Description
Book SynopsisWhen Paul Marshall began to pay attention to his dreams, he could not have anticipated the transformative experience that would follow. A tremendous expansion of consciousness exposed the insignificance of his everyday self but also revealed unsuspected depths of mind and hinted at a deeper self that holds the universe within. In The Shape of the Soul, Marshall—now a mysticism scholar—draws on personal experiences, along with a wealth of religious, philosophical, and scientific ideas, to explore this deeper self, sometimes experienced in mystical and near-death states as spherical in form. Drawing inspiration from the philosophers Plotinus and Leibniz, Marshall takes mind to be more fundamental than matter and views the basic units of nature as perceptual beings. We ourselves are such beings, striving for fulfilment in a long evolutionary journey of soul-making. Bringing together mysticism, philosophy, biology, and even some physics, The Shape of the Soul offers a deeply integrated vision of the self and the universe. Addressing the mind–body problem, the origin of the world, evolution, reincarnation, suffering, and the nature of God, Marshall delivers what will surely prove an intellectual classic.
Trade ReviewPaul Marshall invites us to embark on a supreme adventure of self-knowledge. He articulates a vision of the potential self we all are, a vision of ourselves transformed, in harmony with each other and, crucially, with the natural world. Highly recommended. -- Michael Grosso, independent scholar and author of The Man Who Could Fly: St. Joseph of Copertino and the Mystery of Levitation
In this remarkable book, Marshall persuasively enchants us with the recognition that we are not a world of separate selves but are all intimately interconnected in a cosmic unity that is our divine self. -- Ralph W. Hood Jr., professor of psychology at the University of Texas Austin and professor of religious studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
“Materialism” in its philosophic and socioeconomic guises threatens the very survival of modern civilization, and we desperately need an enlarged conception of nature that can overcome the contemporary alienation between science and spirituality. In this beautifully written book Paul Marshall addresses that need by bringing to bear both an uncommon knowledge of the world’s religious and mystical traditions, directly informed by mystical experiences of his own, and a deep understanding of relevant developments in modern physics. An outstanding contribution. -- Edward F. Kelly, professor of research, Division of Perceptual Studies, University of Virginia, and co-editor of Beyond Physicalism: Toward Reconciliation of Science and Spirituality
The Shape of the Soul explores the practical message of mystical experience: clues not only to who we are but also to the nature of reality and how we fit into it. Marshall shows us how honoring our mystical potential lifts us out of our self-imposed estrangement from the world and breathes meaning and depth to our lives. This book will put you back in touch with who you really are. -- Bruce Greyson, M.D., Carlson Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia
Table of ContentsPreface Chapter 1: Mystical Perceptions Chapter 2: The Land Beyond the Sea Chapter 3: Into the House of Death Chapter 4: Who Do You Think You Are? Chapter 5: Soul Spheres Chapter 6: The Logic of Unity Chapter 7: Worlds Within Worlds Chapter 8: The Physics of Experience Chapter 9: Meet the World Parents Chapter 10: Where Do You Think You’re Going? Chapter 11: The Making of God Epilogue Notes Selected Bibliography Index About the Author
