Love That Spirit

Book Talk: ATLANTIS AND 2012

2011-05-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

Atlantis and 2012

Book Talk by Gayl Woityra

What possible connection might we discover between the current concern about the Mayan Calendar, 2012, and the psychic readings by the American “seer,” Edgar Cayce? In his newest book, Atlantis and 2012 (Bear & Company, 2010), author Frank Joseph presents insightful observations about numerous connections between the lost, ancient civilizations often referenced by Cayce in his readings and the prophecies of the Maya and other ancient cultures around the world. Readers interested in the Mayan Calendar and Edgar Cayce will enjoy this book.

Joseph’s introductory chapter sets the historical basis for all further discussions in the book. He acknowledges the current concern with the “catastrophic scenario popularly associated with this soon-to-be experienced incident [of December 21, 2012].” Further chapters provide related details. He also explains the astronomical facts of the date that terminates the Mayan Calendar. “In the late morning of December 21, 2012, the ecliptic (the sun’s apparent path across the sky) will intersect with the galactic ecliptic (the projection of the Milky Way’s disc on the sky) to place the Sun at the very center, in the crosshairs between the solar path and that of our galaxy, when the Sun is one degree above the horizon at the equator (73 degrees West).”

Now, from the perspective of us on Earth, this event happens “only once every 26,000 years.” So what does this mean, or portend? That is where much disagreement currently occurs. Author Joseph begins his exploration of possibilities with other historical and pre-historical data. “The first day of the [Mayan] calendar’s Long Count began in 3114 B.C.” Joseph notes some intriguing parallel dates. “The first Egyptian dynasty was inaugurated around 3100 B.C.” He begins, as well, to note various similarities between the Egyptian and Mesoamerican cultures. More importantly, he says, “Their similarities suggest an outside source that independently affected both.” This leads to ancient prehistory and the legends of Atlantis and Lemuria, thereby setting up the first connection to Edgar Cayce and his psychic readings about those legendary places. Further chapters in the book provide the details, often based on new scientific and archaeological discoveries.

Chapter One focuses on Greek philosopher Plato’s account of Atlantis. Several points become important. The author reflects on a point that Plato makes, one that the author and Edgar Cayce will both emphasize, and that is the cause of the destruction of Atlantis and its relation to a lesson for humanity today. Plato makes the point that “human societies begin to self-destruct when their citizens no longer regard organic relationships between the spiritual and the material spheres of existence.” Ultimately, “the consequences of cosmic disharmony reveal themselves in physical destruction.”

The author presents other interesting facts, many quite new. The Egyptian term for “Atlantis” was “Etelenty.” A recent (2001) translation of “Etelenty” means “the land that has been divided and submerged by water.” Anyone who studies world mythology will also learn that every culture in the world has a flood myth. New discoveries (1967) have found “elephant teeth from 40 different underwater locations along the Azores-Gibraltar Ridge” and these finds validate Plato’s placement of Atlantis at that location.

The next few chapters deal with other aspects of Atlantis, supported by linguistic analyses, known history, comparative symbols, and sacred numbers. Then connections between Atlantis and Mesoamerica begin to develop. One of the most amazing is a comparison of two carvings, one a fifth-century B.C. statue of Atlas from the Athenian Parthenon and part of the “Elgin Marbles” in the British Museum, and a relief carving inside the Temple of the Bearded Man at Chichen Itza’s Ball Court in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. They are nearly identical! How could this be?

Mayan deities similar to the Greek god Atlas “were believed to have come to Chichen Itza just after a world-class deluge destroyed their capital across the sea . . . a homeland described as ‘the Red and Black Land,’” matching Plato’s “description of the red (tufa) and black (lava) natural formations on the island of Atlantis.” The author presents example after example of parallels and connections between these two locations. He also builds a case for repeated cataclysms on the Earth as he references many new conclusions from recent research. For example, “A consensus of scientific opinion at Britain’s Fitzwilliam College in Cambridge during the summer of 1997, found that our planet had been subjected to a set of celestial bombardments beginning more than 5,000 years ago.” If we get out our calculators, we just might notice that 2000 (2011) plus 3100 (3114) adds up to approximately 5,000 years! The author presents evidence from cultures around the Earth, all of which have records of various cataclysms at nearly identical times. Amongst all such data, we find that a message prevails: “the delicate balance between [mankind’s] behavior and cosmic judgment.”

Further chapters in Part One of the book focus on various factors related to 2012. The author notes that the Maya believed that “coming events were foreshadowed in the past,” something that modern people might identify as natural cycles. Consequently, Joseph discusses how the Maya documented observations of past events, as did many native cultures around the world. He includes, as well, much current scientific research, such as the cyclic nature of ice ages. Russian researchers at the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences predict a “little ice age . . .by the mid 21st century.” Scientists in India predict “increasing volcanoes, tectonic movements, earthquakes and landslides.” Geophysicists at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences are concerned “that a super solar storm could catastrophically effect our world during 2012.”

Certainly all the data available about cataclysms of long ago and the potential for similar events in the present times, is enough to cause great concern. Within the context of Frank Joseph’s book, the discussion leads very naturally to the second half of his work entitled, “The Seer.”

The “seer” is, of course, Edgar Cayce, often called the “Sleeping Prophet” because all of his “readings” came from a deep trance-state. Most of his early “readings” involved medical diagnoses for thousands of clients.” All of his readings were stenographically recorded, and they have been thoroughly studied and researched by medical doctors over many years. Cayce has sometimes been called “the father of alternative medicine.” Later, in the 1920’s Cayce began to give “life readings” that involved “past lives,” sometimes from the time of the legendary Atlantis and Lemuria. He did 14,256 life readings for some 8,000 clients over a 43-year period. Edgar Cayce died in 1945.

A good part of Frank Joseph’s chapters on Edgar Cayce apply research and discoveries that evolved in the years following Cayce’s death, all of which corroborate and bring further light to his “readings” and predictions. For example, Cayce discussed the Essenes many years before the discovery of the Qumran community remains. Cayce said in a 1930’s reading that the Nile River flowed across the Sahara Desert to the ocean in Atlantean times. In 1994 a satellite survey confirmed that a former tributary of the Nile “connected Egypt to the Atlantic Ocean at Morocco.”

One part of Cayce’s story of Atlantis was considered complete fantasy for many years. He claimed that Atlantis had a high level of technology, especially involving the use of quartz crystal electronic technology. “None of this made scientific sense in the 1930s . . . until the advent of the crystalline silicon chip nearly 50 years later.” This, of course, was the technology that led to our current computer age. Cayce also predicted a “super cosmic ray that will be found in the next twenty years.” Then “lasers were invented [or reinvented] around 1960.”

The author also discusses the fascinating folk history of the Americas where nearly every native group’s folk memories “are replete with [stories] also describing the arrival of flood survivors from both Mu [Lemuria] and Atlantis.” One story, of special interest to me (who has Cornish copper mine engineer ancestors) is of pre-historic mining in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Plato had described the Atlanteans as “great miners and metal-smiths.” Their specialty was a superior bronze called orichalcum. Until last year I had never heard of “America’s greatest archaeological enigma: the excavation of at least half a billion pounds of copper ore in a stupendous mining enterprise that began suddenly in the Upper Great Lakes region of the Michigan peninsula about 5,000 years ago. . . . Menomonee Indian tradition remembers [the miners] as the Marine Men, white-skinned bearded foreigners who sailed out of the East.”

Cayce’s readings about the long-lost Atlantis tell of two rival factions from that time: the Children of the Laws of One who honored natural law, emphasizing healing and spiritual values, opposed by the Sons of Belial who “were interested in using natural resources only for their own material gain.” Thematic to both Plato and Cayce is the idea that the destruction of Atlantis was precipitated by greed and misuse of technology. Author Frank Joseph emphasizes that the story of Atlantis uncannily resembles “the present condition of world civilization.”

Frank Joseph’s Atlantis and 2010: The Science of the Lost Civilization and the Prophecies of the Maya presents thoughtful insights to readers. Much easier to read than many of the rather technical books on the Mayan Calendar, this work provides much food for thought for readers concerned about 2012. Moreover, it delights fans of Edgar Cayce with its many corroborating results from recent studies and explorations. The author’s idea to coordinate a discussion of the Mayan Calendar, 2010, and Edgar Cayce results in a fascinating book for readers.

Book Talk: Testimony of Light

2011-02-09T14:41:00.000-08:00

BOOK TALK: Testimony of Light

Perhaps it is a truism that most humans, out of fear, either avoid thinking about death and the hereafter, or spend much time searching for answers about that very subject. As we age in our Earthly lives, the topic becomes more and more intriguing when we ponder what may be in our immediate or near future. Fortunately, various authors have provided resources that prove helpful to at least some of us. We find some answers in books by talented mediums, such as James Van Praagh in Unfinished Business (Harper-Collins, 2009). The books by psychotherapist Michael Newton, Ph.D.—Journey of Souls (Llewellyn, 1994) and Destiny of Souls (Llewellyn, 2002), provide many insights into the after-life.

I was especially delighted, however, to discover another remarkable work, recommended by a friend: Testimony of Light: An Extraordinary Message of Life After Death by Helen Greaves (Jeremy P. Tarcher / Penguin, New York 2009). This unique work, originally published in Great Britain by the [Anglican] Churches’ Fellowship for Psychical and Spiritual Studies in 1969, has been in print for some forty years, but I had never heard of it—perhaps because it wasn’t published in the U.S. until more recently. Now, however, I have come to treasure this easy to read, instructive and intriguing volume.

Most books about the afterlife are either mediumistic reports or articles from psychotherapists who discuss the experiences of various clients. Never, until this book, have I read a day-to-day report of one person’s experiences after death over a period of two years in Earth time. This work is truly unique, intense, and inspirational.

The book begins with a brief synopsis of the life of Frances Banks, an English woman who spent 25 years as a nun in the Anglican Church, much of her time as Sister Frances Mary of the Community of the Resurrection in Grahamstown, South Africa. Besides serving as Principal of the Teachers’ Training School College, she earned an M.A. in Psychology and was “author of many books on psychology.” Later in life she left the order to explore the psychic and spiritual in the Anglican Church’s Fellowship for Psychical and Spiritual Studies, a group that has “helped countless people integrate their psychic experiences within a fully orthodox Christian faith.” At that time she met Helen Greaves, an author, and “for the last eight years of her life [they] worked together psychically and spiritually.” Helen’s first impression of Frances Banks was “that this was a woman of tremendous force of character and tremendous willpower.” They worked together until Frances died of cancer on November 2, 1965.

The book begins with Helen’s description of Frances’ last days and her death. Then it quickly moves to a re-establishment of the previously strong telepathic link between the two women. Helen became aware at first of “a Presence” about three weeks after Frances’ death. Then some days later she felt the telepathic link with Frances’ mind impinge on her own. It became apparent that it was Frances’ intention to dictate the story of her after death experiences to and through her friend, Helen Greaves. Helen reports, “Now that she was evidently restored to consciousness and awareness after the change into her new life, the first burning desire would be to make known all that was happening [and] to send back at first hand.” For Helen, ”It was almost as though I took dictation.” Apparently, this activity was not just the desire of Frances to tell her story, but as she explained later, she was “under the inspiration of a group, or band, for this transmitting of her impressions of the Life Beyond to be translated into a book.” We may infer from this that some entities in the after world wanted to send this information back to humans on Earth as a helpful service to them. This idea of service to others is a major theme throughout the book.

And so the dictation to Helen began on December 5, 1965, and continued on a fairly regular basis for the next two years. From this process we, the readers, have an intense description of the day-to-day, week-to-week progress of Frances’ experiences and journey in the afterlife. In every case we find her experiences fascinating, inspiring, and consoling.

In order to gain all the insights and information about the afterlife as shared by Frances, one needs to read the entire book. That is an easy task as it is only 160 pages in length. But we can discuss some of the major themes that are explored in this delightful work:
1) The newly transitioned individuals receive appropriate healing while they become accustomed to the changes in their consciousness.
2) As they settle in, they move to their appropriate place in the spiritual world.
3) One moves forward spiritually through service to others.
4) Everyone belongs to a Group, actually many different kinds of groups.
5) The extent of Life after Life is endless.

Probably most people wonder, “What will happen to ‘me’ when I die?”
The story of Frances is very reassuring. Every individual who crosses over—with a few exceptions explained in the book—will receive immediate, kind, loving care. Frances “wakes up” in a kind of “rest home” run “by the Sisters of the community to which [she] belonged when in incarnation, and under the care of her former Mother Superior Florence and Anglican priest, Father Joseph. She needed some time to recuperate from her illness. She learns that “Souls are brought here from earth and from other places. . . . They are ‘nursed’ and taken care of here, as am I.”

We learn from Frances’ reports to and through author Helen Greaves that individuals come and go after different intervals. This portion of the book is intensely interesting as we meet the various individuals who pass through the “rest home hospital.” Each is cared for in relation to their needs. Some stay for relatively short periods and others remain for a long time. Frances tries to explain how time doesn’t really exist in the afterlife, but she needs to use those terms to explain processes to readers.

As Frances adjusts to the energies and different consciousness there, she feels “great joy to learn that one can still exercise one’s skills in this new life.” She chooses to help out at the rest home and to use her teaching and tutoring skills. Each day she learns more and more. She says the early days are “a stretching of the mind period.” She is still “herself” but she now views her problems and hopes “from an entirely different angle and with far greater dawning comprehension.”

Many students of metaphysics have heard of the “life review,” that intense reviewing of one’s Earthly life in order to perceive what one did “right” or “wrong.” Frances notes: “There is no compulsion . . . to review one’s past life on earth as soon as one arrives. . . . Some take a long time to tackle the problem.” She does report her own shock when she starts to review her life: “a true humbling of yourself to find that you did so little when you would have done so much; that you went wrong so often when you were sure you were right.”

The various “patients” that pass through the rest home provide learning experiences for both Frances and the readers of the book. They range from Doctor X, who believed his life to have been a failure, but who had actually achieved much and was an old, advanced soul—to a man who had been a Nazi leader who had committed suicide. He had been “rescued” from where he had been “wandering in the lower places, imprisoned by his own evil.” Frances says, “He has come to us to be healed.” He will spend a long time in a kind of sleep state. Another lovely temporary visit in the rest home is a young child who quickly moves on to join family members.

And so we learn through Frances’ experiences that every individual has an appropriate place in the afterlife, a place of great love and comfort. We also learn that each one has many opportunities to learn and evolve spiritually in order to progress to higher and higher spiritual levels. Often this progress involves various kinds of service to others, often utilizing one’s already developed talents and skills. Frances reports that “bit by bit, we move away from earth ideas and limitations, and advance more into Light and Wisdom.”

Frances learns, with some humility and dismay, that one cannot leap up to high spiritual levels of vibration in one jump. It is a gradual, step-by-step process that one moves through; each step of advancement must be earned. She reports, “The Planes of the Spirit stretch onward into infinity. . . . You can’t push yourself into heavens beyond you; the Law of Progression is exact.” In the afterlife “the newly transported soul graduates always to the rightful place it has earned and prepared.” Gradually, with each experience Frances has, she grows in understanding. She says, “We have to learn to live in this new frequency; to guard the doors of one’s mind. . . . Here the thought-pattern is determinate of one’s welfare, one’s progress, one’s happiness and joy. . . . Every soul must assimilate the Way before proceeding onward into planes of even higher frequencies.”

Frances continues to teach and learn. She works with many who arrive expecting to find what Frances terms “a super Welfare State,” a “heaven of utter delight” in which “no efforts would ever be needed by them.” Many expect to rest “in the arms of Jesus.” Now Frances had spent much of her earthly life within a Christian religious organization. But here she has learned that “Lord Jesus lives in a Plane far beyond this [where she is]. Moreover she has learned that “no soul coming here from earth’s limitations, however advanced it may be in spiritual truth, is able to stand the stepped-up vibrations or the translucent Light of these High Planes. . . . One has to earn every step of advancement.”

Over time Frances comes to comprehend the importance of Groups. She sees that “Our ‘patients’ stay with us until they have adjusted to this new life and are ready to join their dear ones or their Special Groups.” She notes how on Earth individuality tends to be emphasized and society has largely down-played the significance of Groups. She says, “We are, to my limited knowledge, all members not of one Group, but of many, and the many make up the Great Group or the Great Soul Being in which we live and move and have our being.”

She then identifies some of the Groups to which we belong. First “we belong to a Family Group.” The next Groups are “Groups of interest,” such as “the arts, music, education, social sciences and social service.” When souls arrive in the afterlife and “have cleared the receiving houses [like the rest home where Frances serves], they pass on to, first, the Family and then later to the Special Group of their interests.” There are groups at higher levels that Frances equates to “advanced classes in a university.” Those Groups are guided by “great Beings [who] watch over the progress of their cell-like clusters of souls.” Beyond these Groups are other Greater Groups. “All is progress. . . . Life is a continuing Path towards one’s particular Group.”

This unique, remarkable little book provides readers with endless insight and inspiration. Each page is so rich that it is impossible in a book discussion such as this to do more than just touch upon a few of its treasures. I have read it twice and intend to repeat it again and again. No one can fear Death after reading this book. The same goes for Life on Earth because the book shows how here we also have opportunities to learn and grow in ways that we can continue to utilize in the after life. There is no end to the All that Is.

A good way to conclude our journey through Helen Greaves’ and Frances Banks’ Testimony of Light is to note just a few words of wisdom that touch our soul in this book. Frances summarizes the “message which we want to put across” in this work:
1) There should be no fear of death, for the death of the body is but a gentle passing to a much freer life.
2) That all Life is lived as a serial, that we go from one experience of living to another experience of living at a different rate, i.e., on a higher level of awareness.
3) That much of what we thought praiseworthy on earth is mediocre to us in the Light of wider knowledge, and conversely much for which we blamed ourselves and were blamed by others, is viewed here from a wider angle and even becomes merit!

This wonderful book assures us that “all is order, advancement, progress. And all is Unity.”

BOOK TALK - WHEN EVERYTHING CHANGES, CHANGE EVERYTHING

2010-12-07T11:51:00.000-08:00

BOOK TALK: WHEN EVERYTHING CHANGES, CHANGE EVERYTHING

A book discussion by Gayl Woityra

Right now every single one of us is living through extensive and intensive changes in our lives. The world around us constantly challenges us with new technologies and new systems, changes that are often most difficult for older citizens to handle. In developed societies around the world ordinary citizens, experiencing the economic downturns, are facing loss of homes, jobs, retirement savings, and all forms they consider to be “security.” Add to this all the normal everyday changes that happen to us all—ill health, loss of loved ones, relationship struggles, and indeed, we are all hit with stresses from changes in our lives, changes we probably never planned for and don’t want at all.

Author and spiritual teacher Neale Donald Walsch offers us a path to sanity in his new book, When Everything Changes, Change Everything: In a time of turmoil, a Pathway to Peace (Hampton Roads publishing Company, Inc. 2009). Walsch also authored the best seling Conversations with God series. Presented in the form of a friendly, easy to understand conversation with the reader, Walsch offers encouragement, practical steps, and a “fresh and startling perspective” on change.

Acknowledging that “while change has always been a part of human life, “ Walsch points out that “social scientists say that the rate of change is increasing exponentially.” What used to take years only a century ago, now happens in days, hours, or even minutes. This speed of change is what creates the stress that all of us are experiencing currently as we try to process the many changes in our lives that are hitting us with both speed and intensity. Walsch’s intention is to provide “specific instructions on how to use mental and spiritual tools to change the way change changes you.” His ideas in the book are “based in ancient wisdom, modern science, everyday psychology, practical metaphysics, and contemporary spirituality.”

Walsch begins with the premise that “Change is what is,” and that it is “not going to stop . . . . What can be changed is the way you deal with change, and the way you’re changed by change.” He divides his presentation into two fairly equal sections. Part One discusses “The Mechanics of the Mind” and “how knowing about that can help you change your experience of the change you’re experiencing.” Part Two explains “The System of the Soul” and “how knowing about that can help you create the changes in your life, rather than endure them.”

Within these two approaches to the issue of change, Walsch converses with the reader about the “Nine Changes That Can Change Everything.” Here’s the list:
1. Change your decision to “go it alone.”
2. Change your choice of emotions
3. Change your choice of thoughts
4. Change your choice of truths.
5. Change your idea about Change Itself
6. Change your idea about why Change occurs
7. Change your idea about future Change
8. Change your idea about life
9. Change your identity

For the purpose of our discussion of Walsch’s book, we will touch upon these
nine changes and some of the insights Walsch shares with readers. In section one where the author describes how our minds work, readers are likely to relate immediately to his discussion. His early words relate to Change #1: Change your decision to “go it alone” helps readers understand that “this is not something that is just happening to you.” We are all in this same speeding boat. He encourages us to recognize our fears and urges us to “connect,” if only by learning more about this situation, perhaps by reading this book.

The next two changes are big points for each of us to ponder. Change #2 says: “Change your choice of emotions.” Many folks might be surprised that Walsch insists “you can change your choice of emotions.” While neuroscientists may tell us that emotion comes before thought, Walsch says the opposite is true. Most of us could attest to that very fact. When we think of a sad situation, we then feel the sadness. Therefore the author urges readers to “change your thoughts” and that becomes Change #3.

In the very short discussion of Change #3, Walsch introduces three “realities” that weave their way throughout the book: Ultimate Reality, Observed Reality, and Distorted Reality. Ultimate Reality holds the greatest truth about “what is ‘so’ about what is going on and why;” Observed Reality is “what is readily apparent;” Distorted Reality is “what we imagine is going on.” Unfortunately, most of us spend a lot of time in Distorted Reality.

Change #4 tells us to “change your choice of truths.” Most of us never consider that truth involves choices. Walsch identifies three kinds of truth: Actual, Apparent, and Imagined. Once again, most of live at the Imagined Truth level. Walsch unequivocally says, “There is no such thing as absolute truth,” and so we can set aside “actual” truth for now. What we all need to work on is Apparent Truth: “What we have observed,”-- what is going on now and you can actually observe it.

Now the author spends the rest of Part One of his book explaining the mechanics of the mind, and how the mind can help or hinder us as we deal with changes in our life. One paragraph gives us a clue to this process. “Events do not have meanings. Events are events, and meanings are thoughts. Nothing has any meaning save the meaning you give it. And the meaning you give to things does not derive from any event, circumstance, condition, or situation exterior to yourself. The Giving of Meaning is entirely an internal process. Entirely.”

Hence we gather that the process is something inside us, inside our mind, and that is what we need to master. Walsch says, “The trick is to raise your consciousness from the lowest to the highest level of awareness, no matter what is going on around you.” He urges us to remember that “reactions are instinctive; responses are thought out.” So if we take the time to think, the mind has the ability to decide how to feel, how to respond. For example, he points out that we can each choose to change “worry into wonder, expectation into anticipation, resistance into acceptance, . . . addiction into preference, . . . judgment into observation, and reaction into response.”

In an interesting discussion Walsch helps readers become aware that most of us base our “truth” and “reality” on past data—reality as we have experienced it. This results in a very subjective perspective toward what is actually happening in the present. More objective reality only comes from Observed Reality, that is dealing with the present and not processing it through past judgments. Throughout these pages the author gently guides readers to understand how the brain works and how to use that understanding to make new choices and “embrace new truths.”

We now reach “Part Two: The System of the Soul, and how knowing about that can help you create the changes in your life, rather than endure them.” Here Walsch describes briefly and simply his understanding of God and the Universe. He says, “God is the Largest Manifestation of a System that Replicates Itself on Smaller and Smaller Versions Through a Process That Empowers the System Itself to Exist and to Expand.” In other words, “God is in everything; life is in everything.” Walsch says, “The soul knows the Actual Truth while the mind stops at Apparent Truth. Unless it does not.” His answer to everything is: “All change is for the better. There is no such thing as change for the worse.”

This pronouncement leads to “Change #5: Change your idea about change itself.” By leaving the realm of mind and entering the realm of Soul, we have a new perception of change. “We see that change is not an alteration in the condition and circumstance of our lives; it is the condition and circumstance of our lives.” Hence, change is the norm. There is no need to wonder “whether life will contain change, but [rather] what kind of change life will contain.”

The author asks readers to consider past experiences of change, especially the “worst moments” of our lives. Is it not true that most of us will discover that from those dreadful moments derived some of the “best things that ever happened to us,” –new insights and opportunities, leaps in self-understanding, or turning points in our lives? Walsch points out that “Life itself can fundamentally alter itself in only one direction: the direction that evolution requires.” “Change is the fundamental impulse of Life itselfl”

Change #6 says: “Change your idea about why change occurs.” Most of us don’t understand or even perceive improvement when it is occurring. Often our personal growth comes through difficult and challenging circumstances or events that we might prefer to avoid. So who or what is running the show? Walsch says the Soul makes the choices to experience these things, these changes. He says “There is a reason that things are happening the way they are happening.” His point is that although the mind is a “marvelous mechanism,” we are more than our mind: “ we are also a soul.” The Soul knows more about us than the mind. “The functi0n of the soul is to help you remember all that you already know—but not too much, too fast.”

