Instinct for Freedom: A Maverick's Guide to Spiritual Revolution

by Alan Clements

After spending ten years in Burma studying as a Buddhist monk, author Alan Clements began travelling the world as a human rights activist. Instinct for Freedom is part memoir and part spiritual inquiry. He details his early years of living in silence in a Burmese monastery, offering a rare, beautiful, and nuanced account of the experience of intensive meditation and what it can offer. He goes on to illuminate a doctrine he calls World Dharma, the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1577315391
• ISBN13: 9781577315391
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: New World Library
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

The ring of truth (live)

In reading most spiritual books, I've noticed that there's a subtle gap between the well-meaning view portrayed, and what I actually feel and experience in reading. You know when you get a used book, and the prior reader has underlined and written, "How true!" Well, it's like other spiritual books have an undertone of "I wish it were true." In contrast, Clements' words are alive with authentic conviction, and the unmistakeable clarion ring of truth. There's not a trace of pontification. This man has lived an incredible life. He's able to capture the essence of real spirituality and deliver it live and wriggling to the reader. I don't know how he does it. But, as a writer myself, I know that there's only one way he could do it. By really living it. And clearly he does. He came back down from the mountaintop, so listen up, folks, cause he's really got something worth hearing.

Book for all Spiritual Seekers

As a Pastor,I've heard many a good sermon and read many spiritual books. But nothing compares to Alan Clement's ability to spellbind the reader with his magnificently written true life stories. He weaves together into a beautiful tapestry his own brand of Buddhist philosophy, political knowledge, science, wisdom and chutzpah that also seems mysteriously to encapsulate the reader as well. What I found even more intriguing in "Instinct For Freedom" are Alan's honestly-written and courageous choices and sacrifices he has made in life in pursuit of spirituality, freedom, truth and enlightenment. Any and all spiritual seekers from any belief system (or none) should definitely read this book.

The Dharma book I've been waiting for!

Not just a great Dharma book, Instinct For Freedom is a love letter, an amazing love letter. Read it with your heart and be inspired.

Instinct for Freedom

Reading Instinct for Freedom reconnected me to a place deep inside...a place of my own counsel and of my own commitment. I was moved to tears by Alan's account of his unique and inspiring journey. I am somehow reminded that I, too, can make a difference. His writing is rich and eloquent, his story is compelling and profound, his insights are both challenging and exciting. I find myself very grateful for this piece of work.

An Instinct for Freedom

"An Instinct for Freedom" is an eloquently expressed and masterfully woven account of one man's personal and spiritual journey, that travels directly through the heart of humanity. While navigating this tender landscape, Alan Clements leads us on an exploration of the essence of consciousness, the surrender of trust, the truth of our fragility, the horror of our darkness, the intimacy of compassion, the power of our choices, and ultimately, the paradigm of grace that shifts when we make the leap from seeing ourselves as separate to honoring our shared humanity. By simply witnessing ourselves in each other, we come to understand what Clements calls "the inseparability of liberation."Often summarizing in a few short sentences what takes other authors seemingly entire books to express, Mr. Clements encourages the reader to "examine the role of perception as the architect of reality." Lead by his example of courage, ruthless self-inquiry, and unabashed candor, we are left with no other meaningful choice but to do so.I was so deeply challenged and inspired by this book that any words of praise I seek to offer feel almost trite and wanting. Within its pages there contains every element that one would hope for in a great work of fiction. But fiction this is not. This is the recounting of an extraordinary life. Forged with insight, Clements challenges our invested beliefs, shatters the lies that cage our freedom, and then loving reconstructs the truth of our sameness within a unified heart. This heart, pieced back together in seemingly perfect union, may continue to beat as it once did, but will never again be the same.