I had been recommended Michael Langford's awareness teachings last year. I actually went though Michael Langford's awareness teachings, books, and methods probably about 15 years ago now, and credit him (and his book "The Most Direct Means to Eternal Bliss") with actually starting me on the nondual path after years on the progressive path.
So I thought to revisit ML's teachings once again, and really do a deep dive into those teachings, methods, and approaches related to awareness and ML's version of the direct path / awareness teachings. His main claim to fame on the Internet at least is the BLISS book, and the Awareness watching Awareness method. This is quoted by some aspirants of paths such as Zen, Advaita, and certain pockets of followers of Nisargadatta and/or Ramana Maharshi.
I'm just going to list down some Plus/Delta or in other words some pros and cons of Michael Langford's teachings according to MY experience. This is not to say there's anything wrong with ML's teachings or approach- in fact, there's a lot of GOOD points in his approach. However, for me personally, there's a couple of red flags that caused obstacles for me following his approach, and ultimately led to me moving on at some point due to various factors, which I will list below. If you feel led to give ML's approach to awareness teachings a try, by all means, go for it, and most of the resources are online for free (to ML's credit).
Pros
- Emphasis on practice, practical means, direct practical instructions in an easy to follow manner. Not at all interested in philosophy or theoretical distractions.
- Clean, concise, easy to understand language
- Repetitive ideas and instructions that lend themselves to hammering home the point that ML is making, such as the importance of practice over thinking, and the importance of having a burning desire for liberation
- Overall, a tried and tested approach to attaining I AM awareness, or the identification with awareness and disidentification with the false self or ego
- Good starting point for getting into the awareness and nondual teachings. Many pointers and references for classic teachers such as NM and RM etc., that can be used by the aspirant to go away and study or take up
- Author's own experience is used. ML isn't afraid of detailing his own experiences and failures and successes
- Great analysis of the ego, false self, and the strategies and tricks that the ego uses to maintain its own validity and illusory existence
Despite the issues that I personally had with ML's approach, I would still advise one so interested or attracted to this approach to "have a go" at the Awareness watching awareness method, read "The Most Direct Means to Eternal Bliss" and possibly some other books by Michael Langford and related. If anything, just for the experience of how challenging it can be to do nothing except attempt to 'watch awareness' for minutes, hours, days on end. There is a concessional practice given, which involves letting go of effort, and thought. There is also an emotional acceptance practice detailed called The Loving-All Method, which is worth a look and test run.
