Ways to Go Beyond and Why They Work

To go beyond is to move into a higher state of consciousness, to a place of bliss, greater understanding, love, and deep connectedness, a realm where we finally find life's meaning - experiences for which all spiritual seekers seek. Dr Rupert Sheldrake – best selling author of "Morphic Resonance" – examines seven areas of spiritual practice that are personally transformative and have scientifically measurable effects. He combines his extensive knowledge of science and the natural world, as a veteran biologist, with a broad command of mystical and religious traditions to show how we can tune into more-than-human realms of consciousness. Whether by taking cannabis or psychedelics such as ayahuasca, or by engaging in more traditional religious practices like fasting, prayer and celebrating holy days, Sheldrake shows how we can and do truly go beyond. Even everyday activities can have mystical dimensions, as he illustrates, including sports, relating to animals, the cultivation of virtues and the helping of others in our complex social environment.

Why do these practices work? Are their effects just brain activity? Are they essentially illusory? Or can we really contact forms of consciousness greater than our own?

1 The Spiritual Side of Sports

2 Learning from Animals

3 Fasting

4 Cannabis, Psychedelics and Spiritual Openings

5 Powers of Prayer

6 Holy Days and Festivals

7 Cultivating Good Habits, Avoiding Bad Habits and Being Kind