Julia Ching is professor of East Asian philosophy and religion at the University of Toronto and author of 14 books including Chinese Religions. In this engrossing memoir, she recounts her quest for meaning in a life swinging between East and West, illness and health, religious uncertainty and spiritual growth. At the heart of her struggle are three fierce battles with cancer and then miraculous recovery. Ching writes, "In seeking for healing on all levels, I'm also doing a religious duty. I'm nurturing God's great gift of life. Healing means becoming whole again. . . . To be whole in body and soul is itself one way of achieving one's salvation — and that of others. In fact, this is the basic goal in every life."
The author, who spent her childhood in Shanghai and Hong Kong, entered a Catholic religious order that fostered her higher education. Ching's Christianity over the years is deepened and enriched by her exposure to Buddhism, Taoism, and a variety of therapies. She eventually left the religious order, adopted a teenage son from China, and married a professor of comparative religion. The Butterfly Healing reminds us of the importance of the spiritual practice of openness.