Choose your country
Delivery choices and times vary depending on your location
Description:
About this item:
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
From the celebrated scholar and lecturer Andrew Harvey, a fascinating and inspiring introduction to the essential texts and themes of the great mystics.
Not merely a feast of the greatest and wisest mystical revelations, 'The Essential Mystics' i
About the Author
Andrew Harvey, is a poet, writer, teacher, mystic, and author of many books, including A Journey in Ladakh and Return of the Mother. An ex-fellow of All Soul's College, Oxford, and currently visiting professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies, Harvey has a loyal following among both spiritual and mainstream literary audiences.
Review:
3.9 out of 5
77.78% of customers are satisfied
5.0 out of 5 stars Mystic of the World
This is a excellent presentation of mystic in the world's wisdom traditions. It is insightful and helpful in understanding mysticism. It is inspiring to those who wish to become more spiritual in their actions and thoughts. I highly recommend it to those on a spiritual path.
5.0 out of 5 stars This book serves as an excellent overview of mystics from several faiths
Andrew Harvey is my go-to author when it comes to mysticism. This book serves as an excellent overview of mystics from several faiths.
1.0 out of 5 stars A book of little value
I have been reading a lot about mysticism over the past year or two. Living in Thailand, it's hard to avoid the Buddhist tradition of attaining Nirvana through meditation.But, surprisingly, that "old tradition" has been recently brought into question by the well-known Thai forest monk, Buddhadasa, who points out that in the original stories of the Buddha, many people broke through to Enlightenment simply through hearing the truth.In any case, it seems clear to me that there is a world-wide tradition of religious contemplation or meditation which may lead to an ecstatic union with God. Except for Buddhism, where it does NOT lead to any such thing, but to a rather undefined state called "Nirvana."From this presumed fact, the editor of this anthology makes a Great Leap --- and he's not the first one to do it --- and claims that this proves that all religions are the same.I would suggest that this anthology only demonstrates that, for a very small number of people, intense contemplation results in a feeling of ecstasy. Whether this is, in fact, a "union with God" is something that involves a leap of faith. It is reported, for example, that many epileptics have such religious experiences just before they fall into a fit.This is very far from demonstrating that all religions are the same.And here the editor fails, sometimes egregiously. His very brief introduction to Islamic mysticism manages to introduce a Muhammad who (somehow) was not a murderer and a brigand, and who did not marry a great number of wives, one of whom was under ten years old. The Muhammad in this book is a peaceful, profoundly religious man. To which I can only reply: read the Qur'an.The author's biases are also clearly on display in his introduction, where some decent scholarly summary suddenly gives way to preaching right out of Savanarola: if there is not a universal human religious revolution very soon, we will die from environmental disaster. (!) Putting aside the extremely unlikely revolution in religious consciousness, and the equally unlikely environmental disaster, this tirade has absolutely nothing to do with the texts selected by the editor.For example, Saint Francis' beautiful prayer which invokes the beauty of the sun, the moon, the stars, the earth, etc. says nothing about the need for a grand "revolution" to protect them; it speaks only of adoring them.------- updated review --------The more time I spend with this book, the more I dislike it. Why?In the section on Buddhism, the editor frankly admits that he does not like some of the key tenets of Buddhism, and so he selectively edits the Buddhist passages based on his own jejune prejudices.The section on the Greeks, which is badly titled "The Way of Beauty" --- "The Way of The Good" would have been much better --- he includes some weird "Hymn to Gaia" which is attributed to a book written by contemporary feminists who imagine they are poets. PLEASE, could we limit the selections to things written by actual Greeks? Or do we see the editor again bending the Greek reality to suit his own jejune tastes, just as he bent the Buddhist reality to suit himself?I'm afraid this book is going in the trash.
3.0 out of 5 stars Print Quality is So Awful (Appears to be a Scan of a Xerox Copy)
I get no pleasure from giving a 3-star review, but the print quality is so poor: my book looks like every page was a scan of a xerox copy - there's even the grayish background.I'm sure the material is wonderful, but the publisher was derelict - the pages are illegible.
5.0 out of 5 stars good book
good book and thank you!
2.0 out of 5 stars Book may be spectacular, But the print quality is awful
I have no doubt it’s a good book, but the printing quality is horrible. It looks like someone put a book on a printer and copied it. Very dark pages. Not sure what printing company uses this format. It’s terrible, it’s hard to read and distracting.
4.0 out of 5 stars Why did I read this book? Because my professor ...
Why did I read this book? Because my professor told me to. That being said, it was interesting material presented in an engaging way.
5.0 out of 5 stars A small leap into the Abyss of Mysticism
If it were not for this book, I would never have encountered the wealth of mystical traditions of different religions in my home town in dreary West Texas. Now I find it more of an introduction rather than anything else. There are sections devoted to different religious traditions, beginning in a somewhat chronological order.The section on Tribal and Aboriginal mysticism is extremely insightful on the ideas of animism and respect for nature.Hinduism is my second favorite section. It is by this book I was introduced to the wonderful insights of Sri Aurobindo Ghose. The little excerpts I read opened my mind to this giant of Vedantic thought. After this, I purchased the Life Divine and Savitri, which have been among the most impactful pieces of literature on my life's view.The sections on Buddhism, Taoism, Greek Religion, and Islam were deeply insightful. I was also introduced to the Sufi mystic Ibn Arabi who has also been an inspiration in my life.Judaism in this book is more focused on the idea of rabbinic traditions, also including Kabbalah. The selections were adequate to gain a grasp of the concepts of the mystical tradition but are rather lacking.The section on Christianity is my personal favorite with the variety of content. One can see how the idea of a personal relationship with God emerge and evolve over the history of the Church and more recent movements. The selection from John Ruusbroec is very deep. Usual mystics such as St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross were prevalent. Some protestant mystics were included, along with some quotes of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and also Bede Griffiths on the uniformity of mystical experience between faiths.Nevertheless the book is a great buy, not too expensive but a great start for those interested in approaching some mystical path. There is a bibliography included for the original and/or related texts of those presented in the book.
Very good primer.
This is a great easy to read primer on the mystical thinkers of the ages. I recommend this book to the spiritual seeker.
Visit the HarperOne Store
The Essential Mystics : Selections from the World's Great Wisdom Traditions
BHD10145
Quantity:
|
Order today to get by
Free delivery on orders over BHD 20
Product origin: United States
Electrical items shipped from the US are by default considered to be 120v, unless stated otherwise in the product description. Contact Bolo support for voltage information of specific products. A step-up transformer is required to convert from 120v to 240v. All heating electrical items of 120v will be automatically cancelled.
All product information listed on the site are from 3rd party sources, including images and reviews. bolo.bh is not liable for any claims or promotions mentioned on the product description or images with textual content. For detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer or Bolo support by logging into your account. Unless stated otherwise during checkout, all import taxes and duty are included in the price mentioned on the product page. bolo.bh follows the rules and regulations of sale in Bahrain and will cancel items in an order that are illegal for sale in Bahrain. We take all the necessary steps to ensure only products for sale in Bahrain are displayed. Product stock and delivery estimate may change with the seller even after placing the order. All items are shipped by air and items marked “Dangerous Goods (DG)” by the IATA will be cancelled from orders. We strive to process your order as soon as it is finalized.
More from this brand
Similar items from “Christian Books & Bibles”
Share with
X
Or share with link
https://bolo.com/