Hi All,
I’ve just recently discovered Jed McKenna. Jed is one of the most straightforward and authentic spiritual teachers, ever, in my opinion.
Jed tells it like it is; Jed McKenna is a pen-name, but whoever writes as Jed McKenna articulates the reality of enlightenment, and the way t/here, with an authenticity and a clarity rarely found anywhere.
Here are some of my favorite Jed McKenna quotes:
Suffering just means you’re having a bad dream. Happiness means you’re having a good dream. Enlightenment means getting out of the dream altogether.
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Enlightenment isn’t when you go there; it’s when there comes here.
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It’s ego – the false self – that exalts the guru and declares the teaching sacred, but nothing is exalted or sacred, only true or not true.
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Enlightenment is the unprogrammed state.
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I don’t have something you don’t; you believe something I don’t.
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The point is to wake up, not to earn a Ph.D. In waking up.
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The bottom line remains the same: you’re either awake or you’re not. One day, there it is. Nothing. No more enemies, no more battles.
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There’s nothing left to contend against and nothing left that must be done, and there will never be anything that must be done ever again.
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The you that you think of as you (and that thinks of you as you, and so on) is not you, it’s just the character that the underlying truth of you is dreaming into existence. Enlightenment isn’t in the character, it’s in the underlying truth.
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Wake up first. Wake up, and then you can double back and perhaps be of some use to others if you still have the urge. Wake up first, with pure and unapologetic selfishness, or you’re just another shipwreck victim floundering in the ocean and all the compassion in the world is of absolutely no use to the other victims floundering around you.
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The universe isn’t vague and ignorant. I am vague and ignorant. Something is true, and it doesn’t matter what it is, I’m not going to be false any more. I have not even the slightest trace of the slightest reservation that I would rather suffer and die figuring out what is true than continue this life as a slave to lies and ignorance.
-On the attitude needed for enlightenment
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I don’t see it as my role to save or rescue anybody any more than regular people feel the need to rescue each other from sleeping and dreaming.
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That’s how it is in dreams: thoughts become things practically before they’re thought.
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You can’t manage to avoid your own true nature forever. It’s a wonder anybody manages it at all.
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Who you are has little or nothing to do with you.
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There is no true self. Truth and self are mutually exclusive.
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This is about unknowing. All this so-called knowledge is exactly what stands between seeker and sought.
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The teachers we need will always be there when we need them; no reason to track down somebody else’s.
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The ‘I” casts off the illusion of ‘I’ and yet remains as ‘I’. Such is the paradox of self-realization. The realized do not see any contradiction in it.
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Before enlightenment, I believed my ego was me. Then enlightenment comes along and no more ego, only the underlying reality. Now it’s after enlightenment, and this ego might be slightly uncomfortable or ill-fitting at times, but it’s all I’ve got.
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The idea that your ego is destroyed in the process of enlightenment is roughly correct, but it’s not complete. Before enlightenment, you’re a human being in the world, just like everyone you see. During enlightenment, you realize that the human being that you thought you were is just a character in a play, and that the world you thought you were in is just a stage, so you go through a process of radical deconstruction of your character to see what’s left when it’s gone. The result isn’t enlightened-self or true-self, it’s no-self. When it’s all over it’s time to be a human being in the world again, and that means slipping back into costume and getting back onstage.
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Miracles are nature unimpeded, which is a good way of saying that if you take your hand off the tiller, the boat will steer itself and do a vastly better job of it than you ever could.
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Relax into the moment and let the universe do the driving. If there was a secret to happiness in life, I’d say that was it.
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Trust you develop a little at a time as you learn to relinquish the illusion of control.
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They have abandoned the illusion of control. It doesn’t matter why you do it, just that you do. This is the point of distinction and the root teaching of all major religions.
~On the power of spiritual devotion
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Fear and ego – in other words, ignorance – are keeping your hand on the tiller. Release the tiller for whatever reason, and the steering takes care of itself.
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Everyone’s grooving on the gurus, and everyone’s getting more and more spiritual, but nobody’s waking up.
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Go jump off a cliff. Don’t go near the cliff and contemplate jumping off. Don’t read a book about jumping off. Don’t study the art and science of jumping off. Don’t join a support group for jumping off. Don’t write poems about jumping off. Don’t kiss the ass of someone else who jumped off. Just jump.
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The difference between us isn’t that I’m enlightened and you’re not. The difference between us is that I know it, and you don’t.
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The truth is identical for both of us. I haven’t achieved a better status than you.
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There’s no such thing as instant enlightenment any more than there’s such a thing as an instant baby.
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Simply put, I don’t think. I don’t make choices or decisions. I don’t weigh possibilities and select one over others. Instead, I observe patterns and move with them.
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I used to try to be smart and now I don’t and everything works a whole lot better. Stopping being smart was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done.
