Healing Beyond the Body: Medicine and the Infinite Reach of the Mind [Paperback]

Larry Dossey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1570629234 | ISBN-13: 978-1570629235 | Publication Date: February 11, 2003 | Edition: 1

Does the mind produce consciousness—or transmit it? Can machines detect love? Why has job stress become a worldwide epidemic? Why do objects sometimes seem to have minds of their own? Could war be a biological condition? Dr. Larry Dossey, one of the most influential spokespersons for the role of consciousness and spirituality in medicine, tackles all these questions and more with clarity and wit. In this book, he explores the relationship—often documented in extensive research—between science and "unscientific" topics such as prayer, love, laughter, war, creativity, dreams, and immortality.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Internal medicine physician Larry Dossey has been a proponent of alternative medicine since the 1970s, and in Healing Beyond the Body: Medicine and the Infinite Reach of the Mind, he collects writings on health and unique ways of healing. Among the subjects these essays cover are prayer, love, laughter, creativity, dreams and hypnosis all meant to be alternatives to standard medicine. These pieces originally appeared in the peer-reviewed journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine; now they will reach a much wider audience.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Dossey, a popular author (Reinventing Medicine) and lecturer, again explores the potential of the healing mind in these essays, first published in the peer-reviewed journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. Organized around broad themes, the pieces explore topics such as the individual meaning of illness; the effects of love, humor, prayer, and trout fishing on disease; and, in an interesting essay that nevertheless does not seem to fit, the author's experiences in Vietnam. Dossey continues to challenge physicians, particularly medical educators, to temper their reliance on scientific principles with an appreciation for consciousness and the mind. His numerous anecdotes are based on extensive clinical experience and cited from various sources, spanning the gamut from science to parapsychology (several appear to be urban legends). For alternative health collections where Dossey is popular. Andy Wickens, King Cty. Lib. Syst., Seattle
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1 edition (February 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570629234
• ISBN-13: 978-1570629235
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #536,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NEW DEFINITION OF CONCIOUSNESS, March 29, 2003

By 

Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Healing Beyond the Body: Medicine and the Infinite Reach of the Mind (Paperback)

This collection of essays examines how thoughts and emotions affect our bodies and the bodies of others at a distance. It is an insightful look at the relationship between science and "unscientific" topics like prayer, love, laughter, work, creativity, dreams and more, an examination of consciousness and spirituality in medicine. Everybody knows that something vital is missing in modern allopathic medicine - the role of the human mind. The author points out the deep level of ignorance within science about the origin, function and destiny of human consciousness. But at last we are moving toward a vision of consciousness that liberates the mind from its identification with the physical brain and body. Of course, the implications for medicine are vast. He refers to the ideas of Jung, Ken Wilber, Erwin Schrödinger, David Bohm and Rupert Sheldrake and makes a valid case for the fact that our power to heal and be healed extends beyond our physical bodes. The essays fall into the three categories Meaning, Mind and Nonlocality, and the book concludes with a bibliography, a section on sources and an index. This is a classic and I recommend it to all who are interested in holistic or spiritual healing and those want to take responsibility for their own health.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The mystery of life, January 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Healing Beyond the Body: Medicine and the Infinite Reach of the Mind (Hardcover)

Larry Dossey discusses the mystery of life and how consciousness is related to all of the physical things in the world. He does a superb job in explaining the wonders of the soul. Although is work is always inspiring, this book is especially so. It tells us that everything including consciousness is connected in a convincing way. For another astonishing book with a slightly different take on the subject, I'd highly recommend "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato. It is also a tremendously insightful book!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wise, compassionate look at consciousness & healing, June 26, 2004

By 

Jed Shlackman (Miami, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Healing Beyond the Body: Medicine and the Infinite Reach of the Mind (Hardcover)

Larry Dossey is a prolofic writer and researcher on holistic healing, and in this book he assembles a number of articles and essays in support of a cohesive concept. Dossey invites the reader to explore the power of consciousness for healing transformation. The different sections in the book sometimes refer to scientific theories and research, some of which would usually be considered in the realm of parapsychology, such as remote influencing, healing with prayer, non-local telepathic communication, etc. However, the focus is more on how these concepts can be applied in our lives to bring about healing. Dossey helps us peer beyond the veil of illusion we call "reality" to help us connect with the source of our being and the power of mind/consciousness to transform. Having practiced mind-body/enegy medicine approaches such as hypnosis, reiki, and neuromodulation technique, I have experienced the power of the non-local consciousness to create healing shifts in a manner that would appear magical or unbelievable to those convinced of the solid, objective nature of perceived reality. It is much easier to "bend spoons" when one lets go of the illusion that there is any objective spoon in the first place! Enjoy this book and begin to put into practice the ideas and methods that unlock the power of consciousness.