Recovering the soul

by Larry Dossey

Publisher: Bantam Published: 1989-11 Category: Spirituality & Mindfulness

Modern medicine has achieved remarkable technological advances, yet something essential appears to be missing from our current understanding of health, healing, and human nature. This groundbreaking work challenges the prevailing materialistic view that consciousness is merely a byproduct of brain chemistry, offering instead a revolutionary perspective that could transform how we approach medicine, healing, and the very nature of our existence.

At the heart of this exploration lies a provocative question: What if consciousness is not confined to the physical boundaries of our bodies? Drawing on compelling evidence from scientific research, clinical observations, and cross-cultural healing traditions, this work presents a compelling case for nonlocal mind—the concept that consciousness extends beyond the brain and body, transcending the ordinary limits of space and time. This isn't merely philosophical speculation; it's grounded in documented phenomena including distant healing, prayer studies, telepathy, and the mysterious connections that seem to link human beings across vast distances.

Readers will discover how the mechanistic worldview that has dominated Western medicine for centuries may be fundamentally incomplete. While acknowledging the tremendous value of conventional medical approaches, this perspective reveals their limitations when it comes to understanding the full spectrum of healing phenomena. The separation of mind and body, spirit and matter, has created a fragmented approach to health that often overlooks the deepest aspects of human experience and healing potential.

The exploration delves into fascinating territory where science meets spirituality. Evidence from parapsychology, consciousness research, and medical studies demonstrates that our thoughts, intentions, and prayers can have measurable effects not only on our own bodies but potentially on others at a distance. These findings suggest that we are far more interconnected than mainstream science has been willing to acknowledge, and that consciousness may be a fundamental feature of the universe rather than an accident of evolution.

What makes this work particularly valuable for those on a spiritual path is its bridge-building nature. Rather than asking readers to abandon scientific thinking or embrace blind faith, it demonstrates how a more expanded understanding of consciousness can accommodate both rigorous scientific inquiry and profound spiritual truths. The nonlocal nature of mind provides a framework for understanding mystical experiences, intuitive knowing, and the sense of unity that contemplatives have described throughout history—but now supported by empirical evidence.

The implications for healing are profound and practical. Understanding consciousness as nonlocal opens new possibilities for self-healing, the therapeutic power of meditation and prayer, and the potential for distant healing. It suggests that our thoughts, beliefs, and intentions are not merely subjective experiences but may have real effects in the physical world. This empowers individuals to take a more active role in their health and well-being, while also recognizing the mysterious and sacred dimensions of the healing process.

Beyond personal health, this perspective offers hope for addressing the existential crisis of our times. The materialistic worldview has led to a sense of isolation, meaninglessness, and disconnection that contributes to many modern ailments. By recovering a sense of the soul—that eternal, nonlocal aspect of consciousness—we may find renewed purpose, connection, and wholeness. This isn't about returning to pre-scientific thinking but evolving toward a more comprehensive understanding that honors both empirical evidence and human experience.

Readers interested in the intersection of science and spirituality will find this work illuminating and transformative. It provides a coherent framework for understanding paranormal phenomena, spontaneous healing, and spiritual experiences without requiring a rejection of rational thinking. The implications extend into ethics, ecology, and our relationship with all life, suggesting that the boundaries we perceive between self and other may be far more permeable than we imagine.

This exploration invites us to reconsider what we are at the deepest level and what we might become when we embrace a fuller vision of human consciousness and potential. It's an essential read for anyone seeking to integrate scientific understanding with spiritual wisdom, and for those working in healing professions who sense that something vital is missing from conventional approaches to health and medicine.