Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness
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About this ebook
Mysticism is usually thought of as an intense state involving personal unification with the Divine or Ultimate Reality. By its very nature, it is an ineffable experience, impossible to put into words. It is not impossible, however, to study the phenomenon, with an eye toward understanding not only its nature and manifestations, but its relationship to spirituality in general. This book is such a study. Widely considered the best book on mysticism for the general reader, this classic volume assembles a broad range of information scattered among monographs and textbooks in many languages.
The work of a noted British authority on mysticism, it is divided into two parts: the first provides an introduction to the general subject of mysticism and its relation to metaphysics, psychology, theology, magic, and symbolism. The second and longer part contains a detailed study of the nature and development of spiritual or mystical consciousness, including such topics as the awakening of the self, the purification of the self, voices and visions, introversion, ecstasy and rapture, the dark night of the soul, and the unitive life. An interesting appendix provides a historical sketch of European mysticism from the beginning of the Christian era to the death of Blake.
Richly documented with material drawn from such great mystics as St. Teresa, Meister Eckhart, St. John of the Cross, and William Blake, this remarkable study will be of immense interest to students, psychologists, theologians — anyone interested in this extremely personal and powerful form of spiritual life.
Evelyn Underhill
Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941) was an English Anglo-Catholic writer and pacificist known for her numerous works on religion and spiritual practice, in particular Christian mysticism. Dr Robyn Wrigley-Carr is senior lecturer in Theology and Spirituality at Alphacrusis College, Sydney, Australia. She has a Masters degree in Spiritual Theology from Regent College, Vancouver, and was awarded a PhD by the University of St Andrews in 2013 for her doctorate on Baron Friedrich von Hugel, Evelyn Underhill's spiritual director of whom she said, 'I owe my spiritual life'.
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Reviews for Mysticism
7 ratings3 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When I first read Ms. Underhill's book, I was totally confused. Mysticism, Cosmic Consciousness, Nirvana, and similar states of being are hard enough to understand for the learned scholar or adept let alone a ten year old boy. So I put it away and every so often I would get into it again trying to understand the concepts and meanings of what it was she was trying to convey. It's not an easy read even today in my sixties, but I understand it now very well, and for me, today it is a basic primer compared my earlier understanding. If you have a good understanding of the Mystic Mind and Consciousness, Then this book is a Good read. If you are a novice give it a once over then get back to it in about ten years. Underhill is to Modern Mysticism what Rachel Spring is to the Modern Environmental movement. I gave it 4 stars because it is hard to read. But I give it two thumbs up for content and validity.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brilliant doesn't start to describe.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A must-read book if one is interested in the topic. She seems rather intent on making the case for an ultimate I-Thou dualism, as against the eastern thought non-dualism/monism/ pantheism understanding - but I think she fails. Monism of some type seems the more intuitive and logical to me.