Riding with the Lion: In Search of Mystical Christianity (Arkana) (Paperback)

by Kyriacos C. Markides (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The journeys of contemporary spiritual seekers are often marked by the search not only for the soul's home but also for a true leader who, like Dante's Virgil, can accompany them on their quest of self-discovery. Markides here provides a kind of spiritual travelogue in which he chronicles his own search for authentic teachers of the sophia perennis. From his study of the Orthodox Christian mystical tradition, the author draws parallels with the spiritual principles enunciated in Hinduism, Buddhism and other Eastern systems of religious expression; he even counsels ways of distinguishing false teachers from true ones. Unfortunately, however, the book is marred by a soupy spirituality whose attempt to synthesize a variety of beliefs and practices into a universal spirituality represents the worst of the New Age. The book will, nonetheless, have wide appeal to those readers seeking the simple integrations of pop spirituality.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Despite his promising subtitle, Markides (sociology, Univ. of Maine) will disappoint readers interested in classical Christian mysticism. Anecdotal evidence for paranormal phenomena such as teleportation, clairvoyance, levitation, dematerialization, and channeling, along with a disorganized collage of references to Marx, Nietzsche, Plato, Huston Smith, P.D. Ouspensky, etc., are presented in the first part of the book. Markides does not succeed in his attempt to place New Age religion and paranormal psychology within the context of classical mysticism. Where he does succeed is in the account of his visit to the monasteries of Mount Athos on the coast of Greece and his encounter there with monks of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Libraries with collections in New Age materials and parapsychology will want to consider this book, but collections in Christian mysticism would be better served by such recent publications as Evelyn Underhill's classic Mysticism (Oxford Univ. Pr., 1993. reprint).
Linda V. Carlisle, Southern Illinois Univ., Edwardsville
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140194819
• ISBN-13: 978-0140194814
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #132,471 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful, beautiful book, December 7, 2000

By A Customer

I was very surprised by the existing reviews about this wonderful book--only two of them, and both very negative. The book really captured me and moved me. I know many more who feel the same way, but for some reason have not spoken here.

We are all in a spiritual path. Some of us choose a more traditional approach, one that has been passed pretty much unchanged down the centuries (e.g., Greek Orthodox Christianity). Others are searching for a more personal, less prescribed way to the Truth.

There are many Paths to God... They all have their shortcomings, as we are all human. This is the part we forget when we pass judgement on alternative ways. In the case of Christianity, the original message was clear and simple: Love is All. Look at what has been added over the years... all kinds of human noise. For instance, we will not talk to each other since you think that the Holy Spirit emanates from Christ as well as the Father, and I say it emanate only from the Father. We will not talk to each other because you think that the Pope is the ultimate authority on theological issues and I do not. It brings tears to my eyes and a shadow over my Heart. Human noise... or evil has found a way to dilute the original message.

Oh, and did I mention that the Buddhist original message is the same? The word used is Compassion instead of Love. I have met Buddhists that are better Christians than most of the Christians I have worshiped with. What a blessing this has been.

In closing, quoting from the book: "When we finally enter a path, ... we will do so in full recognition and respect for the reality of other paths beyond the trees. We will recognize more readily that the infinite love and compassion of the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent personal God, in order to accommodate our great diversity, offered us many paths to the summit. Our modern, secular education made us more aware of this diversity of the human condition and the relativity of all socially and culturally constructed worldviews. Therefore, a thinking person exposed to this diversity cannot but become more understanding and accepting of others who worship God in different, and from our point of view, strange ways."

The Light is in all Forms, the Love is in all Beings. Amen.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jnana and Bhaki in the West, April 27, 2004

By	OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

You do not have to be familiar with the author's three previous books on the subject to benefit from this volume. Indeed, the first half largely recounts the workings of EREVNA and its teachings. For those who are unfamiliar with the organization, EREVNA is a essentially an organization founded on Cyprus that seeks to realize and internalize the teachings of the perennial Philosophy (but through somewhat of a Hellenic/Christian filter.) The first half also has some good original sections, such as an in depth discussion of corrupt and immoral spiritual teachers, as well as, an examination of "fundamentalist materialism" as expressed in such organizations as the "Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal." Indeed, Markides shows much more fairness and balance in his discussion than such "Skeptical Inquirers."

It is the second half of the book that really gets into an examination of the mystical tradition within the Eastern Orthodox Church. He views organizations such as EREVNA as representing the equivalent of the Hindu tradition of jnana yoga (the wisdom path to Spirit) while Orthodox Spirituality is more analogous to bhaki yoga (the devotional or ecstatic path.) To Erevra's credit its members hold that any mystical practice that leads to Christ consciousness is authentic religion, whether it be Mahayana Buddhism, Sufism, Vedanta, or Christianity. The Orthodox view is not always so charitable. In fact, much of mainstream Orthodoxy seems to be unfamiliar with its own roots having adopted the arid, rationalistic theology of Western pattern in an attempt to "modernize." In any case, the author actually travels to Mount Athos (Agion Oros) to meet and talk with more traditional practioners. He also discovers and briefly discusses the classical spiritual writings known as the Philokalia.

The closing section "Lifting the Veil" is especially good. It deals with the breakthrough of human consciousness in our times, and how we are finally evolving to a point where a significant number of individuals are learning to see beyond the primitive superstition of materialism. He points out that Kenneth Ring calls this the "shamanisation" of society.

This is third time that I've found myself reading this book. If you are primarily interested in the core of the perennial philosophy or tradition I also personally recommend The Only Tradition by Quinn, or Survey of Metaphysics and Esoterism by Schuon.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Accurate Depiciton of Eastern Orthodox Spirituality, June 27, 2003

By	matt (the reading room) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Holiness and wisdom are not reserved only for the monks, but for all those who seek Christ with a pure heart. If it happens to reflect in some ways current New Age mentalities, it is not, believe me, a sign that the Eastern Church has somehow taken their advice! I have the suspicion that those who understand Christianity through Western Protestant eyes would find this work a bit odd to say the least. Monks who are clairvoyant, can change someone else's perception of time, etc are not common in Protestant Christianity. But then again, they have not had the benefit of a 2000-year-old tradition of spirituality and prayer. This is not to put the Protestants down, it is only the observation that there is no need to reinvent the wheel when the East already has a very succinct and proven method of spiritual development that goes much beyond the non-accountable, individualistic spirit of much of the Christian West.

IF you have an interest in the underpinnings of the Eastern approach to Jesus Christ and the Trinity and the Church etc, then you would do well to read "The Orthodox Way" by Kallistos Ware, or, if you want to dig into some deeper theology, "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church" by Vladimir Lossky is a classic, as is the difficult but rewarding masterpiece "Being As Communion" by Zizioulas. ENJOY!