The notion that Western religions are more rigid than those of Asia is overdrawn. Ours is the most permissive society history has ever known - almost the only thing that is forbidden now is to forbid - and Asian teachers and their progeny play up to this propensity by soft-pedaling Hinduism's, Buddhism's, Sufism's rules.

Swallow your pride and admit that we all need help at times.

Most of the book deals with things we already know yet never learn.

Beware of the differences that blind us to the unity that binds us.

Religion teaches us that our lives here on earth are to be used for transformation.

We all carry it within us: supreme strength, the fullness of wisdom, unquenchable joy. It is never thwarted, and cannot be destroyed.

Rationalism and Newtonian science has lured us into dark woods, but a new metaphysics can rescue us.