The insights that originate in our soul provide a different perspective from that of the mind. Walsch says, “The largest message of this book [is that] perspective is everything.” In fact, “in the matter of changing everything when everything changes, perspective is the key.” To do that “we must adopt an integrative approach to the living of our lives.” To explain this point the author lists what he calls “Life’s Four Fundamental Questions:
1. Who am I?
2. Where am I?
3. Why am I where I am?
4. What am I doing here?

Walsch’s discussion of these questions is a significant contribution to our understanding of ourselves and Life itself. He provides a clear metaphysical discussion that should provide helpful insights to every reader. A kind of summary of his points is this sentence: “The Realm of the Absolute (also known as the Realm of Spirituality) is where KNOWING everything takes place, and that the Realm of the Relative (also known as the Realm of the Physical) is where EXPERIENCING everything takes place.” And so, he suggests “that souls come to the earth in order to gain a world of experience.”

After his in depth explication of spirituality and soul purpose, Walsch identifies Change #7: “Change your idea about future change.” You know how it is that we tend to dread what changes might occur in our future? We often work diligently to keep things as they are because we feel more secure with that we’ve already experienced. But Walsch reminds us that “it is only in your mind that it [change] does not seem welcome.” He points out a truth that some of us learn, especially in old age: “that everything that’s ever happened to you has happened for the better.” Anything we have labeled as “bad” is a perspective we’ve added with our thoughts. And usually we have resisted whatever was happening. Walsch says, “I have learned that everything ends well if I let go and let God; if I simply allow whatever change is occurring in my life to occur without opposition.”

It’s no surprise that Walsch’s insight leads to Change #8: “Change your idea about life” and Change #9: “Change your identity.” Reading this delightful book that is so useful in today’s chaotic world, we learn that life IS change. Everything is always changing. It is what provides us all with the opportunities tp learn and evolve. This lovely book helps us “see life and everything in life as an opportunity, . . . as a gift.” And after we change our ideas about life and its purpose, we are “only one step away from changing [our] idea about . . . our very identity. And that, indeed, changes everything!

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BOOK TALK: UNFINISHED BUSINESS

2009-11-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

BOOK TALK: UNFINISHED BUSINESS

I have always enjoyed James Van Praagh’s books, but his new one, Unfinished Business: What the Dead Can Teach Us About Life (Harper One, 2009) is one of his best. As always, readers will find Van Praagh’s works easy to read while they are also highly insightful and interesting. He combines many examples of stories from the other side as they develop in various seminars or appearances that he makes each year with his own commentary about what we all can learn from the other side.

In this particular book, Van Praagh provides examples of many usual human problems and lessons for learning as seen from those who have crossed over. Once there, individuals seem to be able to see these problems much more clearly and they are anxious to share their insights with their loved ones. As Van Praagh notes, “When people shed their physical bodies at death, their spiritual selves see life from a whole new perspective. It’s as if they had Lasik surgery. They can finally take off their glasses and see everything more clearly. Their
communications can help us all better understand guilt, regrets, love versus fear, the blame game, forgiveness, karma, and many other human issues.

What I found most helpful in this delightful book are the many “words of wisdom” that Van Praagh intersperses throughout his stories and commentary. Without doubt, every reader should be able to find inspiration in some, or all, of these insights. Rather than discussing some of the stories and what they teach, I have decided to just list many of my favorite “words of wisdom” from this book as a reference for anyone who might find some of them useful.

Words of Wisdom from James Van Praagh (with page references)

The only power we have is in the “now,” and our now affects our future. (3)

When a tragedy occurs, we become angry and guilt-ridden instead of seeing the opportunity to create good from it. (3)

It’s all about being responsible for your thoughts and actions. (3)

We can stop the blame game by accepting responsibility, correcting mistakes, and turning grief into accomplishments. (3)

Our regrets may serve as wonderful opportunities from which we can learn, or they may become slayers of our self-esteem and hold us back from future opportunities. (27)

Most regrets have to do with family ties. (28)

Almost all, on both sides of the veil, regretted lost moments of family togetherness because of their narrow-mindedness and stubbornness. (29)

It is vital for everyone to understand the exact ramifications of carrying regrets from this life into the next. We must free ourselves of this emotional roadblock and heal here. (33)

[Those on the other side] beg those of us on earth for forgiveness and compassion, so that they can let go of their emotional baggage and move on to the next stage in their evolution. (33)

When adults have no concept of right and wrong because they were not taught it by their parents, the end results are nothing less than devastating. (38)

Regrets can fester inside us, causing a lifetime of misunderstanding and judgment, and keep us in a constant state of stress and grief. (42)

Even the most grievous offenses can be forgiven. (42)

The opposite of love is fear. (45)

Some have to wait until death in order to fully understand the negative impact of not only their lives, but also their beliefs on another’s growth. (50)

Fear blocks any recognition of our true selves. (54)

The truth is that life on earth is a temporary illusion. (55)

As we are made in the likeness of God, and God is Love, then we must strive to express our love in everything we do, say, and are. (59)

It’s much easier to blame than to make an attempt to understand others through love and forgiveness. (63)

We are on this earth to learn many lessons, but the most important lesson is to love and accept ourselves for who we are. (68)

I honestly believe that many societal problems come from . . . victim mentality. In many ways, depression, anger, insecurity, distrust, and violence stem from this type of thinking. (69)

When we think with a them-against-me mentality, we narrow our understanding of the world’s diversity. (69)

Until we rise up and take responsibility for our thoughts, we will be stuck in this blame-game mentality. (73)
Ultimately, it is your thoughts that color the atmosphere around you. No one can MAKE you feel anything. You have to be willing to feel a certain way. (74)

Forgiveness plays an important role in letting go of blame and victimization. (80)

Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. (81)

By choosing to forgive, we do not minimize the responsibility of the offender or justify the wrong. Rather, we free ourselves of our own negative thoughts. (81)

[With friends and family] we set ourselves up for hurt. We expect them to be a certain way and don’t like it when they are themselves and not like we expect. (82)

If the person does not want to change, then we must accept that fact and move on. (82)

When we start to look at life from a spiritual perspective, we realize that we have been put together with others in certain circumstances we have chosen to experience before we were born into this incarnation.

We will be present [or not] at a loved one’s passing if we are meant to be there [or not]. (92)

When we understand the full scope of the concept of karma, we realize that each of us is solely responsible for our life, including everything that we create in thought, word, and deed. (99)

Karma is neutral; it is merely a tool for learning and having experiences. (99)

If you are on the path you are meant to be on, everything falls into place; the Universe is telling you that. If you are not on your right path, you will experience roadblocks all along the way, and this is also the Universe telling you to stop, look, and ask if this is where you are supposed to be.” (102)

The situations and people in our life that cause us the most trouble are also our greatest teachers. (103)

Those souls we call our family (including our extended family and close friends) have spent many lifetimes with us on this earth learning various lessons. (106)

People are also here to learn and work out karmic obligations by being part of a specific racial, ethnic, religious, or minority group. (107)

Bumper sticker: “How you treat me is your karma. How I react is mine.” (115)

[Life’s] obstacles are opportunities to learn more about ourselves and the world in which we live. (120)

Nothing is so bad that we cannot grow from it, but we need a good attitude. (120)

[Laughter] actually changes our brain chemistry, and it does so without any artificial stimulants or drugs. (125)

The Universe gives us EXACTLY what we think and expect about money. (127)

Stop thinking you need things to be happy. (128)

One of the hardest things to learn is that you cannot control other people’s actions or motivations. (146)

You must think positively in every aspect of your life in order to attract positive things to you. (149)

See how many times you catch yourself with a negative thought and replace it with a positive one. (149)

Don’t try to control how the Universe will bring your goals to you. Just let go and let God, knowing all shall be given to you in divine, right time. (150)

Admitting you are wrong and apologizing go a long way in your development as a spiritual human being. (153)

It is difficult to have a sense of who we are when we are living out our parents’, spouse’s, church’s, and the media’s conscious and unconscious projections. (159)

The only thing we have control over is the present. (159)

Spirits realize that God is not a person in a different geographic location, but an omnipresent energy, a consciousness that permeates everything and everyone. (160)

We are all one on a living planet, and only our egos, fears, and beliefs separate us. (178)

Don’t take life so seriously. It’s just a game. (198)

It doesn’t matter what role you play [in life], whether it is a servant or head of state; it is what you do with your role that matters. (198)

Do the most with what you are given. (198)

We change our reality by changing what is within us. (198)

We know that our life’s purpose is to contribute our talents and abilities to make the Universe whole and complete. (200)

When you meditate, do so without any expectations whatsoever. (203)

The Universe always gives you exactly what you persistently think, so pay close attention to your thoughts. (205)

Doing the right thing cannot be judged solely by the outcome or by the opinions of others. (214)

To attract positive, joyful, and prosperous situations to you, you must be that way yourself. (220)

You have chosen to come back at this time and place to achieve greatness in life and peace in your soul. (224)

Readers who enjoy James Van Praagh’s works can also visit him on line at www.vanpraagh.com.

Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol

2009-10-11T10:04:00.000-07:00

Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol:
(A Discussion of the underlying spiritual and scientific ideas in the book)

Dan Brown’s new best seller, The Lost Symbol (Doubleday, 2009) displays Brown’s usual fast-paced cliff-hanger plot. It also is filled with edgy references, direct and indirect, to many subject areas of New Age philosophy and quantum physics research. Given that the plot centers on the well-known influences of Freemasonry on Washington, D.C. architecture and city planning, Brown also provides a fairly complete explanation of the Masonic traditions woven cleverly into the story so that it isn’t just a didactic discourse.

My only complaint about Brown’s novels is that he doesn’t provide a bibliography of his sources, and quite obviously he has many. A few times he mentions authors and their works in his books, but not often. Many of his references to new thought, philosophies, and science are brief and so cleverly interwoven with the plot, most readers unfamiliar with the subjects will just gloss over them. On the other hand, millions of readers will, with these mentions, get somewhat acquainted with topics they might not have previously discovered.

In this discussion I would like to provide some sources for these ideas and topics that float through The Lost Symbol. Some are clearly ones that Brown has used in writing this book. Others may be similar sources that readers might like to peruse on topics that seem interesting to them. I’ll do this presentation by quoting briefly the Brown reference with page numbers, and then I’ll note one or more sources that relate to that reference. For a few topics I just make some additional comments. Note: when I use italics within a quotation, they are the author’s.

This might be a good place to note that when the first hints of Dan Brown’s forthcoming book leaked out about five years ago, various authors wrote books presenting background they expected Brown to use. Also they thought the new title would be “The Solomon Key.” One of the best such books is:
DaVinci in America: Unlocking the Secrets of Dan Brown’s The Solomon Key by Greg Taylor (Daily Grail Publishing, 2004).
For an overview of much in this book that refers to the “Ancient Mysteries,” there is no better source than the encyclopedic work:
The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P. Hall (Jeremy Tarcher / Penguin, 1988, 2003).

First, I would ask readers to notice the name of the villain of this book: Mal’akh. The root “mal” is easily recognizable as the word suggesting evil, as in words like malice, malevolent, and malefactor. “Akh” is an Egyptian root referring to a dead spirit. The name reinforces the character’s evil malevolence throughout the book.

Brown makes several references to astrology in his story. He notes that “the Capitol cornerstone [was] laid while Caput Draconis was in Virgo.” (29) “Caput Draconis” is Latin for what astrologers call the Dragon’s Head or the North Node. There is no need to give long explanations here beyond the fact that the North Node in a horoscope indicates, for spiritually oriented astrologers, what the individual, place, or nation, is destined to move toward in its most positive evolution or development. Clearly, the founders of the United States of America were concerned with positive future outcomes for the nation’s Capitol. Brown, through his main character, Professor Robert Langdon, notes the “coincidence” that the “cornerstones of the three structures that make up Federal Triangle—the Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument—were all laid in different years but were carefully timed to occur under this exact same astrological condition.”(29)

This comment refers to facts presented in great detail in a book, The Secret Architecture of Our Nation’s Capital: The Masons and the Building of Washington, D.C. by David Ovason (Harper Collins, 2000). In that 500-page, highly detailed book, readers learn that images of the astrological sign of Virgo dominate in the city of Washington, D.C. Author Ovason concludes that ancient ideas associated with Virgo—the Virgin, Vestal Virgins, Isis, and the Virgin Mary—all hark back to a “vision of a civilized mankind.” (Ovason 377)
His argument is highly complex, but quite fascinating. How strange, for instance, that the cornerstones of the Capitol, the White House, and the Washington Monument were all laid when either the Sun was at 23 degrees Virgo or when other planets were in that degree. Without doubt, whoever was directing the planning of Washington, D.C. not only had a considerable knowledge of astrology, but also had a vested interest in emphasizing the role of the sign Virgo. (Ovason 65)

Throughout his early chapters Brown takes pains to explain facts about Masonry for his general readers. He does this via a lecture, recalled by Langdon, that includes a discussion with Langdon’s students. The general myth about the Masons is that it is some kind of cult-like secret society. Brown puts that idea to rest with his explanations. Most general readers may be surprised to discover that so many of our honored forefathers were Masons, including the Father of our Country George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and the architect designer of Washington, D.C., Pierre L’Enfant. (Chapter 6) Professor Langdon emphasizes that “Masonry is open to men of all races, colors, and creeds, and provides a spiritual fraternity that does not discriminate in any way.” (32) He compares this
to our current age “when different cultures are killing each other over whose definition of God is better.” (31) Readers will find many books about Masons available at any bookstore. A classic book about the Masons and Washington, D.C. is:
The Secret Destiny of America by Manly P. Hall (The Philosophical Research Society, Inc. (1944,1972).

Brown makes an indirect reference to the Mayan Calendar and all the current concern about the significance of 2012 (53-54). He notes that “now, as has been prophesied, there was a change coming . . . . This moment had been . . . prophesied . . . by the primeval calendars, and even by the stars themselves. The date was specific, its arrival imminent. It would be preceded by a brilliant explosion of knowledge.” (53-54) Readers can find an endless number of books on the subject of the Mayan Calendar and the year 2012. Some are listed below:
Apocalypse 2012 by Lawrence E. Joseph (Morgan Road Books, 2007).
Fractal Time: The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age by Gregg Braden (Hay House, 2009).
The Mayan Calendar and the Transformation of Consciousness by Carl Joan Callerman, Ph.D. (Bear and Company, 2004).
The Mayan Code: Time Acceleration and Awakening the World Mind by Barbara Hand Clow (Bear and Company, 2007).
The Mayan Prophecies by Adrian G. Gilbert (Element, 1995).

One of the main characters in The Lost Symbol is Katherine Solomon, who is identified as a “Noetic Scientist.” Brown reports “the basic ideology of Noetic Science [is] the untapped potential of the human mind.” (55) Later he defines noetic as “translating roughly to ‘inner knowledge’ or ‘intuitive consciousness,’” (74) He makes direct reference to the real-life Institute of Noetic Sciences (founded by ex-astronaut, Dr. Edgar Mitchell) in California and the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research Lab (PEAR) and their studies that “had categorically proven that human thought, if properly focused, had the ability to affect and change physical mass.” (55) These experiments proved that “our thoughts actually interacted with the physical world, whether or not we knew it, affecting change all the way down to the subatomic realm.” (56) This proves (to Prof. Langdon) the old idea of “mind over matter.”

Readers can learn more about IONS at their website: www.noetic.org.
Subscribers to their monthly e-zine would discover that in the October, 2009 issue, IONS writes enthusiastically about Dan Brown’s discussion of noetic science in his new book. They expect that “the field of noetic science will receive considerably more scrutiny than it has in the past” and they are happy about that. They also note numerous television programs, such as on NBC Dateline (Oct. 16) and Discovery Channel will focus on the symbolism in the book and will feature IONS scientists in the discussion groups. Below are two excellent recent books based on the research programs at IONS:
Living Deeply, edited by Marilyn M. Schlitz, Ph.D., et al (New Harbinger Publications and Noetic Books, 2007).
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer (New Harbinger Publications and Noetic Books, 2007).

Readers might also like to check out the website for the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research program. See: www.princeton.edu/%7Epear/
Their website notes that the PEAR program “has completed its experimental agenda of studying the interaction of human consciousness with sensitive physical devices, systems, and processes” and is moving into the “broader venue of the International Consciousness Research Laboratories (ICRL).

In his discussion about new discoveries regarding human consciousness, Dan Brown mentions noetic author Lynne McTaggart, author of The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World (Simon & Schuster, 2007), who claimed that “human consciousness . . . was a substance outside the confines of the body . . . a highly ordered energy capable of changing the physical world.” (56) McTaggart also sponsored a global, web-based study (at www.theintentionexperiment.com) “aimed at discovering how human intention could affect the world.” (56) Readers will also learn a lot more about human consciousness studies in:
Bridging Science and Spirit by Norman Friedman (Living Lake Books, 1990).
Cosmic Consciousness by Richard M. Bucke, M.D. (E.P. Dutton, 1901).
The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav (Harper Collins, 1979)
The Evolution of Consciousness by Rudolf Steiner (Rudolf Steiner Press, London, 1979).
The Field by Lynn McTaggart (Harper Collins, 2002).
Mind into Matter: A New Alchemy of Science and Spirit by Fred Alan Wolf, Ph.D. (Moment Point Press, 2001).
The Spectrum of Consciousness by Ken Wilbur (Theosophical Publishing House, 1977).

Dan Brown, through the character of Noetic Scientist Katherine Solomon and her brother Peter, also refers to various aspects of quantum physics and its relation to new theories of metaphysics, such as entanglement theory (58). He notes that “subatomic research had now proven categorically that all matter was interconnected . . . entangled in a single unified mesh . . . a kind of universal oneness.” (58) A discussion reveals that ancient philosophies contained similar ideas. Katherine, at one point in the story, introduces the concept of thought as things. She says, hypothetically, “What if I told you that a thought . . . any tiny idea that forms in your mind . . . actually has mass? What if I told you that a thought is an actual thing, a measurable entity, with a measurable mass? . . . What are the implications?” (76)
Readers interested in learning more along this line could check out:
Entangled Minds by Dean Radin, Ph.D. (Paraview Pocket Books 2006).
Quantum Shift in the Global Brain: How the New Scientific Reality can Change Us and Our World by Ervin Laszlo (Inner Traditions, 2008).
Science and the Re-enchantment of the Cosmos by Ervin Laszlo, (Inner Traditions, 2006).
The Self-Aware Universe: How Consciousness Creates the Material World by Amit Goswami, Ph.D. (Jeremy P. Tarcher/ Putnam 1995).

Art and its symbology played a significant part in Brown’s previous best sellers, The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons. It turns up in several places in The Lost Symbol as well. One fascinating point begins with a pointing hand that is part of the plot. Readers learn through the main character Langdon: “This pointing-hand gesture—with its index finger and thumb extended upward—is a well-known symbol of the Ancient Mysteries, and it appears all over the world in ancient art. This same gesture appears in three of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous encoded masterpieces—The Last Supper, Adoration of the Magi, and Saint John the Baptist. It’s a symbol of man’s mystical connection to God.” (87) He refers to this symbology as referencing the idea of “As above, so below.” One can also see this in Raphael’s School of Athens. Another fascinating art reference is to the “magic square,” an ancient Suduko-like puzzle in Albrecht Durer’s famous engraving, Melencolia I (1514). (See p. 262).

It is quite fascinating to ponder that the villain of Brown’s book is intent on stopping all the change and potential progress that could follow humanity’s growing understanding of the mind, consciousness, and human heritage. He thinks,” I cannot let that happen. The world must stay as it is . . . adrift in ignorant darkness.”(100) In effect, Mal’akh becomes symbolic himself, a symbol of any force that fights enlightenment. In a later section, he worries that Katherine’s noetic experiments could answer “ancient philosophical questions” for humans and “a fundamental shift would begin in the consciousness of man.” (208) This is, of course, a reference to the predicted “shift” in the books about 2012 and the Mayan Calendar.

Ultimately, Dan Brown leaves readers with an optimistic perspective. Late in his book he refers to esoteric philosopher, Manly P. Hall, who said, “If the infinite had not desired man to be wise, he would not have bestowed upon him the faculty of knowing.” (501) Character Katherine Solomon says, “If thoughts affect the world, then we must be very careful how we think.” (501) The potential presented in the story comes from Katherine as well: “We have scientifically proven that the power of human thought grows exponentially with the number of minds that share that thought. . . . The idea of universal consciousness is . . . a hard-core scientific reality . . . and harnessing it has the potential to transform our world.”

The idea is presented: “God is found in the collection of Many . . . rather than in the One.” (504) Aha! “E Pluribus Unum: out of many, one,” the motto of the United States of America. Perhaps it means more than a collection of states. It seems to provide something important for the author: “Hope.” (509)

BOOK TALK: A Whole New Mind

2009-05-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

BOOK TALK: A WHOLE NEW MIND: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future

I came upon a remarkable book because of Oprah Winfrey. That shouldn’t be a surprise because we all know that Oprah loves books and isn’t afraid to pass on a good word or two about those she especially likes. The book is A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink (Riverhead Books, 2005). Oprah tells the story herself: “In June 2008, I was invited to Stanford University to give the commencement address.” She had just finished reading this book by Daniel Pink and was so impressed that she wanted to share the book with as many people as possible. And so she “ordered 4,500 copies, one for each student in Stanford’s class of 2008.” She presented them along with another Oprah favorite book—Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth--as graduation presents. This story led me to order the book. Following Oprah’s model, I have also sent a copy to my granddaughter, a 2009 graduate of Michigan State University.

This book intrigues me in many ways. I have been interested in the right-brain/left brain discussions over the years. The sub-title of the book states that “right-brainers will rule the future.” Early in the book the author explains how our recent society has been largely focused on left-brain thinking: “linear, sequential, spreadsheet kind of faculties.” Now, he says, we need more of the right-brain characteristics: “artistry, empathy, inventiveness, and big-picture thinking.” Ultimately, of course, the point is to balance the two, using both sides of the brain to our greatest efficiency and thereby having “A Whole New Mind.”

The author provides a mini-history of mankind’s eras of development.

For thousands of years we lived in an agricultural age. This involved very hands-on, physical labor. People largely hunted or grew their own food. The last 150 years or so, however, have been very different, and the changes along the way have happened faster and faster. First came the Industrial Age. With this machine age, our great manufacturing systems developed. Mass production focused on workers favored for their physical strength and endurance. That lasted for a while, but following World War II, technology developed automation. In 30 years or so, the manufacturing lines moved largely from hands-on machines to automated ones, to in current days, largely computer run equipment. What happened to the workers? The few workers needed were no longer required to be Herculean. Even a small woman could press a button or operate a computer. The work was easily shipped to less expensive sites overseas.

This development was linked to what Pink calls the Information Age.

So now, both agriculture and manufacturing are largely a part of computerized, managed operations. Now the major worker was “the knowledge worker.” This was still a left-brain directed thinking process. Daniel Pink notes that “Each year, India’s colleges and universities produce about 350,000 engineering graduates.” Similarly, they are graduating computer specialists and business students. Whereas in the U.S. “a typical chip designer earns about $7,000 per month; in India, she earns about $1,000.” Is it any wonder that so many of these jobs go overseas. The author’s explanation of how this has all happened is easy to read and understand. We get a truly clear picture of this transition and why it has occurred.

All of this leads us to the author’s main point: that we are now in a very different time. Manufacturing is largely automated. Anyone can do it—anywhere in the world. Computers have linked the world, and educated people, anywhere in the world, can work with computerized functions. Where does this leave the American worker? What is our next step? In other words, if someone overseas can do it cheaper, and if a computer can do it faster, what does the contemporary worker need to offer that is different and useful? Pink’s answer is: right-brain directed thinking. That is what this book is largely about. He says, “I’ve distilled the answer to six specific high-concept and high-touch aptitudes that have become essential in this new era. I call these aptitudes “the six senses.” Design. Story. Symphony. Empathy. Play. Meaning. And it is to helping you understand and master these six aptitudes that I devote the second part of this book.”

So what we find in this work is about 60 pages of highly interesting, easy reading explaining the basic background to this theory. And then about 200 fascinating and highly useful pages tell us how to learn more R-Directed thinking. Each of those six aptitudes become chapters that both explain and lead the reader to complete understanding. Each chapter follows the same pattern. First the author thoroughly explains the concept, making it easy for the reader to grasp the point. He includes many interesting facts, photos, and stories that make this book easy to read. The second part of each chapter, he calls a “Portfolio.” Here the author gets the reader right into the program with all sorts of exercises, things to do, books to read, places to explore, and websites to check-out. Each chapter offers appropriate sources and ideas to learn how to actually use that particular aptitude. For example, I ended up with a personal list of books I want to read and websites I want to see.

