“Thinking Big to Save Humanity”: A Review of The Rainbow Bridge: Bridge to Inner Peace and to World Peace (4th ed.) by Brent N. Hunter

 

 (San Francisco and Los Angeles: Spirit Rising Publications, 2015). ISBN: 978-0-9912064-4-5

Scanning the nine pages of blurbs at the start of this important handbook for making a difference in a dark and troubled world, you will immediately notice the names: His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Neale Donald Walsch, Arun Gandhi, Louis Gossett Jr., Ervin Laszlo, and Edgar Mitchell, among many others. This, and the fact that it is now in its fourth edition, creates big expectations for The Rainbow Bridge, and, to me, it meets them.

To those who have been doing social justice and spiritual work for any length of time—for me it is more than two decades—you will find the age-old wisdom very familiar and the continually quoted names to be in many ways your standard fare. In balance, however, with this abundance of the familiar are sections of the book that are very original, profound, and most importantly, ambitious. Perhaps some readers might even think they are naïve.

For this reason in and of itself, I highly recommend this book. Because they are not naïve, and the wisdom and quotes presented by the author, as familiar and ubiquitous as some of them are, are worth reading, over and over again, each and every day. Every chance we get. Because they do not only operate in the same manner as prayers, sutras, and koans—they are the fuel of Hope. And, in order to participate in the activities underway and recommended in The Rainbow Bridge, one must have abundant Hope.

Hunter begins by laying out the mission and vision of his work and defining language and intent. He then moves to sixty Universal Principles. Much will be familiar here to even the casual spiritual practitioner and weekend seeker. He covers everything from the Golden Rule to “As You Think, So It Is,” Love Your Neighbor, Being of Service, and Unconditional Love. He also considers the nature of life after death and of karma and of going “through the looking glass.” He cues the importance of meditation, using the power of the “As If” (thoughts create reality and manifest what we want and need) and touches on at least one of the principles that Don Miguel Ruiz terms the Four Agreements: Don’t Take Things Personally.

It is about halfway through the book, at the section titled World Peace, that the length and breadth—and ambition—of Hunter’s vision begin to shine. Here he puts forth ideas of a world “operating system,” for strengthening the UN (would it not be something if the General Council held more power than the Security Council—which the US controls with taxpayer dollars to serve corporate oligarchical interests—and there was a true citizens council?), dismantling to the very last one nuclear weapons, a global commons, and a return to Jubilee debt forgiveness.

As I said earlier, at first glance, it might be easy to say, “Yeah, right… good luck.” But what stops change but a refusal to implement it? As we saw during the height of the pandemic, money is not a fixed thing—the Federal Reserve (neither federal nor a reserve) was boosting the bottom lines of banks simply by instructing them to move decimal points. The US dollar is backed by more of an illicit agreement amongst a handful of powerful “elites” than anything as tangible as, say, gold. If all of this is news to you, the research is out there, and it is imperative that you read it. Like change, you just have to commit to seeking it and letting it work on your worldview and your heart.

There are many projects in progress under the Rainbow Bridge umbrella, and the book offers contact information and details if you want to get involved. This leads to a section titled The Way Forward. It begins with the personal, asking, “What is Your Life Purpose?” followed by a call to action. There is also a section with additional information on how to get involved with the Rainbow Bridge Movement.

The remainder of the book is forty pages of inspiring quotes from a broad array of philosophers, spiritualists, scientists, politicians, writers, and artists. From Desmond Tutu to Marianne Williamson, to Galileo and Teilhard de Chardin, Schopenhauer, Krishna, and Vaclav Havel, to presidents Coolidge and Lincoln, there is something for everyone. All of the quotes also serve to build upon or further illuminate the principles set forth in the book and to serve, if you wish, as a daily opportunity to reflect and meditate on a piece of profound wisdom.

For me, the quote that resonates most highly, which I use daily as a creative artist, storyteller, teacher, and mentor, is “Follow your bliss,” by Joseph Campbell, which comes from the Sanskrit Sat Chit Ananda. Becoming involved with Rainbow Bridge movements and calls to action might just be your bliss. Hunter gives you the reasons why, the wisdom of the ages to back them up, and a path to the start of the expanse.

Will you read this book and heed the call?