Evelyn Underhill

With: Historical commentaryBiographical infoAppendix with further readingsFor nearly 2,000 years, Christian mystics, martyrs, and sages have documented their search for the divine. Their writings have bestowed boundless wisdom upon subsequent generations. But they have also burdened many spiritual seekers. The sheer volume of available material creates a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Enter the Upper Room Spiritual Classics series, a collection of authoritative texts on Christian spirituality curated for the everyday reader. Designed to introduce 15 spiritual giants and the range of their works, these volumes are a first-rate resource for beginner and expert alike.Evelyn Underhill, a 20th-century British spiritual writer and retreat leader, is widely known for her compelling exploration of the spiritual life. Underhill offers profoundly simple advice on opening ourselves to God. This volume includes a cross-section of her letters and her published retreat and radio talks.

For generations, readers have found in the writings of Evelyn Underhill the guidance to help them deepen their own interior lives in the Christian mystical tradition. In this lovely volume, Anglican author and editor Christopher Webber has carefully selected inspirational passages from Underhill's most significant works, providing readings for every day of Advent and Christmas, and sharing the timeless treasure of Underhill's spiritual vision.

"God gives without stint all that the creature needs, but it must do its part. He gives the wheat: we must reap and grind and bake it." -Evelyn Underhill In these two classics, British poet and mystic Evelyn Underhill shows herself to be one of the most authoritative modern voices on mysticism. Written on the eve of World War I, Practical Mysticism reviews the works of the greatest Western mystics, including Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, and Thomas Kempis. Underhill's goal is to guide her readers on a journey toward mystical consciousness, to teach them to see the "eternal beauty beyond and beneath apparent ruthlessness." Abba, first published in 1940, takes as its starting point the seven phrases of the Lord's Prayer, using them as a means to propel the self toward union with God. In these important works, Underhill brings an often esoteric subject onto a practical footing, showing that the profound gifts of mysticism are not only for the few but are within reach of us all.

While searching through the archives of poet and author Evelyn Underhill, Grace Brame discovered four important handwritten retreats given by Underhill that were thought to be lost. In these writings, Underhill takes up some of the timeless themes of spiritual life: the call of God, sanctity, inner grace, and our purpose in life.

Brief extracts from the Underhill book, Fruits of the Spirit, first published in 1942, the year after Underhill's death. Each of these brief pieces is actually a meditation on some aspect of the spiritual life, and makes excellent devotional reading.

The title of the book, Abba, is the term used in more than one place in the New Testament for addressing God as Father and it is with the Our Father prayer that these meditations are concerned. At first sight it might be thought impossible to say anything fresh on something so familiar to all Christians as the Lord s Prayer. Yet the inexhaustible depths of meaning to be found in it may, by the very fact of familiarity, all too easily escape notice and understanding.

A revered priest's horrifying metaphysical secret that is revealed only after his death. A sculptor's obsessive desire to craft the horrific face that haunts his dreams and drives him to madness. A journey upriver to an unspoiled realm whose denizens revile anything tainted by humans. The sole survivor of an island shipwreck and the terrifying ancient being he confronts.Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941) is best known for her groundbreaking and accessible studies on Christian mysticism: over forty books and hundreds of articles and lectures on spiritual practices, including her most famous work, Mysticism (1911). Yet even the most avid Underhill reader does not know that she spent her youth writing some seriously weird fiction: supernatural short stories that H.P. Lovecraft might have enjoyed. Here for the first time is a collection of short stories, poetry, and an essay written by the foremost Christian mystic of the twentieth century. Furthermore, Underhill's brief fiction career represents an important step in her mystical and spiritual development. Understand these stories and you go a long way toward understanding how Underhill became the transformational thinker and mystic the world knows her to be.

Experience the profound wisdom and spiritual depth of "Songs of Kabir." This collection presents the translated poetry of Kabir, a revered figure in Indian religious history, celebrated for his mystical and devotional verses. Rooted in Hindi poetry traditions, Kabir's work transcends cultural boundaries, offering insights into universal themes of faith, love, and the search for the divine. A cornerstone of religious and mystical poetry, these songs explore complex spiritual ideas with simple, direct language. Ideal for those interested in Indian poetry, Hinduism, or devotional literature, "Songs of Kabir" provides a window into a rich tradition of spiritual expression. This print edition preserves the enduring legacy of Kabir's poetic vision, making it a timeless addition to any literature collection.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.