Global Unitive Healing

In his foreword to this visionary and highly practical book, Ken Wilber reminds us that we collectively need to wake up, grow up, open up, clean up and show up if we are to create and enact a worldcentric nationality as the next major step in human evolution. The author reminds us that the soul also needs to be nourished, with ‘its longing for beauty and truth, for connection and oneness’ at a time when we have lost our bearings and severed our roots. Elena’s spiritual anchoring and point of departure is the spiritual evolutionary vision of the Baha’is that the essence of reality is oneness, and that science and spirituality must come together underpinned by profound human values.

The eight chapters cover deep listening, discerning engagement, the nature of the mind, love and the heart, the healing power of language and the new universal spiritual language, and then ways of finding new ground through constructive collective action. This all has to stem from the ontological level translated into development and a more comprehensive understanding of the human being as a microcosm and emanation of Universal Mind. We all go through a process of self-formation, but not everyone reaches or engages in mature self-transcendence, which implies a ‘comprehensive and encompassing spiritual understanding of the evolutionary and interdependent nature of consciousness and life and of the law of love driving this evolution.’ (p. 70) Throughout, Elena illustrates her arguments with pertinent clinical case histories of people facing and dealing with existential crises. Some of these incidents are extraordinary in their implications, showing deep transpersonal connections between people at a distance.

The emerging vision is manifest in people ‘finding unitive healing by dedicating their lives to humanitarian and environmental causes. This is a massive shift of consciousness expressed in the choice of hearts and minds to live in the spirit of service to the greater good.’ (p. 102) This represents waking up to our full moral nature, to our heart and conscience. Here, language can play a healing role, and Elena explains how social structures can materialise into thought and drive behaviour. She comments that in wisdom traditions we find ‘a language that quiets the mind, elevates the spirit, nurtures and comforts the heart, reveals a clear horizon, and guides us on how to learn to thrive.’ (p. 127) She quotes some extraordinary insights from Abdu’l-Baha over 100 years ago in which he prefigures the eventual emergence of a peaceful planetary civilisation inspired by a higher love operating as a universal spiritual law. Individually, this entails both personal spiritual practice and unifying social, humanitarian, educational and scientific pursuits (p. 153) that reflect the unity of truth, beauty and goodness.

The final part looks at the necessary structural reorganisation of life on every level to reflect the way of unity. The U.S. is taken as a case history both of ideals and their betrayal and violation with respect to the First Nations (Elena could have gone further by referring to the destabilising covert activities of the CIA). The essential principle here is unity in diversity where politics has to be informed by spiritual ethics rather than pragmatic opportunism. An important plank is widespread consultation in a reflective spirit grounded in oneness and interdependence – in a word, the spiritual activism of wisdom and love in action involving ‘embracing a spiritual practice, living the virtues, compassionate action in all aspects of life and selfless service, the work of personal integration and cultivating mature self-knowledge, living a life of simplicity, and the prophetic moral voice.’ (p. 198)

We can all contribute as peace ambassadors and help tip the balance towards a civilisation with heart with emerging ‘centres of illumination’ dedicated to transforming our current corrupt systems and the genuine advancement of human society in a truly democratic spirit. The main question we are left to ponder is exactly how to help (with) this come about in a system dominated by power and wealth, although there are countless organisations and NGOs already working in this direction, but which receive very little publicity and recognition. The author adds a valuable section of reflective practices for each section and questions for further reflection. The integral spiritual, evolutionary and healing elements brought together in this remarkable book are already present below the radar, and now is the time for bold initiatives that correspond to our deeper yearnings.