Evelyn Underhill

"Practical Mysticism" by Evelyn Underhill is a classic work that delves into the exploration of mystical experiences and the practical application of mystical principles in everyday life. Originally published in 1914, Underhill's insightful and accessible writing has made this book a timeless guide for those seeking a deeper understanding of spirituality. In this influential work, Underhill combines her extensive knowledge of theology, philosophy, and psychology to demystify the concept of mysticism and make it accessible to a broader audience. The book is structured as a guide, offering practical insights and exercises to help readers embark on their own mystical journey. Underhill explores various aspects of mysticism, including the stages of the mystical life, the nature of God, and the transformative power of prayer and contemplation. She emphasizes the idea that mysticism is not reserved for a select few but is a path that anyone can pursue, regardless of their religious background. The author draws from a wide range of spiritual traditions, incorporating insights from Christianity, Hinduism, Sufism, and other mystical traditions. This interfaith approach adds depth and richness to her exploration of mysticism, making the book inclusive and relevant to readers from diverse spiritual backgrounds." Practical Mysticism" is not merely a theoretical exploration; it offers practical exercises and suggestions for incorporating mystical practices into daily life. Underhill's writing is clear, engaging, and filled with wisdom, making the book an invaluable resource for both beginners and those already on a spiritual journey. Evelyn Underhill's "Practical Mysticism" remains a seminal work in the field, influencing subsequent generations of spiritual seekers, writers, and scholars. Its enduring popularity attests to the timeless relevance of its teachings and the universal appeal of the mystical quest for a deeper connection with the divine.

"Mysticism is the art of union with Reality. The mystic is a person who has attained that union in greater or less degree; or who aims at and believes in such attainment." So writes Evelyn Underhill, author of Practical Mysticism. In this little book, she explains precisely what that means and how we can put it to use in everyday life. In surprisingly timeless terms but under the guise of "Christian Mysticism," Underhill describes in 1914 what could rightly be called "secular mindfulness" today. She doesn't use much Christian terminology, instead preferring words that may be considered "new age," which allows readers to explore the mystical aspects of their own worldview without betraying their deeply held beliefs. Practical Mysticism is not a guidebook for mystical practice, although it does provide some tips along the way. What it does give is an introduction for the sufficiently motivated; those who see (or want to see) the world in a different way.

Practical Mysticism is Evelyn Underhill's classic exploration of her beliefs in spiritualism as a part of human nature. Underhill discusses spiritualism from a secular perspective, describing it as natural to humanity. Topics covered include: What Is Mysticism?, The World of Reality, The Preparation of the Mystic, Meditation and Recollection, Self-Adjustment, Love and Will, The First Form of Contemplation, The Second Form of Contemplation, The Third Form of Contemplation, and The Mystical Life.

Practical Mysticism is Evelyn Underhill's classic exploration of her beliefs in spiritualism as a part of human nature. Underhill discusses spiritualism from a secular perspective, describing it as natural to humanity. Topics covered include: What Is Mysticism?, The World of Reality, The Preparation of the Mystic, Meditation and Recollection, Self-Adjustment, Love and Will, The First Form of Contemplation, The Second Form of Contemplation, The Third Form of Contemplation, and The Mystical Life.

The Life of the Spirit and the Life of To-day, has been acknowledged as a major work throughout human history, and we have taken precautions to assure its preservation by republishing this book in a modern manner for both present and future generations. This book has been completely retyped, revised, and reformatted. The text is readable and clear because these books are not created from scanned copies.

2022 Reprint of the 1922 edition. Evelyn Underhill was an important spiritual writer of the early twentieth century. Her legacy as a pivotal figure in Christian mysticism endures today. For her, true mysticism is first of all active and practical, an organic life process in which the whole self is engaged, rather than simply an intellectual understanding. She translated the medieval spiritual guidebook called The Cloud of Unknowing, written by an anonymous English monk. This book counsels the young student to seek God, not through knowledge and intellect (faculty of the human mind), but through intense contemplation, motivated by love, and stripped of intellectualism. This marvelous guide to the contemplative life originated with the reflection of an unknown fourteenth-century priest who believed that a "cloud of unknowing" separates people from God. This cloud, he maintained, cannot be penetrated by intellect -only by love. The Cloud of Unknowing offers an approach to contemplative life that finds holiness at a level deeper than physical experience and beyond language or image. The author advises placing all thought and mental imagery behind a metaphorical "cloud of forgetting" while seeking to love the divine. Hidden from the infinite consciousness by a "cloud of unknowing," divine love can be reached through prayer - a single-word prayer, like a mantra, that assists in abandoning all extraneous thought. Seekers can thus attain an inner silence, where they may "be still and know the sacred." The author's spiritual gifts, combined with his humorous and straightforward approach, offer a view of divinity that never loses the common touch. Originally published as A Book of Contemplation the Which is called The Cloud of Unknowing, in the Which a Soul is Oned with God, by J. M. Watkins, London in 1912.

