Other Ways of Knowing: Recharting Our Future With Ageless Wisdom

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Summary: A PASSIONATE TESTIMONY TO THE GRANDEUR OF LIFE
Review: 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."

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Summary: THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES OF FAITH
Review: 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."

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Summary: A WIDE-RANGING, ERUDITE WORK
Review: 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.