Writing about Dying and Returning

PRESENTATION OF ROBERT McDERMOTT FORTHCOMING BOOK

Several months after the start of his retirement from the California Institute of Integral Studies in June 2022, and the simultaneous death of five of his closest friends — Patti Smith, Gertrude Hughes, Gene Golligly, Christopher Bamford, and David Gershan, M.D. — all deep anthroposophists, Robert McDermott began research for a book tentatively entitled Dying and Returning.

Early chapters will cover karma, the evolution of consciousness, Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese, and Amerindian contributions, followed by two chapters on Christian teachings on the afterlife. The entire book will be based on the research of Rudolf Steiner concerning the process of death of the physical, etheric, and astral bodies, and the journey of the “I” toward rebirth. Using Christopher Bamford’s book Staying Connected, the concluding chapter will summarize Steiner’s teachings and practices.

Robert McDermott, president emeritus and professor emeritus of the California Institute of Integral Studies, has published extensively on Sri Aurobindo and Rudolf Steiner, including The Essential Aurobindo (1974), The Essential Steiner (1984), Classics from the Journal for Anthroposophy (10 vols.), The New Essential Steiner (2009), and Steiner and Kindred Spirits (2015). He has been president and board chair of many institutions, including: president of the New York Center for Anthroposophy, president of the Rudolf Steiner Institute, member of the Council of the Anthroposophical Society in America, chair of the board of Sunbridge College and Rudolf Steiner College, and chair of the board of Sophia Project for Children and Mothers at Risk of Homelessness.