The present humanity is driven, by and large, by the conventional mind-set which is primarily a matter of habitual neurology. From small family quarrels and religious conflicts to war between nations, the basic causal factor can be traced to this fundamental malady. No doubt, there have been, off and on, great acts of kindness and empathy throughout history. However, they have been isolated events - more as exceptions than otherwise. From ancient days, people from esoterically inclined cultures, such as the sages of India, have spoken about the vaster consciousness beyond the conventional mind. Even though they tried to bring the common man into it, only very few could understand and move in that direction. The result is that we have a humanity today that is totally unaware of the vaster regions beyond the mind. Being sunk in that kind of ignorance, human beings are driven by egoism with its self-importance and callousness. Such a scenario permeates the religious field too, unfortunately. Those with perceptions beyond the apparent are trying to bring humanity to the wider awareness so that human beings can live with abundant feelings for one another and for the environment. They would go beyond the self-centered psychology that creates disharmony, ruthlessness, abominable violence and pain to all. Man’s brutality to animals on land and sea is yet another symptom of his mental shallowness. Recently, research has made its in-roads into some paranormal phenomena that brings clarity in the direction of perceiving the wider consciousness and helps us love everything in life unconditionally. Two such phenomena are the NDE and OBE. They take people away from the limited cocoon in which the habituated mind functions.
Jenny Randles and Peter Hough published a book entitled “The Afterlife” in 1993. They cover many aspects of the vaster consciousness by looking into different paranormal phenomena. People who read it will be attracted to do their own research in the direction of universal consciousness and the associated awareness in daily life. The authors indicate that Margot Grey was one of the researchers inspired by the pioneering work of Raymond Moody on NDE. Margot says the following:
“Many people, who nearly die whether in an accident, during surgery or in other traumatic circumstances, subsequently report a remarkable experience while physically unconscious. This event brings with it a profound and permanent alteration in their understanding of the nature of reality. There are many elements, recounted by thousands of people, common to all these accounts. These frequently involve an encounter with a compassionate being of light, a meeting with deceased loved ones, and feelings of inexpressible beauty, peace and transcendence, leading to a loss of fear of death, greatly increased sense of life’s purpose and a more loving and open attitude.”
The book would be interesting to both the enthusiast and the skeptic. When we reflect on the wide spectrum of issues addressed in it, we begin to strike our own path of discovery. On that path, our mind begins to lose its hard boiled conclusions and beliefs. That brings in mental peace, willingness to pardon and an outgoing feeling of compassion towards all. The wonderment created by that journey keeps burning like a bright flame lighting our way to Divinity.
Associated topics are in the website http://spirituality.yolasite.com