There is so much thoughtful, even fascinating information in each chapter that it is beyond our discussion to include any of that. Instead, we’ll just briefly review what the author means with those six aptitudes. “Design” involves more than the usual left-brained “function.” Pink notes, “Today it’s economically crucial and personally rewarding to create something that is also beautiful, whimsical, or emotionally engaging.” Just think about how design influences us all. Don’t we choose a product, or a home because there is something about it that just feels or looks right to us? That involves design. And design is largely a right-brained aptitude.

Today we hear lots of arguments about everything. That is largely L-brained. Pink says that “Story” is becoming more and more important. “The essence of persuasion, communication, and self-understanding has become the ability also to fashion a compelling narrative.” Writing narratives and telling stories is largely a R-brained activity.

What does he mean by Symphony? He isn’t talking about music, although music is known to be quite right-brained. What Daniel Pink means here is “putting the pieces together.” I recall in previous studies of the right and left brain that the left brain analyzes the pieces. The right brain sees the whole picture. Pink says, “What’s in greatest demand today isn’t analysis but synthesis—seeing the big picture, crossing boundaries, and being able to combine disparate pieces into an arresting new whole.” Therefore “symphony” refers to a harmony, like a blend of ideas or sounds that portray the “whole picture.”

Pink notes that logic has been very important in the past, and of course, it continues to be important, but Empathy is also needed. Logic alone will no longer do. In this new global society where our co-workers may be somewhere around the globe, or working at home, or come from totally different cultures, “what will distinguish those who thrive will be their ability to understand what makes their fellow woman or man tick, to forge relationships, and to care for others.”

The author’s inclusion of “Play” as an important attribute may be surprising. I guess I am reminded of the old proverb, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Pink notes the “Ample evidence [that] points to the enormous health and professional benefits of laughter, lightheartedness, games, and humor.” He says, “In the Conceptual Age, in work and in life, we all need to play.”

Finally, Daniel Pink notes how contemporary society is more and more concerned about “Meaning.” In the past the focus may have been on “accumulation,” but we all end up finally asking big questions about the meaning of it all. The author notes how our material plenty has actually freed us enough from “day-to-day struggles” so that we can “pursue more significant desires: purpose, transcendence, and spiritual fulfillment.”

The whole point of the book is to bring these six aptitudes to our focus so that we can understand them, learn how to use them, and thereby prepare ourselves to participate in our rapidly changing world and its rapidly changing demands for new ideas. Does mean that we will forego our left-brain aptitudes? Daniel Pink asserts that “Thinking remains necessary but [is] no longer sufficient.” For the economy of the United States to recover and to regain its position in the world, “We must perform work that overseas knowledge workers can’t do cheaper, that computers can’t do faster, and that satisfies the aesthetic, emotional, and spiritual demands of a prosperous time.” In other words, we must develop our “Whole New Mind.” This thought-provoking, but also entertaining book, is a must read for everybody, but especially for all those young folks who are entering the workplace. This brings us back to Oprah Winfrey and her insight in deciding to present copies of this work to a graduating class from Stanford. This book will open a lot of eyes to where we are today and how we can become better and stronger as individuals and as a country. As one reviewer wrote: [This book] “Will give you a new way to look at your work, your talent, your future.”

Life Between Lives - Part Two

2009-05-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

BOOK TALK: LIFE BETWEEN LIVES--Part 2

Dr. Michael Newton, Ph.D., Master Hypnotherapist with a doctorate in Counseling, rather unwillingly became involved with past-life regression, which then led him to discover, through his clients, possible answers to the age-old mystery of what happens to souls in the spirit world after death. His first book on the subject, Journey of Souls, was published in 1994 (Llewellyn Publication) with a Fifth Revised Edition published in 1996. We discussed a few of the truly amazing stories and insights highlighted in that volume in our last “Book Talk.”

One of Dr. Newton’s missions in that book was to “combat the fear of death by offering people understanding about the nature of their souls and their spiritual home.” In that first work Newton “presented a tight, orderly progression of events of what it is like to die and cross over--who meets us, where we go, and what we do in the spirit world before choosing our next body for reincarnation.” It was a kind of “travelogue through time using actual case histories from clients.” He thought he was done with this exploration and that the material was relatively complete, but people at his lectures and interviews wanted more and clients clamored for his attention. When he resumed his client practice he “noticed a higher percentage of more developed souls” turning up in counseling sessions, perhaps because they wanted to explore life between lives and didn’t need to solve earthly problems. What he learned through these clients led to his second book, Destiny of Souls (Llewellyn Publications, 2000). Newton “designed this book by topical categories rather than by progressive time and location.” Hence this “second expedition” into the spirit world deals in much greater detail with some topics introduced in the first volume.

It is important, I believe, to remind readers once again of the consistency in Dr. Newton’s clients’ reports. He “found that it did not matter if a person was an atheist, deeply religious, or believed in any philosophical persuasion in between--once they were in the proper superconscious state of hypnosis, all were consistent in their reports.” This consistency is important to me as a reader because it underscores the authenticity of the reported information.

The author begins this second volume with an overview of what he has learned through his clients’ regressions into the world after death. Dr. Newton grew “to think of souls as intelligent light forms of energy” which can surprisingly “divide into identical parts.” Readers will need to read the books to comprehend this because it is too complex to explain here. Evil-doing is not punished, but rather, “rehabilitated” in various ways, including treatment in “intensive care units.” “Wrongdoing, intentional or unintentional [is] redressed in some form in a future life.” This is not considered to be punishment, but rather “an opportunity for karmic growth.”

The concept of “soul groups” was introduced in the first book. “Soul groups may range between 3 and 25 members, with the average having about 15.” The way souls “view their group cluster setting” depends on the soul’s state of advancement. Education continues in the after life and “educational placement depends on the level of soul development.”

The author found very meaningful in his research the discovery that souls display different colors. These colors have little or no relation to the aura associated with the physical body. Rather, these colors indicate a soul’s state of advancement. For example, “pure white denotes a younger soul;” more advanced souls move into “orange, yellow, green, and finally the blue ranges” with greatly advanced souls displaying a deep indigo. Again the author reiterates that “in the spirit world no soul is looked down upon as having less value than any other soul. We are all in a process of transformation to something greater . . . [and] each of us is considered uniquely qualified to make some contribution toward the whole, . . .”

The value system of the spirit world is one of “overwhelming kindness, tolerance, patience, and absolute love.” Each soul can make its own choices:
“In the spirit world we are not forced to reincarnate or participate in group projects. If souls want solitude they can have it.” One of the author’s major insights from what he has learned is “that the only thing of true importance in this material life is the way we live and how we treat people.”

Following this review of what he has learned in general about the spirit world, author Michael Newton begins his discussions of various specific topics, all of which are intensely interesting, but more than we can cover in our “Book Talk.” In his discussions in Destiny of Souls Dr. Newton includes 67 case histories, more than twice as many as in his first volume.

His first major topic is “Death, Grief, and Comfort,” chosen no doubt because so many people want to know more about connecting with departed loved ones. We see this concern manifested in current popular television shows, such as James Van Praagh’s Beyond, and John Edward’s Crossing Over. Michael Newton’s discussion should be comforting to everyone. Do you remember my mention several paragraphs back that souls can “divide into separate parts”? This difficult to comprehend point relates to an important insight that Newton and his clients discovered. It seems that we only bring part of our soul energy into any incarnation. “Part of your energy [self] was left behind in the spirit world. . . . When your [loved one] arrives back home again, you will already be there waiting with that portion of your energy which was left behind.” This was a whole new idea for me, but I find the thought quite wonderful. Also in this chapter Newton discusses many ways that spirits connect with the living, such as through objects, dreams, children, environmental settings, or even strangers.

Another very comforting chapter discussion is about “Spiritual Energy Restoration.” Most of us can think of multiple examples of individuals who upon their deaths might need help of various kinds. Those who die traumatic deaths might need reorientation and understanding of “what happened?” Those in great mental distress or depression and suicides could use emotional healing. Those who pass over after long debilitating bouts of cancer or other deteriorating diseases must feel great fatigue. It is stunning to learn that the spirit world is ready in all cases to help and heal each individual soul, according to its needs, when it returns from its tests on Earth. There is often “emergency treatment” right at the “gateway.” Newton reports that “most all returning souls will continue on to some sort of healing station before finally joining their groups.” We also learn that those souls who work as healers in the spirit world often work as healers when they are in the physical state. Dr. Newton includes several such cases in this chapter, such as a woman who is a Reiki practitioner in her current life.

Another intriguing discussion involves the creation of souls and soul group systems. Just as in physical life where no two individuals are identical, as fingerprints and eye scans can prove, every soul is unique. Newton’s clients’ descriptions of the “birth” of souls reads like science fiction. Nevertheless the point is reiterated by a client: “Each soul is unique in its totality of characteristics created by a perfection that I cannot begin to describe. What I can tell you is that no two souls are alike--none--ever!”

Some other points in this very complex chapter are very interesting. One statement is that “there are many physical worlds similar to Earth.” Clients also continually refer to schoolrooms, libraries, and temples in the spirit world, explained by one client this way: “We can create anything we want in the spirit world to remind us of places and things we enjoyed on Earth.” Another point involves so-called genetic memory, or what some writers today call “cell memory.” Newton says this is actually “soul memory emanating from the unconscious mind.” Part of this chapter also includes a much expanded explanation and discussion of the aforementioned colors associated with soul levels of advancement.

Because so many humans fear judgment and punishment after death, Dr. Newton’s chapter on “The Council of Elders” is especially relevant and reassuring. Much of human fear derives from physical life experiences, such as “religious institutions, civil courts and military tribunals [which] give us codes of morality and justice which impact the conduct of millions.” From these institutions people have experienced patterns of “crime and punishment and cultural traditions of harsh judgment for human transgressions” and then they transfer these patterns to their beliefs in an after life.

What Newton and his clients report instead is very different. He says, “Rather than stages of punishment, we go through stages of enlightenment.” Moreover, besides our individual guides, we have some major help along the way from very advanced souls. Dr. Newton says “the two most common names” he has heard “to describe these highly evolved masters are ‘council’ and ‘Elders,’ so I use these designations to describe this body.” As always, Newton tells us, “The spirit world is a place of order and the Council of Elders exemplifies justice. . . . These wise beings have great compassion for human weakness and they demonstrate infinite patience with our faults. We will be given many second chances in future lives.”

Once again Newton confirms the consistency of clients’ reports of their “between lives” experiences. “The descriptions about the form and procedure of council meetings are very consistent among all hypnosis subjects.” The place of meeting is often domed like temples, mosques, synagogues, and churches. At the first meeting following an incarnation, the Council reviews with the soul “the major choices we made in the life [just completed].” The soul’s spirit guide always accompanies and supports the soul during the soul’s review with the Council. The purpose of the meeting is not to “demean the souls . . . or to punish them. . . . The purpose of the Elders is to question the souls in order to help them achieve their goals in the next lifetime.” Newton says, “The Elders are like loving but firm parents, managing directors, encouraging teachers and behavioral counselors all rolled into one..” What is most important is “our intent in life” and if our influence in life was positive and made “original contributions.”

All of the information in this chapter and others in Newton’s book is exceptionally relevant and applicable to each reader’s current life. It all helps us understand better why we are here on Earth and what we are meant to do. We learn that even great problems, difficulties, and pain can have a positive outcome. One client reported a significant statement from a Council Elder: “That which you gain from each difficult life, you gain for all eternity.” A different client also shared a statement from an Elder he called “the Wise One:” “Forgive yourself . . . it is our desire that you accept yourself for who you are with the same unconditional love we have for you. We are here to support you in your work on Earth.” Clients also learn that small, seemingly insignificant deeds of kindness on Earth are recognized as important. “In the spirit world nothing is
insignificant. No act goes unrecorded.”

It is clear that one could go on and on about all the astonishing as well as comforting information in this important work by Dr. Michael Newton. One outstanding chapter explains the importance of relationships, both on Earth and in the spirit world. Newton notes, “Always there are karmic reasons behind the serious events involving relationships in our lives.” One significant, and huge, insight for many people is that “Being with the ‘wrong’ person for a period in your life does not mean that the time was wasted. The relationship was probably intended in advance.” This chapter also gets into the fascinating subjects of gender choice, and linkages between spiritual [groups] and human families. One thoughtful statement may help us feel greater compassion towards those we may consider abusive, or our enemies. “When we are hurt by someone close to us in life, or caused them hurt resulting in alienation and separation, it is because they volunteer to teach us lessons of some sort while learning lessons themselves.”

Clearly, Dr. Michael Newton’s two books, Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls, contain an exceptional richness of information. So much is thought provoking. So much is comforting. So much encourages each reader to grow, to evolve, to become more aware of one’s soul. We feel empowered by these books. A few words from the author will conclude our discussion. “We are not evaluated after death by our religious associations but rather by our conduct and values . . . we are measured more by what we do for others rather than ourselves. . . . You were not given your body by a chance of nature. It was selected for you by spiritual advisors and after previewing their offerings of other host bodies, you agreed to accept the body you have. Thus, you are not a victim of circumstance. . . . We must not lose sight of the idea that we accepted this sacred contract of life and this means the roles we play on Earth are actually greater than ourselves.”

BOOK TALK: Life Between Lives - Part I

2009-05-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

(I just finished reading the third book written by "life between lives" (LBL) therapist, Michael Newton, Ph.D., titled unsurprisingly: Life Between Lives: Hypnotherapy for Spiritual Regression (Llewellyn Publications 2008). Unlike his first two books--Journey of Souls (Llewellyn 1994) and Destiny of Souls (Llewellyn 2000), both intended for the general public--this work isintended to guide professional hypnotherapists who would like to learn his spiritual regression techniques. Still, the book is interesting to readers in that it describes the step-by-step methods that Dr. Newton has used for many years as he helped clients explore the afterlife, their spiritual guides, soul companiions, and the purpose of their lives. Reading this volume has inspired me to go back and re-read those two previous works once again.

Over many years Dr. Michael Newton "presonally [facilitated] over 7,000 LBL clients into their spiritual life between physical incarnations on Earth." In his retirement he has written this new volume to help the "next generation of LBL therapists." General readers are likely to be impressed, as was I, with the deep insight and care that Dr. Newton demonstrates with his suggested format and questions to use with each client. It is clear that any therapist needs great skill and understanding to utilize this method of therapy.

Given that I was familiar with his two previous books, this book was especially interesting to me. I would recommend, however, that readers unfamiliar with his work should read and Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls to learn about what happens when we die. For that reason, I'm publishing my two book discussions on "life between lives." The first part is below. Part Two will follow in a day or two.)

LIFE BETWEEN LIVES - PART ONE - JOURNEY OF SOULS

One of the chief fears of human beings concerns death. It is the great unknown, and yet it is an inescapable event in each of our lives. Part of the fears surrounding death involves what happens to us after we die. Is there an afterlife, a heaven, a hell? Will we be punished for our misdeeds and mistakes? Would we have fewer fears if we could know what happens after we die?

Like most people, any knowledge I have acquired about any afterlife has derived from spiritual or esoteric works which I could choose to believe or not, largely based on faith. Also I have I gained possible insights from the many reports of near-death experiences in various books, or case histories from psychiatrists like Brian Weiss, M.D., whose clients occasionally report on experiences between lives in the course of their past-life regression therapy.

Then I read an article about Michael Newton, Ph.D., and I immediately ordered his two books: Journey of Souls: Case Studies of LIfe Between Lives (Llewellyn Publications, 1994; 5th Rev. Ed, 1996); and Destiny of Souls: New Case Studies of LIfe Between Lives (Llewellyn Publications, 2000). It is no exaggeration to say that these two volumes have completely changed my thinking about life after death. Fascinating in their content, the two works totally gripped my attention while I explored this rare glimpse into the world beyond.

Both books are easy to read. The dialogue of numerous case studies in each one is intriguing. There is so much thoughtful, even astonishing, information in each book, I will only be able to touch upon a limited number of issues. Nevertheless, this “Book Talk” discussion will be in two parts.

First it is important to have a context for the data and that necessarily begins with the author, Michael Newton, Ph.D. Michael D. Newton holds a doctorate in Counseling Psychology, is a certified Master Hynotherapist, and a member of the American Counseling Association. He has taught in higher educational institutions and has had a private practice in Los Angeles. Trained in traditional therapy, Newton avoided requests for “past-life regressions” from clients in his early days of practice. But like many other therapists, he rather accidentally worked into past-life regressions while trying to help a client find the cause for a lifetime of chronic pain. Discovering the cause in a past life and thereby able to eliminate the pain, Dr. Newton began to experiment with other clients who requested this kind of therapy. He “came to appreciate just how therapeutically important the link is between the bodies and events of our former lives and who we are today.”

But then Dr. Newton made an amazing discovery “of enormous proportions.” He reports, “I found it was possible to see into the spirit world through the mind’s eye of a hypnotized subject who could report back to me of life between lives on Earth.” This discovery became the focus of his practice. He notes that, “There are many books about past lives, but none I could find which told about our life as souls, . . .” He “learned that finding their place in the spirit world was far more meaningful to people than recounting their former lives on Earth.”

Both of his books contain numerous case histories and actual dialogues from client sessions, all of which detail amazing facts and insights about the soul’s life between lives. Cynics would likely question the authenticity of the reports. Are they just examples of client’s imagination and fancies? Dr. Newton makes important points about hypnosis, his techniques, and the consistencies in clients responses. He says, “Once in hypnosis, . . . in response to questions, subjects cannot lie, but they may misinterpret something seen in their unconscious mind, . . . . In hypnosis, people have trouble relating to anything they don’t believe is the truth.”

Dr. Newton developed a technique rather like cross-examination that he uses with his clients. He treats “each case as if I were hearing the information for the first time.” He says, “I found no evidence of anyone faking their spiritual experiences to please me.” What he discovered over many years and hundreds of subjects was “that once subjects were regressed back to their soul state they all displayed a remarkable consistency in responding to questions about the spirit world.” The only differences in reporting “was due more to the level of soul development than to variances in how each subject basically saw the spirit world.” By the time he wrote his second book, Newton unequivocally says, “It did not matter if a person was an atheist, deeply religious, or believed in any philosophical persuasion in between--once they were in the proper

superconscious state of hypnosis, all were consistent in their reports.” Such consistency is important to me as a reader because it reinforces my trust in the content of these books.

Journey of Souls has a logical progression in its organization. Using 29 cases out of hundreds in his case files, Dr. Newton presents the story of the experiences of souls from the moment of their death from their physical body to the moment of their next rebirth. In between we learn of the gateway to the spirit world, homecoming to old soul friends, problems for displaced souls, various steps of orientation and transition to life in spirit, our guides, the various levels of soul development and what that entails, and finally the steps in selecting a new life, choosing a new body, and the embarkation into the physical once more.

It’s an astounding trip I can assure you. Reading the pages is as gripping as any adventure novel. Newton includes many excerpts of the case reports with actual client dialogues. This adds great authenticity and reality to the work. Many questions that readers have about “after death” are answered in these pages. Some answers may differ considerably from what most of us have been taught to believe. All the answers, however, should offer enlightenment and comfort to all. Those who expect a “hell” in the afterworld may be exceptionally relieved to discover that “hell” is on Earth and not in the afterworld.

There is no way that I can begin to mention all that I have learned from Journey of Souls. Hence, we’ll limit our discussion to three topics: death and the return to the spirit world, levels of soul development, and choosing a new life. Newton’s case reports on death and the immediate after-life experiences are similar to those reported in many other sources, such as reports of near-deaths, or in other books about past-life regressions. Nevertheless it is clear that we receive extensive help and assistance from those on the other side. Most of Newton’s subjects “report the first person they see in the spirit world is their personal guide.” Also, “after any life we can be met by a soulmate” and other important people in our lives. Moreover, “unseen intelligent energy forces guide each of us” on our passage from the physical world to the spirit world.

How does each individual adjust to being in the spirit world after a life on Earth? There are apparently diverse reactions. Newton says, “The time of soul adjustment depends upon the circumstances of death, attachments of each soul to the memories of the life just ended, and level of advancement.” Nearly all souls seem to require some kinds of healing after time on Earth, and this takes place appropriately. Souls are also “debriefed” of the life just ended and in counseling sessions, “held accountable for their past lives.” Nevertheless, “there is overwhelming forgiveness in the spirit world.”

A good question many of us ask is, “What is the purpose of living on earth and experiencing the pain and violence of this world, especially if the spiritual matrix is one of love and wisdom?” Newton provides answers throughout his books, but most concisely when he says, “If a soul only knew love and peace, it would gain no insight and never truly appreciate the value of these positive feelings. The test of reincarnation for a soul coming to Earth is the conquering of fear in a human body. A soul grows by trying to overcome all negative emotions connected to fear through perseverance in many lifetimes.”

Upon returning to the spirit world each soul moves back to its “group.” It was a surprise for many of Newton’s clients to discover that “everyone has a designated place in the spirit world.” Group placement “is determined by soul level” and “Peer members have a sensitivity to each other which is far beyond our conception on Earth.” It feels comforting to learn from Newton’s subjects that “Members of the same cluster group are closely united for all eternity.” Such clusters “are often composed of like-minded souls with common objectives which they continually work out with each other.” Newton discovered that these peer group members most commonly manifest as siblings and close friends on Earth. Parents, in general, are not from one’s soul group, but from “secondary” or other related groups.

One point in the stories related so consistently by Newton’s case histories is the structure and organization in the afterworld. There is nothing haphazard about it. Gentle, patient guidance is always operative. Everything and everyone has a “place.” For Newton the spirit world resembles “one great schoolhouse with a multitude of classrooms under the direction of teacher-souls who monitor our progress.” Is it not comforting to know that throughout eternity “we are always protected, supported and directed within the system by master souls”?

Whereas some people may be uncomfortable with the idea of different “levels” of souls, “Newton notes that “the whole idea of a hierarchy of souls has been part of both Eastern and Western cultures for many centuries.” Haven’t we all heard the term “old soul” and hoped (or believed) that we are one? Newton warns that the idea is not to be thought of in an elitist way, either socially or intellectually. All souls start as “beginners” and earn their development. What we see on Earth may have little to do with a soul’s “level.” It may be disconcerting to some readers that “souls in a high state of advancement are often found in humble circumstances on Earth. By the same token, people in the upper strata of influence in human society are by no means in a blissful state of soul maturity. Often, just the reverse is true.”

Newton devotes a chapter each to discussions and examples of beginner, intermediate, and advanced souls. From his experience and research with hundreds of clients, Newton “believes almost three-quarters of all souls who inhabit human bodies on Earth today are still in the early stages of development.” He admits this is “a grossly discouraging statement,” but quite appropriate considering our current “world population beset by so much negative cross-cultural misunderstanding and violence.” On the other hand, his research indicates that “each century brings improvement of awareness in all humans.” So we are making progress, even if it seems to be at a slow pace.

Michael Newton has maintained a statistical count of clients soul levels in his case files. In his first book he acknowledges that his cases could over-represent souls at the lower level of development because those are the ones who most often need assistance in life and seek counseling. Nevertheless, his statistics by soul level of all his cases are: Level I, 42%; Level II, 31%; Level III, 17%; Level IV, 9%; and Level V, 1%. This suggests to Newton that there are “only a few hundred thousand people on Earth at Level V, meaning most advanced.

What I find to be exceptionally interesting in Newton’s Journey of Souls are his descriptions of the various soul level characteristics. For beginner souls typical characteristics include: “a lifetime of getting into disastrous ruts;” a lack of “generosity of spirit toward others;” not taking “much personal responsibility” for one’s actions; an “inability to bond with people;” an inclination to surrender their will to authorities; a “lack of independent thinking;” and a tendency towards self-centeredness and not accepting “others for who they are.” Now it must be emphasized that these are not bad people. Like small children, they are just learning. Newton emphasizes: “No stigma should be attached to these souls, since every soul was once a beginner.” Clearly, a major task for all souls beyond the “beginner level” is to aid, instruct, encourage, and assist beginners, just as parents or other helping adults would do for a small child. Here we may recall the wise statement, “We are our brothers’ keeper.”

Newton says that “intermediate” souls reincarnate less frequently than “beginners,” and they are “ready for more serious responsibilities.” Characteristics apparent in the intermediate souls include: high standards of morality and conduct, modesty about achievements, more composure, “trust rather than suspicion toward the motives of others,” and a “forward-looking attitude of faith and confidence for the future of humanity.” Newton also reports, “The more advanced souls of the world possess remarkable comprehension of a universal life plan.” He says, “Levels III and IV are significant stages” for evolving souls “because now they are given increased responsibilities for younger souls” and “these are trial periods for potential teachers.”

