The Mystic Vision - Daily Encounters with the Divine
"The mystics tell us that life is Divine, that we, in this dimension, are in the eternal embrace of the Divine. They show us that our sole purpose in life is to open our heart to this Divine Presence, to know it and love it as the essence and ground of our own lives and as the life of every creature and every aspect of creation. They invite us to recognize its longing to be known in our own longing for relationship with what seems so far from us yet is closer to us than our breathing.”
- Andrew Harvey and Anne Baring
The Mystic Vision - Daily Encounters with the Divine
by Andrew Harvey and Anne Baring
Godsfield Press UK and HarperSanFrancisco 1995
The mystics tell us that life is Divine, that we, in this
dimension, are in the eternal embrace of the Divine.
Andrew Harvey and I gathered together the texts from different
mystical traditions, East and West, that we had cherished for many
years. In the form of a Day Book, these were published in 1995 by
Godsfield Press in the UK and HarperSanFrancisco in the United
States. It is now out of print but is still obtainable on the
internet through Amazon and abe books. The description on the back
cover reads:
"This anthology, as precious as a Book of Hours, is the fruit of our
search for the quintessence of the mystic vision and the mystic
experience. It offers a treasury of texts for contemplation, chosen
from the great religious traditions of the world, which invite the
reader to open his or her heart to the Divine Presence on every day
of the year. The words are beautifully complemented by a wealth of
illustrations.”
Introduction
"The mystics come back to us from an encounter with life's most
august secret, as Mary came running from the tomb; filled with
amazing tidings which they can hardly tell. We, longing for some
assurance, and seeing their radiant faces, urge them to pass on their
revelation if they can.”——— Evelyn Underhill, 'Mysticism'
"All mystics speak the same language, for they come from the same
country.”—— Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin
The mystics tell us that life is Divine, that we, in this dimension,
are in the eternal embrace of the Divine. They show us that our sole
purpose in life is to open our heart to this Divine Presence, to know
it and love it as the essence and ground of our own lives and as the
life of every creature and every aspect of creation. They invite us
to recognize its longing to be known in our own longing for
relationship with what seems so far from us yet is closer to us than
our breathing. Ruysbroeck expressed this with perfect clarity:-
When love has carried us above all things...we receive in peace the
Incomprehensible Light, enfolding us and penetrating us. What is this
Light, if it be not a contemplation of the Infinite, and an intuition
of Eternity? We behold that which we are, and we are that which we
behold; because our being, without losing anything of its own
personality, is united with the Divine Truth.
Ramakrishna said that the sensitive mother cooks fish differently for
each of her hungry children - plain and bland for one, rich and spicy
for the other. In exactly the same way, The Mother of the Universe
reveals various spiritual approaches to the Divine. Whether you
follow the idea of a personal God or the impersonal Truth,
Ramakrishna said, you will certainly realize the One Reality,
provided that you experience passionate longing for it.
There are an infinite number of perspectives and each one of
them is a path to God. Each individual is unique and follows a unique
path. With the longing to discover it, the way unfolds in the rhythm
of the life of each separate being. Forcing the pace can block the
opening of the heart. Each one of us will know the flowering of
consciousness as it returns to the Source or Ground of Being. As
Ramakrishna said, some will receive their meal early in the morning,
others at noon, still others not until evening. But none will go
hungry. Without exception, all living beings will eventually know
their own true nature to be the Great Light.
The Alchemists knew their work of transmuting the base metal of
ignorance and separation into the gold of union would best be done
gently, patiently and with great delicacy. As the windows of the
heart are opened, the light pours in, revealing what was previously
shrouded in darkness. Insight, wisdom, compassion grow with the
experience of communion with the Divine.
In this book, we have gathered together from many different
cultures, past and present, the magical, quickening words which guide
and help us on our own journey of transformation. They transmit the
vision of those women and men who discovered within themselves the
quintessential treasure of the Divine. In a time as dark as ours they
inspire and ennoble us all, giving us the hope, courage and strength
to follow them into the heart of life.
The Mystic Vision: Daily Encounters with the Divine
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