Excerpt from Mysticism and Modern Life The task, for the author, relates itself very closely to one in which he has been for some time engaged and to which his previous volumes have been devoted - the study of the nature of Personality. In pursuing such a study it is impossible to pass by the mystics with their rich contribution to the meaning of this most fundamental of realities. The gentle reader who does not care for the critical discussion of mysticism may omit Part II. The author deems this, however, to be a very essential part of the volume One does not like to be a fool, even a blessed fool, as a neighbor of mine remarks. Without a philosophy to justify him the mystic can hardly escape this suspicion. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Mystical Life Two questions will arise at once in the minds of some readers Is there a Catholic Traditional Mysticism and if so, in what does it differ from any other mysticism? For, with many people, the conviction prevails, and is strongly rooted, that Mysticism is a relatively modern discovery, and was quite unknown to the mediaeval Doctors, let alone the Fathers of the Church and the Christians of the first centuries. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from That Other World: Personal Experiences of Mystics and Their Mysticism How came I to be first interested in the so-called occult? Everything has a beginning; and my interest in the mysterious and the phenomena associated with what were then termed "unknown forces" early attracted my attention. Scotch connections had told me of uncanny experiences associated with what was designated as "second sight." More than one claimed to have this gift or to know someone who had it. It was, moreover, a gift that I too might possess. In my youth I dreamt of all kinds of wonderful things I should be able to see and foretell. At that period one possesses much enthusiasm, a high imagination, and precious little logic and power of analysis. Experience alone enables one to weigh, analyse, and discriminate with any approach to accuracy. And this experience I certainly have had. When spiritualism became a subject of general inquiry I was an early inquirer; and, in an amateurish sort of way, sat with friends seeking for the signs which were said to come to those who sought them in the proper spirit and under congenial conditions. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Mysticism: Christian and Buddhist This Series is committed to a re-examination of all those sides of human endeavor which the specialist was taught to believe he could safely leave aside. It interprets present and past events impinging on human life in our growing World Age and envisages what man may yet attain when summoned by an unbend'ing inner necessity to the quest of what is most exalted in him. Its purpose is to offer new vistas in terms of world and human development while refusing to betray the intimate correlation between universality and individuality, dynamics and form, freedom and destiny. Each author treats his subject from the broad perspective Of the world community, not from the judaeo-christian, Western or Eastern viewpoint alone. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Mysticism in World Religion Among primitive peoples the greatest significance is attached to the experience of ecstasy and trance as a means of contact with the unseen. The utterance of a man in trance is commonly held to emanate from the spirits of the dead. 'the primitive seer or prophet stands midway between the mystic and the The phase Of religion which centres in the work of the inspired prophet or seer is known as 'shamanism' from the word 'shaman' used among the Tunguses Of Central and Eastern Siberia. (the same type Of religion is found among the Eskimo, the Australians, and many tribes Of North and South America.) The shaman has to undergo a lengthy training; he prepares him self for his work by fasting and solitude. He receives instruction from an Old shaman, who teaches him the lore of spirits. He is Often a man of psychic abnormality, but it is significant that his trouble is cured by the exercise Of his arts. He acts as healer, rain-maker, diviner, and exorcist, purifying a house where death has occurred by driving away the ghost. He is not a mere medium: he sees the spirits, and enters into communication with them, but he is not their passive instrument. Rather is he their master; he controls the powers through which he works. Yet he is not, typically, proud or overbearing. Among the Yakuts Of Siberia it is said that, While the shaman must be possessed of inner strength, he must not be presumptuous. In his Study of Shamanism, Eliade has shown that its characteristic feature is ecstasy, and that in this experience the belief in Spirit-possession is in reality secondary and derivative, and not primary. From ancient times, he says, the religion of Central Asia was marked by the worship of a supreme sky-god, but in course of time this belief became progressively less significant; it was replaced by the cult Of ancestral spirits and other beings. As a result the belief in spirit possession was introduced. The primary and fundamental aspect of mstasy is the ascent of the soul of the shaman to Heaven, Where it enters into communion with the divine. Even when the notion of spirit-possession was introduced, it did not entirely displace the earlier symbolism; the ascent to Heaven remained. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.