Product Description
Why do we keep talking about peace, and never seem to have peace? Why does violence tend to captivate our attention more than peace does? What is the real cause of violence? Who/what/where is our "enemy"? Why do we fight the symptoms instead of the malady? Are there new ways of thinking and living that lead to a new world order and a brighter future?To such questions and to many more, this book has answers. They are the challenging answers of Albert Einstein, Thomas Merton, Pope John XXIII, Thick Nhat Hanh, Mahatma Gandhi, Teilhard de Chardin, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta. These well-known and highly respected masters convey to us a message of higher consciousness that puts all our issues-political, social, psychological, philosophical, and theological-in the light of the fullness of life and truth. They point, in one way or another, to the one and same essence of what makes us all truly human.The seven semi-scholarly essays of this book are gathered under one title: If We Just See What They Saw. Each essay directly connects the reader to these visionary architects of human development-one at a time. This profound interaction with them will allow readers to insightfully choose a better way of thinking and living in the context of our today's changing world. There should be another way. Otherwise, "If [we] do not change direction," as a Chinese proverb says, "[we] are most likely to end up where [we] are going"-to self-destruction.This book is not just another book on peace, and has nothing to do with any one particular war or any one particular aspect of violence-any aspect of violence is a symptom not the malady. The real battlefield is not in the symptoms, but as Teilhard de Chardin saw it, "in man's mind and soul." And this is where the real battle takes place initially, and this is where it should end.Aiming at reaching the objective scholarly truth by transcending ideologies, political parties, nations, religious beliefs, circumstances, places, times, and part
About the Author
Dr. Jean Maalouf has spent tireless years studying philosophy, theology, psychology, comparative religions, philosophy of religion, mysticism in world religions, sciences, anthropology, literature, and history. These years of intense learning were crowned by two doctorates of Philosophy and Religious Studies from Paris-Sorbonne University.Philosopher Maalouf stands for the values that enhance spiritual growth, foster human development, and promote the dignity of every person. He finds inspiration for his life and work in what is called "incarnational spirituality" or "existential spirituality" or "integration spirituality," with the belief that spiritual life is not separate from our ordinary human life because it is, in its very essence, the radiance of the human-divine integration. He wrote and edited more than twenty books including the bestseller Experiencing Jesus with Mother Teresa, the Spiritual Book Associates selection book Bold Prayers from the Heart, and "The Healing Power Series." He also wrote numerous articles on spiritual, educational, philosophical, and social issues for several journals and magazines including Spiritual Life, Spirit & Life, Celebration, Praying, Teilhard Perspective, Peace Research Reviews (Canada), Revue des Sciences Philosophiques et Th¿ologiques (Paris), National Herald (New Delhi), and others. Dr. Maalouf's works were hailed by leading critics with terms such as these: "Jean Maalouf brings his experience as doctor of philosophy and humanities to bear in works of spirituality. His focus is one of gentle revolution in human development." "Maalouf has written in the style of Meister Eckhart, John of the Cross, and St. Irenaeus...." "Maalouf's gift for writing about the most sublime truths in the most simple language allows him...to touch and transform the hearts of believers and non-believers alike."
