History of Mysticism: The Unchanging Testament

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Summary: An encyclopadia of comtemplative thought
Review: Although the former Stan Trout (now known by the who-knows-how-you-pronounce-it Sanskrit name of Swami Abhayananda) leans toward the philosophical schools of India, he is certainly not close-minded. He surveys the thought of 40 people who throughout history have had mystical/idealist experiences, covering pagan (which only means "country-dweller"), Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Taoist experiences. Although all are superficially different, all are the same in their essentials: there is an Ulimate Reality (call it by whatever name you wish) that creates the visible universe, and that it can be experienced by anyone who wishes it. I can't remember seeing another collection that is as encyclopadic as this one: there are descriptions that range from the early Egyptians to Meister Eckhart. Whether you agree with him or not, he certainly has done his homework, and produced quite a detailed and informative book.

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Summary: An excellent compendium of our world legacy of God Realizers
Review: Having written this history regarding the remarkable unanimity of God Realizers from around the world throughout recorded history from the perspective of one who has had the "vision" of God, Swami Abhayananda taps the essence of each of these remarkable visionaries. I highly recommend this book to those who want an overview of our shared spiritual heritage, including seers from our ancient past, the Greco-Roman period, early and late medieval periods, and the modern age.

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Summary: Fascinating study of 40 great mystics down through the ages.
Review: The contemporary mystic and scholar, S. Abhayananda's History Of Mysticism: The Unchanging Testament is a fascinating anthology and study of the teachings of more than forty of the greatest mystics from the beginnings of recorded human history down to the present day. Each mystic is introduced and placed into historical perspective. History Of Mysticism features many previously unpublished translations, surprising discovers, and diverse perspectives on the "one ultimate reality" which is the common experience of all mystics regardless of religious or philosophical tradition. Also highly recommended for students of metaphysics is S. Abhayananda's earlier ground breaking work, The Origin Of Western Mysticism: Selected Writings Of Plotinus.