essential mystic texts

[Anonymous No.19510145]

I am really interested in mysticism and would like to explore the topic systematically. what are the most fundamental, seminal, or influential texts in this area? I want to establish a good base of understanding but the body of literature is huge and I need guidance. help me /lit/

[Anonymous No.19510358]

The Book of Enoch
Corpus Hermeticum
Cloud of Unknowing
The Nag Hammadi Library

[Anonymous No.19510374]

>>19510145
The Holy Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Pray the rosary. Pray when you wake up, pray when you go to bed. Pray for yourself and for others. Be grateful to God for what you have. Simple as. Seriously. Do it. Reading a book isn't mysticism.


>>19510358
Enoch is likely to confuse him, same for the dead sea scrolls. Cloud of Unknowing is a step in the right direction. The sermons of Meister Eckhart as well, perhaps. But primarily OP you must pray to God and the saints.

[Anonymous No.19510380]

[Anonymous No.19510386]

>>19510145
Adding to >>19510358 , Plato's works and the Bible if you haven't, as well as
Celestial Hierachy and Mystical Theology by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
The City of God by St Augustine
Meister Eckhart's sermons and writings
Bonaventure's Journey of the Mind to God
Bernard of Clairvoux's sermons on the Song of Songs
Poetry of St. Ephrem the Syrian
Writings of St John of the Cross

Honestly, reading the Bible (with the occasional commentary to help with difficult questions) and prayer are sufficient. Too much focus on mysticism spoils faith and philosophy.

[Anonymous No.19510433]

>>19510386
good post and /thread

[Anonymous No.19511547]

>>19510145
It depends what Tradition you want look at anon. These anons here have provided excellent material for Christian mysticism (Meister Eckhart being a personal favourite), but there is mountains of such material outside of Christianity as well

[Anonymous No.19511554]

>>19510145

[Anonymous No.19511580]

>cherubinischer Wandersmann ("The Cherubinic Pilgrim"), a collection of 1,676 short poems, mostly Alexandrine couplets. His poetry explores themes of mysticism, quietism, and pantheism within an orthodox Catholic context

>read angelus silesius
t. schopenhauer

[Anonymous No.19511609]

>>19511547
yes I am particularly interested in Christian and Buddhist tradition. are there any good books on the comparative study of mysticism through the ages?

[Anonymous No.19511615]

>>19511609
>are there any good books on the comparative study of mysticism through the ages?
For all Traditions? None that are I am aware of as that would be an extensive task to give each Tradition the detail it would deserve. I remember there is a good book on comparsions between Christian and Buddhist mysticism though, but I cant remember the name, I will see if I can find it for you

[Anonymous No.19511620]

>>19511609

[Anonymous No.19511651]

>>19511554
>>19511620
lol. thanks.
>>19511580
sounds cool
>>19510386
excellent
>>19510380
thanks
>>19510374
>Reading a book isn't mysticism
good reminder
>>19510358
isn't Enoch more gnostic than mystic? maybe I'm showing my ignorance here
>>19511615
>I remember there is a good book on comparsions between Christian and Buddhist mysticism though, but I cant remember the name, I will see if I can find it for you
awesome thanks anon

[Anonymous No.19512536]

>>19510145
>I want to establish a good base of understanding but the body of literature is huge and I need guidance.

If you want an overview of the Western Christian mystical tradition, McGinn provides it. Pic related. He discusses all major and significant minor texts. Multiple volumes. In a sense he does for mysticism what Copleston does for philosophy. As such, it could be a bit much. I'm sure there are shorter introductory volumes.

'Light from Light: An Anthology of Christian Mysticism' edited by Louis Dupre is a very nice anthology of Christian mystical texts.

Another such anthology, compiled by McGinn, is titled 'The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism'.