Most of the talks were delivered to his Tuesday invitational Group at the Institute of Religious Science in Los Angeles. Others include his private practitioners’ class. And a very special bonus here is the transcription of a recording made of Dr. Holmes’ dedicatory address at the Whittier Church of Religious Science on 12 February 1959—a little more than a year before  his  passing—in  the  course  of  which  he   underwent  an  experience  of  Cosmic Consciousness that breaks dramatically into the talk, in words and in silence.

Dr. George Bendall, whose introduction as well as comments at the head of chapters provide an invaluable context, is uniquely situated to know and understand both Dr. Holmes’ teaching and the man himself. Coming by irresistible attraction to the Science of Mind in the midst  of  a  stellar  career  in  engineering—he  had  been  one  of  200  men  disqualified  by President  Franklin  D.  Roosevelt  from  World   War  II  military  service  because  of  their importance to the home-front industrial effort—he was later summoned by Dr. Holmes, upon the demise of Holmes’ wife, to be his close associate, taking up residence at Holmes’ house and serving as his personal companion during the last years of his life. Thus it was with Dr. Bendall alone that Dr. Holmes spoke about his experience of Cosmic Consciousness.

Volume One, which was initially published in a hardcover, absolutely verbatim, format— the original  transcription typescript set to print, with its typos, lacunae, and Holmes’ own occasional syntactical inconsistencies— is due to be reissued in a less expensive paperback format  consistent  with  this  volume,  edited  for  clarity  and  coherence  where  necessary. Meanwhile, we launch this second volume, similarly edited but verbatim as much as possible, with no small sense of pride in furthering the exposure to the world  of one of its greatest religious philosophers.