Aldous Huxley lite

“The Map of Heaven” is the sequel to Eben Alexander's best-seller “Proof of Heaven”. It's co-authored by Ptolemy Tompkins. The book strikes me as somewhat disjointed, but perhaps this is inevitable since Alexander is still trying to comprehend his near death experience (described in “Proof of Heaven”). His solution seems to be a version of ecumenical New Age-inspired spirituality. Huston Smith, Aldous Huxley, Richard Smoley and William James are referenced. The mystery religions and their initiations are seen as central, and Christianity is said to be another mystery cult. The author is interested in shamanism and the initiations of traditional, “native” cultures.

While Alexander hopes or believes that modern science can somehow be reconciled with spirituality, or even prove it, most of his evidence for the supernatural consist of (more or less interesting) anecdotes from private citizens, topped off by the testimony of both ancient and modern mystics. Alexander is particularly fascinated by childhood spiritual visions, and believes that these capture the true Oneness of the cosmos. He has also experimented with sound-induced alternate states of consciousness.

“The Map of Heaven” is not about NDEs as such, but attempts to paints with a broader brush. Many of the spiritual experiences recounted in the book concern angels, dead relatives, visions of spiritual forces in nature, etc. The authors eventually reach the conclusion that our material world, while not an illusion in the strict sense, nevertheless “covers” the true reality, which is spiritual and yet strangely reminiscent of earthly reality but without the evil and suffering (Swedenborg is referenced here). We are spiritual beings having an earthly experience as a kind of lesson to make us grow. Despite all the suffering, the dominant force in the cosmos is really unconditional love, streaming down from God or the Divine, called “the Core” or “Om” by Alexander.

One thing happily absent from “The Map of Heaven” are prophecies about impending doom or salvation, alien landings, leprechauns or channeled messages from mahatmas. I think this book could be seen as a kind of Huxleyite perennial philosophy lite.

A bit too “soft” for my taste, but perhaps a good start for spiritual newbies or open-minded skeptics…