I’ve always enjoyed reading Maureen’s work, filled as it is with such linguistic and metaphysical depth. I confess that I sometimes need a dictionary to decode what she has written, but I’ve found my life is enriched by taking the time to do this.

I won’t comment on the first few paragraphs which touches upon the current deeply troubling state of civilization, save to say that I agree with her proposed remedy –a return to “perennial wisdom” which can mobilize forces (if we set our selves to it) that links “past to present and future.” For me, all religions have at their core an essential perennial wisdom which, it seems, is too easily forgotten or ignored–but which always enacts a toll upon those who make this mistake and, unfortunately, also upon those affected by their misdeeds.

I’ve found that defining “spiritual” is a daunting task. I’ve often resorted to something along the lines of “the invisible forces that animates all,” but I like Maureens view of spirituality “in the context of this work represents quail–sound, word, or image which rouse the mind, imaginations, and emotions, all that is physically spry and mentally spritely, leading a body and brain to aspire beyond its small customary state of self.” I wish I could write like that!

I also like and concur with her view that “the world’s religions are like a family, sharing metaphoric grounds and adopting cultural perspectives to articulate ‘the divine.’” Indeed, without realizing this fundamental unity (a family) we cannot draw on the depth and beauty of this perennial wisdom to solve our problems.

So ends my first thoughts on the Introduction.