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Page xiv
consciousness can act outside the brain and the present, defying the constraints of space and time.
In Miracles of Mind, Russell Targ and Jane Katra provide compelling reasons why the limited view of consciousness must give way to an expanded one in which the mind knows no bounds. Their thesis, which is based both in empirical science and personal experience, is that the mind is nonlocal  that is, it cannot be localized or confined to specific points in space, such as brains and bodies, or to specific points in time, such as the present moment. This means that in some sense our consciousness is infinite  soul-like and boundless, limitless and immortal.
This book, therefore, goes beyond new scientific facts and technical breakthroughs. It sheds new light on the Great Questions humans have always asked  questions about our essential nature, our origin, our destiny, and the meaning of life. So, dear reader, be forewarned: In this book you will be handling spiritual and philosophical dynamite.
In the modern era, the belief in the infinite nature of consciousness has been considered illusion at worst or a matter of faith at best. But as Targ and Katra show, it is now a matter of data. And in our culture, in which science is so highly valued, this four-letter word makes an immense difference.
We thus stand at a landmark period in human history. Because of the accumulating evidence of an expanded view of consciousness, we are poised to make great progress in human affairs  if we can find the courage to honor and engage the data that Targ and Katra present. And we are finding the courage. Perhaps this is most obvious in the field of medicine. For example, as of this writing, eleven premier U.S. medical schools within the past two years have developed courses devoted to exploring ''spirituality and clinical practice," including the effects of distant, intercessory prayer in healing. Conferences on spirituality, prayer, and healing are being held at some of the most prestigious medical schools in the country. Elite scientists are now investigating the nonlocal healing power of consciousness. The role of love, empathy, and compassion in healing is now considered a fit subject for research. The primary reason underlying these developments is the subject of Miracles of Mind  our expanding view of the nonlocal nature of human consciousness.

 
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