A Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam Book

from cover

The Life We Are Given describes Integral Transformative Practice (ITP)-a pioneering program for transforming body, mind, heart, and spirit through balanced and comprehjensive long-term practice. Developed by George Leonard and Michael Murphy, two of the founding figures in the human potential movement, ITP is designed to be integrated into busy lives already committed to family, work, recreation, and community.

Inspiring true stories of the struggles and triumphs of ITP workshop students emphasize the great capacity for growth that all houmans beings possess. The Life We Are Given celebrates the day-by-day joys of this enlightening change process, and opens now vistas to higher-level functioning in all areas of activity and relationships.

'In the nineties, those involved in the Human Potential Movement seem to be bringing theory down to earth, learning to live the higher states we've talked about and intuited. As usual, George Leonard and Michael Murphy are at the cutting edge, investigating the experiences of committed practice.'-James Redfield, author of the Celestine Prophecy

'The Life We Are Given is a synthesis an culmination of seventy years' combined experience by two of the wisest and most pioneering explorers and teachers of the possibilities of human transformation. I recommend it highly.'-Dean Ornish, M.D., President and Director; Preventive Medicine Research INsititute

'This marvelous account of a bold experiment by a group of psychonauts bent on transforming mind, body, and spirit may well be the best outline we have of the course leading to the Master of Transformative Practice.'-Sam Keen, author of Hymns to an Unknown God and Fire in the Belly

'The Life We Are Given is a remarkable integration of spiritual, psychological, social, nutritional, and body techniques to create a lifelong program of self-transformation. There is nothing like it!'-Willis W. Harman, President, Institute of Noetic Scineces

'By combining philosophy and theory with specific instruction, Leonard and Murphy are once again pioneering at the edge between the known and the unknown in human potential.'-Phillip Moffitt, author of The Power to Heal

Contents

Preface: Joining the Evolutionary Adventure
Part I: Vision and Practice
1 A LIfetime's Quest
2 A Householder's Path
Part II: A Transformative Pracitce for Our Time
3 Stepping on the Path
4 The Powers of Affirmation
5 Catching the Winds of Grace: More on Affirmations
6 The ITP Kata: The Tao of Practice
7 The ITP Kata: Transformational Imaging
8 The ITP Kata: Meditation
9 The Exercise Factor
10 Food for Transformation
11 The Body as Teacher
12 The Marriage of Theory and Practice
13 The Magic of Community
14 The Ultimate Adventure
Appendix A Further Resources for Practice
Appendix B Statistical Summary: Cycle 93
Appendix C Selected Readings