The Journey Across Forever

      

By Wayne Saalman

The Journey Across Forever By Wayne Saalman/ https://www.o-books.com A book for open-minded readers willing to fearlessly entertain every possibility, while wisely believing nothing absolutely.     THE JOURNEY ACROSS FOREVER is a powerful collection of writings which detail Wayne Saalman’s deeply considered research into the world’s myriad cultures and spiritual traditions as he travelled the globe in a quest for truth and enlightenment. The extensive Foreword to the book, contributed by author, John B. Alexander, Ph.D., augments Saalman’s insights into such topics as the profound mysteries of consciousness, karma, the afterlife, reincarnation, dream yoga, magic, mysticism, the Aboriginal Dreamtime, psychotropics, the perils and pleasures of social media, as well as offering his readers a daring perspective on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena and the paranormal (based on personal experience and the writings of such luminaries as Carl Jung, Robert Anton Wilson, Jacques Vallee, Terence McKenna, Whitley Strieber, Jim Marrs and Colonel John B. Alexander).   The primary thrust of the book concerns those all-important lessons offered by returnees from the “dead”; i.e., those who have had a near-death experience who insist that each of us lives on in an “Otherworld” of some nature inhabited by mysterious beings of an advanced spiritual proclivity. Crucially, these entities tell us how to live our lives, here and now, if we wish to evolve to a higher spiritual level ourselves once we, too, depart this planet. To that end, the author takes the reader on a provocative odyssey across the ages, around the world and into the Great Beyond, fearlessly entertaining every possibility while wisely believing nothing absolutely. He argues, nevertheless, that living a life steeped in spiritual values does seem to be an actual path to the paradise of one’s dreams in a hereafter we ourselves create by what we think, say and do while on this earth.   Over the decades, the author has interacted with many fellow writers who were likewise in pursuit of spiritual liberation, visionary inspiration and higher consciousness. Among these well-known figures were Robert Anton Wilson, Timothy Leary, Dr Christopher S Hyatt, Neil Freer, Allen Ginsberg, Terence McKenna, Jim Marrs, Ken Bruen and the Buddhist lama, Geshe Michael Roach. There is an appreciation of irony, satire and humour in the work and some fascinating reflections on music as a powerful expression of the soul. In this volume, the author argues, that a Brave New Age of promise is humanity’s for the making if people really want it and are prepared to do what it will take to secure it. It begins with taking personal responsibility for acting in the interest of the planet as a whole and doing what one can to be conscious of one’s own personal carbon footprint.   Above all, he writes, we must heed the words of wisdom masters the world over and take seriously what those who have had a near-death experience tell us is important for evolving to higher levels of spirituality. Compassion and empathy for our fellow humans is paramount, it seems. The accumulation of wealth and a high social standing are apparently much less laudable than living one’s life as a person of impeccable integrity. To gain at the expense of others is a detriment to spiritual evolution, they say. Egotism and looking down on others will stunt our growth.   He also writes that maybe, just maybe, the Essential Self – the “psychospiritual complex’ or “soul” – really does live on in some “Great Beyond” as so many spiritual teachers and wisdom masters throughout the ages have insisted. Most of us hope so, of course. We do want to live on. The question is where do we actually go when the soul slips the mortal coil? Where is this “otherworld” we hear about and is there really a “heaven” and a “hell”? Christians worldwide certainly believe that the answer to that last question is an absolute yes. Quite intriguingly, Eastern sages are inclined to agree, but in a very different way. Buddhists and Hindus believe that as the poet, John Milton, once put it: “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven.”   The consensus seems to be, then, that there is indeed a heaven and a hell of sorts, one that we deserve based on how we have lived our lives.   The good news is this: it is entirely possible to achieve the paradise of our dreams. To do so, we do not need to become perfect saints, nor live a life of strict adherence to any particular religious creed, nor set of doctrines. We need only become spiritually liberated, which is to say free of the chains and shackles of the delusory thinking that is so often imposed upon us by various leaders who have themselves been misled.   Quite possibly, the author insists, the word enlightenment is simply a label for learning to think for oneself and gaining full control over one’s life, only how does he know?   The best answer to that question, he says, is quite illuminating. As the Zen master, Suzuki Roshi, once put it (and ever so succinctly): “Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as an enlightened person. There is only enlightened activity.” To that end, what we think, say and do is decisive. In biblical terms this accords with the aphorism that by our fruits are we known. In other words, we really do reap what we sow. Karma is for real and it delivers us to a fate we ourselves create.   What the author offers the reader in this book is a ride on what he calls “the firewheel of wonder”, asserting that if a person learns to transmute the mundane into the miraculous, then one has already become the ultimate magician. When one succeeds in becoming such a thing, epiphanies and revelations spontaneously emerge.   The intent of the writings, he further says, is to inspire, not convince, for conviction should come from one’s own life experience. “The answers are ultimately within,” he states. “The stories and insights which others offer us can, at best, only fascinate.” As a result, we must take our chances and seize the proverbial day, make mistakes along the way and learn from them. We must enjoy victories where we can but hold fast to that pivotal point within by carefully observing the enchanting profusion of curiosities before us. “These will ultimately prove to be illusory, but beautifully so. It is what we make of them that determines our lot in life.”   Humanity, he notes, is now on the cusp of going interplanetary and the technology already exists for creating a habitable base on the Moon and sending an exploratory expedition to Mars for the purpose of setting up a colony there. “Meanwhile, there are countries on this planet with sectarian and tribal peoples still throwing stones and rocks at each other. Tragically, there are people starving to death in many countries, while others sit in majestic mansions enjoying culinary feasts and sipping the finest wines on the market.   “We need to do better,” he writes, “and we can do better. It all begins with an evolution in thinking, with taking the attitude that speculation is a conjuration of the Divine Imagination. As for good and evil, they follow on from thoughts and actions we freely make and those choices come with karmic consequences. When enough people are courageous enough to redefine the times and humanity’s place within it, we will become the advanced civilization we seek to be.”   The Journey Across Forever by Wayne Saalman is available from https://www.o-books.com and from wherever books are sold.   BOOK LINK: https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/o-books/our-books/journey-across-forever