Recovering the Soul: A Scientific and Spiritual Approach

Dr. Larry Dossey explores the mind-body connection and draws very startling conclusions about the mind and human experiences. He steps out on a limb. Amazingly, it does not break nor does he fall off of it. He is one of the few physicians who dares to write about subjects that are considered 'taboo' by 'true' scientists (which MDs consider themselves). The book begins with a true story about Sarah, a young lady who had a gallbladder operation with unintended consequences: she experienced cardiac arrest which was treated with defibrillation, for the life-threatening arrhythmia, Ventricular Fibrillation. Her experience is unique in that after her recovery, she described events in vivid detail, exactly as they happened, at the time she was essentially 'clinically dead'. One proof of her accuracy was she 'saw' and recalled, the mismatched socks worn by the anesthesiologist. This, in and of itself is highly unusual but what is more astonishing is: Sarah has been *blind* since birth. Therefore she experienced a "different" form of seeing ... In this fascinating book, Dr. Dossey explores metaphysical forms of reality and spiritual concepts associated with health and well-being. He weaves together the discoveries of quantum physics, the theories of Rupert Sheldrake, and experiences of mystics from various religious traditions. The main theme is "nonlocal mind" and a "unifying consciousness". Essentially, he asserts that individuals are co-creators with the divine. This book is riveting and hard to put down. The author is well-read and provides a solid foundation to support his controversial conclusions. It is a 'must read' for anyone who asks the questions, "who am I" and "what am I doing here?" Erika Borsos (pepper flower)

Dossey, who is an accomplished scientist and knowledgable expert on this topic, melds spirituality and science like no other. Although there are many books that attempt to integrate modern science and spirituality, this book is one of the most well-written and most convincing. The only other book that is just as good as this on this topic is Toru Sato's absolutely amazing book called "Ever-Transcending Spirit". These are books that positively transform your understanding of life!

Dr. Dossey explores the research and theory behind the concept of non-local mind, with the intent to illustrate how our minds are non-local -- unconfined to brains and bodies and thus not entirely dependent on the physical organism. As Dossey explains, "If non-local mind is a reality, the world becomes a place of interaction and connection, not one of isolation and disjunction. And if humanity really believed that non-local mind were real, an entirely new foundation for ethical and moral behavior would enter, which would hold at least the possibility of a radical departure from the insane ways human beings and nation-states have chronically behaved toward each other." Dossey delves into ideas put forward by Schrodinger, Godel, Einstein, Margenau, and Bohm -- before moving into the spiritual implications of non-local mind. I highly recommend this book as an excellent starting point for understanding the concept of "one mind", and for considering the implications this has in our lives.

Larry Dossey has bridged the imagined gap between science and spirit in a simple, yet profound way. His willingness to address an issue which tends to polarize many people is courageous and commendable. As a seminary student who is fascinated by the convergence of quantum physics and theology, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is experiencing a science/spirit dilemma.

Larry Dossey has the ability to break right through all the head-tripoping about our spiritual selves, and talk about the real thing. As a doctor, he's concise, not wishy-washy - a genuine link between New Age and scientific. The book gives us new conceptual models that enable us to think more clearly about our own deep identity - and also inspires us to open up directly to our spiritual core - wonderful book!