Book - Approaches to Consciousness – The marriage of Science & Mysticism by Brian L Lancaster

 Summary

This is an important western intellectual contribution to consciousness. It is an irrefutable recognition of consciousness in a secular society but also a strong argument for it as a core variable for assessing any society's openness to cultural regeneration. For the author, consciousness is, so it's formal study in mainstream universities is inevitable. This position is critical particularly in contemporary Europe and Northern America respectively.

The author set out a bold case for approaching the subject from both scientific (psychology  and neuroscience) and mysticism dimensions. The evident inability of (biological) sciences to neatly locate the human brain as the origin of consciousness suggest a limitation that collaborative exploration of the subject via spiritual traditions may alleviate with positive impacts on both dimensions. Simply put, to advance the understanding of consciousness, science and mysticism are not implacable opposites.

Despite being an academic text, the book is a balanced and accessible resource for insights, theories, methods and opportunities. It posits that a serious and open-minded interdisciplinary study of consciousness has huge potential to unveil new creative understanding of human being and the entire universe.

Life is beautiful!