Newton reports that highly advanced souls are “scarce.” They generally don’t turn up in his practice because “a person whose maturity is this high doesn’t seek out a regression therapist to resolve life-plan conflicts. In most cases, Level V’s are here as incarnated guides.” The fulfillment for advanced souls “comes from improving the lives of other people.” Newton describes the characteristics of advanced souls as: “one who has patience with society and shows extraordinary coping skills;” has exceptional insight; “radiates composure, kindness, and understanding toward others.” Dr. Newton’s session with an advanced soul, Case 23 in Journey of Souls, is exceptional in its insights and wisdom.

Finally we must at least touch upon the grand finale of this book which involves the soul setting about to return to Earth again. The soul must decide if it is ready for a new physical life, what specific lessons it wants to address, who it should be, and where in the world would offer the best opportunity to work on its goals. It may console some readers to learn that souls can refuse to be reborn. Nothing is forced in the spirit world. The soul makes some of its decisions based on a kind of “movie preview” that is similar to today’s “virtual reality” in that the souls can actually get “into” the “movie” and try out the various possible “roles” they could assume in a physical body. It all sounds quite like science fiction, but again, Dr. Newton says all his clients “use remarkable similar descriptions” of this process. The resulting life still includes much free will.

Readers can acquire thoughtful insights from Journey of Souls. All of it, for me, was reassuring, comforting, and corroborative of other studies. I have only included small bits of the extensive information and unique insights in this book which also delves into topics including infant death, suicide, physical and emotional pain, relationships, physical and mental handicaps, the Holocaust, racial and gender choices, childhood traumas, intelligence, abortion, birth, and more. Newton emphasizes, “Whatever happens to us in life, it is important we understand that our happiness or pain does not reflect either blessings or betrayal on the part of a God-oversoul, our guides, or life-selection coordinators. We are the masters of our destiny.”

He concludes his first volume with some of the insights he gained from his experiences interviewing his clients. He acknowledges there is “no scientific foundation to prove the statements” of his clients. For those who find the information “too unprecedented to accept,” he hopes, “If you carry away nothing except the idea that you may have a permanent identity worth finding, I will have accomplished a great deal . . . . The awareness that we do belong somewhere is reassuring and offers us peace, . . .”

(To be continued in Part Two)

BOOK TALK: A New Earth

2009-05-11T10:58:00.000-07:00

(The following article was originally published in my "Book Talk" column in phenomeNEWS in 2008. Since it is one of my favorite books, I decided to publish it here on my blog as I may be referring to it sometime and need it to be here. It is a book one can read and re-read and always find something inspiring or insightful to think about.)

BOOK TALK: A NEW EARTH

Last month in “Book Talk” we reviewed The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (New World Library, 1999). Now we shall examine his newest work, an Oprah Book Club choice, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose (hardcover: Dutton, 2005; softcover: Plume 2006). Clearly, the two works are inter-related. Both deal with spiritual awakening in individuals. A New Earth, however, takes the transformation a step further, relating it to the world around us as well as to the individual. Readers will also discover much greater insights into dealing with the troublesome ego that blocks so much of our attempt to move forward spiritually.

Just as in his first book, author Tolle intends A New Earth to be more than just something inspirational to read. In an article published on the Borders website, he notes how a person can be awakened by a book. He names three conditions to be met. “First, there must be a readiness on the part of the reader, an openness, a receptivity to spiritual truth. . . .Secondly, the text must have transformative power. This means the words must have come out of the awakened consciousness rather than the accumulated knowledge of a person’s mind. . . . Thirdly, the terminology used needs to be as neutral as possible so that it transcends the confines of any one culture, religion, or spiritual tradition. Only then will it be accessible to a broad range of readers world-wide, regardless of cultural background.”

The author notes that these conditions were met in The Power of Now, and it is clear that they form his intention in A New Earth. But he has “new perspectives, new signposts” and “an added sense or urgency” to reach “an even wider audience.” Like many writers and teachers today, Tolle believes that “we are running out of time.” He warns, “Spiritual awakening is not an option anymore, but a necessity if humanity and the planet are to survive.” And so let us examine Tolle’s New Earth to learn ways in which we can evolve and awaken spiritually.

[Note: the book has 10 chapters. Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle began 10 weekly website classes in March, 2008 on Oprah.com. Oprah still identifies this book as her "favorite."]

Chapter One states the purpose of this book, which is to facilitate a “transformation of consciousness,” through the means of the book itself. “As you read, a shift takes place within you.” In order to achieve an “awakening,” however, each of us has to recognize the “unawakened us”--the ego. Therefore, this book, in much greater detail than Tolle’s previous work, clearly depicts “the main aspects of the ego and how they operate in the individual as well as the collective.” This is definitely a key issue. Unless we really recognize and catch the ego in action, it will effectively block any and all progress that we might intend to make. Moreover, Tolle says, “The act of recognition itself is one of the ways in which awakening happens.” In this chapter as well, Tolle relates his insights to original teachings in the great religions and spiritual traditions. He also refers to “the voice in the head” and encourages readers that the voice “is not who I [you] am [are].” He concludes this introductory chapter with a reference to “a new heaven and a new earth.” This single chapter, like all Tolle chapters, is rich in insights.

Chapters Two through Five all deal with the ego. Readers will find a plethora of insights in these chapters. It’s a fact that all of us are currently living in what might be called “ego-states.” We think we are what we appear to be. We perpetuate this state with labels and words. When asked to describe ourselves, we usually refer to gender, profession, nationality, race, religion, roles, or we tell the “story” of our past, “things that happened to me”! All this and more becomes the “I” for each of us. In this and following chapters, Tolle helps us move from this limited perception to a far broader one.

We learn how ego-identification creates attachment to “things.” Now obviously, some “things” in ordinary life are necessary. But as Tolle points out, we are living at a time that emphasizes “more” in every sense of that word. Even our government seems based on constant “growth” of the economy. Tolle also emphasizes how we often “identify” with things. If I have “more” things than you, does that mean I’m superior (more important, more powerful, smarter)? The implications of ego-attachments are astonishing. Tolle urges us to “just be aware of your attachment to things.” Of course, to get to the real point of the chapter, the objective is to “realize your true identity as consciousness itself. . . .The ultimate truth of who you are is not I am this or I am that, but I AM.”

Chapter Three will surely resonate with readers. It is rather like a mirror in which we can view ourselves as well as everyone we know. Titled “The Core of Ego,” it describes how the ego behaves. First, its intention is to protect and enlarge itself in order to survive. The ego believes it is us. We need to realize that it isn’t our real Self, but to survive it acts in many recognizable ways. A favorite behavior is complaining “especially about other people.” It labels and name-calls. It feels resentment, expressing this as bitterness, indignation, or being offended by this or that. It resents all situations not to its immediate liking. It takes everything personally, and often moves to a stronger emotion, such as anger.

The ego builds its strength by being “right” and making others “wrong.” This provides the ego with “moral superiority.” All of this behavior is apparent not only in individuals, but also in collective groups: “Nations, races, tribes, religions and other ideologies.” Given that all such ego-driven behaviors lead to an “us versus them” mentality, in turn it drives violence everywhere in the world.

Eckhart Tolle does more than point out all the faults of our ego-driven selves and groups. He teaches us what we need to do to change this behavior. A surprising point is that we cannot “fight” it. He says, “unconsciousness, dysfunctional egoic behavior, can never be defeated by attacking it . . . whatever you fight, you strengthen, and what you resist, persists.” The key point, emphasized over and over, is: “All that is required to become free of the ego is to be aware of it.”

We might say that one way to discover our true self is to recognize what we are not. We are not the ego, the persona, the personality that for so long a time we have believed to be our identity. We can only move on to spiritual awareness when we can finally realize that this ego is the major distraction preventing us from reaching that goal. Author Tolle helps us by identifying the ego’s behavioral clues so specifically that we are able to recognize them and act from a point of the aware observer.

We might take a look again at the sub-title for A New Earth: “Awakening to your Life’s Purpose.” What does Tolle say about that? He says, “Awareness is the power that is concealed within the present moment. . . . The ultimate purpose of human existence, which is to say, your purpose, is to bring that power into this world.” Are we getting the message? It should start to become clear that we have a double purpose: first to work on our own spiritual awareness; and secondly, with that awareness, add that to the world and thereby raise the level of the world’s awareness.

I keep thinking that each chapter in Tolle’s book is a little book in and of itself because each chapter contains so many helpful insights that open our perceptions to a clearer view of who we are. His chapter on “Role-Playing: the Many Faces of the Ego” clearly depicts how we role play throughout our lives. It is as if we are actors in a drama, but unlike true actors, we come to think we are the roles we are playing. One very common role, Tolle notes, “is the one of victim, and the form of attention it seeks is sympathy or pity or others’ interest in my problems, ‘me and my story.’” If this doesn’t sound like you, no doubt you know this person as a friend or relative. And guess who is playing that role of victim? Did you figure out it is the ego?

Given that we live in a world of role-players, it is interesting to note what Tolle has to say about the famous and powerful: “Most of the people who are in positions of power in this world, such as politicians, TV personalities, business as well as religious leaders, are completely identified with their role, with a few notable exceptions.” What we learn here is that “when you don’t play roles, it means there is no self (ego) in what you do.” In other words, the advice is to just be there “as a field of conscious Presence.”

In The Power of Now Eckhard Tolle devoted large portions of the book to discussions of what he calls “the pain-body.” In A New Earth he limits discussion of the “pain-body” to two chapters, focusing more on the ego and our need for awareness of that part of us. Step by step Tolle helps us understand the relation of emotions to mind and to ego. For example, “an emotion can . . . be a response to an actual situation or event, but it will be a response to the event seen through the filter of a mental interpretation.” Moreover, the body “cannot tell the difference between an actual situation and a thought. It reacts to every thought as if it were a reality.” If you have trouble accepting this point, consider why you cry at the movies. The ego, “the voice in the head tells a story that the body believes in and reacts to” with emotions. When we experience a negative situation (or thought), the ego, the voice in the head, on and on “spins tales, still thinking and talking about it days, months, or years later. As far as the body is concerned, the fight is still continuing.”

Thusly, Tolle explains what he terms the “pain-body.” He says, “Most people carry a large amount of unnecessary baggage, both mental and emotional throughout their lives.” This “accumulation of old emotional pain” is the “pain-body.” The pain-body doesn’t just relate to individuals, but also relates to “pain suffered by countless humans throughout the history of humanity.” Tolle speculates that “the collective pain-body is probably encoded within every human’s DNA.”

Tolle’s discussion of the pain-body is extremely significant because he points out how it gains control of our thinking, making us become very negative. He devotes an entire chapter to “Breaking Free” and once again, first steps are important. “The beginning of freedom from the pain-body lies first of all in the realization that you have a pain-body.” So we see, once again, that as in dealing with the ego with awareness, the same awareness--recognition--works with the pain-body. Becoming the observer, the witness, is the key, and Tolle helps readers understand how to accomplish this.

Tolle assures us that “it is not the pain-body, but identification with it that causes the suffering that you inflict on yourself and others.” We can all acknowledge that when we hurt, we aren’t all that nice to the other folks in our lives. But we can choose to be more conscious and aware. Of course, it takes practice as well as understanding, and that is what this book helps us achieve.

There is so much more in this book. Tolle’s concluding four chapters deal with “Finding Who You Truly Are,” “The Discovery of Inner Space,” “Your Inner Purpose,” and “A New Earth.” We can only touch upon a few points and that isn’t easy because my copy of Tolle’s book is so heavily highlighted and underlined! But as I often do in “Book Talk,” I’ll use this opportunity to share a few choice quotations that may tempt readers to explore this exceptional work.

Tolle says, “Nothing you can know about you is you. . . . Knowing yourself is being yourself, and being yourself is ceasing to identify with content.”

I was reminded of the delightful Beatle’s song “Let it Be” when I read the following: “To be in alignment with what is means to be in a relationship of inner nonresistance with that happens. It means not to label it mentally as good or bad, but to let it be.” Tolle continues, “The Master responds to falsehood and truth, bad news and good news, in exactly the same way: ‘Is that so?’ . . . Events are not personalized.”

Given that Tolle’s first book was The Power of Now, we expect to find references to the Present Moment in this book as well. Tolle says: “You discover that there is only ever this moment. Life is always now.”

A very helpful piece of advice for me, especially in this year of political debates, is to “consciously allow the diminishment of ego” by “occasionally refraining from expressing your opinion when everybody is expressing his or hers, and seeing what that feels like.” How about that?

Here are some more words of wisdom: “Nonresistance, non-judgment and nonattachment are the three aspects of true freedom and enlightened living.”

Finally, I would urge readers of Tolle’s A New Earth, or his previous work, The Power of Now, to share their thoughts and experience with others. That is, both books are perfect vehicles for group study, whether that group is just one other person, or a group of friends, or a classroom of sorts. Discussing the insights in these books with others helps clarify and reinforce their message. No doubt, this is why Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle elected to present ten “classes” on the book on the Oprah website.

Tolle says, “We are in the midst of a momentous event in the evolution of human consciousness, but they won’t be talking about it in the news tonight.” But you can hear Tolle and Oprah talk about it. And you can read about it in these books and share the thoughts with some friends. Thereby, you can become a part of that new earth and an awakened consciousness.”

Eckhart Tolle’s website is: www.EckhartTolle.com
Oprah Winfrey’s website is: www.oprah.com

Thoughts Along the Way - May 2, 2009

2009-05-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

Thoughts Along the Way

(Today I am writing more of a real blog. That is, most of my writing in recent years have been a series of book commentaries, written for the publication, phenomeNEWS. I never wrote my own thoughts as an essay for the "Book Talk" column. But that is what I am doing today. The following little essay explores some recent thoughts on current human problems.)

Rather suddenly the other day a fairly simple thought came to me, one that seems to answer a lot of questions. It seems to me that most people, to some degree or other, have difficulty dealing with life AS IT IS. Rather, they long for life AS IT WAS, or at least as they think they remember it, or even as they wish it would be. Taking this thought one step further, we see that the difficulty begins with our relationship to reality.

This discussion will approach this idea in as many ways as I can think of. The idea relates to philosophy, psychology, religion, politics, and everyday living of all sorts. What my exploration of this idea is leading me to conclude, at least tentatively, is that what we most commonly think are political or religious disagreements are largely the results of our level of dealing with what is versus what we would like things to be.

Although everyone of us has this problem, I have observed that certain groups of people appear to have greater difficulty dealing with “what is,” and others seem to find “what is” not all that troublesome. I was curious about why that is the case. Clearly, it is not a matter of intelligence, or education. My observation is that older people, people from smaller towns, and those with a generally more conservative philosophy, either political, religious, or both, have a greater degree of difficulty in dealing with life today as it is. Younger people, people from big cities, and those with a more liberal philosophy seem to handle life “as it is” with greater serenity. There must be a reason for these differences, and they are worth exploring. We also must repeat here that everybody has some difficulty with dealing with the “now.”

Now that I have mentioned “now,” let’s begin with the writings of numerous psychologists and philosophical writers who have emphasized in contemporary writings the importance of being in the “present moment” and dealing with “now.” (Refer to Eckhart Tolle, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Byron Katie, Don Miguel Ruiz, and others.) People who have read these kinds of works are likely to be some of those folks who at least attempt to face the facts of today with some sense of purpose and acceptance. Perhaps this is just because they have been exposed to the idea of focusing on the present.

Let’s look briefly at that present. For some reason beyond the understanding of any of us, life on Earth has been in acceleration mode for a number of years. Everything is moving so quickly. Styles come and go overnight. Technology develops so quickly that it is no longer a joke to say that your computer is obsolete the moment you take it out of the box. Much of technology today is so advanced, the major portion of society can’t cope with it, let alone understand it or comprehend its implications, and heaven help us if any of it needs repair. Most of my older friends love their computers, largely for e-mail purposes, but have no idea how to deal with even the smallest of computer glitches. That’s not their fault. Again, it is the speed of the changes in our world.

So here we are living in a world that changes constantly, often overnight, and it seems that each day brings new things to absorb, to try to understand, and for many of us, it is more than we can deal with. The result is that we spend a great amount of energy thinking about “the way it was” and wishing that life would be as simple as it was in years past. This very human and common reaction manifests in our society in many ways.

Given that we live in a world of constant change, constant challenges, it still might be something we could handle if we didn’t have 24/7 media reports on that very situation. Anything that happens anywhere in the world immediately turns up on our television screens. It is difficult to avoid this constant reminder that the world is difficult, changing, and challenging. Moreover, we don’t just get the news, but we get multiple interpretations and opinionated commentary on every little thing. The world has always had problems, from the weather to wars, but it is only NOW that we have this distraction constantly shoved in our faces. If we don’t see it on TV, it pops up on our computer screens.

All of this helps me understand the red/blue maps that appear rather often on television cable commentary shows. I can’t help but notice that the red states, those in the deep South and the middle of the country are those that largely have small towns. Conversely, the “blue” states most commonly contain the big cities: New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, etc. Now why should this make a difference?

Given that I am one in that “elder” category, I am thinking back to my younger years. Small towns and usually suburbs of the larger cities were quite homogeneous. That is, there were at that time few ethnic or racial differences in those places. Most people looked the same, sounded the same, and if they were churchgoers, attended the same few churches in town. In high school, for example, most students knew all the other students by name. When humans are surrounded by “same,” they feel a certain level of security. The “other” as often discussed by psychologists, is not, in these particular circumstances, very different from oneself. On the other hand, in the big cities, even in my youth, one would find a much greater diversity of people--ethnic, racial, and religious. The “different” has always been a problem for human beings. When someone looks different, sounds different, acts different, it poses a challenge. Should I fear that person? Am I safe? Usually, of course, one is perfectly safe, but psychologically, may not feel safe because life now is not as it was before.

The observations above bring me back to the small town/ big city difference. People raised in small towns feel safe, often leaving their doors unlocked. People raised in big cities generally don’t feel as safe, and have multiple locks on their doors. Nevertheless, the people in big cities grow used to diversity and to some degree it becomes “normal” to them. People raised in small towns in the past (and perhaps present) aren’t as used to diversity, and the recent changes in those towns with perhaps influx of (legal or illegal) immigrants or refugees from other countries, suddenly pose something new to deal with. It becomes a challenge.

I could use my own teaching experience as an example. When I attended high school, as I already noted, the entire student body was quite homogeneous. But when I taught high school some 20 plus years later, the suburban high school where I taught (in the same metropolitan area where I was raised) had already developed great diversity, with students’ families originating in more than sixty different countries, and all major religions represented in the student body. Let me say that again: twenty years!

Let’s briefly discuss the political philosophy called “Conservative” I don’t intend this to be a critical discussion, but rather, informative as it relates to our thesis that all of us have trouble relating to “life as it is,” but also that some folks find this even more difficult than the average. To remain as neutral as possible, I’m taking a definition of “conservative” from the dictionary, which says: “Conservative—disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc. and to agree with gradual rather than abrupt change.” I find that definition both interesting and insightful. (And just to set it straight, my personal stand is that we need both Conservative and Liberal parties in our government, and that the whole system works best when they are fairly equal in strength and power.)

The definition refers to “preserving existing conditions.” This is an important part of the conservative philosophy, and it is undeniably important to preserve that which has proven to be useful to the country, or to humans in general. But by its very wording, it refers to things in the past, or that originated in the past. There’s nothing “wrong” with that at all. But this approach reinforces my point that people with a conservative bent are more focused on the past, and therefore have a greater difficulty dealing with the present. The definition also notes that conservatives can handle change if it is “gradual” rather than “abrupt.” The problem we have noted about today’s world is that changes are taking places very rapidly in all areas of society: political, technological, ecological, etc. There is little disagreement on this particular fact. Many books have come out in recent years discussing these developments.

The fact of the matter, however, as I see it, is that we live in a world of constant change. Those changes seem to be accelerating exponentially. This creates great stresses, especially for those folks who recall or wish for times “as they were,” or to keep those values or life styles that they see as “good.” This is a very human response. So the problem isn’t really just a matter of political preferences, or religious beliefs, or even prejudices. It is quite basic. ALL of us, again to some degree, have difficulty dealing with LIFE AS IT IS. Those of us who recall a different experience, whether in our youth or some other experiential area, spend energy wanting our life to be AS IT WAS. Surely, if we really ponder this idea, we can see that it is quite fruitless to waste our energy in this fashion. We may not like the changes going on around us, but most of them are outside of our control. Fighting what we can’t control is wasted energy. We do, however, have the responsibility and right to express our needs or opinions via voting, letters, and other legal means, and to be proactive in positive, helpful ways. If this discussion is starting to sound like the notable “Serenity Prayer” I would agree. Just as a reminder, that little prayer goes as follows:

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The strength to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.”

Each of us might find it useful to self examine our approach to life “as it is.”

Are we using life’s challenges, no matter how much they contradict what we would like our life to be, in as positive a manner as we are capable of? Are we using our talents to be in the present, and perhaps to develop new attitudes toward life as it is? Only each one of us can make those choices. If we glue ourselves to a wishful longing for the past, we can never fully function in the present. To be in the present, to accept “life as it is” even when we don’t like it, gives us the opportunity to be a contributory agent to the world we have been given.

The only way to deal with current situations is to be more pragmatic and alert, attempting to deal with whatever issue comes up in the present moment. We can’t control what happens “out there.” We can only change what happens “in here,” that is, inside ourselves. Gandhi may have said it best: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

BOOK TALK: Cosmic Consciousness

2009-04-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

BOOK TALK: COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS

Here is one more "book talk" that didn't get published when phenomeNEWS closed its doors. Once again “Book Talk” is going to re-examine a discussion of a truly classic work, one previously published in phenomeNEWS (Feb. 2004). Since then our article has been included in “an online magazine for an intuitive community” called Intuitive-Connections. (See: www.intuitive-connections.net.) This website is associated with The Edgar Cayce Institute for Intuitive Studies. You will also find our article (to be discussed below) in the “Book” section with many other book summaries and discussions. Henry Reed, Ph.D., is the editor and web designer of that website. Reed also has included our article in a newly published compendium of book discussions and summaries called Future Consciousness: A 2012 Omni Reader [with 84] Original summaries of writings on the Coming “Shift.” (Published Sept. 2008). If you enjoy our discussion below, you might also enjoy Reed’s book.

Now we turn to our discussion of a truly classic work, one related to New Thought and esoteric teachings. The work is a pioneering study of the evolution of the human mind: Cosmic Consciousness by Richard M. Bucke, M.D., (E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc.1969). First published in 1901, the original printing run of Cosmic Consciousness was for only 500 copies. That the book is still in print over 100 years later confirms its significance to readers. Currently, over one million books are published annually in the United States alone. Few make it to a second edition. To last a century, a book must make a unique contribution to its readers and the culture in general. In truth, this one does.

The author, Richard M. Bucke, M.D., (1837-1902) was not only a medical doctor, but was also an “alienist,” the former term for what today we call a psychiatrist. He was, for a number of years, the Medical Superintendent of the Asylum for the Insane in London, Ontario, Canada. In that capacity he had much opportunity to study the quirks of the human mind. He became well known for his advanced reforms in treating mental and nervous diseases. At the same time he was a devoted student of great literature, one who read all the great works, especially poetry. From the age of thirty, Bucke especially admired the work of Walt Whitman and devoted the rest of his life to studying Whitman’s work. “It is even said that he could repeat from memory the entire volume of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass--no mean feat.”

In the spring of 1872, at age 35, Bucke experienced what he called “Illumination.” He described it as: “All at once . . . he found himself wrapped around, as it were, by a flame-colored cloud. . . . The next (instant) he knew that the light was within himself. Directly after there came upon him a sense of exaltation, of immense joyousness, accompanied or immediately followed by an intellectual illumination quite impossible to describe. Into his brain streamed one momentary lightning-flash of the Brahmic Splendor which ever since lightened his life.” As Bucke describes in his book, this Illumination led him, over the next 20 years, to “ponder more deeply the relation between man’s mind and his moral nature.” In 1894 he developed the idea of [Cosmic] Consciousness as a mental evolution of mankind, which as it became increasingly common, and eventually general, would lift the whole of human life to a higher plane.”

Hence, what we have in this work is a seminal discussion of mental and
spiritual evolution of human beings that goes far beyond the physical evolution theory of Darwin. Indeed, such an idea that humanity is evolving mentally and spiritually may not seem radical to contemporary readers. Many books today by spiritual teachers of all kinds carry that as an implied or underlying theory. For example, the books about Indigo and Crystal Children, discussed here in “Book Talk” (phenomeNEWS Nov. 2003), clearly suggest such an evolution.

