Book description
An inspired gathering of religious writings that reveals the "divine reality" common to all faiths, collected by Aldous Huxley
"The Perennial Philosophy," Aldous Huxley writes, "may be found among the traditional lore of peoples in every region of the world, and in its fully developed forms it has a place…
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Why read it?
3 authors picked The Perennial Philosophy as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
A turning point in my spiritual path was the discovery that the mystics of all traditions, in all eras, have reported similar or identical spiritual experiences. They used different terminology, hailed from different cultures, practiced different methods, and even had different belief systems, but experientially, they found that all paths lead to the same mountaintop of spiritual illumination.
Scholars have a name for this perspective: perennialism. Huxley published the classic account in the mid-40s, offering as evidence excerpts of writings from both well-known and obscure mystics. The book taught me (and millions of others) that spirituality is universal and there…
From Philip's list on practical spirituality and meeting of East West.
Renowned for brilliant visionary novels like Brave New World and Island, Huxley also wrote one of the most insightful books about the underlying truth running through the great mystics of the world’s spiritual traditions.
By quoting mostly from the mystics of both East and West themselves rather than the Bible, Huxley focused on the common essence of the experience of divine union. Along with many unsung Christian mystics, he also quotes from Eastern masters and sacred scriptures, including Rumi, Lao Tzu, Shankara, and from scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, Tibetan Book of the Dead, Diamond Sutra, and…
From Peter's list on spiritual path alternative to institutional religion.
This is a thought-provoking book that explores the common themes and mystical experiences found in different religions and spiritual traditions.
Huxley's writing style is engaging and his ability to express complex ideas in an accessible manner makes the book an enjoyable and informative read for both the spiritual and secular. By examining the shared mystical theme spanning all religions, the book helps bridge their varying differences.
Its perspective on this common spiritual essence reinforces and helps me connect to what I would consider a universal truth.
From Oagis' list on helping to leggo that ego.
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