Rupert Spira takes the reader on a wonderful journey of discovery, revealing what the Kashmiri masters describe as the greatest secret – pure consciousness. This book demonstrates that consciousness is the fundamental, foundational reality behind the apparent duality of mind and matter, and that overlooking, forgetting, or ignoring this reality is the main cause of both the existential dissatisfaction that permeates and motivates the lives of most people, as well as the major conflicts between communities and nations. It simultaneously shows that recognizing the fundamental reality of consciousness is both a prerequisite and a necessary and sufficient condition for an individual's quest for lasting happiness, and serves as the foundation for world peace.