Bucke’s work is unique. He was neither a mystic nor an esoteric teacher. He was a scientist, “a student of the human mind, a psychologist, and he treated Illumination from the standpoint of psychology.” Given the limitations of research at the time, Bucke poured through volumes of history and literature and concluded that there had been “at least 14 undeniable cases of complete and permanent Illumination” and many other cases of partial or temporary Illumination. He deduced, finally, that “very gradually . . . the human race is in the process of developing a new kind of consciousness.”

The book presents a clearly developed investigation into the topics of human consciousness and man’s mystic relation to the Infinite. An introduction by George M. Acklom, written for the 1946 edition, gives a comprehensive overview of the author and the book. Then in three highly readable parts totaling 82 pages, the author develops his theory of Cosmic Consciousness. In his “First Words” he explains and defines three levels or forms of consciousness experienced by humans: Simple Consciousness, a consciousness shared with the upper half of the animal kingdom, in which the being is conscious of the things about him; Self Consciousness, unique to humans, in which the being is “conscious of himself as a distinct entity apart from all the rest of the universe; and Cosmic Consciousness which involves “a consciousness of the cosmos . . . the life and order of the universe. With this last the person experiences “a sense of immortality, a consciousness of eternal life.”

The author’s thesis is that humanity’s consciousness has evolved over the ages. “The view he takes is that our descendants will sooner or later reach, as a race, the condition of cosmic consciousness, just as, long ago, our ancestors passed from simple to self consciousness.” Without knowing it, Bucke’s theory matches many esoteric teachings.

In this early chapter Bucke also describes his own personal experiences with illumination and also explains the psychological origin of Cosmic Consciousness, arguing step by step how the mind and understanding develop. His second chapter takes the discussion to the second step of mental evolution: self-consciousness, noting that “self consciousness would doubtless prove to be the primary and fundamental human attribute.” His arguments and data are often fascinating and range from the development of sensitivity to sound to the perception of colors.

I have always thought that his discussion of color perception is extraordinarily interesting. He points out, citing various classic sources, that “not more than 15 or 20,000 years ago, man was only conscious of, only perceived, one color.” Evidence for this prevails in studies of the Indo-European language history. Studies found “no names of colors in primitive Indo-European speech” and “no Sanskrit root . . . has any reference to color.” Gradually, color perception evolved. Early literature, such as the Rig Veda only refers to red, yellow, and black. Later, white and green joined the list. Even in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, and the Bible, the sky is not identified as “blue.”

Physics students or esoteric students who have studied the vibrational measurements of color may note that the colors came to be perceived by humans in the order of the spectrum beginning with red, which has the slowest vibration. As a physician, Dr. Bucke notes that the existence of color-blindness in persons of all countries--what he calls an “atavism,” or a “relapse to a condition which was normal in the ancestry of the individual”--”shows that the color sense is a modern faculty.” Bucke also discusses the sense of fragrance and the evolution of the human moral nature.

In Part III, Dr. Bucke takes his argument from self to cosmic consciousness. Here he begins to discuss the difficulty of expressing the experience of this kind of consciousness into words. He identifies some of the individuals who he believes exemplify this Illumination and shows how they tried to explain it.

This entire first section of Bucke’s work has always been my favorite part of the book, the section from which I have always learned the most. I do, however, think I need to state a brief “caveat” or warning here for this book, or any book from the 19th century or before--in fact, any creative work from a period different from our current times, be it the Jerome Kern musical “Showboat” or a Mark Twain novel. We live a much different time, one in which certain words or attitudes are seen as insensitive or labeled as “politically incorrect.” Authors, even professional physicians like Dr. Bucke, used different terms for mentally handicapped persons, for example, than we do now. Readers might even assume some racial or gender insensitivities on rare occasions in the book, instances that I would attribute instead to the lack of adequate statistics and data in the 19th century, or just common customs. I would always urge readers to use common sense and tolerance when experiencing literature from earlier times.

The second edition of Richard Bucke’s work includes chapters on each of the fourteen historical personages he believes to have experienced “Illumination. or “Cosmic Consciousness.” These chapters are highly interesting, providing readers with excellent biographical information that supports Bucke’s theory, and often, numerous quotations, even somewhat lengthy citing from that individual's work. This section forms the longest segment of the book. Among the fourteen, Bucke includes, in chronological order, Gautama the Buddha, Jesus the Christ, Paul, Plotinus, Mohammed, Dante, St. John of the Cross, Francis Bacon, William Blake, Balzac, and Walt Whitman.

The chapters on Bacon, Blake, Balzac, and Whitman are, of course, especially insightful and interesting for anyone who loves great literature. Bucke was a proponent of the theory that Francis Bacon was the author of the sonnets and plays attributed to Shakespeare. Most students of Shakespeare’s works are probably familiar with the theory and Bucke’s discussion provides further enlightenment. Also, since Bucke was personally acquainted with Walt Whitman and was a great admirer of that great American poet, the chapter on Whitman is especially rich with insights.

The final major section of the book treats several dozen examples of people whom Bucke considers to be “lesser, imperfect, or doubtful instances” of their having Cosmic Consciousness experiences. Sometimes his doubt is simply the result of lack of data. Many of these examples are anonymous and identified only by initials. Some of the more well-known and thereby more interesting examples, again in chronological order, are: Moses, Isaiah, Lao-Tze, Socrates, Pascal, Spinoza, William Wordsworth, Pushkin, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Alfred Tennyson, and Henry David Thoreau. The preponderance of poets tends to reflect the author’s interest in literature, no doubt, more than anything else. This is not to criticize Bucke’s scholarship, which was immense. He lists 208 sources at the beginning of his book from which he quotes or refers to in this volume.

Bucke’s final chapter, called “Last Words,” provides him the opportunity both to recapitulate his points, but also to diverge just a bit to points he didn’t explore in the main chapters. He draws conclusions from his studies, which reiterate his point of the mental and spiritual evolution of the human species. He notes, moreover, that as each development of consciousness happens, it happens to more and more people as the years pass. He concludes that just as self consciousness has become “almost universal and appears at the average of about three years [of age]--so will Cosmic Consciousness become more and more universal . . . until the race at large will possess this faculty.”

[Note: this quotation explains why people who study current works about consciousness and the coming “shift of consciousness” that many believe to be tied to the Mayan Calendar find this classic book to be of great interest. Bucke’s prediction that the entire human race will evolve in consciousness is an idea that supports and relates to many current theories.]

Ultimately, Dr. Richard M. Bucke’s classic work, Cosmic Consciousness, is a highly valuable work, well worth any effort on the part of the reader. It is truly a work of great insight and hope for the human race.

Readers who want to explore the topic of consciousness further may enjoy the following books, briefly described.
1. Annie Besant. A Study in Consciousness. 1938. An esoteric discussion from a Theosophical perspective.
2. Rudolf Steiner. The Evolution of Consciousness. 1979. An esoteric discussion from Steiner’s lectures.
3. Julian Jaynes. The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, 1976. A controversial, but fascinating psychological theory by a Princeton University professor.
4. Ken Wilbur. The Spectrum of Consciousness, 1977. Challenging, scholarly text by a contemporary philosopher.
5. Don Beck and Christopher Cowan. Spiral Dynamics, 1996. A theory that demonstrates the evolution of human psychologies, beliefs, and values.

BOOK TALK: Secrets of the Light: Lessons from Heaven

2009-04-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

BOOK TALK
Secrets of the Light: Lessons from Heaven

Many writers have written books and articles about what they learned from near-death experiences, but no one has become quite so well known about near death as Dannion Brinkley, who has experienced three such forays into the afterlife. His first was recorded in the book, and film, Saved by the Light. His recent book, Secrets of the Light: Lessons from Heaven (Harper One, 2008) updates his experiences. Brinkley intends this book to share the lessons he learned in the afterlife so that others can better understand their purpose in life as well as what to expect in the afterlife. These lessons are ones that can be helpful to us all.

Brinkley makes it clear that his near-death experiences changed him drastically from a self-centered individual into a compassionate person who learned that the most important thing in life was love and helping others. A surprising insight is that “the universe does not recognize the difference between light and dark or good and evil. Therefore, we must.” Through Brinkley and his experiences, we learn that “we will act as our own judge and jury” when we die, and “in the end, we alone will hold ourselves accountable for our every thought, word and deed.” This reminds us that “each choice we make in life creates a consequence we will eventually have to face.” Such reminders can help us recognize our own responsibility in what we think and do in our lives. It can help us get beyond the usual “blaming” that so many do throughout their existence.
Like many other teachers, Brinkley warns that it is time for humanity to evolve.
The Beings who taught him lessons and showed him possible future outcomes on Earth told him that we need to “return our collective consciousness to the reality of love.”

The author notes that in his life he had “relished holding on to my grudges.” But Brinkley learned from his “celestial teachers” that he needed to forgive himself and then he “needed to forgive everyone else.” On his day in Heaven, he understood that “we are on Earth for only one reason: to act as the living reflection and expression of divine love.” That is our very purpose for being.

In Brinkley’s third visit to the afterlife he was stunned with some of the revelations. One such revelation was that “we live in different dimensions, and . . . many realities exist beyond this one.” It was also impressed upon him “just how vitally important the work we do on Earth is in the greater scheme of things.” Key to this point, and one that is referenced by many current spiritual teachers, is “that the evolution of every one of us, along with humankind as a whole, has an unmistakable and mighty impact on the overall development of the entire universe.” Most people today are so involved with their own little (or big) personal problems that they can’t even imagine that they could be playing an important part in the Plan for the Universe. What was even more astonishing to Brinkley was to learn that we are “multidimensional beings” and that “aspects of us are doing this powerful work in several places at once.” The author found this information difficult to digest, but in his studies he has discovered that “the Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians, Babylonians, and even the Mayans all wrote of the different levels existing between the here and Hereafter.”

The most disturbing lesson Brinkley describes is his experience in a kind of netherworld, one that seems to exist somewhere between Earth and the afterlife, where many souls linger in a kind of purgatory, “reliving their last days on Earth, over and over.” Some of these are people who have died violent deaths, or soldiers, or people who had died in senseless acts of military violence. Brinkley tries desperately “to understand the reason those people were held hostage to agony.” He finally discerns that what keeps people from the light is their own will or attitude. He sees that “one must have an open, loving, cheerful disposition toward life” and to “maintain a belief that life is a gift to be generously shared and vigorously celebrated.” Brinkley says to readers, “If there is just one lesson from Heaven you could commit to memory, let it be this: our thoughts create our attitudes, and together they create the quality of life we experience—both here and in the Hereafter.”

In one chapter, Brinkley discusses what he learned about 2012, the much discussed date of the end of the Mayan calendar. While on his third journey to Heaven, he was shown “Boxes of Knowledge.” He reports, “It is my conviction, based on the scenes from the Boxes of Knowledge, that by 2012 humanity will experience unprecedented mental and spiritual transformations, coinciding precisely with the Earth’s passage through great physical upheaval.” This time will involve a “dramatic shift in consciousness” in which “we will embrace an awareness of the companion spheres of life all around us.” He notes that during these transformative times, “Conscious cooperation with spiritual transformation is the best way I’ve found to proactively live a rewarding life in a manner that honors the eternal soul.”

To help humanity move in this positive direction, Dannion Brinkley presents a Fourfold Path to Power:
The Power in Love
The Power in Belief
The Power in Choice
The Power in Prayer

First, he learned that “love is the most powerful force in the universe.” This isn’t personal sentiment that he is talking about. He saw “first-hand that love is a divine, living energy of unparalleled might and magnificence.” He says, unequivocally, that “love is the unwavering path leading to . . . spiritual fulfillment.” As a result, “it behooves us to remain conscious of the thoughts we allow ourselves to contemplate. Love creates more love. Loving thoughts create a more loving world.” Brinkley recommends “deep, conscious breathing” as the “best way to center ourselves in the heart of love.” He recommends meditation, gratitude, and prayers of appreciation as part of our daily spiritual practices.

He calls “Life a matter of choice.” He says, “I learned in Heaven that we have a human responsibility to be spiritual in nature, and a spiritual responsibility to be human.” He admits that it isn’t easy to be cheerful and optimistic in today’s life and global situations. But he urges that “we must make the conscious choice not to get caught up in the hypnotic hype of hopelessness.” He begins to emphasize the importance of intention, noting that “the reason we do something is far more important than the act itself.” The intention motivating us to take action determines the spiritual effectiveness of that action. He says he was “shown that everything will continue to move at a much faster rate over the next four to six years. . . at an accelerated speed.” This will make our choices ever more difficult and challenging, and yet it becomes ever more important how we make those choices.

In regard to the Power of Belief, Brinkley says that “staunch belief in something greater than ourselves is an essential building block in the construction of a personal reality.” From his personal experiences, however, Brinkley has become “infused with a spiritual understanding of our eternal oneness with the infinite nature of divine love.” He points out that “What you do in this life, based on a belief in the love and perfection of eternal life, decides the quality of life awaiting you in the Hereafter.”

The Power of Prayer came to be acknowledged by the author following one of his near-death experiences. He experienced how it worked to save his life: “Once the prayers of the caring millions started going out into the ethers on my behalf, everything shifted.” Later, he researched the scientific studies of the effectiveness of prayers. He found that the term “willful, conscious intent” was highly appropriate to define prayer’s “far-reaching medical and spiritual applications. Once again, then, we find in this book, an emphasis on the importance of intention. The author emphasizes, “What we do in our lives is not as important as why we do it. . . . This is the true measure of a soul.”

The final section of the Dannion Brinkley’s book is called “The Seven Lessons from Heaven.” These chapters delineate the seven major truths he learned in the afterlife during his three near-death experiences. His discussions identify those truths and he explains how readers can use them to enhance their health, happiness, and prosperity.

The First Lesson tells us that “We are great, powerful, and mighty spiritual beings of light, living in a physical world with dignity, direction, and purpose.” That may be a difficult one for most people to accept, given all the difficulties and problems most of us struggle with each day. But Brinkley says we need to recognize that “everything is eternally interconnected in the oneness of Spirit.” He emphasizes that “Every single thing that one of us thinks, says, or does impacts all the rest of humanity on one level or another.” He urges us to stop and ponder that message.

Lesson Two says we chose to come here! Not only did we choose to come here to Earth and to live at this time, but we came “in order to make changes for the betterment of humanity. . . . Each of us has designed our life with as many obstacles and challenges as we could create along with a variety of options and possibilities to overcome those same challenges.” This idea, too, may not set well with readers who love to put the blame on everybody else for their difficulties. Brinkley notes that “very few answers to our spiritual inquiries can be found externally.” It is important to try to discover what our mission is. But when we do so, it puts us in the position of responsibility for what we do. Brinkley says he was shown in Heaven “that only the best and the brightest souls have chosen to come into the physical realm at this point in history.” So we need to accept that “we are the bravest of the brave.” Brinkley says that “collectively, we have come to save the world from the destructive ramifications of humanity’s inferior nature of greed, violence, and the need to conquer.”

Lesson Three is that “we were chosen to come here.” It may seem strange, even contradictory, to say that we “chose” and “were chosen,” but this is what Brinkley was taught during his ND experiences. He says, “The truth is we have actually been entrusted with the fate of the world.” Again, this may be difficult to accept. It is quite obvious that “the way we are living now isn’t working. If we are to endure, a change in the way we think is necessary.” Those of us here on the Earth at this time have this great divine mission—to save the world from ourselves! This is ironic and certainly challenging. What can we do?
Brinkley says, “The small acts of spontaneous love and compassion are most highly treasured in the eyes of Spirit.” And it is most important to “Judge not.”

Lesson Four has to do with talents. Every person born on Earth is here for a reason and comes in with talents to share. “One vital aspect of living this life is discovering and developing the wisest use of these talents in order to produce the greatest potential for good.” Now that is something to ponder. So often we use our talents just for ourselves—to gain fame, to get money, recognition, or even personal enlightenment. But in this lesson we are getting the message that those talents are intended to help the world in some way. One wise message from the author is that “True joy in life comes from living in the moment while learning to bloom where you are planted, even if you think you’re not where you should be.”

Lesson Five involves living in the present moment. The author suggests that we “Do not strive; simply accept your divine destiny.” He points out that quantum science is proving that time and space are nonexistent. He says that “in Heaven, what we perceive to be the past, present, and future all exist simultaneously.” Another thing we need to work on is to “balance polarity.” He says, “What holds us back is our belief in duality. . . Contrary to what we have been told, the light does not need the dark to exist.” We do not need darkness in ourselves. “Our personal renunciation of fear, doubt, and negativity in our thoughts, words, and actions will in turn cause darkness in the world to diminish.”

Lesson Six confirms that we existed before we came into this world. “Every lesson necessary for our soul’s growth [was] scrupulously planned in [that] divine realm.” Brinkley repeats again that “we enter the physical realm to actively participate in the execution of the divine plan for spiritual evolution.”
Lesson Seven continues this idea: “There is a world that exists after this one. In fact, it is the same world we left to come here.” When we return to that world we go to the area (level) that is appropriate for our development. Brinkley says, “According to divine protocol, all souls entering Heaven from the physical realm . . . are classified and categorized according to their level of consciousness and final destination.” The good news for all of us is that “Everything is going to turn out just the way Spirit has planned it. . . unfolding universal perfection is an absolute given.”

Dannion Brinkley’s concluding chapter describes what he calls the “Panoramic Life Review.” He explains that when we die and pass over to the Hereafter, we have a panoramic life review in which we literally relive our life in a 360-degree panorama, “experiencing everything that has ever happened.” He explains that he experienced this each time he had his near-death. He says that “What matters are not the mistakes you made; what matters to Spirit is how often you were willing to help others through your love, kindness, and compassion.” Once again we are told that “making a difference in the lives of others is the spiritual foundation of our human existence.” Moreover, “the greater the number of spontaneous loving moments we perpetuate here, the higher the levels of consciousness we will inhabit when we reach the Hereafter.” In order to best prepare for this end of life review, Brinkley suggests steps each reader can use to do a daily life review. One important part of this daily life review is to “count your blessings.”

Finally, Brinkley encourages us to see every obstacle in life as an
”opportunity for spiritual evolution.” He asks us to remember that “nothing we do in life is done [or should be done] for self-gratification.” He also reminds us that “Your every thought, word, and action has an effect on, and is affected by, the thoughts, words, and actions of everyone else. . . . Unity consciousness is the ultimate goal of this era in human history. . . . It only takes the conscious efforts of a compassionate heart to make the world a better place—one living act at a time. Spirit expands as we do.”

This is a book that can remind us all why we are here and what we need to do about it.

2009-03-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

BOOK TALK: LEMURIA AND ATLANTIS:
Studying the Past to Survive the Future

Ever since my teen years I’ve been intrigued by the legends of Atlantis and Lemuria (sometimes called Mu). It has been fun to renew my curiosity about these ancient lands in a new book: Lemuria and Atlantis: Studying the Past to Survive the Future by Shirley Andrews (Llewellyn Publications, 2009). This book coordinates conclusions from many previous books on the subject, refers quite often to the Edgar Cayce readings about Atlantis, and updates readers about current and continuing research on the subject. It was sheer fun for me to recall some of the books and studies that I have perused over the past fifty years or so.

The author calls this book a companion volume to her previous work: Atlantis: Insights from a Lost Civilization (Llewellyn Worldwide, LTC, 2002). Andrews is forthright about her belief in past lives and that her “intense interest in Atlantis . . . stems from one or more past life experiences there.” She has devoted many years to her research and travels to many parts of the world linked to the stories of both Atlantis and Lemuria.

Our discussion of her new book will focus on some of its main points and some of the legends that have always interested me the most. One intriguing aspect of Andrews’ work is her inclusion of numerous “memories” from people who recall specific past life experiences from Atlantis or Lemuria. These memories often clarify and explain traditional stories from the distant past.

Most people have heard of Atlantis, but the “Motherland of Mu,” or Lemuria, is less known to readers. Many, many strange data, however, point to the possibility that a great land once existed in the Pacific Ocean, perhaps extending into the Indian Ocean. Obvious examples are the giant stone figures on Easter Island. Today one doesn’t hear much about the vast research done by Col. James Churchward into records on sacred Naacal tablets in India. He “determined that 4 major cataclysms in 800,000 B.C., 200,000 B.C., 80,000 B.C., and 10,000 B.C.” were responsible for destroying Lemuria. That last date is close to the legendary demise of Atlantis as well. Some Pacific islands are believed to be remnants of Mu and some contain partially sunken remains of megalithic constructions. As a reader, I especially appreciated the source notes at the end of each chapter.

One of the legends about Lemuria that I’ve read in other books is that Mu was the place where mankind evolved from spiritual, etheric beings of light into heavier forms of energy. Shirley Andrews’ second chapter treats this subject and the resources that support it. Early Lemuria seems to have been a place of “forgiveness, love, and patience.” “Austrian mystic Dr. Rudolph Steiner wrote that many Lemurians lived in underground dwellings.” Therefore it is intriguing that myths worldwide speak of underground dwellings (Hopi, etc.) and tunnels. Many such places have been found around the world.

One important theme of this book deals with where the people of Lemuria and Atlantis went when their lands began to break apart. The author presents much evidence in her book that indicates that people in the eastern regions of Lemuria fled to Central America, South America, and what is now the Southwest United States. They likely predate the Inca, Mayans, and the Hopi.

Sources for discussion about Atlantis range from Plato, who according to his writings, learned of that land from priests in Egypt. In more current times, the famed American seer, Edgar Cayce, gave many readings about Atlantis in which he claimed many survivors of the final cataclysms went to Egypt. Author Andrews claims, with reasons, that the Azores islands, Madeira, and the Cape Verde Islands are all mountaintops of Atlantis. She says the last standing portion of Atlantis was Poseidia, “a large, pleasant island in 28,000 B.C. located on the Bahama Bank.” This area has been a central focus for Atlantis exploration in the 20th century. Andrews’ chapter about Poseidia is especially interesting and is filled with much evidence of remnants in Central America of both the Mu and Atlantis cultures. She references data from another fascinating book that I read many years ago: Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids by Peter Tompkins (Harper & Row, 1971).

A major them of this work appears in Chapter 5. This theme is suggested in the subtitle of the book: “Studying the Past to Survive the Future.” The question arises: why would a study of Lemuria and Atlantis be useful to us today? In other words, how can learning about these legendary places be of any more importance to us today beyond being curiosities? The author is clear. She refers, like Cayce, to the two groups of people to inhabit Atlantis. According to Cayce, one group were Children of the Law of One,” the “sons of light,” spiritual individuals who loved and respected each other. The other group he called the Sons of Belial, also called the “sons of darkness,.” This group was selfish, materialistic, and focused on “satisfying their physical appetites and desires with no respect for others.”

The author says, “Many individuals on the Earth today are Lemurians and Atlanteans who have returned to participate in another struggle between the forces of good and evil for control of this planet. . . . What is significant is that today we are all here to help make our world a better place. The Children of the Law of One will continue to do their good work, and the Sons of Darkness will have an opportunity to redeem themselves.” Hence, readers can see that learning about the past, the successes and the failures, can help each of us to make better choices today.

Author Andrews’ Chapter 6 on North America provides fascinating data from many parts of the United States. She ties Lemurian teachings to the Law of One and the peaceful teachings and legends of origin for the Hopi and Zuni Pueblo tribes. Cherokee teachings contain a history strongly connected to both the Pleiades and Atlantis. Their belief indicates that “mindfulness and love and care for others and for their natural environment maintain the balance of the planet and therefore harmony in the universe.” This philosophy is nearly identical to that of the Hopi, to the Lemurian attitudes, and the Law of One in Atlantis. The author also notes that “legends of the Iroquois, Sioux, Mandans, and Delaware refer to the home of their ancestors as an island that sank but was once in the Atlantic Ocean in the direction of the sunrise.”

Other fascinating data refers to pyramids and pyramidal-shaped mounds. We all know of the pyramids in Egypt and in Mexico and Central America. But few Americans know of the many pyramidal mounds found throughout middle America, especially in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. The author reports that “a pyramid as large as the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt once stood at the intersection of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers in East St. Louis.” Unfortunately, “this huge mound was decimated in the 19th century.” At the time it “contained embroidered materials, beautiful gold, silver, and copper jewelry, and parchment that appeared to have writing on its surface.” Most or all of this was lost over the years.

Shirley Andrews’ chapter on South America includes discussion of the amazing collection of ancient artifacts accumulated by Father Crespi, a Roman Catholic priest who was sent by the Vatican to a remote area of Ecuador in the mid 20th century. Several photographs show Father Crespi and some of his unusual artifacts. Father Crespi apparently believed “that Atlanteans and Lemurians brought the treasures from their countries when it was sinking” because the pieces showed such “sophisticated techniques involved in their production.” He built a museum to house these valuables, one that was “recognized as an archaeological authority.” In 1962 someone set fire to the museum and it was completely destroyed except for a few articles that Father Crespi managed to rescue. Fortunately for us, a photographer, Bob Brush, visited the Father in the 1970s and photographed Father Crespi and those pieces. When Father Crespi died, everything disappeared.

