In this intimate account of compassion and healing, Levine's narrative turns progressively inward as he describes his life's path toward a deeper understanding of "the way of things". A former drug addict become spiritual teacher, Levine describes how he learned to use his life as a jumping-off point from which to teach healing principles and guided meditations. The author lays bare his own understanding of mindfulness, loving kindness, and service (the fundamental pillars of Buddhism) in an account of a life rich with characters immediately recognizable as leaders of the modern Eastern spirituality movement. Levine, through his life and work, embodies the message that personal peace and transcendence are possible for all.


Turning Toward the Mystery, Stephen Levine, Harper San Francisco, Hardcover, 252 pages, $14.99

Stephen Levine is a poet, author, and teacher of guided meditation and healing techniques. His books include "Who Dies?" "Healing into Life and Death," "A Gradual Awakening," and, with his wife Ondrea, "Embracing the Beloved." His work encompasses the most painful experiences of the human spectrum to the farthest point on the human horizon, from hell to heaven.