Out of this World: Otherworldly Journeys from Gilgamesh to Albert Einstein

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 304 pages
• Published by: Shambhala May 1, 2001
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1570626502
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1570626500
• Book Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 14.2 ounces

From Library Journal
This is a thought-provoking, chronologic overview of religious mystical traditions illustrating altered states of consciousness, and out-of-body and near-death experiences by the editor of the journal Incognita . Ideas presented demonstrate the way conventions were developed by differing cultures at various times, revealing common patterns within spiritual experiences. Some of the ideas and summaries are a bit difficult to follow due to the speed with which they are covered. However , Couliano succeeds in guiding and broadening the imagination of the reader. Missing is material dealing with religions of African and Indian tribal cultures. For greater collections.
- L. Kriz, Sioux City P.L., Ia.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
This book takes the reader on a fantastic journey through a wide range of cultures and traditions to examine the phenomenon of ecstatic visionary experiences—from Sumerian Gilgamesh and the Taoist Immortals to the imaginative fiction of Jorge Luis Borges. The author provides a comprehensive tour of otherworldly journeys common from immemorial times among shamans, magicians, and witches, and illustrates their connection with such modern phenomena as altered states of consciousness, out-of-body experiences, and near-death experiences.

Reader Reviews
This book, written by well known religious scholar I.P. Couliano, provides a wonderful background to the shamanic journey and how it can be found within all societies. He does a very nice cross cultural survey of Shamanism (and relatd concepts) in the early part of the book, showing the similarities of belief in the Americas, Siberia, Melanesia and elsewhere, as well as in Africa and Australia. From there he goes on to show the otherworldly journeys of the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Chinese Taoists, Buddhists, Iranian mystics, Greek Medicine Men and Hebrew Qabbalists. Remarkable intellectuals and visionaries fill out the last couple chapters, including Neo-Platonic philosopher Plotonius, the Prophet Mohammad and Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy. Over all, this is perhaps the greatest non-culture specific survey of the Shamanic journey available. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in Shamanism, religious experiences and mysticism in general check out this book. Considering how widely varied Shamanism is (incorporating everything from Siberian and Polynesian religions to the ecstasies of Voudon and Santeria to Sufi mysticism and beyond), it might be a good beginning book.