The reality and importance of this faculty are considered in the first three chapters. In the fourth and fifth is described the preliminary training of attention necessary for its use; in the sixth, the general self-discipline and attitude toward life which it involves. The seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters treat in an elementary way of the three great forms of contemplation; and in the tenth, the practical value of the life in which they have been actualised is examined. Those kind enough to attempt the perusal of the book are begged to read the first sections with some attention before passing to the latter part.

Practical Mysticism is a book written by Evelyn Underhill and first published in 1915. In this book Underhill sets out her belief that spiritual life is part of human nature and as such is available to every human being. Underhill's practical mysticism is secular rather than religious, since "it is a natural human activity. Underhill's book was written at the outbreak of World War I, at a time of "struggle and endurance, practical sacrifices, difficult and long continuous effort" when, she believed, practical mysticism was the activity needed most.

It is the object of this book to trace out that type of life, that peculiar quality of consciousness, which is called ""mystical,"" from its earliest appearance within Christianity; to estimate, so far as is possible, the true character and origin of the Christian mystic, and define the qualities which differentiate him from those other mystics who have been evolved along lines of spiritual development, Oriental, Neoplatonic, or Mahomedan. It is now acknowledged by many psychologists - amongst whom Leuba and Delacroix are of special importance, since their conclusions are entirely free from theological bias - that the Christian mystic does possess such differentiating characters; and represents, so far as the psychical nature of man is concerned, a genuine species apart... From the Preface

Evelyn Underhill was one of the greatest spiritual writers of the twentieth century. For her, true mysticism is, first of all, active and practical, an organic life process in which the whole self is engaged, rather than simply an intellectual apprehension. Underhill's book on the topic deserves to be read since it is still used in most courses that discuss mysticism and still attracts contemporary spiritual seekers. In this work, she explores meditation, spirituality, mindfulness, recollection, contemplation and mystical life. Begin with Evelyn Underhill a journey of peace today on the path to a better, more balanced life. An excellent book for a quick reminder on what's important in life. Excerpt: "We have already agreed that, if we wish to grasp the real character of spiritual life, we must avoid the temptation to look at it as merely a historical subject. If it is what it claims to be, it is a form of eternal life, as constant, as accessible to us here and now, as in any so-called age of faith: therefore of actual and present importance, or else nothing at all. This is why I think that the approach to it through philosophy and psychology is so much to be preferred to the approach through pure history. Yet there is a sense in which we must not neglect such history; for here, if we try to enter by sympathy into the past, we can see the life of the Spirit emerging and being lived in all degrees of perfection and under many different forms. Here, through and behind the immense diversity of temperaments which it has transfigured, we can best realise its uniform and enduring character; and therefore our own possibility of attaining to it, and the way that we must tread so to do. History does not exhort us or explain to us, but exhibits living specimens to us; and these specimens witness again and again to the fact that a compelling power does exist in the world-little understood, even by those who are inspired by it-which presses men to transcend their material limitations and mental conflicts, and live a new creative life of harmony, freedom and joy. Directly human character emerges as one of man's prime interests, this possibility emerges too, and is never lost sight of again. Hindu, Buddhist, Egyptian, Greek, Alexandrian, Moslem and Christian all declare with more or less completeness a way of life, a path, a curve of development which shall end in its attainment; and history brings us face to face with the real and human men and women who have followed this way, and found its promise to be true." Contents PREFACECHAPTER I. THE CHARACTERS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE CHAPTER II. HISTORY AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT CHAPTER III. PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT (I) THE ANALYSIS OF MIND CHAPTER IV. PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT (II) CONTEMPLATION AND SUGGESTION CHAPTER V. INSTITUTIONAL RELIGION AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT CHAPTER VI. THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT IN THE INDIVIDUAL CHAPTER VII. THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT AND EDUCATION CHAPTER VIII. THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT AND THE SOCIAL ORDER PRINCIPAL WORKS USED OR CITED

