Mystic Spirituality

In Practical Mysticism, Evelyn Underhill distills the essential (and comprehensible) steps that comprise the process of achieving mystical understanding. Though she uses the pantheon of Christian mystics as her guide, her methodology transcends any particular faith and offers a common sense approach to self-improvement and enhanced awareness.

Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927) was a distinguished musician, a prolific writer, and a great advocate of Sufi mysticism. I first learned about Khan from a long quote on “abstract sound” that was included in Julian P. Johnson’s famous book, The Path of the Masters (1939). It focused on listening to the inner sound as a spiritual practice and underlined how such was efficacious for uplifting one’s consciousness to higher regions. The following excerpt is from Khan’s 1923 work, The Mysticism of Sound.

What happens when an agnostic healthcare executive in Washington, DC begins to inexplicably venture into heavenly realms, encountering Jesus, Buddha, and angels? It sets off an unsustainable roller coaster of ecstasy and confusion that ultimately ends in a devastating crash. And for Mary Reed, a truly miraculous resurrection. Surrendering to her divine calling, Mary is swiftly guided onto a mystical journey that is astounding by any measure. Her new life gets underway in a tiny nunnery in the Himalayas, where she can finally begin to give voice to her experiences.

The mystic's journey is one taken on behalf of all humanity, whether based on the Buddhist vision of the Bodhisattva or the Christian concept of service. In this fascinating and inspiring introduction to the essential texts and themes of the great mystics, Andrew Harvey offers extracts from Buddhist, Taoist, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, and Greek traditions—as well as aboriginal sources. Drawing upon the sacred feminine in particular, these poignant selections provide a fascinating introduction to the essential text and themes of the world's great mystic visionaries.

The topic of neurotheology has garnered increasing attention in the academic, religious, scientific, and popular worlds. But there have been no attempts to explore more specifically how Jewish religious thought and experience may intersect with neurotheology. The Rabbi's Brain engages this groundbreaking area.  

Recounting the longstanding magical tradition of Germany, Christopher McIntosh investigates the numerous prehistoric sacred sites that point to a nearly forgotten ancient shamanic civilization. He examines the survival and revival of the old pre-Christian gods in folklore, customs, and practices as well as witchcraft. He looks at Germany’s rich and many-faceted spiritual heritage and explores Christian mysticism and theosophy as exemplified by Meister Eckhart, Hildegard of Bingen, and Jakob Boehme.

Who is Jesus? What is he like? And who am I, encountering Jesus? These questions were just as important to Christians in the Middle Ages as they are today. And yet—as C.S. Lewis noted—the modern church tends to forget that people of different cultures and times also thought carefully about who Jesus was; and sometimes their ideas and emphases were different. Medievalist scholar Grace Hamman believes that we can deepen our understanding and adoration of Christ by looking to the Christians of the Middle Ages.

Ever sensed there's more to life than what's visible? Felt someone's energy before they spoke? If yes, this audiobook is your gateway to a transformative spiritual journey, unveiling the unseen world. Designed for beginners, it guides you to turn sensitivities into strengths, evolving them into psychic abilities. It's a path requiring commitment and practice, but the transformation at the end is profound.

Farid ud-Din Attar occupies a prominent place in the roll of distinguished Persian poets. His most famous work on Sufism, written eight centuries ago, is the Mantiq-ut-Tayr, or the "Colloquy of the Birds," an allegorical poem in which the gifted mystic describes the quest of the birds (symbolizing Sufi pilgrims) for the Simurg (the Lord of Creation).

Ancient and classical societies have always had an ideal of manhood. In Japan, the samurai cultivated not only the art of the sword, but also poetry, calligraphy, and spiritual practice. In Confucianism, the ideal man was the Chun-Tzu (the Higher Man), who cultivated both the arts of war and the arts of peace. And in medieval Europe, the knight lived by the comparable code of chivalry. Such men, considered both warriors and mystics, exemplified wholeness. Yet today, men exist in a chaotic world without role models, guidance, or a sense of the sacred masculine.

Truth, as taught by the Savior and by saints, mystics, prophets, and sages of all ages and races is the universal solvent, and at the same time, it is the catalyst which blends the basis of all creeds and shows the seeker the way back to his real home of everlasting peace and happiness.

What if Jesus were not a supernatural being conceived by a virgin but a real human being who had experienced the awakening of consciousness known as "enlightenment" in the East? This extraordinary line-by-line commentary on some of the best-known New Testament Gospels from Matthew and John tests the hypothesis that Jesus was a mystic, not a miracle worker of supernatural origin. Osho convincingly makes the case that the stories of Jesus' life were never meant to be a factual record of history but rather are teaching parables.

Zhuang Zhou was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the fourth century BC during the Warring States period, a period corresponding to the summit of Chinese philosophy, the Hundred Schools of Thought. He is credited with writing - in part or in whole - a work known by his name, the Zhuangzi, which is one of the foundational texts of Taoism. Herein is perhaps his most well known work.

John Shelby Spong, best-selling author and popular proponent of a modern, scholarly, and authentic Christianity, argues that this last gospel to be written was misinterpreted by the framers of the fourth-century creeds to be a literal account of the life of Jesus when in fact it is a literary, interpretive retelling of the events in Jesus' life through the medium of fictional characters, from Nicodemus and Lazarus to the "Beloved Disciple."

There’s so much noise. Everything can seem like a distraction. Distraction, in fact, seems like it is our oxygen. When was the last time you saw people talking on an elevator? We seem to plug in everywhere. We don’t even look up from our earphones and screens, never mind find time for silence. Our hearts need quiet. How are we ever going to pray otherwise? How could we ever possibly know God’s love and will—and the truth about ourselves and the world—without resting in him?

The Antichrist: A Catholic Perspective deals with Satan and his role at the end of times - through the eyes of Sacred Scripture, the Doctors of the Church, the mystics, and the saints. A timeless book which does not incorporate recent prophecies about the Antichrist, but rather accepted church teachings and private prophecies which avoid the current fads of messages that try to pinpoint exact daily prophecies with dates and specific times.

Christianity is a mysterious faith. Some of these mysteries can be described with Scripture or doctrine, but others can only be experienced. Those graced with these experiences, these intimate glimpses of God, are called mystics. Murray Bodo's sensitive guidance leads us into the heart of what these mystics have expressed about God and how their insight can deepen our own experience of the boundless mystery of a loving God. This updated and expanded edition includes new chapters on St. Clare and St. Bonaventure.

This user-friendly book blends theory and practice, gently and concretely taking the listener through the first steps of contemplative prayer. Armchair Mystic begins with the necessary details of time and place to pray, then presents the maturation of the prayer life in four stages.

Cette édition traduite en français explique comment l’ancienne Égypte est à l’origine de l’alchimie et du Soufisme contemporain et comment les mystiques d’Égypte camouflent leurs pratiques sous une mince couche d’Islam. Le livre explique également la progression de la Voie mystique vers l’illumination, avec une explication cohérente de ses bases et de ses pratiques. Il montre la correspondance entre le calendrier de l’ancienne Égypte marquant les événements et les cycles cosmiques de l’univers.

For modern yogis feeling challenged in our efforts to remain deeply spiritual, contemplative, and centered amid the stresses and complications of urban life, this book serves as both inspiration and guide. Darren Main's fresh, down-to-earth approach to the time-tested practice and philosophy of yoga shows us the way to apply the ancient wisdom of India to every moment and every breath so that even our busiest days can be powerful and mystical adventures.