Dharma: For Awakening and Social Change by Maetreyii Ma Nolan, Ph.D.

In Dharma: For Awakening and Social Change by author Maetreyii Ma Nolan, the most pressing issues facing the world today are paired with a spiritual approach and an eye-opening philosophy about personal evolution and balance.

For the uninitiated, this book does not take a scientific or sociological approach to explaining the modern world, but it does delve into the human psyche, examining ways we can tap into a higher spiritual guide to shape our destiny. By exploring different aspects of dharma, the book offers map for a spiritual journey, one packed with lessons that will not only benefit your daily life, but also your behavior and effect on the larger world.

Written as a collection of essays, or discourses, this book explores the origins and manifestations of dharma in different cultures, and follows its trajectory throughout history. Both anecdotal and factual, this compendium defies classification, veering from deep and heady spiritual diatribes to sprawling explanations that brush against psychotherapy and theories on child development.

There are some repetitive elements in somewhat overlapping essays, and some of the author’s beliefs are presented as facts, which may rub some readers the wrong way. However, despite being an inherently spiritual book, it is written tactfully and methodically, without any overt proselytization. Nolan merely presents a different way of looking at energy, communication, spiritual alignment, and our personal mindset in a way that could potentially help to change our perception of the world and its modern problems.

Dharma: For Awakening and Social Change won’t be for everyone, certainly, but that doesn’t make it any less of an essential read for those willing to learn.