Truly magisterial, this compendium of spiritual wisdom is organized according to the traditional religious concept of spiritual ascent—or, in Christian terms, the sequence of death, resurrection, and eternal life.
Hundreds of selected passages represent many faiths and philosophical traditions, with insight from some of the world’s greatest minds, including Black Elk, Confucius, Eckart, Muhammad, Philo, Rumi, and Shakespeare. The material itself is divided into three sections that correspond to the ascent, with the opening quotations treating suffering, sin, and obedience before giving way to the middle section’s focus on mercy, love, and contemplation. Finally, the third set of quotations climbs aloft to investigate the subjects of truth, eternity, the shattering of forms, and the union with God.
Simply imagine that you are going through one of life’s many trials, such as the death of a loved one, or the loss of one’s own health or mobility. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have access to what the finest minds of the world’s great civilizations have had to say on that subject and the associated attitudes which could help ease or sustain one’s way?
Imagine reading what has been concluded and believed about how suffering is to be transmuted into joy, how to resist judging others and instead love our neighbors. This astounding encyclopedia of humankind’s spiritual truth is organized according to the traditional process of Spiritual Ascent—often referred to as: Death-Resurrection-Eternal Life, or Emptying-Reforming-Union.
Each of these topics is clarified by the contributions of those we hold highest. More like a library than a single book, this volume takes readers on a journey from the creation of the cosmos to our final reabsorption back into the Divine Source, a journey defined by the traditional stages of the soul’s transformation. Guiding the way are such focused counsels as are found in Eckhart, Philo, Rumi, the Talmud, Shakespeare, Rama Krishna, Black Elk, the Psalms, the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad-Gita, Muhammad, Confucius, and countless others.
A truly majesterial compendium of spiritual doctrine . . . where one will encounter the heritage shared with all humanity in what is essentially timeless, enduring and pertinent to our final end.
