Awakening can be defined as a fundamental transformation or death of the exclusive “me” that has its identity in “I am the body and mind,” to a non-exclusive awareness that simultaneously sees itself in all things, times and places without a second of differentiation.

Just like the sunlight does not need to be achieved as it is there ever-shining, awakening is your true nature and does not need to be achieved. What does need to be achieved and does take effort is the removal of the curtain that obstructs the sunlight.

The only prerequisite for this removal is an earnest and unwavering devotion to discover something that is eternal, everlasting, complementary to all, unchanging, and final. This brings down grace which removes the veil. The intensity of devotion and perseverance determines the pace.

Atreya, his wife, and three adopted children live in California, where Atreya works as a pre-school teacher. He and his wife are also foster parents to drug-exposed infants who are hard to place.

Books:

* Revealing the Absolute:: Where Seeking Ends and Learning Begins

Website: atreyathomas.com

Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded 5/7/2016

Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.