Evelyn Underhill was one of the greatest spiritual writers of the twentieth century. For her, true mysticism is, first of all, active and practical, an organic life process in which the whole self is engaged, rather than simply an intellectual apprehension. Underhill's book on the topic deserves to be read since it is still used in most courses that discuss mysticism and still attracts contemporary spiritual seekers. In this work, she explores meditation, spirituality, mindfulness, recollection, contemplation and mystical life. Begin with Evelyn Underhill a journey of peace today on the path to a better, more balanced life. An excellent book for a quick reminder on what's important in life. Excerpt: "We have already agreed that, if we wish to grasp the real character of spiritual life, we must avoid the temptation to look at it as merely a historical subject. If it is what it claims to be, it is a form of eternal life, as constant, as accessible to us here and now, as in any so-called age of faith: therefore of actual and present importance, or else nothing at all. This is why I think that the approach to it through philosophy and psychology is so much to be preferred to the approach through pure history. Yet there is a sense in which we must not neglect such history; for here, if we try to enter by sympathy into the past, we can see the life of the Spirit emerging and being lived in all degrees of perfection and under many different forms. Here, through and behind the immense diversity of temperaments which it has transfigured, we can best realise its uniform and enduring character; and therefore our own possibility of attaining to it, and the way that we must tread so to do. History does not exhort us or explain to us, but exhibits living specimens to us; and these specimens witness again and again to the fact that a compelling power does exist in the world-little understood, even by those who are inspired by it-which presses men to transcend their material limitations and mental conflicts, and live a new creative life of harmony, freedom and joy. Directly human character emerges as one of man's prime interests, this possibility emerges too, and is never lost sight of again. Hindu, Buddhist, Egyptian, Greek, Alexandrian, Moslem and Christian all declare with more or less completeness a way of life, a path, a curve of development which shall end in its attainment; and history brings us face to face with the real and human men and women who have followed this way, and found its promise to be true." Contents PREFACECHAPTER I. THE CHARACTERS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE CHAPTER II. HISTORY AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT CHAPTER III. PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT (I) THE ANALYSIS OF MIND CHAPTER IV. PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT (II) CONTEMPLATION AND SUGGESTION CHAPTER V. INSTITUTIONAL RELIGION AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT CHAPTER VI. THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT IN THE INDIVIDUAL CHAPTER VII. THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT AND EDUCATION CHAPTER VIII. THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT AND THE SOCIAL ORDER PRINCIPAL WORKS USED OR CITED

Evelyn Underhill was one of the greatest spiritual writers of the twentieth century. For her, true mysticism is, first of all, active and practical, an organic life process in which the whole self is engaged, rather than simply an intellectual apprehension. Jan van Ruysbroeck is thought to be the greatest of all the medieval Catholic mystics. Evelyn Underhill is, therefore, doing lovers not only of Catholic mysticism, but also of mysticism in general, a very real service by her monograph, which deals more satisfactorily than any existing work in English with the life and teachings of one of the most spiritual minds in Christendom. Her book is not simply a painstaking summary of the more patent generalities of the subject, but rather a deeply sympathetic entering into the mind of Ruysbroeck, and that, too, with no common insight. This edition contains a bibliographical note and complete footnotes. Excerpt: "In the history of the spiritual adventures of man, we find at intervals certain great mystics, who appear to gather up and fuse together in the crucible of the heart the diverse tendencies of those who have preceded them, and, adding to these elements the tincture of their own rich experience, give to us an intensely personal, yet universal, vision of God and man. These are constructive spirits, whose creations in the spiritual sphere sum up and represent the best achievement of a whole epoch; as in other spheres the great artist, musician, or poet-always the child of tradition as well as of inspiration-may do. John Ruysbroeck is such a mystic as this. His career, which covers the greater part of the fourteenth century-that golden age of Christian mysticism-seems to exhibit within the circle of a single personality, and carry up to a higher term than ever before, all the best attainments of the Middle Ages in the realm of Eternal Life. Rooted firmly in history, faithful to the teachings of the great Catholic mystics of the primitive and medi val times, Ruysbroeck does not merely transmit, but transfigures, their principles: making from the salt, sulphur, and mercury of their vision, reason, and love, a new and living jewel-or, in his own words, a 'sparkling stone'-which reflects the actual radiance of the Uncreated Light. Absorbing from the rich soil of the Middle Ages all the intellectual nourishment which he needs, dependent too, as all real greatness is, on the human environment in which he grows-that mysterious interaction and inter-penetration of personalities without which human consciousness can never develop its full powers-he towers up from the social and intellectual circumstances that conditioned him: a living, growing, unique and creative individual, yet truly a part of the earth from which he springs."