Reason and Beyond – Knowledge, Belief and Spiritual Transformation

This book by a teacher of A Course in Miracles is a profound meditation on the really important things in life, interweaving philosophical reasoning, evocative descriptions of nature, and poetry. Many key themes recur in different contexts relating to the nature of mind, intelligence, consciousness, awareness, life, silence and peace. The author has no illusions about the challenges set by the habitual functioning of the normal mind, reinforced by hedonistic patterns of greed and overconsumption in contemporary society putting us on an unsustainable trajectory vis-a-vis Mother Earth. He is also critical of materialistic assumptions of modern science and philosophy, relating them in turn to consumerism and prevalent mental health problems. The answer lies within, in returning to the essence where we will also find love, beauty and peace. Death is a reminder of our limited time on earth, the time to live and love. The author also reminds us of evanescence - all great civilisations of the past disappeared, and ours is going the same way, perhaps sooner than we realise, despite our ideas of progress - he likens our situation to the Titanic, thought to be unsinkable until it sank. And since 'Life is a Unity of Consciousness and Being' our neighbours are ourselves and we should act accordingly out of love and compassion. This is an inspiring extended meditation reminding readers of the essential in life.