This book, written before The Pagan Christ and published in 2002, falls more in the category of a self-help book. There was little that was new to me, from an explanation of the stress of modern living to methods of combating that stress. Meditation, yoga, mindfulness, breathing, the labyrinth are all old solutions which Harpur presents within the context of a spiritual approach to coping with stress - the idea of a healthy body, mind and spirit necessary to create a whole person.

This is not “new age” stuff rather an affirmation that the wisdom of the centuries has been revived in ways the average person can understand and make use of. There were some interesting comparisons in the book; for example, the “yoke” Christ referred to actually means yoga. Like others, Harpur once spurned activities such as yoga, Qi Gong and Tai Chi but has come to regard them as valuable exercises for helping him focus, develop flexibility and agility, as well as reducing stress.

I was surprised to discover that Mother Teresa suffered with depression all her adult life. Harpur affirms the value of medicine and medical attention in helping us care for ourselves, saying that had Mother Teresa received proper care she would not have suffered so severely. Harpur relates his experience in meeting with the Dalai Lama who showed Harpur how he “walked the talk,” living what he preached in an easy, open, friendly and humble manner.

The book is organized into four sections – The Contemporary Scene, The Spiritual Response, Sources and Mantras, and The God Within. What Harpur has to say is important but I feel he spends too much time on such things as mantras – it would be enough to list a few instead of overemphasizing how to use them – and quoting scripture that supports his point of view – that Jesus, Paul and others taught how to live an abundant life as whole persons.

I liked the book, as I always appreciate what Harpur has to say, but it is definitely written for the less informed seeker and possibly less for the Christian than for the non-Christian who will certainly find it helpful and enlightening.