The Living Universe: Where Are We? Who Are We? Where Are We Going?
Apr 2009 · Berrett-Koehler Publishers
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256
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About this ebook
By the bestselling author of Voluntary Simplicity (over 150,000 sold)
'Ģ Brings together cutting-edge science and ancient spiritual wisdom to demonstrate that the universe is a living, sentient system and that we are an integral part of it
'Ģ Explores the power of this new paradigm to move humanity toward a sustainable and promising future
Science has traditionally regarded the universe as mostly made up mostly of inert matter and empty space. At one time this point of view was liberating, part of the Enlightenment-born rationalism that helped humanity free itself from superstition and fear and achieve extraordinary intellectual and technological breakthroughs.
But this paradigm has outlived its usefulness. It has led to rampant materialism and environmental degradation'Äîif the universe is essentially dead and we are alive, then the inanimate stuff of the universe should be ours to exploit. But we now know that not only is the view of a dead universe destructive, it is also inaccurate and misleading.
In The Living Universe, Duane Elgin brings together evidence from cosmology, biology, physics, and even his participation in NASA-sponsored psychic experiments to show that the universe is permeated by a living field and that we are always in communion with that field of aliveness whether we are conscious of it or not. This is a world-view that, as Elgin explains, is shared by virtually every spiritual tradition, and the implications of it are vast and deep. In a living system, each part is integral to the whole, so each of us is intimately connected to the entire universe. Elgin eloquently demonstrates how our identity manifests itself on a whole series of levels, from subatomic to galactic. We are, he writes, 'Äúfar more than biological beings'Äîwe are beings of cosmic connection and participation.'Äù
To confront our ongoing planetary crisis of dwindling resources and escalating conflict, we need to move past an ideology of separation, competition, and exploitation. Duane Elgin asks us to see humanity sharing in the same field of aliveness, to discover how to live sustainably and harmoniously within the living universe.
'Ģ Brings together cutting-edge science and ancient spiritual wisdom to demonstrate that the universe is a living, sentient system and that we are an integral part of it
'Ģ Explores the power of this new paradigm to move humanity toward a sustainable and promising future
Science has traditionally regarded the universe as mostly made up mostly of inert matter and empty space. At one time this point of view was liberating, part of the Enlightenment-born rationalism that helped humanity free itself from superstition and fear and achieve extraordinary intellectual and technological breakthroughs.
But this paradigm has outlived its usefulness. It has led to rampant materialism and environmental degradation'Äîif the universe is essentially dead and we are alive, then the inanimate stuff of the universe should be ours to exploit. But we now know that not only is the view of a dead universe destructive, it is also inaccurate and misleading.
In The Living Universe, Duane Elgin brings together evidence from cosmology, biology, physics, and even his participation in NASA-sponsored psychic experiments to show that the universe is permeated by a living field and that we are always in communion with that field of aliveness whether we are conscious of it or not. This is a world-view that, as Elgin explains, is shared by virtually every spiritual tradition, and the implications of it are vast and deep. In a living system, each part is integral to the whole, so each of us is intimately connected to the entire universe. Elgin eloquently demonstrates how our identity manifests itself on a whole series of levels, from subatomic to galactic. We are, he writes, 'Äúfar more than biological beings'Äîwe are beings of cosmic connection and participation.'Äù
To confront our ongoing planetary crisis of dwindling resources and escalating conflict, we need to move past an ideology of separation, competition, and exploitation. Duane Elgin asks us to see humanity sharing in the same field of aliveness, to discover how to live sustainably and harmoniously within the living universe.
By the bestselling author of Voluntary Simplicity (over 150,000 sold)
'Ģ Brings together cutting-edge science and ancient spiritual wisdom to demonstrate that the universe is a living, sentient system and that we are an integral part of it
'Ģ Explores the power of this new paradigm to move huma...
About the author
Deepak Chopra was born in New Delhi, India in 1946. He was educated as a medical doctor, specializing in endocrinology, at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He served as Chief of Staff at Boston Regional Medical Center, and has taught at Tufts and Boston University Medical Schools. He recognized limitations in the ways that his medical education approached treatment of individuals. Introduced to the ancient methods of Hindu healing, known as Ayurveda, by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, he saw a way to add a spiritual dimension to treatment of illness. Chopra's thinking led him to develop a theory that he called Quantum Healing, which combines Western and Hindu medical practice. In 1984, Chopra brought Ayurvedic medicine to the United States, and within a year he established the Ayurvedic Health Centre of Stress Management and Behavioral Medicine in Lancaster, Massachusetts. He is also the founding President of the American Association of Ayurvedic Medicine and eventually founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. He has written more than 55 books including Ageless Body, Timeless Mind: The Quantum Alternative to Growing Old; Creating Health: How to Wake Up the Body's Intelligence; Creating Affluence: The A-to-Z Steps to a Richer Life; The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams; The Shadow Effect and Muhammad: A Story of the Last Prophet; Spiritual Solutions: Answers to Life's Greatest Challenges; Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being; and The Healing Self: A Revolutionary New Plan to Super Charge Your Immunity and Stay Well for Life. He has won numerous awards including a Quill Award for Peace Is the Way and the grand prize at the 2005 Nautilus Book Awards for The Book of Secrets. He also writes novels including The Return of Merlin; Soulmate; and Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment.
Deepak Chopra was born in New Delhi, India in 1946. He was educated as a medical doctor, specializing in endocrinology, at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He served as Chief of Staff at Boston Regional Medical Center, and has taught at Tufts and Boston University Medical Schools. He reco...
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