Although its second title is “How to finally really grow up” the author warns the reader that this is not a “how to” guide. It is still in a way, n my view, as it asks many questions and brings a variety of perspectives for reflection.

I found it at times slightly too academic and far reaching in what we call “history”, although it should not be surprising as the author has a PhD. The author brings back on stage Jung’s works which resonate with his beliefs. We find him being frequently quoted “As Jung reminds, “Consciousness is always only a part of the psyche and therefore never capable of psychic wholeness: for that the indefinite extension of the unconscious is needed. But the unconscious can neither be caught with clever formulas nor exorcised by means of scientific dogmas, for something of destiny clings to it—indeed, it is sometimes destiny itself.”

The parts on the necessity of suffering did not resonate with me, as “There is no truth in suffering”. In any event, it is worth reading as a helping hand in enriching our understanding of our humanity in this world.

The author is at times merciless on religions, which some may perceive as “attacks” on beliefs and dogma, so one must be aware about it in case it touches upon one’s sensitivities: “So often spirituality, like the false self, is fear-driven, which is not to be judged, but a fear-driven spirituality will always diminish rather than enlarge. It has been said that religion is for those afraid to go to Hell, and spirituality is for those who have been there. Any spiritual perspective that seeks to finesse difficult questions of good and evil, that seeks to scapegoat others, or that defers authority to external sources is an infantilizing spirituality. Any spirituality that makes people feel guilty and judged is merely adding to the complexes they already have. Any spirituality that keeps people in bondage to fear, to tradition, to anything other than that which is validated by their personal experience is doing violence to the soul.”

The autor does not spare also the psychology: “We live amid politicians and theologians who infantilize us by fear-mongering, and scientists and psychologists who trivialize life by addressing only what can be empirically verified. We are so much larger than that. Just as much theology has forgotten the psyche, so much psychology has retreated from the soul—in both cases they are intimidated by the truly large.”

The author invites us to consider a dozen of questions on our path of finding meaning “Answer them honestly to yourself or they will prove of no value. If they hurt a bit, or intimidate a lot, then they are hitting home for you. Answer them honestly, and you are on the way to the insight that leads to wisdom, the wisdom that leads to change, the change that leads to a larger life, and the larger life that ultimately provides healing because it is the life the gods intended for you.”

Some quotes for further reflection:

“The goal of life is not happiness but meaning.”

“The chasm that occurs between fundamentalism and atheism rises sometimes from stupidity, sometimes from inadequate understanding, and frequently from psychopathology. In the former’s position, religious values are to be defended as facts, facts that offend common sense and often push the defender into a narrowing isthmus over which he or she is forever doing battle. The latter, seeing that claiming such things as “facts” is untenable, summarily rejects the universal insight toward which religious images may point.”

“(Perhaps paleontologist Teilhard de Chardin came closest to bridging these worlds when he said that matter is spirit moving slowly enough to be seen.)”

“But if I insist that my taste is right and yours is wrong, then I have offended your humanity by denying the reality of your experience. We do this kind of violence to each other, as individuals, as cultures, as spouses, as parents, all the time.”

“In our time, our sense of homelessness leads us to our common home; our separate journeys provide our community. As Hermann Hesse once wrote, “We have to stumble through so much dirt and humbug before we reach home. And we have no one to guide us. Our only guide is our homesickness.” This spiritual homesickness gives us the journey; the journey gives us our life, once again. Our progressive realization of the calling of the individual soul constitutes our greatest gift to the world.”