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    Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness
    Unavailable
    Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness
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    Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness
    Ebook972 pages17 hours

    Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness

    By Evelyn Underhill

    4.5/5

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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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDover Publications
    Release dateApr 3, 2012
    ISBN9780486123707

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    Reviews for Mysticism

    4.5/5

    7 ratings3 reviews

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    • 4/5
      When 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

    • 5/5
      Brilliant doesn't start to describe.
    • 4/5
      A 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.