A Little Compendium on That Which Matters

Rating:
Summary: Medicine for the Soul
Review: This is one of those rare recent books that you can say is truly medicine for the soul- without being trite. This is a powerful spiritual book, yet it is not without humor, tolerance of other traditions, and guts. The guts come in with the liberal criticism of modern greed, materialism, nihilism and the status quo. Franck especially has no patience for what he calls pseudo-spirituality, which can be recognised by sentimentality, proselytising, fanaticism, holier-than-thou delusions, spiritual tourism, and unconcern for the suffering and injustice inflicted on the great majority of other people in the world.

Franck points out that true spirituality is based on first hand experience. This means that it is equally valid whether it is approached from Christian, Taoist, Buddhist, Jewish, or Sufi perspectives. This is not not spiritual tourism , it is recognising the Transcendent in all true paths. This is the basis of a vital, transcultural, transreligious spirituality.

The author served as a doctor with Albert Schweitzer's staff in Africa- and it truly shows.