This book is rich with fascinating data that supports the theory that Atlantis and Lemuria were both more than legends. We’ve discussed just seven of the 18 chapters. Rather than continue chapter by chapter, the rest of our discussion will focus on a few of the most intriguing points in the book.

One very interesting discussion focuses on blood types and genes. Research has shown that “a disproportionate amount of [type O and] the Rh-negative blood factor is characteristic of . . . people who live in the vicinity of the Atlantic Ocean.” The speculation then is that these factors suggest that O Rh-negative blood was the dominant blood type on Atlantis. “It predominates among the Basques in the Pyrenees Mountains and the Berbers in the Atlas Mountains on the Atlantic coast of North Africa,” as well as the Canary Islands and the Maya Lacandones of southern Mexico. Other odd factors are observable. The Basque language is unique and “untraceable to any other tongue,” but it “apparently has a common origin with the language of a tribe of Maya in northern Guatemala.”
So what was its source? Perhaps it was Atlantis.

Another intriguing discussion focused on the inventiveness of the priest-scientists of Atlantis and Lemuria. We know that currently most people believe that civilization has developed rather linearly. That is, if we go back into pre-history, we think we will only find “cavemen.” But the stories about the legendary Atlantis and Lemuria, along with numerous and mysterious archaeological finds suggests something quite different. Edgar Cayce said the Atlanteans used great crystal energies, and various finds of crystal skulls with strange polarities raise more questions. The author notes that “stories from all over the world tell of waves of sound lifting and raising heavy objects.” In our own time scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla, who invented alternating current, also explored various uses of electromagnetism, leading to a “top secret U.S. research with time and space.” The author says that “many of his inventions remain secret.”

In one chapter author Andrews discusses one of the first books I ever read about Atlantis: A Dweller on Two Planets, written in 1884 by an 18 year old, Frederick S. Oliver. (This book is still in publication, currently by Cosimo Classics, 2007). The book seemed to be an early science-fiction fantasy in which Oliver said that “Phylos the Tibetan, who had lived in Atlantis in 11,650 B.C., visited him at night” and dictated the story. The amazing thing, however, is that long before our own technological age, Oliver’s book described large cylinder passenger vehicles with port-hole like windows along the sides that flew in the air. He also depicted “air purifiers, electric guns, crystal lights,” a water condenser and other items unknown in the 1880s. In 1933 Edgar Cayce talked about Atlantean lasers and “predicted our scientists would produce them in 25 years. Twenty-five years later, in 1958, Bell Telephone Laboratory produced masers” (our early lasers).

For some twenty years I taught a mythology course in high school. It is impossible to ignore the fact that myths around the world are filled with stories of great catastrophes. Nearly every culture in the world has a Great Flood story. Many have other stories of destruction from earthquakes, fire, tilting of the earth and heavens, great tempests, the sun disappearing, islands collapsing into the sea, and huge tsunamis rising up mountain high. The author devotes a chapter to these stories of destruction, backed up with geologic reports. Given these facts, stories about former civilizations that were destroyed in great cataclysms become quite plausible.

This book, clearly, is a delightful compendium of all current information about Atlantis and Lemuria. But we must return to the underlying reason for the book itself. Somehow our understanding of these ancient cultures is important to us now. This isn’t the first or only book to point out the parallels between the latter days of Atlantis and our civilization today. Apparently the people of Atlantis were highly developed technologically, but their science had become very materialistic, selfish, and power-centered, with many deadly weapons at their disposal.

Earlier Atlanteans, like the Lemurians, were the Children of the Law of One. They lived in peace and harmony with each other and nature. Cayce and others have said that “former Atlantean souls have incarnated again on Earth . . . for a variety of reasons.” One objective is for those former Atlanteans to learn again how to live in peace. The author says, “We are one family . . . . As we emphasize the similarities rather than the differences among people, unity will prevail and we will come together on the higher plane of consciousness that characterized the Golden Age of early Lemuria and Atlantis.”

Clearly, we have a long way to go. Reading this book, however, provides insightful information for readers to ponder. The author also provides brief biographies for a number of the authors and sources she cites in her book, as well as a comprehensive bibliography of books and articles pertinent to the subject.

2009-03-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

VIBRATIONAL MEDICINE

Continuing with my postings of "Book Talks" here is one of my all time favorite books.

BOOK TALK: VIBRATIONAL MEDICINE

Nine years ago I was preparing to discuss flower essences for “Book Talk” for PHENOMENEWS and I realized that readers would need some background information first. Therefore, I prepared a discussion of one of my favorite books, Vibrational Medicine: “New Choices for Healing Ourselves” by Dr. Richard Gerber, M.D. (Bear & Company, 1988). Recently I just recommended that book to a health professional who wanted to review the background of alternative medical practices. Actually, I recommended the newer, updated version of the book.

It is clear that when a book is valuable to readers, it stays in print, in this case for nearly 20 years. Gerber’s book is now in its Third Edition; it has grown to 608 pages; and has a slightly different title: Vibrational Medicine: The #1 Handbook of Subtle-Energy Therapies (Bear & Company, Inner Traditions, 2001). This work is certainly one that is worthy of reexamination here in “Book Talk.” The words that follow are only slightly changed from my original discussion in 1999.

As I said, I originally wrote about Vibrational Medicine as a forerunner to a discussion about flower essences. In case readers aren’t familiar with that form of natural therapy, I might note that I am still interested in the subject. I keep a wide selection of flower essences from California, Arizona, and Alaska on my shelves. My favorite, all-time flower remedy is the now rather famous “Bach’s Rescue Remedy.” I use it whenever I feel overly stressed. It is totally safe, even for pets!

Since flower essences are what might be called vibrational or energetic medicine, there was no question in my mind that the book to discuss as background must be the classic text by Dr. Richard Gerber, M.D., entitled Vibrational Medicine. This book provides a basis for any discussion of flower essences, homeopathy, or other forms of vibrational medicine.

I truly consider Dr. Gerber's book as classic and one of a kind. It has remained in print for nearly 20 years to date and I know of no other work that explains such a vast range of alternative medicines as thoroughly and as clearly as this book does. Even so, I must state upfront that this book is not light, easy reading. Its reading level is clearly that of a college textbook. I would consider it to be a perfect required text for any medical professionals who are studying alternative or integrative medical techniques. Nevertheless, it is also, with a little effort, accessible to general readers who would like to understand alternative medicine better. A few parts, however, such as discussions of Einsteinian theories, holograms, and wave-particle theory are a bit tricky for non-science majors like me. Nevertheless, in 2007 one finds discussions of quantum theory, Zero-point fields, non-locality, and other new physics terms becoming more and more common in current literature.

Gerber also provides a clear, simplified summary of the main points at the conclusion of each chapter. This is especially helpful for general readers who might wish to skip some of the more technical details. In any case, I believe this book provides such significant information that it is worth the effort that readers might need to exert in order to comprehend its informative content.

Dr. Gerber says his first chapter presents "the energetic foundations which will allow the reader to understand the remainder of the book" and that "each succeeding chapter builds upon the foundation of the previous one." Thus, the ideal way to read this book is sequentially. I rather reluctantly admit, however, that my reading of it has perpetually been more scattered. I would say: read this book in any order; just read it! You will learn more than you can imagine. But give yourself plenty of time to digest all the information.

In his "Foreword" to Dr. Gerber's text, noted Professor William A. Tiller, Ph.D., says, "This book . . . is an attempt to present a conceptual bridge between current allopathic medicine and future subtle-energy medicine." Tiller examines the dual nature of the "vehicle" which each person uses for its life experience. He defines one part of the vehicle as "of positive energy," forming "the physical part" of the vehicle. "The other part . . . is of negative mass and negative energy." "It forms the etheric part" of the vehicle. He concludes: "We know a great deal about . . . the physical, but very little about its conjugate part (the etheric). Now is the time to begin serious investigation of the etheric. . . ." And that is just what Dr. Richard Gerber does in his book. Vibrational medicine, energetic medicine, treats the etheric level (as well as even higher vibrational levels) of humans, rather than the physical body directly. To date, modern western medical science hasn't even recognized the etheric level to any extent.

For readers who are unfamiliar with the word "etheric," here is an oversimplified explanation. The etheric body is perceived as the "energy" body that co-exists spatially with the physical body. It isn't the soul, but rather pure energy--a life force, if you will. Some have called it the "ghost in the machine," the machine being the physical body. Eastern medicine explains that the "etheric" energy connects, or interfaces, with the physical body via various points or energy spots. Special points in the etheric are the "chakras" and they "connect" to various glands throughout the body. It is important to clarify that vibrational medicines--which in Gerber's book include a huge range from acupuncture to homeopathy, flower essences to psychic healings, color therapy to crystal or gemstone healing--do ultimately treat the physical body and its symptoms, but they do so indirectly by working at an energy level which holds a higher vibration than that of physical mass.

In the "Introduction" to Gerber's text, holistic physician Dr. Gabriel Cousens, M.D., takes this point further. "This book thoroughly, clearly, and gently opens the reader's mind to the conclusion that we, as human organisms, are a series of interacting multidimensional subtle-energy systems." This is an especially important point because those doctors who accept the reality of the etheric level know that "disease states can be detected at the etheric level before they manifest on the physical plane. It therefore follows that if diseases can be detected at this etheric level, they can be prevented" [from reaching the physical plane].

In other words, the whole potential of vibrational medicine involves treating whatever is out of balance, or dis-eased, on one of the higher levels, or planes, so that the problem, the dis-ease, doesn't even manifest in the physical body. This, indeed, would be the ideal of health maintenance and disease prevention. Part of what Dr. Gerber does in his book is to provide an historical and analytical perspective of various research, developments, and studies of healing modalities which relate to what might be called the "physical-etheric interface."

This book is also valuable in its organization and research integrity. Dr. Richard Gerber includes a fine, workable "Glossary" of terms which is especially helpful to non-medical readers. A "Recommended Reading" list, organized by chapters, provides excellent sources for further research on various topics. Finally, this book provides a comprehensive index, enabling readers to locate information on thousands of topics. Anyone who is interested in any of the energetic or vibrational healing modalities will find thorough background, discussion of principles, reports on research, and various hypotheses in this book. Our book discussion, however, can only allude briefly to the wide range of information in Dr. Gerber's 500 pages.

Readers of this book will gain a comprehensive understanding of the difference between Newtonian and Einsteinian medicine, largely in Gerber's first two chapters. To explain this as simply as possible, the Newtonian model of medicine is mechanical in nature, seeing the human body as a complex mechanism. Modern physicians of the western world have had problems "accepting the validity of alternative healing methods" because "they see the physical body as the only dimension of human existence." Thus we have experienced the rise of allopathic medicine which traditionally only treats the physical symptoms. In other words, it "fixes" the mechanism. This is sometimes more simply explained by identifying the body as a “machine” and the doctor tries to “fix it” when it isn’t working correctly.

Einstein, on the other hand, viewed matter as energy. The Einsteinian medical model sees human beings as complex beings of energy which are "powerfully affected by our emotions and level of spiritual balance as well as by nutritional and environmental factors." Einsteinian medical theory would treat people with energy treatments. Unfortunately, "The Newtonian model of medicine does not account for, nor believe in, these other energetic systems." This has resulted in the current arguments between physicians who favor the Newtonian (allopathic) treatment methods, and those physicians who are beginning to accept the energy theories, and who would choose to integrate the allopathic and alternative therapies, often Naturopaths and other alternative healers, such as acupuncturists, massage therapists, etc.

Even so, energy based medicine has been a long tradition in other parts of the world, and gradually has worked its way into western medical practices, too. Healers in the eastern civilizations, such as India and China, have recognized for thousands of years the subtle energies of the chakras and nadis, the acupuncture meridians, and the etheric body. In Europe in the 19th century, a brilliant physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), researched and developed the treatment known as homeopathy. Acceptance for homeopathic medicine has expanded in Europe and today many European medical doctors are also homeopaths, especially in Germany and Great Britain.

Early in the 20th century, British homeopathic physician, Dr. Edward Bach, discovered and developed the now famous Bach Flower Remedies which are now "utilized by health care practitioners throughout the world." The fact remains, however, that homeopathy and flower essence treatments are still not accepted by the medical establishment in America. Only a few medical doctors here and there practice any of these techniques, but they compose a small minority overall. In general, these practices have been more accepted in Europe than in the U.S.

Dr. Gerber, in his early chapters, discusses the history and development of the medical energetic approaches that current medical theories have accepted, such as X-rays, radiation therapy, electrotherapy, CAT scans, and MRIs. He predicts, optimistically, the ultimate invention of an etheric body imager which could identify disturbances in the etheric body before they could manifest in the physical body. Only time will tell.

His next several chapters discuss numerous, rather difficult, subjects. First he presents an overview of what he calls the "multidimensional human," supported by various studies and research models. He discusses the acupuncture meridian system, the chakras, and the astral body. He relates some of these energy systems to theories of Dr. William Tiller and Albert Einstein. He even touches on the mental and causal bodies, often referred to in metaphysical literature. He points out that consciousness may be a type of energy. Other chapters present an in-depth analysis of acupuncture and the Chinese philosophy of healing. A following chapter covers the development throughout the world of various subtle energy technologies, many of which most of us have never heard.

My personal favorite chapters of Dr. Gerber's books are those that focus on certain specific modalities of healing. Chapter 7, "The Wisdom of Nature" provides an informative explanation and history of the development of flower essences. This chapter inter-relates to information Dr. Gerber presents earlier in his text. Back in a previous chapter, Dr. Gerber explores homeopathy: how it was developed and tested, and how homeopathic medicines are made, and the principles upon which they work. In that chapter he also explains the difference between homeopathic medicines and flower essences. The preparation of both of these "energetic" remedies is dependent on the "subtle energetic storage properties of water." I doubt that most readers have any idea of all the miraculous properties of water. Dr. Gerber's discussion is highly enlightening.

Since this book originally came out, many research studies have revealed greater insights into the almost magical properties of water. We would especially note the books by Masuru Emoto, such as The HIdden Messages in Water (Beyond Words, 2004) and The True Power of Water (Beyond Words, 2005). Numerous scientists are currently studying the mystery of water.

"Flower essences are used in a different manner than homeopathic remedies and have energetic effects at much higher levels." In general, homeopathic remedies primarily treat the physical body through the etheric, whereas flower essences primarily treat the emotional or spiritual levels of the person, although ultimately the effects filter down. Also, some more recent flower essence practitioners have apparently discovered some essences with more direct physical effects.

Gerber's chapter 7 then tells of the development of Dr. Edward Bach's flower remedies as well as of more recent developments in flower essence research and therapy world-wide.

Another fascinating chapter is Gerber's examination of "Our Relationship with the Chakras." Many of the points he makes in his discussion of the seven major chakras, such as that "Each chakra has a particular emotional and spiritual issue which affects its proper functioning," have turned up repeatedly in more recent books, such as those by Caroline Myss and Dr. Mona-Lisa Schultz.

I happen to be particularly partial to concluding chapters of most books. That is certainly true for Dr. Gerber's work. First, Gerber gives readers an optimistic view of "The Emergence of Medicine for the New Age." In the eleven years since the original publication of this book, readers could clearly see some of his prognostications happening in the medical fields. This is even more true in 2007. More and more, doctors are accepting humans as mind/body/spirit complexities. More doctors are opening to an integrated approach to healing. Nearly every major medical school in the U.S. now has a department of integrative medicine, or at least offers classes in the regular medical school. This includes UCLA, University of Michigan, Johns-Hopkins, University of Arizona, and many, many others. The only negative point that Gerber noted was the tendency of managed health-care (HMOs) to create situations less conducive to treating patients holistically (which requires more time with each patient.)

Gerber's concluding chapter is metaphysical and spiritual in nature. It deals with "Vibrational Healing and its Implications for an Evolving Humanity." It's all about personal and planetary evolution. He reviews the wisdom of the ancients from ancient legends through the various world religions. He deals with personal responsibility and spiritual growth. He reiterates that "Vibrational medicine appears to hold some of the answers for a world that seems quite ill, but it will only work if we can work with it."

Obviously we cannot be self-responsible and work to help ourselves heal unless we learn about what is possible. This book, VIBRATIONAL MEDICINE by Dr. Richard Gerber, M.D., is a place to start. We can educate ourselves to new possibilities in medicine so that we can work cooperatively and intelligently with our chosen physicians. The effort required to understand this information may require both time and self-discipline. But indeed, it can change our lives. At the very least, it will expand our perspective of what it means to be a human being.

2009-03-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Special Children's Books.
Continuing with my posting of some of my book discussions, the following was a part of a column written for the holiday issue of phenomeNEWS, no longer published. I recommend two children's books that are wonderful for young children. The first I recommend as an English teacher because I love the "big words." The second I recommend as a spiritual mentor because it translates the psychological and spiritual lessons from Dr. Wayne Dyer into situations just right for children.

“Book Talk” is also delighted to recommend two wonderful books for the small ones on your gift list. This retired English teacher is ecstatic about the new book for children (ages 4-8): Big Words for Little People by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, illustrator (Joanna Cotler Books, Harper Collins, 2008). Most people best know Jamie Lee Curtis as the actress daughter of actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Actually, this new and utterly delightful work is Curtis’ eighth book for children.

I love every page and every WORD of this book. Written in delightful rhymes reminiscent of Dr. Seuss, the author explores “big” words important to young children. She gives each word realistic contexts in children’s lives, accompanied by splashy and amusing illustrations by Laura Cornell. We find words like COOPERATE, RESPECT, PATIENCE, CONSIDERATE, INETLLIGENCE, RESPONSIBLE all presented in the most charming and entertaining ways imaginable. Using two big words from this book, I call it: “STUPENDOUS and SUPERB.”

Kids and parents will love this book.

* * * * *

Another book to note for children (Ages 4-10) is one by a phenomeNEWS favorite author, Dr. Wayne Dyer. Readers can read chapters from Dyer’s most recent books in each issue. It may come as a surprise, or not, to some that Dr. Dyer, father of eight and grandfather of five, has written some books for children. Unstoppable Me! 10 Ways to Soar Through Life is co-written by Dr. Wayne Dyer and Kristina Tracy with illustrations by Stacy Heller Budnick (Hay House, 2006).

Dyer notes that Unstoppable Me! Is based on his book for adults, What Do You Really Want for Your Children? Using rhymes, the book for children provides messages to help them approach life in positive ways. Lessons in the book include “the value of taking risks, dealing with stress and anxiety, and learning to enjoy each moment.”

Ever the teacher, Dyer presents at the end of the book a set of discussion questions relating to each of the “10 Ways to Soar Through Life.” These questions can be especially useful to parents and teachers who might read this book aloud to their children or group. After they read each lesson in rhyme and enjoying the pictures, the use of the questions encourages children to relate the lesson directly to their own circumstances and experiences.

This delightful book is entertaining, educational, and inspirational at the same time. Wayne Dyer fans will especially enjoy and relate to this special little book.

2009-03-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I have done any postings to my blog. I have decided to start posting some of my book discussions. For 14 years I wrote the column "Book Talk" for the publication phenomeNEWS. That lovely New Thought publication has stopped publishing after 26 or more years. I had intended the following discussion for the holiday issue that never published.

For the holiday issue of phenomeNEWS I like to discuss books appropriate as holiday gifts. This year we turn to the newest work from noted actor Sidney Poitier: Life Beyond Measure: Letters to my Great-Granddaughter (Harper One, 2008). Sidney Poitier’s books offer readers far more than the usual celebrity’s biography. Poitier, a deeply philosophical man, ponders serious questions about life, spiced with stories from his own life experiences. Written as letters to his great-granddaughter Ayele, currently two years old, this delightful book is appropriate for and would best serve both teens and adults.

Eight years ago in “Book Talk” we discussed and recommended Sidney Poitier’s first autobiographical book, The Measure of a Man: a Spiritual Autobiography (Harper Collins, 2000). Just last year Oprah included it as a recommended book for Oprah’s Book Club. We were happy to see it recognized once more for its exceptional content and thoughtful, literate writing. We can say the same for Sidney’s new book.

Still it is with some amazement that we read either of these fine works. As we are reminded by the author himself, Poitier was illiterate when he arrived in the U.S. from the Bahamas at age 15. One is touched to learn about the waiter who taught the hungry-for-knowledge youth how to read. Therefore, it is indeed amazing to read Sidney Poitier’s books and thereby experience his fluent, clear prose that demonstrates both a polished literacy, a deeply thoughtful mind, and a gift for story-telling.

The overall theme of Sidney’s new work should be clear. His intention is to share wisdom gained in eighty-two years of an exceptional and eventful life, hoping that what he shares about his life may be helpful to his beloved great-granddaughter. By putting his experiences into this book, many millions can benefit as well as we ponder his thoughts about a myriad of human experiences. Never pedantic, Poitier keeps readers interested by clarifying every piece of advice or wisdom with stories from his own life.

Whereas Poitier wrote this book for his great-granddaughter, it clearly can inspire all readers. One sees this in the author’s “Prologue” where he notes his work over many years on a book of essays. The scope of these essays form the discussions in this current book wherein he reveals the questions about life that he has been pondering for years. Sharing thoughts with his great-granddaughter was his first intention, but then he also decided “to share the contents with those of you [readers] who are searchers like me.”

Poitier divides his book into three parts, called “First Outdoorings,” “Expeditions,” and “Questions, Answers, and Mysteries.” That first section, “First Outdoorings” presents letters (chapters) that largely tell the story of Sidney Poitier’s early years. His theme here is that we are all products of our ancestors and the past. These pages are filled with delightful stories about Sidney’s family and childhood experiences. Perhaps most interesting is the story of a soothsayer who told Sidney’s mother that her prematurely born, three pound son would not only survive, but would “travel to most of the corners of the earth . . . walk with kings. . . [and] be rich and famous.” Such a prediction was unbelievable to the poor tomato farmer family from the small Bahama island called Cat Island. But of course, we all know that it came true.

Poitier’s description of the family’s move to the “big city” of the island of Nassau when he was about eleven years old is fascinating indeed. At that time Sidney had never seen an automobile, nor paved roads, nor ice cream or even ice itself. Everything was miraculously new to the boy. He had never seen his own face in a mirror or electric lights. All these new experiences influenced Sidney and his siblings in multiple ways. The author uses this opportunity “to observe how we all shape our lives and how situations that arise shape us.”

Describing himself as “a loner,” Sidney Poitier left home at age fifteen to find his place in the world—in the United States. His first stop was Florida where he experienced “the searing shock of racism, segregation, and the mistreatment of people on the basis of color alone.” He rather quickly moved with just a few dollars in his pocket to New York City where his first experience was “blood-freezing, bone-numbing” winter—something unknown in the Bahamas. Loners tend to be self-teachers and so it was for Sidney, who says he mostly lived “internally” and learned through observation. After a stint in the Army, he supported himself as a dishwasher and gradually worked his way into the field of acting.

The second part of Sidney Poitier’s book, “Expeditions,” focuses more directly on the major philosophical questions that he has pondered throughout his life. Each letter/chapter deals with important issues for Sidney, while at the same time he grounds the discussion in further stories from his life experiences. His first chapter here (letter 7) is about his beliefs about God, a huge topic indeed. Acknowledging his mother’s deep faith, he discloses his own meandering path to attempt to understand God. He says, “The closest I can come is a belief that there is an intelligence that does not manifest itself in a solid material or in a presence; it is much bigger than the universe itself, because if God is omniscient as He is supposed to be, the universe itself is one of His creations.” Moreover, Poitier says, “And that all-encompassing God is not just for some of us; that God is for all of us. It is not a God for one culture, or one religion, or one planet.”

Clearly, as readers ponder the statements above, they have to notice that Sidney Poitier is a deeply serious, philosophical person. This was underscored for me last summer when I watched Sidney Poitier being interviewed on the Larry King Live show on CNN. Larry King, obviously enjoying his interview with Sidney, asked him why he didn’t do more appearances and interviews on television. Sidney replied, “I can’t think or speak in sound bites!” Viewers could observe that when Larry King posed a question, Sidney would respond in thoughtful detail. Certainly one sees this in Life Beyond Measure—to our great joy!

The next few chapters (letters) deal with significant human issues, all told and enhanced with more fascinating autobiographical stories. Poitier tells his great-granddaughter how he struggled in the channel between “want” and “need.” That chapter is perfectly related to the situation of all of us who struggle in our present day consumer society. Another chapter tells how he learned to read and how to be responsible for his own choices. A beautiful chapter discusses love. Another deals with fear, doubt, and desperation and how he “danced with them all.”

