Mike Chapman

Dancing to Nirvana Mike Chapman

Throughout the ages, humanity's spiritual endeavors have led thousands to experience enlightenment. Other names for it are celebrated and plentiful: nirvana (extinguish) for Buddhists; the kingdom of God for Jesus; satori (understanding) and kensho (seeing into one's nature) for Zen Buddhists; moksha (liberation) among Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains; al-fana fi al-tawhid (annihilation in Unity) for Muslim Sufis; and theosis (union with God) in the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church. Platonists and Neo-Platonists called it henosis (unity with the One) and alchemists variously referred to this spectacle with the most imaginative and colorful names: philosopher's stone, lapis lazuli, peacock's tail, and treasured gold. No doubt earlier names are now lost to history. These diverse traditions consider enlightenment a significant goal-perhaps even the essential experience-of human existence. Dancing to Nirvana illustrates the shared vision of all religions that can lead to enlightenment as well as the story and views of an American who experienced it. This book is for people who desire to see more clearly the common insights of diverse spiritual traditions as well as techniques of individual transformation for personal growth. The wisest beliefs are not from one creed only, but from many branches of one blessed Tree, linked through the roots with eternity's wellspring. Each branch crafts its own unique fruit so that we marvel-hearts and mouths open, on bowing knee-at the beauty, mystery, variety, outlandishness, and deliciousness of the religious imagination.