Practical Mysticism: A Little Book for Normal People and Abba: Meditations Based on the Lord's Prayer

Download or read book Practical Mysticism: A Little Book for Normal People and Abba: Meditations Based on the Lord's Prayer written by Evelyn Underhill and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2003-08-19 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two classics in one volume that show a British poet and mystic to be one of the most authoritative modern voices on mysticism. "God gives without stint all that the creature needs, but it must do its part. He gives the wheat: we must reap and grind and bake it." –Evelyn Underhill Written on the eve of World War I, Practical Mysticism reviews the works of the greatest Western mystics, including Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, and Thomas à Kempis. Underhill’s goal is to guide her readers on a journey toward mystical consciousness, to teach them to see the “eternal beauty beyond and beneath apparent ruthlessness.” Abba, first published in 1940, takes as its starting point the seven phrases of the Lord’s Prayer, using them as a means to propel the self toward union with God. In these important works, Underhill brings an often esoteric subject onto a practical footing, showing that the profound gifts of mysticism are not only for the few but are within reach of us all.