In that same section of “Expeditions,” Poitier writes about addiction (smoking and gambling for him); bravery and cowardice, and close calls with disaster. In typical Poitier fashion, he names his “compulsions:” “a compulsion to read more and better understand the world around me; . . . to learn all that there is to learn that might make of me a better person—with better insights and a deeper understanding of myself and of my fellow human beings. Such has been a preoccupation of mine, a life goal . . . as far back as I can remember.” Such lines as these can be pure inspiration and a model for all of us.

In his final “Expeditions” chapter (letter 15) Poitier discusses “People of Courage,” his heroes and role models. They include Nelson Mandela, baseball’s Jackie Robinson, author James Baldwin, UN mediator Ralph Bunche, Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Jordan, Eleanor Roosevelt, Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack Obama. Poitier lovingly describes how his father, though “unlearned,” demonstrated the characteristics that he (Poitier) admires in his role models: “a sense of self, of character, of personal self-worth and kindness and hopefulness.”

The concluding third section of Life Beyond Measure deals with “Questions, Answers, and Mysteries.” Here the author discusses many of the issues we all deal with in life: searching for truths, dealing with others, turmoil in society, and trying to find a balance. Sidney reports how he struggles to create a “neutral zone.” He says, “I am working now to establish a neutral zone in my insides, using my consciousness to create a place to go into.” This is a place where “you’re not making judgments about what you see, hear, feel, or touch.”

In another chapter Poitier defines and discusses logic and reason and how survival requires the use of both. Given that our society today is so pervaded with emotional reactions, and often demonstrates a serious lack of reason, such a discussion benefits us all. Poitier identifies the enemies of logic and reason as “mass hysteria, hate, prejudice, and ignorance.”

Sidney Poitier also delivers philosophical, but entertaining, discussions about science and society, society’s propensity for war, power and control issues, the environment, faith, death, and the world as it currently is. All these chapters are brim with thoughtful explorations of the issues. Poitier says, “I was driven by a life that forced me to think for myself in the world that I had inherited.” His carefully thought out philosophy thereby becomes a gift not only to his great-granddaughter Ayele, but to all of us as well.

He says to Ayele (and us): “I hope to leave you some of the music that has played for me whenever I’ve put my ear to the mysteries of the universe that have never ceased to catch my attention.” His conclusion is: “The tools for meeting life head-on, as I see it, are acquired knowledge, belief, and hope. . . .The task is to learn as much as you can about as much as you can; the great disease of mankind is ignorance.” These words are especially pleasing to this retired teacher, your “Book Talk” writer.

Life Beyond Measure is a beautiful book to read at the holiday season. It can be a gift for others, or just a gift for yourself.

* * * * *

2008-10-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

October 10, 2008
It has been some time since I posted a new blog. I will be posting more as the days come.
Today I was thinking about my childhood and the Great Depression. That seems likely given that the stock market is falling drastically this past week. One website asked people to share their memories and current experiences. (Ireport). What the current news channels are focusing on primarily is making the banks safe. That seems so old-hat to me. Things have changed so much since people primarily put their savings in banks. When I was younger, that is what we did.
But then IRAs came along, and 401-K plans. Most of those require that one "invest." Therefore I would expect that most people's major savings today are not in banks, but rather in the market.
And what I am experiencing is a great loss in my hard-earned savings! Poof! They are quickly disappearing.
The Federal system that has repeatedly lowered interest earnings has encouraged people to invest in the market. One local bank in which I have a savings account only pays 1/2% interest. How does that encourage people to save in a bank? The inflation percentage is higher than that!

Therefore all the talk today about "protecting" people's savings in banks seems mostly wasted talk. No wonder that the citizens are anxious.

People my age do remember the Great Depression. I was a child, so my perspective was, of course, that of a child. People lost their homes because they lost their jobs. My parents lost their first home and we lived with my grandparents for 3 years. I recall as well Halloweens in those times. We didn't say "trick or treat" but rather "help the poor." Even during the WWII years, Halloween was rather sparse. Some families gave out homemade cookies, or occasionally apples. The best Halloween "treat" in my neighborhood was given out by the Czech couple that lived behind us. The man worked at Strough's Beer company, a company that also made ice cream bars. He would bring home a big box of ice cream bars packed in dry ice and give those out at Halloween. That was the best! What a treat!

I'll be getting back to this blog to discuss more important issues soon. Thanks to anybody who might read this.

2006-11-03T07:31:00.000-08:00

11/03/2006

WORLD VIEW-- 11

One Step Beyond

Earlier, I wrote about how it is difficult today to find agreement with others about all sorts of things. Indeed, that does seem to be a part of life today. Again, I reiterate that my entire discussion about world view is not intended to convince anyone to agree with me. I just hope it provides food for thought and encourages others to become more aware of the factors that influence their own behaviors and actions, and to grow in their ability to make free will choices based on both reason and love in their hearts.

Nevertheless, as a concluding chapter, I want to take note of a happy event that does take place in each of our lives--occasionally. That event is when we find another person who DOES agree with us. What fun! It is clearly a human trait to find joy in agreement. It doesn’t happen too often; so we do appreciate when it does. I want to include a couple examples of how this works.

When I was 18 years old, I was--even then--a serious thinker. Enrolled as a freshman at the University of Michigan, I took a course called “Great Books.” That course introduced me to the ideas and philosophy of Plato, the great Greek philosopher and teacher. Previous to this I had always felt much like an “outsider.” I knew no one who thought the kind of deep, philosophical, and (to even me) “weird” thoughts that I thought. But when I started to read Plato, I discovered that my thoughts were neither weird, nor were they just mine. I found most of my thoughts in Plato’s writings as well! What joy! I wasn’t alone in the world! That simple little experience lifted my soul and confidence to a considerable degree that carried me for years. I discovered “connections.“ I expect that many others find similar connections in various sources, philosophical or religious, or possibly even in self-help psychology.

Over the years I have found such connections in hundreds of books by hundreds of authors from the distant past as well as the present. This has continued to bring me great joy and encouragement. I intend to conclude this discussion with my most recent connection. I just completed reading a book by P.M.H. Atwater, a fascinating authority on death, near death, and the afterlife. I have read several of her works. This new one is called We Live Forever: The Real Truth About Death (A.R.E. Press, 2004). While I was reading this work, I was also working on my discussion of “world view.”

Here are some pertinent items I found in Atwater’s book. She said, “The real us is I AM; and what I AM everyone else is, for all of us are cells in the Greater Body, expressions of the One God. We are one with the One. Always and ever connected.” (39) She quotes from world scriptures that assure us that we are gods in the making: “I have said, You are gods; all of you are children of the most High” (Psalm 82:6); and “God becomes man in order that man might become God” (Bhagavad Gita).

Atwater expresses her belief system as follows. I find it is nearly identical with my belief system (or world view). “Oneness is the unity of all things within the reality of the One I call God. . . .Manyness is the diversity of ensoulment that God created . . . Littleness I consider to be you and I as personalities with an ego. I would also include dogs and cats, trees, boulders, and all created things, for each is an entity of purpose and potential.”
(So I could say that THIS is my current belief system, based on all previous experiences, studies, and insights.
I do like the way she says it.)

She summarizes:
“Oneness--unifying factor, the central source of the central vision; God.
Manyness--extensions from the central source charged with the outworking of the greater plan; souls.
Littleness--expressions of the greater plan; the myriad forms of entities that enable God to experience Itself as Itself through the process of individuation, of birth and death, beginnings and endings; individuals.”

Given that I taught Myths of the World for twenty years, and that the Hopi myths always intrigued me especially, I was also touched by Atwater’s comment about the Hopi. “In the Hopi language, the word family translates “to breathe together.” Humankind to the Hopi is a single unit with all people members of the same whole, the same oneness. Science essentially tells us the same thing: We come from a common ancestry, we are relations, we are one.” (This, too, is my personal spiritual belief.)

[By the way, “Hopi” means peace.”]

So I conclude (at least temporarily on this subject) by wishing everyone “peace.”

May God bless us all.

Namaste. (A Hindu expression that says: I honor the God in you and the God in me).

2006-11-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

11-03-2006

WORLD VIEW - 10

How we learn and grow: Inner Seasons (a sonnet)

“Sonnet of the Inner Seasons”

The winds of autumn twist and tear the leaves
From trees, once green, now nipped by frost and cold.
The gusty blasts just toss them as they please
In heaps of soggy masses of burnt gold.
The trees then stand in naked, lone despair
Like stark and lonely hermits in the world.
It’s just the roots of inner strength, now bare,
That last till spring when life is next unfurled.
Just so, the winds of life do twist and tear
Our shreds of dignity and our disguise.
Life tumbles every man around and round.
It rips our Being bare--yet we grow wise,
Retreating into inner soul today
To gather strength to love another day.

Gayl (1985)

2006-11-03T07:26:00.000-08:00

11-03-2006

WORLD VIEW - 9

Personality Factors

In one sense I feel I have returned to the topic of my first blog (Sept. 25) that discussed why we disagree with each other so often. We just can’t leave out the personality factor in our discussion of world view. Clearly, each individual born into physical life is a unique expression of life. Any parent can confirm that even within a few days of birth, a child starts to express a particular personality. Even the discipline of psychology, which once favored the “blank slate” approach to development, now acknowledges that certain innate qualities are apparent in each person.

Take the qualities of pessimism or optimism. Some people just seem to be born with a tendency to one or the other. Admittedly, others do develop those traits due to life experiences. Whatever the case, a negative or positive outlook or attitude toward life, the world, and even God, does affect one’s “world view.”
One could add multiple other factors that affect one’s attitudes, such as a tendency toward introversion or extroversion. The latter two traits often affect how a person applies or manifests his/her belief system. The extrovert finds it easier to reach out to others, whereas the introvert has to work hard to get the courage to do the same. Both, however, are fully capable, in their own ways, of applying a positive world view to their lives. (In general, for those who are curious, I am, I think, an optimistic introvert!)

Many people are confused about their “life purpose” or “divine mission” as it is sometimes called. They don’t have much self-confidence, and tend to believe that they are “unimportant” in the scheme of things. One major task of all spiritual mentors and teachers is to try to get the message across to each and all that every human being is important, each is a gift to the world, each has gifts and talents to share with others. The Bible itself has that wonderful parable about talents. We are not meant to hide or bury our “talents.” The problem for many people is that they don’t recognize their own talents, or they think they are too insignificant to share. Unfortunately in today’s society, the word “talent” has often been misinterpreted to mean some unusual skill in the arts or sports. It is important for spiritual mentors to help individuals see that kindness, generosity, or even a lovely smile is a talent to be shared with others.

There are, without doubt, reasons for each of us to be on Earth at this time.
It is also time for all of us to wake up to that fact.

2006-11-02T10:53:00.000-08:00

11-02-2006

WORLD VIEW - 8

The Mysterious Subject of Consciousness

I didn’t intend originally to write a chapter about “consciousness,” primarily because of its complex difficulty as a subject. Indeed, it has been the subject of entire books by esoteric teachers, psychiatrists, psychologists, philosophers, and most recently, quantum physicists and neurophysiologists. (See list at the end of this section as well as “World View 6 - Recommended Readings). It is therefore far more than anyone could summarize in a brief discussion.

Nevertheless, I feel compelled to note a few points that relate to previous discussions, especially in reference to the “holographic universe.” If we peruse the many current studies referenced in the “recommended readings,” we shall find repeated studies of consciousness. That seems strange at first, but the far-reaching studies of these current scientists working at the very frontiers of science, all seem to move us toward the same conclusions, or at least speculative theories.

In The Field, Lynn McTaggart summarizes this point. She notes that theoretical biophysicist Fritz-Albert Popp drew the conclusion that “Consciousness was a global phenomenon that occurred everywhere in the body, and not simply in our brains. Consciousness, at its most basic, was coherent light.”

Then Edgar Mitchell, former Astronaut and founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, realized that a number of scientists--Puthoff, Popp, Beneviste, and Pribram--although working independently, had in effect developed “a unified theory of mind and matter.”

These “unified theory” studies have led to the hypothesis that “consciousness is likely to infuse all things in the cosmos, that it is just as fundamental as energy” (Laszlo, 2006). Whereas these scientists are seldom pressed to use the word “God,” the implication is there. Moreover, they suggest that this consciousness is expanding. Laszlo says, “The thesis [is] that the roots and potentials of the kind of consciousness I experience are inherent in every particle and every atom in the cosmos. It is the thesis that consciousness evolves: it takes on complex forms in complex systems.”

Now, if we can somewhat comprehend these statements and then recall the “nonlocality” theories of quantum physics, we now have at least a tentative explanation and confirmation of not only an omnipresent (non-local)God, but also an omniscient (all-knowing) God. In a commentary chapter in Laszlo’s book, Peter Russell, theoretical physicist and psychologist, notes, “If our own essence is divine, and the essence of consciousness is to be found in everything, everywhere, then everything is divine.” I agree with his additional comment that this understanding “raises my level of awe for the world in which I live.”

In the same book, Johannes Witteveen, a Dutch Professor of Economics and life-long student of universal Sufism, notes: “One of the most profound and fascinating developments in present day thinking [is] the reconciliation of science and spirituality.” He points out how the Sufi vision of creation comes close to the current understanding of quantum physics. “God is not a separate higher being but the all-pervading spirit that works in all elements, all atoms, plants, and beings of the cosmos, giving them energy, light, and direction.”

All of these new theories provide much for us to ponder. What would it mean to all humanity if ultimately we all came to realize our Oneness? In his introduction to The Self-Aware Universe: How Consciousness Creates the Material World, Amit Goswani, Ph.D., proposes that “We can develop a science that embraces the religions of the world, working in concert with them to understand the whole human condition.” This possibility is, for me, highly inspiring. I envision the paradigm of the future being an integration of science and spirituality, wherein the two large disciplines are no longer antagonists, but rather loving companions walking the same idealistic path.

As McTaggart emphasizes, “Far from destroying God, science for the first time [is] proving His existence . . . . There need no longer be two truths, the truth of science and the truth of religion. There could be one unified vision of the world.”

Additional suggested resources:
Annie Besant. A Study in Consciousness. (Theosophical Publishing House, 1938). An esoteric, psychological, theosophical approach to the subject.

Richard Maurice Bucke, M.D. Cosmic Consciousness. (E. P. Dutton, 1901). A classic study of the evolution of the human mind. (One of my favorite all time books).

Julian Jaynes. The Origin of Consciousness in the Break-Down of the Bicameral Mind. (Houghton Mifflin, 1976). A revolutionary psychological discussion. Very different and another favorite of mine.

Rudolf Steiner. The Evolution of Consciousness. (Rudolf Steiner Press, 1979). Lectures from anthroposophist, Steiner--very deep and esoteric.

Ken Wilbur. The Spectrum of Consciousness. (Theosophical Publishing House, 1977). Philosopher Wilbur compares views of consciousness from Christianity, Hinduism, Gestalt therapy, and classic philosophy.

2006-11-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

11/01/2006

WORLD VIEW - 7

Further Discussion and Implications

Before we move on to the implications of these new quantum theories, let’s look at one more. Karl Pribram, Stanford neophysiologist, working independently in the field of brain research, came to the same conclusions as physicist David Bohm: the holographic nature of reality. From his work Pribram believes “the brain is itself a hologram.” For example, “one of the most amazing things about the human thinking process is that every piece of information seems instantly cross-correlated with every other piece of information--another feature intrinsic to the hologram.” Constantly, one after another of the various research studies going on today seem to build up evidence of the Oneness of the Universe--”a universe in which individual brains are actually indivisible portions of the greater hologram and everything is infinitely interconnected.”

Surely some of the implications of all of this must start to register with us. And the concepts provide concrete models for our behavior, models that likewise reinforce all the significant and basic teachings of the major religions of the world. I wonder if people know, for example, that all the major religions of the world have the Golden Rule--to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Obviously, all great teachings provide guidance for how we should best behave. But consider the implications IF indeed each individual alive on Earth, each animal, each plant, each mineral, every single atom is a part of the “superhologram” of the Universe! Consider: if we are each an atom, a cell in the “body” of the All That Is--Divine Spirit--God--(whatever term you choose to use, even “Universe“ if you prefer a non-religious word), shouldn’t we be behaving on a much higher level than what we can observe in the world today?

Consider the human body itself. We could actually use it as a perfect model for proper behavior. Think about all the various cells in the body. We have brain cells, blood cells, skin cells, bone cells, muscle cells, lymph cells, and various other cells, all of which optimally communicate with each other instantaneously via electric impulses. When the body is in good health, that is, in balance and acting cooperatively, all the cells support each other, move quickly to correct imbalances (homeostasis), and fully cooperate to support the entire system.
We could say that each cell cooperates with unconditional love and support for every other cell. In the meantime, in any minute, hour, or day, millions of cells die and millions more are born and without difficulty, continue to work together supportively. Whenever the cells get “confused” or “uncooperative,” the body suffers from “dis-ease” and may or may not survive.

Is this a grand model for human behavior, or what? And isn’t it ironic, and tragic, that human beings act quite the opposite to each other in many ways. Instead of cooperating with each other and being supportive and communicative, and spreading unconditional love (as taught by Jesus, Buddha, and other great teachers), we see humans spreading hate, intolerance, competition, antagonism, and emphasizing differences instead of shared values and experiences. But if we only pay attention, the human body can demonstrate how to live life in loving, positive ways in order to honor “the God within.”

As we look back to the original discussion about “World View” we are reminded that any world view, whether it is this one that I relate to, or one quite different, that world view is always the basis for how we live. Where are we going? What is good, moral, ethical? What is our purpose for being? How can I know what is the best way to behave?

In other words, a world view is largely irrelevant if it doesn’t provide some means of guidance for getting along in the world. It doesn’t do us much good if it doesn’t guide us to honor the All That Is and ourselves as well. This thought leads directly to the great commandment taught by Jesus: “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. [And] You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22: 37-39). Another version is: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12). For me these words are completely understandable when I realize that each individual life (whether human, animal, plant, mineral) is a cell in the super hologram we call God (or for scientists, the “holographic universe”). God is present in everything. We are present in God. We are meant to live in such a way as to respect and honor that.

To reiterate, a world view is always the framework beneath an individual’s way of living. What we see when we look around us is that a great majority of people either don’t know what is driving them to live the way they do, or they think they have a belief frame work that guides them, but so often we don’t see them living that belief in their daily life. In the current cliche, they don’t “walk their talk.”

That is one reason why I wanted to write out this discussion. It is absolutely NOT intended to convince anyone to believe what I believe, or to accept my world view as their framework. It is intended to open a discussion, to open some minds, so that others might self-examine their own world view, and to really do some soul-searching to see if they are indeed, living the life their world view inspires. This may or may not include religious beliefs. It may also surprise some readers to learn that so many serious seekers in many different areas of study and research are pondering the big questions that only religion dealt with in the immediate past.

2006-11-01T12:57:00.000-08:00

11/01/2006

WORLD VIEW - 6

A Brief Respite - and Recommended Readings

As a teacher and eternal reader of books, I want to take a short break from our “heavy” discussions and note some significant sources for exploring some of the concepts and theories I have just introduced in previous “chapters.” This section is largely a recommended reading (or viewing) list of sources that have been useful or enlightening to me.

An organization that both supports and organizes explorations into the “frontiers of consciousness” is the Institute of Noetic Sciences, founded by former astronaut, Dr. Stephen Mitchell., Ph.D. IONS “explores the frontiers of consciousness to advance individual, social, and global transformation.” Their focus “includes emerging paradigms, extended human capacities, and integral health and healing.”

The film What the Bleep Do We Know!? is a trip in and of itself. A new “Quantum Edition” contains 3 CDs with multiple interviews with many of the world’s top physicists, engineers, biologists, and mystics.

A few of my favorite books on the subjects:

Norman Friedman, Bridging Science and Spirit: Common Elements in David Bohm’s Physics, The Perennial Philosophy and Seth (Living Lake Books, 1990, 1997).
Amit Goswami, Ph.D. The Self-Aware Universe: How Consciousness creates the material world, (Penguin Putnam, 1993).
Ervin Laszlo, Science and the Reenchantment of the Cosmos (Inner Traditions, 2006).
Lynne McTaggart. The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe (Harper Collins, 2002). Note: This is a personal favorite of mine.
McTaggart has reader groups all over the world.
Dean Radin. Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality (Pocket Books, 2006).
Fred Alan Wolf, Ph.D. Mind into Matter: A New Alchemy of Science and Spirit (Moment Point Press, 2001).

2006-10-31T07:06:00.000-08:00

October 31, 2006

WORLD VIEW - 5

A Poetic Approach: The Macrocosmic Molecule

The organization of Life
Is so precise--
So beautiful,
So perfect the Plan:
The solar atom
Macrocosmic,
Is the home for man.

The Sun is the nucleus--
Protons positive,
Controlling the unit of One:
The planets, electrons--
Negative orbits,
Balancing the Sun.

The solar atom
Blends in the galaxy
Composite--
These macrocosmic molecules
Forming the element of
Being--
Universe.

Gayl (1969)

2006-10-30T07:16:00.000-08:00

October 30, 2006

WORLD VIEW - 4

THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE

This discussion will be relatively “difficult.” Clearly, some will wonder how this could possibly relate to a “world view.” I can sympathize, and assure you that indeed, it is not necessarily related to anyone’s world view--except mine. What I am trying to do with these discussions is to point out the kind of factors that contribute to a person’s world view. By seeing what influences someone else, each person could expand the perspective for viewing his/her own views, and hopefully to better understand all contributing factors.

[Note: the following summary of information on the holographic qualities of the universe and relevant quotations come from “The Universe as a Hologram” by Michael Talbot, available at various websites on the Internet. See http://homepages.ihug.co.nz.]

In 1982 a French physicist, Alain Aspect and his team “discovered that under certain circumstances subatomic particles such as electrons are able to instantaneously communicate with each other regardless of the distance separating them. It doesn’t matter whether they are 10 feet or 10 billion miles apart.” This relates to what quantum physicists call “non-locality.” This concept and other quantum physics theories were depicted recently in the film entitled What the Bleep Do We Know? This film was puzzling to many, but highly interesting to others to the extent that currently over 75 study groups have developed around the world to explore and discuss the concepts presented in that film. This concept of “non-locality” has possible significant spiritual implications. If we think of God as the “All That Is”--the conscious holographic universe-- then the religious idea of an omnipresent God makes complete sense.

Then University of London physicist David Bohm, along with other theories he developed, such as his “implicate order,” came to believe that the universe is “a gigantic and splendidly detailed hologram.” Just what does that imply? I am unable to clearly explain how a hologram works, but most of us have experienced holograms, and there is one basic principle that is vital to our discussion. In general, a hologram is a three-dimensional image created by the use of laser beams. Anyone who has been to the Haunted House at Disney World has seen the holographic “see-through” images dancing like three-dimensional “ghosts.” That is fun, indeed. But the point is that if a holographic image is divided, each tiny snippet will always contain an intact version of the entire original image. In other words, “every part of a hologram contains all the information possessed by the whole.”

Now, stay with me on this. Next I need to use an analogy that keeps turning up in books by many different spiritual, and sometimes scientific writers. The analogy uses the human body and its cellular construction to makes its point. Let’s hypothesize that each human being, including the physical body and the soul are a “cell” in the body of “God.” Now we take the analogy in the opposite direction. What do we know about the cells in our body? Medical science seems to be telling us that DNA in each and every cell contains the entire “blueprint” for our body. In other words, our cellular structure acts much like the holographic image. Even the very smallest part contains the pattern for the whole. Now, if the cells contain the blueprint for the “whole,” what can we imagine if we consider each individual human being as a “cell” in the body of God? Once again, the spiritual implications are significant. Did not Jesus tell his disciples to seek the kingdom of God “within”? Hold this idea as you continue to read the following paragraphs.

Given the new theories from quantum physics that the Universe (GOD) is a hologram, then each part of the universe, down to its smallest part (sub-atomic particles) contains the “whole.” David Bohm argues, moreover, that “at some deeper level of reality such particles are not individual entities, but are actually extensions of the same fundamental something.” To take the argument further, this means that “at a deeper level of reality all things in the universe are infinitely interconnected.” We will come back to tying all these things together as we progress through our discussions. But meantime, try to just follow the gist of the main points here. Clearly, this all has metaphysical, spiritual implications. For example, if everything in the universe, down to the smallest particle (sub-atomic) is part of a holographic universe, we could theorize that the “superhologram” is the “matrix that has given birth to everything in our universe.” Now we are getting into theories of creation and God that are very different from what science has postulated in previous centuries, and a scientific way of stating something quite similar to the Bible's creation story.

