The Biology of Transcendence

Why do we seem stuck in a culture of violence and injustice? How is it that we can recognize the transcendent ideal represented by figures such as Jesus, Lao-tzu, and many others who have walked among us and yet not seem to reach the same state? In The Biology of Transcendence Joseph Chilton Pearce examines the current biological understanding of our neural organization to address how we can go beyond the limitations and constraints of our current capacities of body and mind--how we can transcend. Recent research in the neurosciences and neurocardiology identifies the four neural centers of our brain and indicates that a fifth such center is located in the heart. This research reveals that the evolutionary structure of our brain and its dynamic interactions with our heart are designed by nature to reach beyond our current evolutionary capacities. We are quite literally, madeto transcend. Pearce explores how this “biological imperative” drives our life into ever-greater realms of being--even as the “cultural imperative” of social conformity and behavior counters this genetic heritage, blocks our transcendent capacities, and breeds violence in all its forms. The conflict between religion and spirit is an important part of this struggle. But each of us may overthrow these cultural imperatives to reach “unconflicted behavior,” wherein heart and mind-brain resonate in synchronicity, opening us to levels of possibility beyond the ordinary.

Joseph Chilton Pearce (1926-2016) is the author of The Death of Religion and the Rebirth of the Spirit, The Biology of Transcendence, The Crack in the Cosmic Egg, Magical Child, and Evolution’s End. For more than 35 years, he lectured and led workshops teaching about the changing needs of children and the development of human society. He lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Acknowledgments Introduction Part One Nature's Transcendent Biology Preface to Part One A Saga of Unconflicted Behavior One Evolution and Our Fourfold Brain Two Evolution's Latest: The Prefrontal Lobes Three The Triune Heart: Electromagnetic, Neural, Hormonal Four Fields within Fields: Of Frequencies and Neurons Part Two The Anatomy of Evil Preface to Part Two Dorchester Hill Five Why Nature's Plan Breaks Down Six Bioculture and the Model Imperative Seven The Enculturated Self Eight The Great Accusation Part Three Beyond Enculturation Preface to Part Three Adventures of Spirit and Truth Nine Laski's Revelation Ten Always Becoming Eleven Why Bother and Who Cares? Twelve The Resurrection of Eve Epilogue Resources Bibliography Index