The Life of the Spirit and the Life of To-day

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. Underhills book on the topic deservesto 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 whats 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 mans 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