All of the discoveries of quantum physics offer multiple potentialities that help me comprehend (to at least a small degree) the great mysteries of the universe. Many people are able to just accept these mysteries on faith. Admittedly, we all have to do that to some extent. Even the Dalai Lama, a very spiritually oriented individual, has written that we just have to accept that there are many things in the world that we can never understand.

Nevertheless, for me and for some other people, these new insights make significant connections for us that supplement our belief systems, our “faith,” in ways that confirm, expand, or support various teachings. Ultimately, one’s belief system is just the underlying framework that structures how we live our lives.
After all, the Bible also says, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Therefore, the ultimate goal is to live in such a way as to express one’s beliefs, or world view, in the most positive way possible. So our next goal is to make connections between all this “scientific” data and how that could affect how we live and how we treat others.

[My apology to readers if all or some of the above discussion is hard to follow or feels “incomplete.” It is important to remember that entire books have been written on the subjects. I am trying here to summarize them as simply as possible.]

Other references for this topic:
The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot (Harper Collins, 1991).
Holographic Paradigm by Ken Wilbur, Ph.D. (1982)

2006-10-29T07:21:00.000-08:00

October 29, 2006

WORLD VIEW - 3

A Pair of Dimes (Paradigm)?

Seldom do I find a person who understands the word, “paradigm.” Actually, its usage has changed in recent years. Originally the term meant “a pattern or model, an examplar,” and that is what you will find in a dictionary. One of its original uses was in science to define the model for any particular experiment. Then in the second half of the 20th century, various scientists and social scientists began to use the term to refer to what we have been defining as “world view.” T.S. Kuhn (1970) defined a paradigm as: “an entire constellation of beliefs, values and techniques shared by the members of a given community.” In effect, it is a kind of “view of reality.” Social scientists in particular began to speak of “paradigm shifts.” To understand this, we need to look at such paradigms and how shifts have taken place in the past, and possibly may be taking place in the present time. [Information here comes from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia on the internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradigm].

Let’s take a very brief look at history and at some of the dominant paradigms at various times. A “dominant paradigm” means “the values, or system of thought in a society that are most standard and widely held at a given time.” Prior to the development of Christianity, the Western world was a kind of “mixed bag”. Since in those distant years, there was little communication, most people were illiterate, and opinions were largely scattered and more limited in scope than today. Some influences at the time, especially in the Mediterranean area, were Greek philosophy and then Roman power. Whoever was either in power or doing the teaching tended to influence how local people thought.

When the Christian Church developed and gained considerable power in Western Europe, the Church and its theology largely directed the thought and opinions of the people in the area. For most of those years the average person couldn’t read, and therefore was dependant on priests and scholars of the church who told them what to think about the Bible, God, and the world. Even most of the ruling heads of Europe were under the control and auspices of the Church. Therefore the paradigm at that time was centered on God and the teachings in the Bible as interpreted by the Roman Church. There were no other options, for any disagreement at the time brought the label of “heretic” and the threat of torture or death.

A paradigm shift involves “a new way of thinking about old problems.” (Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Conspiracy, 1980). A shift, or transition in thinking about the world occurred around the time we now call the Renaissance. The word means “re-birth” and it was a re-birth of some of the older ideas from Greece and Rome. Plato and Aristotle’s philosophies became a part of the education of at least upper class students. The arts and architecture of earlier periods were examined, appreciated, and copied. New technology, such as the printing press, made it possible for greater numbers of people to learn to read.
The fact that many more people could read the Bible themselves contributed to the revolution called the Reformation, the time of Martin Luther. Protestantism challenged the former total power of the Catholic Church.

Ultimately in paradigm shifts, some blending or synthesis of earlier ideas takes place, and certainly various new perspectives about life, spirituality, government, evolve. At this very same time (1500-1600) the New World was discovered and explored. And we see the beginnings of modern science with Galileo, Copernicus, Isaac Newton, and Rene Descartes leading to new thoughts about the world and its reality. Somewhere around 1600 historians report the big shift to a scientific view, based on Newton’s description of the world as based on mechanical forces. This new paradigm, sometimes described as a “clockwork universe,” prevailed until the 20th century.

In other words, although most people still include a spiritual perspective within their world view, guided by whatever religious training they may have received, the predominant model of the world since 1600 has been largely “controlled” by the scientific community. People in general, especially in secular education, looked to science for the answers to how the world was created, and what we are expected to do within it. The mechanistic model is still apparent in many modern aspects of life, especially our medical model. For example, allopathic medicine, by definition, treats illnesses by focusing on symptoms. That is, the body is thought of as a machine. You go to the doctor to get “fixed,” much as you take your car to the auto repair shop.

Many writers today--social scientists, frontier edge scientists such as quantum physicists, and spiritual teachers--propose that we are in another transition period, moving toward another paradigm shift. One can easily observe this new trend in medicine with the growing interest in and support for what is called Integrative Medicine. Simple research will confirm that most major medical schools are now including integrative medical courses in their curriculum. Different in philosophy from allopathic medicine, integrative medicine views the patient holistically, as a combination of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual being. Traditional medical schools fought this new idea for awhile, but many today, from Johns Hopkins to the University of Michigan to UCLA Medical schools and Duke University are encouraging the exploration of these new models (literally paradigms) of medicine. In other words, in medicine today we can see the “shift” towards some new perspectives, new opinions, new approaches to healing.

For the hard sciences, Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity “formed a new paradigm that superseded Newton’s physics.” Even more rapidly, the growing science of quantum physics is moving us into the new paradigm. Research and studies by Alain Aspect, David Bohm, and Karl Pribram, among many others, are discovering new aspects of reality that can drastically change many people’s world view. At least, it can affect that change when and if people learn and assimilate this new information. For me it has been highly significant and has clearly expanded my world view. We’ll get to that later. First we have to discuss “The Universe as a Hologram.”

2006-10-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

October 28, 2006

WORLD VIEW - 2

HOW DOES ONE DEVELOP A WORLD VIEW?

Obviously, each person’s world view, conscious or unconscious, develops very slowly over a lifetime and has multiple influences. Let’s look at the influences as if we are examining a large onion. The outer rings of the onion will represent the big, general influences that are likely to be similar for all others born at the same time and place as the individual. As we go deeper into the center core of the onion, we will see the possible variables that make each of us unique.

Much of a person’s world view is somewhat accidental to the extent that portions of that world view depend on when and where one is born. Let’s look at some large generalities, analogous to the outer skin of an onion. We have all heard of the differences between the “Western world” and the “Eastern world”. The philosophies of the two demonstrate notable differences. But even such a division is variable and open to change over the centuries. At one time the Western world referred largely to Western Europe. But after the discovery and development of the Western Hemisphere, the “Western world” grew to include all of North America and South America, and then Australia and New Zealand. It is important to remember the paradox that change is constant!

Even within the “Western world”--a world highly influenced by the Judaic-Christian religions--one finds shades of differences and variables from country to country, often patriotic in nature, sometimes geographic, sometimes historical. The general “world view” of a German is not exactly that of a Frenchman or a Brit or an Italian. The American “world view” will differ from that of a European, as will that of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. Besides a commonality of religious traditions, the factor of attitudes toward government shades the views in each of these areas of the world.

Therefore it is obvious that any individual’s worldview is shaped by the century or even decade in which he is born, the culture of the country or even the part of the country in which he is born [consider the different attitudes in New England, the Midwest, Deep South, and Far West of the U.S.], and certainly his family upbringing.

A person’s view of the world begins with the nuclear family. Does the child feel loved and safe? Or threatened and rejected? Is the child taught, or indoctrinated in a specific belief system? Or is he encouraged to think independently? In the past, even the immediate past, a family’s values were fairly easily transferred to the child. Currently, however, it isn’t so simple. Children are exposed to multiple values and mores (some clearly not beneficial) via television, video games, computers, peers, and general pop culture. Still, “whoever most controls a child’s early environment will likely be most influential in contributing to the development of the child’s worldview.” Some families, especially those with strong, fundamental belief systems, want the child to keep those values and worldviews for their entire lifetime. That is not easy to accomplish these days.

The fact remains, however, that the adult’s worldview may, but often does not, remain consistent. As one matures, even more factors influence one’s worldview. The further one proceeds with education, the greater his exposure to new ways of thinking. Travel exposes one to new experiences and different cultures. Even moving to another part of the country brings in subtle new attitudes toward life and the world. Clearly, personal life experiences often contribute great alterations of one’s outlook on life. This can come from economic situations, new relationships, parenthood, tragic losses, illnesses and other personal situations, or even life-time learning. All such factors contribute to a person’s perspective about the world and humanity’s place in it. All of these factors have certainly contributed to my world view.

And as for remaining consistent, I am always reminded of a quotation originating from famed American author, the Transcendental philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson: “A foolish consistency is the hob-goblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.” Clearly, Emerson believes that as we learn and grow, we are expected to evolve in various ways.

Next, we shall examine a fairly recent term for a scientific view of the world, a term that has expanded in meaning and connotation to include “world view.”

2006-10-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

10/27/06

WORLD VIEW - 1

What the heck is a “world view”?

Before I proceed into some serious definitions and explanations, first a little humor. I must share some images that have popped into my head. I can’t help but imagine one of the late night comics (LNC) going out into the big city and asking the “man on the street” (MOTS) the question: “What is your world view?” The following imaginary dialogue has provided me with some late night chuckles.

LNC: Hello there! We are asking folks tonight about “world views.” What is your world view?

MOTS #1: Gee, I don’t have one. My apartment only has one window, and it overlooks an alley!

MOTS #2: Does that have something to do with the UN?

MOTS #3: I don’t think I have a world view. I think that photograph of the Earth from outer space is pretty neat, though. I do have a photo of the Grand Canyon in my den.

MOTS #4: I’m just too busy to do any world viewing! I’m plenty stressed just with the price of gasoline. What do you expect from a low-paid worker?

Well, do you get the picture? Except for serious academics and deep thinkers, the average person just doesn’t think about world views. In fact, my old unabridged dictionary (1966) doesn’t even list the term. Still, as I said before, everybody has a world view. They just don’t know that they do. Therefore, we need to clarify just what a world view is, how we develop that view, and how it relates to our thinking, our behaviors, and our attitudes toward life. So now we will get serious.

The internet is a place where one can find discussions about world view, along with discussions about any possible topic one can think of. When I use material in any discussion in my blogs, I will always try to cite the source. Since I often like the way someone else states something, I will sometimes quote them. My first source is an article called “What is a world view?” (http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/WORLVIEW.html) Their explanation is simple and clear. They explain that a “world view” is a kind of “framework,” a kind of personal structure that “ties everything together, that allows us to understand society, the world, and our place in it.” This kind of inner thought-structure usually “synthesizes the wisdom gathered in the different scientific disciplines, philosophies and religions.”

When we think about this definition, we start to comprehend the complexity of what a world view is and why it is so difficult for nearly all of us to articulate our own world view. I am discovering that nearly everything I write in my blog is inter-related in some way. We could refer back to the blog (See Sept. 25) relating to why each of us is unique. Many of the factors discussed there relate directly to individual world views. Each person’s life experiences contain multiple components. The majority of those components are internalized largely subconsciously over one’s lifetime. Seldom do we bring them out into conscious awareness in order to delineate them and to write them down.

Let’s look at some other definitions and sources. Another website presents an interesting discussion of the topic: “What is a worldview?” (http://www.teachingaboutreligion.org/WorldviewDiversity) This site offers two definitions, apparently from a more recent dictionary than mine: “The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world,” and “A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or a group.” This site notes that a worldview can be “religious or nonreligious,” and it is a personal insight about reality that is often called a “life understanding.” What does this include? “The personal insight comprising a worldview will encompass notions of the existence or nonexistence of the supernatural and a deity or deities; the origins of the universe and of human life; the source of morality and values; identification of what is good or evil; how to live one’s life; and the meaning of life and of death.” Do we all start to see why I say this concept is a complex one? How can anyone state her world view in a few sentences? I don’t find that possible; at least, for me it is impossible. I will admit, however, that persons raised from childhood with strict fundamental religious beliefs might be able to recite the “world view” from their particular religious theology. It’s certainly true that it is simpler to recite an indoctrinated belief than to develop one largely by oneself. There is no judgment implied here; just an observation.

2006-10-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

WORLD VIEW - An Introduction

Recently a friend asked me to discuss my “World View.” I found that a surprising request. It just seems to me that in all my experience as a teacher, writer, and facilitator of discussions, I have never heard anyone speak of his/her “world view.” In fact, I rather think that most people don’t have any idea what a “world view” is. By that statement I am not accusing anyone of being stupid. What I understand about world views leads me to think that while everyone actually has a world view, for most of us it is quite buried, either in our subconscious or unconscious mind. This makes it very difficult to actually state it in so many worlds. Still we all function in the world based on that very world view.

Therefore, since I function both as writer and teacher, it is important for me to attempt to write about “world view” with the intention of both clarifying my own view as well as acting as a clarifier of the idea for anyone who might stumble onto this blog site. I always hope to both inform and inspire.

In my judgment, a world view is a very complex entity indeed. All sorts of factors contribute to its totality. For most people it may not be important to identify those contributing factors; as for me, I like to recognize all the factors and conditions that have led to the present “me.” I hope that through the various discussions to follow, others may find insights from which to gain better self understanding as well. It is always a matter of free will and choice. One can practice being the objective observer of oneself; or just go with the flow, as they say.

2006-10-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

October 17, 2006

INTENTION FOR THIS BLOG

I am working on several ideas to explore in this blog. Should anyone ever read my blog, I hope they know that my intention is to inform and inspire. Therefore, don't expect to find some rapid message every day. I tend to write about serious philosophical things and issues that I would like to explore. I will avoid politics (hopefully). I also hope to include sources and recommended reading for others who wish to explore a particular thought or issue.

Watch this space! I shall return here soon with some discussion on a pertinent subject.

2006-10-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

October 2, 2006
Peace in the Heart

Every time I need to work on peace in my heart I end up turning to the Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

This simple little prayer is the most practical tool I know for coping with everyday life.
Today, I'd like to discuss how it works.

"To accept the things I cannot change"---
What are those things exactly? Let's face it, those things are everything in our life "out there."
That involves all other people in our lives, in fact all other people on the planet or who have been on the planet.
That involves all circumstances: health issues, family issues, community issues, poliltical issues, world issues.
Reality tells us that all things outside our very being are NOT things in our control. This is a problem for most of us. I swear that everybody I know or meet has "control issues." The more education we have, the more understanding we have, the more we "want" to control our lives. Most of us spend our entire lives struggling to control things that are, in fact, not under our control. This creates great dissatisfaction and frustration in most of us.

If, on the other hand, we pay attention to this first line of the Serenity Prayer and work to try to apply it in our lives, we gradually recognize all the things we cannot control. Then we can choose to ACCEPT that fact, and deal with it! This leads us to step two, the second line of the Serenity Prayer.

"To change the things I can"--
Now, exactly what is it that we CAN change? The answer first must be that we can only change those things NOT outside of ourself. So we can work on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual things that are uniquely a part of us. Physically, we can't change the basics of our physical being, such as DNA, genetic traits, height and eye color. But we can actively promote and support our well being with proper diet, exercise, and all steps that help us maintain our physical vehicle (called the Body Temple by Edgar Cayce). Emotionally, the work is harder. Human beings tend to "react" to outside influences in emotional ways. More and more we learn that emotional reactions often lead to physical pain. So if we want to "feel good" we need to become more aware of our emotional reactions, and over-reactions. Use of the Serenity Prayer can help.

One of the biggest changes that each of us can make involves mental processes. We can, by choice and practice and discipline, change the way we THINK about things. Often this is discussed as "attitude changes." Attitude, as they say, is everything. As we THINK, so we FEEL. We can prove this to ourselves very quickly. If we think about something sad, like losing a pet or a dear friend, we can immediately "feel" emotional and physical reactions. We "feel" the sadness or grief, and our throat closes and feels raw, and tears form in our eyes. This happens so immediately, it can surprise us.

Given these examples, we can decide to intentionally pay attention to our thoughts and choose to think in positive, loving, peaceful, calm ways. Admittedly, this isn't easy to do. Meditation and prayer help. Intention helps. Practice always helps. Everybody knows in one way or another that anything we need to become skilled at requires lots of practice. Consider how that works for musicians and athletes!

Finally, we look at the last line of the Serenity Prayer.
"The wisdom to know the difference"--

This takes paying a lot of attention to what is going on both outside of us and inside of us. It means staying awake and aware to our thoughts, feelings, and responses. It means spending some time learning more and more about what it means to be human. It means learning about the difficult topic of "consciousness." Human beings are so much more than most of us realize. We can gain inspiration from our great role models.

For me, a special role model is the Dalai Lama. I have read numerous books both by him and about him.
From his many years of study, meditation, and discipline he can be both completely compassionate to each human being he meets, while at the same time completely "detached." I spent years trying to understand the concept of "detachment." For so many, and for myself for some time, it felt like being cold and remote from others. But it isn't that at all. The Dalai Lama practices, with genuine unconditional love, total attention to each person he meets. This compassion comes directly from his heart, and is a major goal of Buddhism. When that person leaves his presence, the Dalai Lama releases any attachment to that person, that person's problems or concerns. There is no judgment, and no emotional connection. He gives love; then let's the person go. Literally, he is practicing the Serenity Prayer. He has no control over that person or that person's life. He can, however, offer that person total acceptance, compassion, and unconditional love. And since he is wise, he knows the difference between the two. Bible students will find this same message in the teachings of Jesus.

So, there we have it--the lesson for today.
Accept WHAT IS.
Do the best you can. Be aware of attitudes.
Be aware of the difference. Grow in wisdom.

Namaste.

2006-09-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sept. 30
Do the ends ever justify the means?
My heart aches for my beautiful country. Each day I see the U.S. government, from the administration to the Congress, acting against the values this country has always stood for--justice, humaneness, rights for all, etc.--and justifying those actions with the old argument that it is O.K. to do something not quite right if the end result is O.K.
Where is the moral basis for this belief? And why is our country encouraging fear on a daily basis? Does no one remember the famous quotation: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself!"?

Is it O.K. to kill many people around the world to supposedly make America safer? Is it O.K. to ignore the suffering of people in other countries because they are not "like us"? Is it O.K. to send our beautiful young people to fight a war originating in lies, and just as bad, maiming many, many more. The media seldom lets us see the horrific wounds suffered by our dear military young people.

The Congress this week passed a bill that eliminates most human rights from certain prisoners in the custody of our government. It also allows what many of us would see as torture to be used at the discrimination or decision of the President. Amnesty International is in shock.

What scares me the most is that so many Americans seem to be so placid about all of this. Where is the outrage? Where are the academics who understand the principles that the ends never justify the means especially if those means are immoral or unethical? Why are Americans so apathetic? Are we all brain-washed?

My previous blog was my attempt to try to get myself to understand why so many people whom I love and respect don't see the evil that I see. To quote one souce I found on the Internet, "Clearly, if one takes even the slightest step toward questionnable means in order to achieve some exemplary end, then where does one draw the line thereafter?" THAT is what worries the heck out of me.

I'm not developing a cogent, historical argument here today. I just needed to voice my worries and concern about the direction this country has been taking for the past six years. Does no one see that we are becoming like the zealots we propose to fight against "in order to save America."? Both sides seem to believe, as zealots usually do, that they are right, and that gives them the license to kill or destroy whomever. This "right" allows them to by-pass all the historical and religious tenets that they claim to follow in order to follow what they term a "just cause." This sickens me. I'm sure I will write more about this issue.

2006-09-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

Sept. 25.
Why can't we agree?
I got to thinking very early Sunday morning about a philosophical issue. Why is it that other people don't think the same as I do? Why are there so many conflicts and disagreements in the world? The television media tends to exacerbate this very problem--or so it seems. Just look at all those "talking heads"--all arguing an issue. I started to ponder the "whys" and "wherefores" of the way we humans are.

What came to me at that point was the fact of human uniqueness. That is, each one of us is distinct and unique, while at the same time we all share our humanness, our presence here on Earth, as well as that very uniqueness that seems to cause so many problems between people. First, I pondered the reasons for our uniqueness. Let's acknowledge known facts about physical uniqueness. We can be identified as one of a kind by our DNA, our fingerprints, our eyes, and our voices. No two people are identical in any of those ways. Those facts reinforce the point that each person is, indeed, unique.

Students of esoteric philosophy would likely start a commentary about uniqueness by referring to the soul. Some say each soul (and each manifestation of that soul) is like a cell in the "body" of God (Divine Spiriti). The soul manifests as a physical body, creating a unique personality just right for its need to experience, learn, and evolve. That personality includes a physical body created from the genes and ancestral history of the person's family. All of these points reinforce the idea of individuality and uniqueness, while at the same time they also suggest "connections" and "relationships" with other souls manifesting as individuals. This point underscores as well that while we as humans must work with and experience our uniqueness, we must do so at the same time we work with and relate to other humans.

Astrologers would add the point that the moment of birth infuses the individual with certain energies that the person can use and react to during the lifetime. Since each individual combines these energies with their soul energies and their newly formed personality energies, the total result is always unique. Identical twins born at nearly the same moment will use those energies differently.

Then we must acknowledge all the environmental aspects that impinge upon us all. Social scientists call this "socialization." It begins with our first breath, and some suggest it starts in the womb. Our individual perception of the world, its safety or danger, our security or defenselessness, all develop quite early. Long before we can think rationally in words, we sense whether our surroundings are loving, safe ones, or frightening. Moreover, the larger environment affects us in important ways that most of us never notice or acknowledge. Where we are born--the climate, the country, the religion, the race, the size of the family, its dynamic, its knowledge--all contribute to our ultimate view of the world.

Then we begin to learn both academically and experiencially. We learn a language, fluently or not so depending often on our immediate family. We attend a school, or not. But what most of us seldom realize is that reading, writing, and arithmetic are really very different in different parts of the world, or even within the same country. What one reads can color one's whole life. One can be literate, but still highly uneducated. Education can be broad or very narrow. The variables are huge.

Factor upon factor, layer upon layer, our "self" develops. Each person's life experience is totally different, while at the same time, that experience seems to be similar to the experiences of others. Both are true. The irony of humanness is that we are both the same and different at the same time in relation to other individuals.

All of these thoughts have helped clarify a point for me. When I catch myself wondering why that nice person--my spouse, my friend, my child, or some intelligent person on television--can hold opinions so very different from my own. I now have a little more understanding of the reasons why. We all tend to believe that our own opinions are the "right" ones. We can use all sorts of reasons and rationalizations as to why we are "right" and others must be "wrong." Why can't they see that political candidate is wrong for the country? Why can't they realize that one religion is not better than another? All such questions lead to the current adversarial positions that permeate the world today. All are ego-based. All are based on the premise that only "I" know the right answer, the best way, etc.

Pondering how we are all so very unique in our perception of life--what is reality for us--helps me understand what the next step should be. When I truly accept the fact that the other person's soul/personality/life experiences have created a different reality for him or her, then the only response is to respect that, to accept that, and to "allow" each person to think, believe, and opine from their own understanding. Agreement is not the issue. I can't agree with what I haven't experienced and neither can anyone else. Everything I have lived and learned and experienced (in this life or perhaps in others) has led me to the present moment, my current beliefs and opinions. Since no one else has had my particular experiences, how can I possibly expect them to understand where I stand? Since no one else has had my particular experiences, nor I theirs, how could we possibly agree on every issue? Such expectations would be unrealistic.

Therefore, the lesson, it seems to me, is that we each need to learn to understand ourselves first as fully as possible, and to accept where we are at the moment. Then we need to acknowledge that every other person is unique and deserves respect and acceptance. We are each and all where we are meant to be, where we deserve to be (even when that seems strange), where we can best learn and evolve. With this in mind, opinions are largely unimportant. They can be entertaining. But they definitely should not be the source of alienation among people. Opinions are just that, and not facts (and we so often really don't know all the facts).

If we understand that life here on Earth is a blend of uniqueness and similarity, and a mixture of individuality and relationships, we can grow to relate to others when we are able to recognize each and every other human being as an equal, as a brother human being unique making his way through a difficult physical life experience. The big similarity is that we are all sharing the times, the environment, and the world problems on this Earth. We are here together in this place, at this time, for some reason. Could it be that we need to share the unique talents we each have, our unique experiences and perspectives, in some kind of coordinated way for the benefit of the entire human race? This can only happen when each of us comes to realize that uniqueness and sameness are two sides of the same coin. Indeed, we are, as the spiritual teachers tell us, ONE. Yet, like the billions of cells in our body that make up the "one" that is us, we are also the billions of individuals that make up the one human race.

So, although it is clear that we will never be able to fully "agree" with one another, we can practice listening and respecting the place wherein the others in our lives come from. If that means "agreeing to disagree" and to do so with unconditional love and non-judgment (and certainly no name-calling), that may just be the best we can do.