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This is it. Not some other time, not some other place. Right here. Right now. I am standing at the exact center of infinity and I see beauty and perfection and absolute delight everywhere and in every thing. The touch of the slightest breeze, the sight of a single star through cloud-swept skies, the howls of coyote pups in the distance and the sheer glory and beauty of it all is enough to tear me to shreds and all I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you
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Truth isn’t an idea or a concept. It’s not in libraries or the words of sages. It doesn’t come in a flash of insight or a peak experience. It’s not a feeling of bliss or ecstasy. It’s not a concept to be understood or a feeling to be experienced. It’s not in your heart or your mind. It’s further.
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Spiritual awakening is about discovering what’s true. Anything that’s not about getting to the truth must be discarded. Truth isn’t about knowing things; you already know too much. It’s about unknowing. It’s not about becoming true; it’s about unbecoming false so that all that’s left is truth.
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No belief is true. No. Belief. Is. True.
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One millionth of one percent false is completely false. Everything in duality is false. False as in not true. Not true as in bullshit.
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This isn’t a song we’re singing or a mountain we’re climbing; it’s a dream we’re unweaving.
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If you’re interested in “more Jed McKenna”, this same post at Living Unbound site has links to his books.
Wholeheartedly,
Kirtanman
“It’s not about becoming true; it’s about unbecoming false so that all that’s left is truth.”
For some reason, that line leapt out at me 
I came across Jed McKenna’s stuff a couple of years ago, and really didn’t know what to make of it at all. It seemed then a little ‘clinical’, or perhaps ‘arid’ is a better way of putting it. Interesting to see some of his words again - and a different response on my part, this time.
Thanks, Kirtanman
ROTFL
Hilarious!
Hahahahahahahahaha!
I love this! Must get the books! THANKS, Kirtan!
Kirtanman,
I thought you follow authentic nondualism. You should know it is all about distinguishing “That” (clarity) from mind.
Well I wouldn’t say I follow it, but I think I get what you mean (that yes, for me non-duality is synonymous with reality). That’s a key reason why I like Jed McKenna (his clear and emphatic articulation of non-duality); where do you see something other than non-dualism in anything he says?
“One millionth of one percent false is completely false. Everything in duality is false. False as in not true. Not true as in bullshit.”
~Jed McKenna
Hey, you’re welcome, Amoux; glad you found it useful!
You’re welcome, emc!
Yeah; I think you’ll like the books … the quotes are a decent representation … but the entire books are WAY better!!
Not only is Jed’s articulation of enlightenment clear, fun and straightforward, but he also gives the best description of what day to day life in enlightenment is like, that I’ve seen. He demystifies a lot of the presumptions, in ways that resonate as very authentic, with me at least; he’s very “real world”, while still authentically enlightened.
Very much “Adyashanti with the gloves off!”
(There’s some conjecture in the “blogosphere” that Jed McKenna is Adyashanti writing under a pen name; I thought it was possible at first, too, but after reading all three books, I don’t think so … but “ya never know”, I suppose. 
)
Whoever Jed McKenna is, he’s very much the real deal, and his books are very much worth reading (for anyone drawn to do so), I’d say.
Wholeheartedly,
Kirtanman
Since there’s so much down to earth descriptions with a fantastic humour, I’d say Jed is probably a SHE, not a HE! 
(had to make the remark just to stir your assumptions a bit… )
Some good Jed McKenna videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDQX3MybtVA&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x0UbAAj6jI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bfwvK9NVYk&feature=related
Stir away!!
… and hey, “ya never know”, I suppose!
Wholeheartedly,
Kirtanman
Thanks, Amoux; I’ve seen/heard these (they’re quote compilations by another Jed McKenna “fan”, just uploaded as YouTube videos) … worth watching/listening to, for sure.
I’m listening to them again right now.
Holy Crap, this guy is good!
It’s like Nisargadatta, Adyashanti, Abhinavagupta & a United States Marine had a kid … and that kid got enlightened.
I am ahabcptn…creator of the JED videos
and nerdy jed fan
love the positive comments on them
thanks all
I have been working on a new project now - but I may make one more new video now that I have his last audiobook on the computer
Hi Ravenscroft,
Welcome to the AYP Forum!
Thanks VERY much for creating those videos; they’re truly awesome, and a great representation of Jed’s work!
And you are actually directly responsible for getting me to do something I never thought I’d actually do in my life … namely …
Read Moby Dick.
Which I’m doing right now; I’m about 90% through it.
Jed nailed it (he discovered what Moby Dick is actually about; something no one else has managed in over 150 years, it seems) … and, as he writes, regarding the book people think it is … “it’s not that book; it’s not even that kind of book” … and he’s infinitely, utterly correct.
WOW.
And it’s amazing that, as far as I know, no one else has ever figured it out; they all think it’s a story about a psycho sea captain who goes full-goose bozo after having one of his favorite appendages become whale chowder … though, as Jed says in Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment … Moby Dick is indeed the American Mahabharata.
It’s all in there; it’s the war for Enlightenment; the battle to wake up from the dream; just like the Bhagavad Gita, only updated with 19th Century Whaling symbolism, instead of ancient Indian war symbolism.
Amazing.
Wholeheartedly,
Kirtanman
PS- Thanks for your other videos, too! AhabCapn has a bunch of other good ones from Jed’s books, but featuring quotes from U.G. Krishnamurti, and poems from Walt Whitman, etc. “Highly Recommended.”
