The Next Enlightenment Integrating East and West in a New Vision of Human Evolution

by Anderson, Walter Truett

• ISBN13: 9780312317690
• ISBN10: 0312317697
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781466891869
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-08-07
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Summary

InThe Next Enlightenment, Walter Truett Anderson treats Eastern spiritual traditions and Western philosophy, psychology and science as steps along the same evolutionary path rather than as completely separate and incompatible schools of thought. In the opening chapters, he looks at five different "Liberation Movements" that emerged in the modern world: the eighteenth century European Enlightenment; the nineteenth century upheaval resulting from the publication of Darwin'sOrigin of Species; and in the twentieth century, existentialism, psychoanalysis, and the human potential movement of the 1960s and 1970s. He then argues that this century's next surge of thought and action will regard the exploration of the physical universe and the study of human consciousness as two sides of the same coin, and equally important, come to understand personal enlightenment as a natural process of growth rather than a supernatural gift bestowed upon a chosen few. Elegantly argued and written with a sense of humor,The Next Enlightenmentoffers a refreshing vision of how the ancient quest for enlightenment is taking on new life in a rapidly-changing, globalizing world.

Author Biography

Walter Truett Anderson has explored many different facets of contemporary life and evolutionary change in his essays, books, poetry and journalism. His recent books include The Future of the Self, Evolution Isn't What It Used to Be, and All Connected Now: Life in the First Global Civilization. He lives near San Francisco, California.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	VII
Introduction: Pulling Buddha's Tooth	1	(16)
PART ONE: FIVE MODERN LIBERATION MOVEMENTS	17	(76)
1. Enlightenment, European style	19	(18)
2. Meeting Cousin Mushroom	37	(10)
3. The Dark Matter of the Mind	47	(14)
4. Existence Lost and Found	61	(14)
5. East Meets West in the Hot Tubs	75	(18)
PART TWO: THE NEW MIRROR OF SCIENCE	93	(66)
6. Meeting Cousin Sirius	95	(16)
7. The Mysterious Material Mind	111	(16)
8. Being Constructive	127	(20)
9. All the Things You Are	147	(12)
PART THREE: DARING TO KNOW IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY	159	(84)
10. The Social Ramble of Ego and Identity	161	(12)
11. Up and Down with Religion and Spirituality	173	(18)
12. Real People, Transcendent Moments	191	(20)
13. Personal Evolution: Becoming Who You Are	211	(14)
14. The Emerging Enlightenment Project	225	(18)
Epilogue: You Are Never Alone, You Are Always Home	243	(2)
NOTES	245	(14)
INDEX	259