Earth, 114 million years ago, one morning just after sunrise: The first flower ever to appear on the planet opens up to receive the rays of the sun. Prior to this momentous event that heralds an evolutionary transformation in the life of plants, the planet had already been covered in vegetation for millions of years. The first flower probably did not survive for long . . . . . . .

Any life-form in any realm -- mineral, vegetable, animal or human -- can be said to undergo "enlightenment." It is, however, an extremely rare occurrence since it is more than an evolutionary progression: It also implies a discontinuity in its development, a leap to an entirely different level of Being and, most important, a lessening of materiality.

Most ancient religions and spiritual traditions share the common insight -- that our "normal" state of mind is marred by a fundamental defect. However, out of this insight into the nature of the human condition -- we may call it the bad news -- arises a second insight: the good news of the possibility of a radical transformation of human consciousness.