Bøger af Adam Leonard

'Integral livspraksis' handler om, hvad det vil sige at udvikle en livspraksis, der hjælper dig med at være vågen og nærværende i det liv, du lever, og som gør det lettere at rumme såvel hverdagens vanskeligheder som glæder. Bogen omsætter en teoretisk ramme – ‘den integrale perspektivisme’ – til et arbejdsredskab for at udvikle en helhedsorienteret livspraksis, hvor du ikke kun arbejder psykologisk med din tænkning og dine følelser, men også med din krop, din spiritualitet, dine relationer og din etiske indstilling til dine omgivelser. Dette helhedssignal ligger i bogens undertitel: 'en moderne vej til fysisk velvære, følelsesmæssig balance, intellektuelt klarsyn og spirituel indsigt'. 'Integral livspraksis' handler om at praktisere mindfulness, meditation, filosofisk livspraksis, psykologisk selvhjælp og kropslig sundhed og giver gode anvisninger til at arbejde med disse ting. Og den giver tillige et teoretisk grundlag for at forstå, hvad dette arbejde kan bidrage med i forhold til at skabe et godt liv. Det liv, der udvikler sig godt ved indsats og opmærksomhed på, hvordan man regulerer og engagerer sig selv i forskellige forhold i sin tilværelse, i et balanceret forhold mellem lyst og pligt, med en mindfull tilstedeværelse i dét, man gør. En måde at sætte sig en kurs for et sådant liv på kan være at skabe sig en livspraksis. Det er bogens tema. 'Integral livspraksis' lægger ikke op til, at man skal gøre bestemte ting på bestemte måder, men at man skal finde sin egen vej, skabe sig sin egen livspraksis.

Man by Nature is based upon the ongoing brain research that is providing new insight into how our brain functions. It shows how the left-brain Interpreter function makes it possible for us to be instinct-driven tribal territorial animals - consistently quarreling and warring with one another - and yet to be oblivious of the instincts provoking our behavior. The book identifies ten traits characteristic of human tribes, and develops a "Tribal Programming Theory of Human Behavior" that explains most observed human behavior remarkably well: It makes the case that human tribes are based primarily upon shared tribal beliefs that are defended as fiercely and irrationally as territory, thus making it almost impossible for religious and political tribes (for example) to discuss issues rationally. It concludes by weighing what will be required for the world and its tribes to eventually live in peace, given the new knowledge of our human nature.

Jesus taught that he wanted his followers "to be one, that the world might believe." But instead of oneness Christianity presents to the world a medieval patchwork of denominational and non-denominational fiefdoms, all quarreling and fighting over nuances of scriptural interpretation. Whenever it's been attempted to merge the doctrines and practices of two or more denominations the efforts have almost always failed, and in the few times they succeeded dissenting members broke off to create even more denominations. ... It's no wonder Christians have essentially given up on trying to make Christianity "one." Now, however, the growing knowledge about how our brain functions is enabling us to end the impasse. It can now be recognized that our compulsive quarrelsome behavior is not happenstance but is the result of unconscious species "programming" predisposing us to be warring, tribal territorial animals ... just as described in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. While our predispositions sway us to be "Good" to those within our tribe and "Evil" to those outside our tribe, we - unique among animals - have the ability to override our predispositions with beliefs ... we do have Free Will. "Wheat, Weeds, and the Reform of Christianity" incorporates this new knowledge to show why the teachings of Jesus really are the means of salvation for Mankind, why we routinely distort them to our own tribe's advantage, and how Christianity can overcome this innate tribalism to finally become "one."