Heaven and Nirvana Duality and Nonduality in the World Religions — Alexander L Pappas

We are all on a journey of psychological and spiritual growth whether we are aware of it or not Our journey will develop our consciousness soul and provide us with tools needed to deal with the inevitable existential dissatisfaction or suffering each one of us experiences This book conveniently provides the orientation needed for this most important journey of our lives the spiritual journey of awakening by providing A summary of why virtually all religions and spiritual traditions are either dualistic paths of salvation or non dualistic paths of liberation An introduction to the nature of the spiritual journey and why it is of value to all who take it theists atheists agnostics A comprehensive discussion of the nature and meaning of God Spirit and Soul dualistically and nondualisticaly What is the mind and consciousness and how they are important aspects of the journey A review of traditional dualistic theology with its familiar concepts of heaven and salvation with a chapter on each of the three dualistic Abrahamic religions A unique comprehensive discussion of nondual theology with its concepts of nirvana and liberation A review of a broad spectrum of eight nondual traditions the first three mirror their dualistic Abrahamic roots Kabbalah of Judaism Christian mystics and the Sufis of Islam the next three reflect the nondual traditions of Eastern thought Hinduisms Vedanta Yoga Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism followed by the unique traditions of George Oshawa s spiritual path of Macrobiotics and Theosophy