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Overview
As a traditional psychotherapist, Dr. Brian Weiss was astonished and skeptical when one of his patients began recalling past-life traumas that seemed to hold the key to her recurring nightmares and anxiety attacks. His skepticism was eroded, however, when she began to channel messages from the "space between lives," which contained remarkable revelations about Dr. Weiss' family and his dead son. Using past-life therapy, he was able to cure the patient and embark on a new, more meaningful phase of his own career.
The true story of a prominent psychiatrist, his young patient, and the past-life therapy that changed both their lives.
Synopsis
Many Lives, Many Masters is the true story of a prominent psychiatrist, his young patient, and the past-life therapy that changed both their lives.
Dr. Brian L. Weiss was a scientist and psychotherapist, molded by years of disciplined study into a conservative professional. He was aware of research programs in parapsychology at major universities, but they seemed too far-fetched to consider seriously.
Then he met Catherine.
For more than a year he used conventional therapy to help his young and beautiful patient overcome recurring nightmares and anxiety attacks. When nothing worked he tried hypnosis. Undergoing an astonishing series of trance states, Catherine recalled past-life memories that proved to be the causes of her problems. In the incongruously quiet, dimly lit setting of Dr. Weiss's office, Catherine spoke in clear and vivid terms of numerous lifetimes she had experienced, crossing classes and genders, centuries and civilizations.
These remarkable sessions profoundly altered the mind and soul of both patient and therapist. In a matter of months, Catherine's symptoms disappeared and she resumed a life happier and more peaceful than ever before.
Publishers Weekly
In 1980, Weiss, head of the psychiatry department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, began treating Catherine, a 27-year-old woman plagued by anxiety, depression and phobias. When Weiss turned to hypnosis to help Catherine remember repressed childhood traumas, what emerged were the patient's descriptions of a dozen or so of her hitherto unknown 86 past lives, as well as philosophical messages channeled from ``Master Spirits.'' Catherine's anxieties and phobias soon disappeared, says Weiss, and she was able to end therapy. The previously nonspiritual, scientific Weiss, awed by Catherine's and the masters' revelations, has written this book to share his new-found knowledge about ``immortality and the true meaning of life.'' Whether or not one believes in reincarnation and channeling, Weiss's book will disappoint. Catherine's descriptions of her past lives are not particularly compelling or insightful. Moreover, the teachings of the Master Spirits (``We are not to kill. . . . Only God can punish,'' ``Charity, hope, faith, love . . . we must all know these things,'' and ``Our body is just a vehicle for us while we're here. It is our soul and our spirit that last forever''), while admirable and comforting, are little more than restatements of traditional religious values. (July)
Editorials
Publishers Weekly -
In 1980, Weiss, head of the psychiatry department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, began treating Catherine, a 27-year-old woman plagued by anxiety, depression and phobias. When Weiss turned to hypnosis to help Catherine remember repressed childhood traumas, what emerged were the patient's descriptions of a dozen or so of her hitherto unknown 86 past lives, as well as philosophical messages channeled from ``Master Spirits.'' Catherine's anxieties and phobias soon disappeared, says Weiss, and she was able to end therapy. The previously nonspiritual, scientific Weiss, awed by Catherine's and the masters' revelations, has written this book to share his new-found knowledge about ``immortality and the true meaning of life.'' Whether or not one believes in reincarnation and channeling, Weiss's book will disappoint. Catherine's descriptions of her past lives are not particularly compelling or insightful. Moreover, the teachings of the Master Spirits (``We are not to kill. . . . Only God can punish,'' ``Charity, hope, faith, love . . . we must all know these things,'' and ``Our body is just a vehicle for us while we're here. It is our soul and our spirit that last forever''), while admirable and comforting, are little more than restatements of traditional religious values. (July)From the Publisher
Edith Fiore, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and author of You Have Been Here Before This thought-provoking, beautifully written book breaks through the barriers of conventional psychotherapy and presents an innovative and highly effective treatment. It should be taken seriously by those in the mental health profession.
Richard Sutphen, author of Past Lives, Future Loves and You Were Born Again to Be Together A spellbinding case history substantiating the effectiveness of past-life therapy. The book will open doors for many who have never considered the validity of reincarnation.
Jeanne Avery, author of Astrology and Your Past Lives A profoundly moving account of one man's unexpected spiritual awakening. This significantly courageous book has opened the door to a marriage between science and metaphysics. Must reading for a soul-searching, hungry world.
Joel Rubinstein, M.D. former instructor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School now in private practice Dr. Weiss integrates concepts of traditional psychotherapy and the exploration of his patient's spiritual unconscious. My view of myself and others will never be quite the same.
Andrew E. Slaby, M.D. Ph.D., M.P.H. Medical Director, Fair Oaks Hospital An interesting, well-written and thought-provoking exploration of the influence of past-life therapy on present behavior. You cannot put it down without feeling empathetic with Dr. Weiss's conclusions.
Jeanne Avery author of Astrology and Your Past Lives A profoundly moving account of one man's unexpected spiritual awakening. This significantly courageous book has opened the door to a marriage between science and metaphysics. Must reading for a soul-searching, hungry world.