Colum Hayward is the author of 'Eyes of the Spirit: Working with a Spiritual Teacher' and 'The Meditation Lifestyle' as well as numerous articles. He acquired a PhD from Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1981 but has spent his life as a teacher within the spiritual organisation, The White Eagle Lodge, for the most part running its centre in London. For the last few years he has organised trips to the Languedoc to see Cathar sites. In 1999, pursuing his favoured sport of mountaineering, he survived a 600 ft fall. He has lectured in America, Australia and South Africa as well as the UK and lives in London.