercise 5: This situation was neutral

Choice

Psychological measurement 5: Perceived autonomy in life domains scale

Taking responsibility

Opportunity

Lesson 6: The Art of Presence and Meditation Techniques

Being present

Here and now exercise 6: Walking meditation

Being and thinking

Meditation permeates life

Psychological research: Mind-wandering

Psychological measurement 6: Mindfulness questionnaire

Meditation techniques

Changing techniques

Weekly exercise 6: Meditation techniques

Meditation will not make you passive

Developing meditation

Lesson 7: Impermanence: This Too Shall Pass

Life is change

Stress: Psychological reaction to impermanence

Impermanence is sensed as dangerous