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Other Ways of Knowing: Recharting Our Future with Ageless Wisdom

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Anne Simpkinson, editor of COMMON BOUNDARY: In the opening paragraph, Broomfield declares: "Take heart! Humanity is wise and, in its rich diversity, possessed of vast reservoirs of creativity, inspiration, and spiritual energy with which to meet the challenges of the new millenium. Be of good cheer, for this is an intentional, life-enhancing universe with love as its vital force." My husband Charles read that far and set the book aside, depressed over the gap between Broomfield's optimistic view and the sorry state of the world (plus our own daily avalanche of troubles). I too had been feeling discouraged of late, but Broomfield is no Pollyana spouting mindless fluff. OTHER WAYS OF KNOWING is a thoughtful presentation of a new paradigm for humanity. Weaving a synthesis of observations from science, nature, philosophy, mysticism and personal experience, Broomfield presents us with a vision conguent with the realizations which are coming to us all through spiritual awakening. Arguing against the bloodless "objective" approach to life, Broomfield points instead to the resurgent wisdom of befriending the sentient beings with whom we share this planet. The imperialist European model of conquest, dominance and the supremacy of the white male is giving way to a more holistic sense of reality. "We must cherish and nurture variety in landforms, life forms, cultures, ways of knowing, and styles of expression." The book is punctuated by Broomfield's personal mystical experiences. While living in the Himalayan foothills, he and a friend simultaneously saw before them a hundred foot high apparition of the Mother Goddess. She appeatred on a cliff face of a jungle ravine, sitting naked in a yogic lotus position. Says Broomfield: "Then I looked around to discover a transformed world, radiant and in dancing motion. Everything was flowing into everything else: trees, plants, butterflies, water, earth, and myself. I knew in the very fibre of my being that there are no separations. All is one. I am nature and nature is me." OTHER WAYS OF KNOWING is a passionate testimony to the grandeur of life, and a vote of confidence in the potential of human consciousness. We're all in this together, as Broomfield says, "to piece together a wise and joyful way of being in the world."

If you want to gain a deeper understanding of the growing trend towards a popular acceptance of spiritual ideas and beliefs this book is a must read. Drawing from an impressive range of source material, John Broomfield takes a wide-ranging look at ancient and modern concepts which are shaping our understanding of spirituality and its place in our lives. Discussion of the modern scientific principles of Chaos Theory and Quantum Mechanics is blended with an examination of ancient mystical traditions and the shamanic practices of native cultures to introduce the reader to a new and radical view of reality. The book challenges the reader to discard old beliefs and ways of thinking and to come to terms with the fact that our logical rational Western way of looking at the world may be incomplete and even distorted. I found the main argument promoted by the book compelling - that there are other ways of knowing which can give us a more complete understanding of the world and can lead us to acceptance of a reality which is far more miraculous than anything we could ever have imagined. Richard Creasy Webmaster 21st Century N.Z. Website

From NETWORK, Journal of the Scientific & Medical Network, U.K. The originality of John's book lies in his understanding of the common assumptions underlying science and history. As he says, they are the dominant myths of the modern age and are linked "by a common epistemology of time"; also ... by a common belief in their own sufficiency and objectivity. His book examines the structure and underlying assumptions of our modern scientific understandings of reality. It then moves on to consider other ways of knowing available from our diverse cultural heritage and opens up the possibility of communication with other life forms in nature. Here he takes the view that humans are unique but not superior. His analysis of modern scientific articles of faith is one of the most thorough I know. He argues that other ways of knowing involve entering realms of time other than the linear. John's approach is encapsulated in four assumptions and two precepts: (1) The widespread perception of an ecological crisis is well founded. (2) Science cannot give us all the answers. (3) Through other ways of knowing we can reconnect with an older human wisdom. (4) By acknowledging the living consciousness of the Earth we open ourselves to learning from our companions in nature. The two precepts are (1) We must unlearn the dualistic teaching of our European languages that sets us apart from nature, and (2) Everything we are given by the Earth must be held sacred. The rest of the book develops and illustrates these themes from a very wide range of reading and experience. A Chapter on spiritual politics draws inspiration from Gandhi and Schumacher. There follows a chapter on an education that gives people meaning and purpose, and a final statement of the perennial insight that "this is an intentional, life-enhancing universe with love as its vital force."

