Mysticism Holiness East and West

Mysticism, usually defined as the direct experience of ultimate reality,is pervasive throughout the religions of the world, yet varies widely in itsparticulars. Surveying the mystical dimension of the world's major religions,Denise and John Carmody examine how the usual understanding of mysticism holdsup when set in interaction with Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese, Japanese, Jewish,Christian, and Muslim mystical experience. The authors also examine major oraltraditions of Native American, African, and Australian, highlighting eachtraditions history and doctrine, and looking at outstanding mystical figuresthat have left written accounts of their experiences, which create atheoretical understanding of their intimate communicution with the divine. Theresult is a dialogue between the particulars of mystical experience, which varyfrom tradition to tradition, and the generalities they share that make itpossible to speak of mysticism across these traditions. An accessively writtenand comprehensive introduction, this book should appeal to a wide range ofreaders interested in this universal phenomenon.