I haven't been posting much because much of my extra time has been spent reading and thinking about a book I just finished, "Reality" by Peter Kingsley. This is not a typical book for me, and it won't be for you. Kingsley is a scholar of Ancient Greek, and his book is about the roots of the Western Mystical Tradition. Who knew that so much controversy and wisdom could be found in the pre-Socratic philosphers?
"Reality" opened up for me nothing less than a path to enlightenment that I can follow. I sort of know in an intellectual way that everything that the gurus say is true--that all of the world is illusion, that we are all One. And I also, in a very deep and emotional way, understand the world as Wiccans do. But the Eastern teachings never made sense to me in that deep emotional way. Until I read Peter Kingsley's "Reality. " Kingsley's books are not on the usual Wiccan reading lists, but they should be. Everything he says about "reality" is echoed over and over in wiccan tradition.
Kingsley's own page is a good place to start. His publisher, Golden Sufi Center, has collected reviews.The customer reviews on Amazon are all right on too. Kingsley attended an Esalen conference a while back, and you can learn a little more about him in this conference report.
His web site says that he has moved to the Bay area, so I may be able to attend one of his lectures.
| ... Comments made afterwards |