The Four Global Truths: Awakening to the Peril and Promise of Our Times [Paperback]

Darrin Drda (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 25, 2011

With the planet increasingly threatened with catastrophe and perhaps even collapse, many seekers are looking to past, proven models to create meaningful change in their lives. One such model is Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths: the reality of suffering, the root cause of suffering, the end of suffering, and the path to the end of suffering. This fresh, timely book taps and modifies that ancient wisdom to address the pressing environmental and spiritual crises facing us.

In The Four Global Truths, author Darrin Drda contends that as global temperatures rise and natural systems decline, humanity is forced to confront the destructiveness of unfettered material progress and mechanistic thinking. He posits a more enlightened worldview that honors the interdependence of all forms of life and aspects of reality, a concept increasingly see as a practical and compassionate approach to averting disaster. Writing in a warm, open style recalling that of Eckhart Tolle in The New Earth, Drda integrates elements of Western philosophy, transpersonal psychology, deep ecology, modern cosmology, and quantum physics to get at the heart of worldwide ecological suffering. In the process he encourages a responsible and joyful—and ultimately healing—participation in this critical moment in life.

About the Imprint:
EVOLVER EDITIONS promotes a new counterculture that recognizes humanity's visionary potential and takes tangible, pragmatic steps to realize it. EVOLVER EDITIONS explores the dynamics of personal, collective, and global change from a wide range of perspectives. EVOLVER EDITIONS is an imprint of North Atlantic Books and is produced in collaboration with Evolver, LLC.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“In a brilliantly appropriate application of the Buddha’s fourfold Truths, Darrin Drda provides a conceptual structure for perceiving both the peril and promise of this planetary moment. He also shows us how to play with this structure, climbing around on it with uninhibited curiosity, and exploring ways to integrate the darkness and the light, the failures and the hopes that taunt and lure this evolving human animal. The book brings such a rich cargo of companionable inquiry and inspiration, I want to see it in every book bag and backpack. I love to think of the hands it will fall into, the minds it will ignite, the hearts it will embolden, so that this great adventure may continue!”
—Joanna Macy, PhD, author of World As Lover, World As Self
 
“With a warm and open writing style, and drawing from his extensive knowledge of Buddhism and the ecological state of the planet, Darrin Drda gives expression to some of the noble possibilities of human consciousness. The Four Global Truths is destined to become an essential part of the ongoing illumination of this wild, groping, confused, but ultimately beautiful human species.”
—Brian Swimme, professor of Cosmology, California Institute of Integral Studies
 
“In his remarkable new book, The Four Global Truths, author Darrin Drda potently examines the challenging situation that humanity has created for itself at this time in history, a perspective that is greatly enriched by his accessible understanding of cosmology, ecology, philosophy, and cultural history. This book allows us to see that humanity's current condition is in fact, a larger-scale manifestation of the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths and that the Buddha knew that we are in a dream of attachment, and that we need to wake up and free ourselves from this dream that is robbing us of our true capacity as human beings. Fortunately, the Buddha offered a path to liberation, one that is now possible for humanity as well. This magnificent book powerfully invites us to choose that path.”
—Lynne Twist, author of The Soul of Money and cofounder of The Pachamama Alliance
 
“Informed by leading-edge consciousness studies and new paradigm thinking, The Four Global Truths is a creative re-visioning of dharma for the planetary era. Packing the pages with fascinating details, Drda nevertheless keeps his eye (and heart) on the Big Picture. He helps us see the grand lines of our collective evolution, uncovering the path that has led to our troubled present, and illuminating a possible, but by no means certain, way forward.”
—Sean Kelly, author of Coming Home: The Birth and Transformation of the Planetary Era
 
“In a style at once urgent, witty, and poignant, The Four Global Truths gives us a fresh, insightful, and nuanced polemic on global turmoil and its transformation. Darrin Drda has done us a great service by bringing together the best in consciousness studies and fresh perspectives on ancient Buddhist insights. This is a treasure mine of information and resources for changing the status quo—highly recommended.”
—Steven Goodman, professor of Asian and Comparative Studies, California Institute of Integral Studies
 
“The Four Global Truths is a unique take on the central questions that face humanity at this moment. Fusing ancient Buddhist teaching and contemporary ecology, Drda uses the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths as a model for addressing the crisis of modernity.
     “Working from the assumption that the solution to myriad problems, particularly the ecological crisis, requires a new worldview, Drda uses Buddhist teaching to work toward a new way of relating to the world. The genius of his work is that he takes teachings largely understood in terms of individual process and applies them to the entire planet. Drda's creative process is revelatory: the solution is found in the integration of the personal and the global, the removal of barriers between our isolated, individualistic selves and the planet as a whole.
     “Perhaps most impressive is Drda's ability to discuss extraordinarily complex subject matter in an accessible, clear, and inviting tone. Whether one is interested in learning a modern take on Buddhist practice or addressing some of the world’s most severe crises, The Four Global Truths is highly recommended.”
—Theodore Richards, founder of the Chicago Wisdom Project and author of Cosmosophia: Cosmology, Mysticism, and the Birth of a New Myth
 

About the Author

Darrin Drda is a longtime practitioner and occasional instructor of Insight meditation, as well as a facilitator for the Awakening the Dreamer symposium, which promotes ecological sustainability, social justice, and spiritual fulfillment. He lives in San Francisco.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: EVOLVER EDITIONS (October 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583943218
• ISBN-13: 978-1583943212
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,077,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book March 23, 2012

By J. Katz

Format:Paperback

This book enriched my life by putting words to my own thoughts and feelings having to do with the state of the world, ecologically, socially and spiritually. Weaving together the personal and the political, "The Four Global Truths," offered me companionship and a kind of deepened, holistic understanding of all the unsettling crises of the day. Drda offers an informed, but accessible spiritual perspective that helped me to connect in spite of my aversion to religion. Reading this book increased my sense of empowerment and purpose in this world.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Four Global Truths March 23, 2012

By Sunshine

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

It made me realize how small we are and the things around us. The earth is changing as we knew it. Just hope it will be good for many generations to come. Showed me an awakening to things spiritual, gave me a sense peace. Also loved the cover.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring book everyone should read! May 7, 2012

By jennie

Format:Paperback

This book is a must read for all of us to understand the ecological state of the world and the possibilities for transformation! It will touch your heart, open your eyes, and inspire you! It powerfully speaks to the global crisis we face, it's complex origin, and weaves in philosophy, cosmology, ecology and Buddhist wisdom to awaken and empower the world as we transform our consciousness and work together to save our planet. I loved this book so much I couldn't put it down after I bought it, so go get yourself a copy!!! May this book's wisdom inspire and awaken many to become active participants in creating the global change we so need!