Welcome to AYP, ravenscroft
sure thing
it was a pleasure creating them
I didn’t want to look like I was promoting my stuff but
me and a few of my pals started
www.enlightenmentdudes.com
Video book reviews about this stuff
you may see some similarities in those videos as my ahab work
wish you all the best!
Jim
Ah… THAT explains a LOT!!
… the only other Jed McKenna vids on YouTube were the book reviews from Enlightenment Dudes; I listened to part of one (for Spiritually Incorrect) … it sounded quite good! I just read all three books, back to back, a couple of weeks ago, with intermittent pauses for food and sleep - “hence this thread” … and so, I didn’t feel the need to go through the reviews, but if you haven’t read the books … and are thinking about it … the review vids seemed very well done).
Jed McKenna’s books are THAT good, and Jed is ALL the way in my Enlightenment Booktheon {like "Pantheon … except with, well, books … } of “books by”:
Yogani, Adyashanti, Nisargadatta, Ramana, Tau Malachi & … Jed.
In his books, Jed mentions surfing the Web and checking out books to see who’s articulating the reality of enlightenment well; I do exactly the same … and like Jed, I find very few; Jed is most definitely one of the reality-based ones … and even more importantly, one of the authors/teachers who can help people know enlightenment in experience.
And basically, we’re (AYP Forum) cool with people mentioning-promoting their stuff, in context with other, regular participation in the AYP Forum, and/or mentioning resources that are likely to be of interest … and it sounds like you’ve got the right attitude (i.e. even your mention of Enlightenment Dudes is in context with this thread, and it’s a resource that I, at least, very much appreciate knowing about).
If you do a new Jed video, please let us know.
If you’re “taking requests”, I halfway thought of getting the audiobook of Spiritually Incorrect, and doing a “Moby Dick” (Jed video) … but if you feel like it, please do!
Just as some people undoubtedly enjoy your Jed-derived U.G. Krishnamurti videos, and Whitman videos (I certainly did! Thanks for those, too! ) … I think people would enjoy a Jed-derived Moby Dick vid, too. A lot more people are likely to be exposed to the info (of Moby Dick being an exquisitely-symbol’d enlightenment roadmap) on YouTube than via Jed’s books, I’d guess.
("I can see it all now –> ) … the video starts with cool enraged whale and Captain Ahab images … … “Moby Dick is not the book people think … it’s not even that kind of book”, “Herman Melville completed the journey … and Moby Dick is like a postcard sent from that place” (or however that quote goes, I’m operating from Kirtanmaniacal memory, which has been known to be less than 100% accurate at times … ).
Thanks Again!
Wholeheartedly,
Kirtanman
Hi Kirtanman,
If you haven’t already, if you are looking for unique perspectives, you may consider reading Byron Katie’s “A Thousand Names For Joy” she speaks from the perspective of One Mind in one of the clearest ways I have ever encountered. Her experience after awakening was coming from the extreme of having no identification with being human and having to learn at age 43 how to function in a balanced way in this world.
Also in his latest book The Fifth Agreement, Don Miguel Ruiz describes life after enlightenment in his own unique way. In person he speaks from a perspective of unity and the divine love flows out of him in very palpable ways.
What books by Tau Malachi do you recommend? I would be interested in reading his work.
Yes, “A Thousand Names for Joy” is a great book. I remember reading it for the first time, and getting an inkling - and then just a mixture of tears of joy and a LOT of laughter. And just space opening up within. Bliss
BK’s books are all good - but there’s something special about this one, for me.
Thanks, Anthem!
I may well check those out; I know Katie and Don Miguel are both enlightened, and I enjoy both their work (I met Don Miguel, years ago - he’s a truly warm, wonderful guy!)
I didn’t mean to imply that anyone else’s work didn’t warrant placement in my (spontaneously derived) “Booktheon” {<— by the way, to all reading} - I don’t separate stuff out quite that much, these days - it was mostly a flash of inspiration to communicate the authors that I feel have been most powerful at offering unvarnished articulation of truth in my own experience … but quite a few others have been major, too.
The entire point of even saying that the way I did was just how clear Jed McKenna is, in terms of “on the ground” enlightenment dynamics; similar to Adya or Yogani, I’d say; simply a different, equally clear voice.
A lot of the others I could have listed (i.e. Swami Lakshmanjoo) involve a fair amount of involved learning of a new (for most people “model”), whereas Yogani, Adya, Jed, Ramana, Nisargadatta & Jed – don’t involve a model, at all.
I realize Katie and Don Miguel don’t, either, but candidly, have thought of them as working more with early-stage practitioners, while recognizing that they’re enlightened, themselves.
I may well check out the books, though; I was very impressed with her “Question Your Thinking, Change The World”.
RE: Tau Malachi, I’d recommend Gnosis of the Cosmic Christ; it’s kind of his foundational work, though they’re all good, and if you’re drawn to any of his other books, you really can’t go wrong.
Wholeheartedly,
Kirtanman