The Holotropic Mind: The Three Levels of Human Consciousness and How They Shape Our Lives Paperback – May 28, 1993

In 'The Holotropic Mind' Stanislav Grof exposes his vision of a holographic universe, and he summons convincing amounts of data and evidence for his view. Grof’s contribution is important especially right now as the holographic view of the universe is one of several ‘theories of everything’ or integrative visions that actually link back to ancient holistic science traditions.Grof further references current research, thus blending ancient and new cutting-edge science into something like a total synthesis. With good reason and convincing arguments, he refers to David Bohm’s theory of a constantly unfolding universe as one of the first holistic science concepts in modern times.One of the most daring thinking habits to overcome, that are connected with mechanistic science, is the illusion of separateness. Grof writes:—The holographic model offers revolutionary possibilities for a new understanding of the relationship between the parts and the whole. No longer confined to the limited logic of traditional thought, the part ceases to be just a fragment of the whole but, under certain circumstances, reflects and contains the whole. As individual human beings we are not isolated and insignificant Newtonian entities; rather, as integral fields of the holomovement each of us is also a microcosm that reflects and contains the macrocosm./10But apart from systems theory, in which he knows to excel, Grof is really the specialist for LSD-based psychiatry, and his two decades of experience together with sound judgment of his many observations have led to something like an integrated concept of LSD-based psychiatry.While all this research had been stopped because of the fact that LSD, together with number of natural plant psychedelics, has been forbidden by our administrative oversoul, the insights and miracles remain an ecstatic outlook in a possible future of psychiatry.Contrary to Freudian psychoanalysis, Grof, following a tradition created by Otto Rank, includes perinatal experiences in his psychoanalytic exploration.

This book was one of my first introductions into taking concepts from physics and proposing mind expanding concepts of how the universe works and as the title indicates, how these ideas can change human consciousness. I loved the book.

There is really nothing unique here that hasn't been explained by numerous other books. But this book does a good job of condensing and synthesizing multiple ideas and explanations of the power that human consciousness can reach.

I recommend The Holotropic Mind to two audiences: the scientifically minded willing to follow solid research wherever it goes and the New Age enthusiast willing to explore a radical theory which seeks to explain a wide range of occult phenomenon, from pre-birth memories to ESP to life-after-death.Dr. Grof is skilled psychiatrist and researcher with solid academic credentials in the US and Europe. He was one of the first to experiment with LSD--experiment in the laboratory sense, not in the adolescent escapade sense. His decades of research with thousands of subjects, including himself, has convinced the doctor that altered states of consciousness are the gateway to understanding the nature of the human experience.P. 133 neatly summarizes Dr. Grof's approach, and his book's challenge to the typical Western reader: "The prevalent bias of the modern industrialized world is one of excluding all forms of spirituality as erroneous and misleading. ... While the existence of the experiences is a fact that can be confirmed by any serious researcher familiar with non-ordinary states of consciousness, there are various ways to interpret the same data. This is not so different from any other scientific question. After all the theory of gravity is not the same as gravity itself. Similarly, while we might refuse to take seriously past life experiences because we do not like the theories of reincarnations, we would not think of applying the same thinking to gravity, that is, denying that objects are falling because we do not like the theories of gravity that explain it. There are observable facts about reincarnation. ... It is important to remind ourselves that science never 'proves' anything; it only 'disproves' or 'improves' existing theories."This book is an easy read because it is filled with compelling case histories and stays away from polemic or 'newage' (rhymes with 'sewage') cant. Grof presents his data, places it in the context of other's theories, for example, Jung, William James and Maslow, then leaves the reader free for his own explorations and meaning-making. I wished for more details on his experimental methods, but perhaps that is better covered in one of his many other publications rather than in this slim and brisk volume.

this book has it all. I've been meditating for over thirty years. this book specks to me from many veils of consciousness. from a science prespective. I recommend this book to all who ask.

Thanks! Old like new!

Weird reading

A truely inspired journey through an emerging paradigm in consciousness research. This book is an absolute must read for anyone who has seen the futility of modern material science's need to relegate the mind to the status of a physical anomaly.