Practical Mysticism

This book is free on Kindle which means I probably won't keep the old paperback copy I acquired from someone's used book sale. This book was first published over a hundred years ago and sets out to explain mysticism is 'practical' terms that the everyman can understand.

Underhill gives this definition of mysticism: "Mysticism is the art of union with Reality. The mystic is a person who has attained that union in greater or lesser degree; or who aims at and believes in such attainment"(pg 5, E.P Dutton, 1943 edition).

Despite the word 'practical' in the title, this is not particularly practical. I think what Underhill meant by the term 'Practical Mysticism' was a non-technical, simple presentation about what it is. There isn't much show more direction about actual practice here. Underhill does urge a disciplining of the mind (i.e. learning to concentrate on one thing) and learning self forgetfulness as requisite for entering into the mystical life. The former prepares your faculties, the second sends your will through purgation. The 'three forms of contemplation' which she describes, are degrees of being able to attend to Reality.

This is one of those classic texts that is often referred to, though I think contemporary treatments are perhaps more beneficial for most readers. show less

Evelyn Uuderhill wrote that " mysticism was the art of union with reality....a science of love..a condition of being, not of seeing" This was a very rich dense little book, I will need to read it again. Many people have abandoned Christianity for Eastern religions because they did not find a deep spirituality there, the deep life Underhill describes offers everything to be found in all belief systems and transcends them all.

Certainly different from the self-help books of the current era that I was expecting, but it was beautifully written and highly motivating all the same.