I first met John Broomfield in a bright sunny room at the India International Center in Delhi in his personna of guide for Eagle Connection Tours. Tiny birds, flowering vines and the blinding Indian sun spilled through our conference room windows as we gathered for what would be a great adventure in the Northern Himalaya with John, his charming wife Jo and several other intrepid souls. Like a photograph that captures the moment of 'before', I recall this scene as a milestone in a profound personal transformation. My life changed in good, bold ways for having traveled to such sacred places, for the visions and welcome insights found in every step. Fortunately, There's no need to travel 10,000 miles around the globe to experience the gifts John has to offer each of us along our path. John invites a broader audience on just such an adventure in his recent book Other Ways Of Knowing. A keen observer of culture, spirit, religion, nature and all that composes our world, John possess a wonderful ability to share his insights and concepts in clear, honest prose accompanied by richly illustrated examples from his own experience. I quickly added Other Ways Of Knowing to my list of special `book gift' titles. Personally, I enjoy sharing books that have the capacity to touch the spirit and in so doing offer genuine companionship and insight as we move forward each on our independent journeys yet ever connected to one another and this earth

From THE BOOK READER, "America's Most Independent Review of Books" Using the observations of Buddhist monks, Loren Eiseley, John Berger, Jung, various shamans, even Will Rogers, Broomfield gives us the pattern that connects .... He writes exquisitely, his knowledge is huge.

The following short extracts are offered to give you a feel for the book:

"You and I have great work to do. In the twentieth century humans have been hell-bent on acquiring new knowledge. In the twenty-first century we must have the wisdom to save ourselves from the effects of this knowledge.

"We in the West belong to a civilization that has been led by 'the people of the forward stampede,' as Small Is Beautiful author Fritz Schumacher called them -- people who, when they sense they are doing the wrong thing, redouble their efforts. 'They are stampeding us into greater and greater violence.' Standing at century's end amid the ecological and cultural devastation wrought under this leadership, we would do well to look to the wisdom of those who have refused to be stampeded.

"At a time when many despair about the fate of the earth, my purpose with this book is to bring you the good news that the necessary wisdom is readily available from many sources: From the sacred traditions of our ancestors. From the spiritual lives of our own and other cultures. From spirit in nature. From the deep knowledge of healthy processes embedded in our own bodies. From feminine ways of being. From contemporary movements for personal, social and ecological transformation. Unexpectedly, even from the apparent source of our current crisis: science itself.

"Take heart! Humanity is wise and, in its rich diversity, possessed of vast reservoirs of creativity, inspiration and spiritual energy with which to meet the challenges of the new millenium. Be of good cheer, for this is an intentional, life-enhancing universe with love as its vital force."

First, let me be clear that I have only read the Introduction and Chapter 2 (which deals with quantum physics and the "scientific articles of faith").

Even if I set aside the numerous straw-man arguments the author uses in his attempt to paint science in a bad light I had to come here and mention that his descriptions of the quantum physics is misleading in many places and flat out wrong in a few places. This clearly stems from a lack of understanding on Broomfield's part and it is disappointing that he didn't learn a bit more before trying to speak credibly on the subject.

So read this book if you must, but know that the science discussed here is incorrect and that many of the statements made about science itself are caricatures and straw-men.

Again... let me be clear that I have not read the entire book and cannot speak to the other parts.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Do you want to open your eyes to other ways of looking at the world, ones that can and do have just as much if not more to say about how the universe works...then read this book. The Western mode of thinking and practicing medicine and looking at time are not the only ways possible or available to us, and as that path has steered us wrong in more than one way, its high time to begin to think outside the box. This book is all about thinking outside the box.

If you are an occultist, Wiccan, heathen, or pagan teacher, I'd suggest that you pick up a copy, read it, and see if you want to use it as a teaching tool. This is something that we all need to learn how to do--to break free of the restrictions that a linear, mechanistic, and dualistic society has long placed on us.

This is a statement of my view of this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was read thoughtfully and almost meditatively. It has added to my life by expanding my world view (which, like so many of us, is so easily skewed by identifying with one culture). Thank you for these lessons and hopefully others will also find it so expanding..