This is an inspiring book that gives great evidence that we are truly on the verge of a great shift in consciousness--but unlike many books this is not based on wishful thinking or "New Age fluff," but rather historical and scientific evidence. In this book Bruce Lipton, famous for writing about the biological proof that our beliefs create much of our reality, pairs up with Steve Bhaerman, the humorous social commentator that writes comically as "Swami Beyondananda," thus making this a blend of history, science and philosophy with humor sprinkled throughout.
In Part I we learn all about how we are programmed with certain beliefs, as we are in the hypnogogic state as children. Our unconscious perceptions (which influence 95% of our behavior!) are formed and these later control our behavior: this happens at the cellular and human level. This is why positive thinking can only do so much, since it stems from the self-conscious mind (which influences a mere 5% of our behavior). As the authors state, "Perhaps instead of original sin, we should be talking about original misperception."
In Part I we are also given the history of the balance between matter and spirit that our paradigms have reflected--everything from animism (8,000 BC) to neo-darwinism (1953) and most recently the discoveries learned from the Human Genome Project. The premise of the book is that around 2012, we will have a new paradigm, called "Holism." In other words, we as a people need to come together and work together in harmony just as well as our cells work together for the good of the body. 700 million years ago, single-celled organisms realized they could live longer and better if they worked together intelligently as one organism. We are now at that pivotal crossroads on the macrocosm level: either we all work together in harmony, or we as a race will die!
Part II breaks four myths in our scientific paradigm: The idea that the physical world we see is all there is; the survival of the fittest concept; the idea that we are victims of our genes and that genes are our destiny; and the concept that evolution is random.
Part III is all about the new paradigm of Holism, in which we manifest our "humanifest destiny." A forecast for a very optimistic future is given, based on societal trends.
The most important and timely chapter is "A Healthy Commonwealth," since it exposes how corrupt and unfair our current banking system is, in which the fractional reserve system allows banks to make money out of thin air. As this book explains in more detail, it works like this: Say you get a loan for $1,000. The bank gives you 10% of the loan from money it has ($100) and creates the rest, 90% (in this case $900) out of thin air. Most money is no more than a few digits on a computer! But here's where it gets really interesting: You are supposed to pay back $1100 (if the interest is 10%). But that extra $100 was never created.
This means that there is simply not enough money made for everyone to pay back their loans! For the banks, it is hardly a problem as long as collateral is involved: They get to take a foreclosed house back, for much, much more money than what they invested--since 90% of the money they lent you was created out of air. (Gee, wish I could do that!)
What we need is money based on real wealth. A compassionate banking system in which money is backed by value instead of created out of debt will be the foundation for global prosperity. No more indentured servants! This book offers a model for that.
The authors use a lot of analogies, stories, facts and humor to prove their points. Throughout the text, there is a comparison of what happens at the microscopic level of cells to what is happening to us as humans. Our innate desire to survive will enable us to make the quantum leap taken by cells millions of years ago. At the end of reading it, you will be convinced that indeed, there is great hope for humanity, despite all the "darkness before the dawn."
No comments:
Post a Comment