Introduction PART I General theoretical introduction From critical realism to the philosophy of self-realisation 1 1M: Ontology 2 2E: Absence 3 3L:Totality 4 4D:Transformative praxis or creative work PART II Odyssey of a soul 1. To the Promised Land Life One: Crossing the Red Sea with Moses ¿ the Teacher 2. Part A: Under the stars: re-enchanting reality Life Two: In Ancient Greece I ¿ the Philosopher ¿ from Pythagoras to Laozi Appendix to Chapter 2: Part A (L2) 2. Part B: Under the stars: re-enchanting reality Life Three: In Ancient Greece II ¿ the Orchard ¿ or Orpheus in the Underworld and the perils of attachment Interlude: From East To West: retrospect and prospect ¿ sketches 3. On the path: or to the Promised Land Part II Life Four: Scrolling ¿ (the Writer) Life Five: From Galilee to Kashmir ¿ meeting the Master 4. The cement of the universe and the search for yoga Life Six: Voyages of discovery ¿ the itinerant cardinal 5. A Taoist dawn Life Seven: The warlord ¿ the Rising Sun and the divided mind Life Eight: In China I ¿ the emergent heart and a life in bondage Life Nine: In China II ¿ the middle truth ¿ in search of balance, the dynamic being of emptiness and enlightenment in alienation 6. At the heartbeat of the Buddha Life Ten: In Tibet ¿ a Himalayan heartbeat ¿ or compassion and the void 7.

Transcendence and totality: or salted lasee with the Guru Life Eleven: In India ¿ the Guru ¿ or from the path of renunciation to the path of action 8. Back to basics: life as a sultan and its karma Life Twelve: The Sufi sultan Life Thirteen: Poverty in southern Italy (Amalfi) ¿ the outcast Life Fourteen: The French philosopher ¿ the sceptical mystic 9. The Dance of Shiva in the Age of Aquarius Life Fifteen: The circle completed ¿ from East to West ¿ liberation or the path to enlightenment.