The Heart of Jazz (Roots of Jazz)

Arts & Photography

Grossman, William

Farrell, Jack

Music

Da Capo Press

Our material culture leaves many people with an empty feeling and a yearning for spiritual meaning in their lives. Spiritual experiences can be found in unexpected places. Working as a prison psychologist for twenty years Dr. Farrell heard stories of mystical encounters. Men in solitary confinement have no where to go so some go out of body. Prisons are ghost laden because many men have died there through suicide, murder, or natural causes. Some inmates are terrified by ghosts, for example murderers confronted by their victim. Other inmates find the experience comforting. Some have learned to induce a trance in which they contact the spirits of deceased relatives for advice or to relieve loneliness. One man used a Haitian book of Voodoo spells to harm two people. Some inmates received supernatural warnings that saved their lives. Street level drug dealers tell of dead former comrades warning them to, "Get out of the drug game," or "Get off the street." Few dealers are able to heed this advice; the money, excitement, and available females in the drug trade are too difficult to give up.  Mystical experiences are not limited to prisoners. Dr. Farrell has heard stories from middle class patients representing a variety of professions including teachers, nurses, construction workers, firefighters, veterans, and others who had mystical experiences. People who have these encounters are transformed. When they know the soul or spirit lives on after the death of the body, they have less fear of death and are less lonely. They know that the spirits of deceased loved ones are nearby. After mystical experiences people are more centered and less distracted by superficial excitements like alcohol, drugs, gambling, or uncommitted sex. For this reason the final section of the book outlines a variety of practices including meditation and other paths that induce spiritual experiences.

Mystical Experiences

Religion & Spirituality

New Age & Spirituality

Park East Press, Inc.

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