Customer Reviews

Search for the Meaning of Life: Essays and Reflections on the Mystical Experience

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In 40 years of reading on mysticism I have never seen so fine a gem as Jager's book. He opens mysticism to all in a completely non-sectarian way. His book satisfies the hunger for meaning by means beyond the senses and reason. There are "how to" parts of this book too that are usable at once. Jager's book is the sum of his life work as a Catholic monk tutored early in Zen. The result is an open view of mystical thought and practice whatever the reader personally believes. I do not exaggerate when I say there is no other book like this and no other book of comparable meaning and value for life. I would give it 6 stars if I could.

This book IS the finest summary of mysticism I have read to date. The author describes the history and practice of the great Christian mystics e.g. John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, but never fails to parallel with the Eastern non-Christian traditions such as Buddhism. This is very helpful for many who use both in their spiritual journey. The real treasure of this volume, however, is the author's clarity. I loved it.

Words like clear, solid, sober, gentle, profound, whole, come to mind when trying to describe this book. It puts into simple words what you have previously grasped intuitively about your inner search and experience of the Divine. It is not a New Age work promising short-cuts to ecstasy. In fact, Jager stresses that emotional highs are not the goal but rather the goal is the awakening into a new life, which is our very same old life only transformed. Reading the book is like having a dialogue with a wise, calm and cautious spiritual director who carefully encourages us to pursue our promptings, which are nothing else than God calling us by name. While the book's orientation is Christian, Jager recognizes the unity of all contemplative paths. The only caveat, and it is by no means a reservation, is to be careful as you read Jager's description of depression as a process inherent in the path of transformation. It is not Jager's intent, but it would be unfortunate if his words would deter someone in the midst of suffering from seeking help. The reader should always remember that the goal is wholeness and health, even as he accepts and detects a purpose behind the pain she is going through.

A friend of mine was a student of Jager, and she started me reading him. All his books are very clear, good, helpful, but this is his magnum opus. It covers the subject very completely. It is full of encouragement. It answers many personal questions. It is truly original, and simultaneously true to all the deep spiritual traditions.
Just as my friend recommended Jager to me, I recomment him to anyone really interested in a guide for the hard path of inner work. This is a great book.

review by Janet Knori, author of Awakening in God

This book is perhaps the clearest presentation of the perennial philosophy I've ever read. Jager successfully - no, consumately - shows the reader that the esoteric aspects of religious pursuits, the world over, are speaking of the same thing, but the exoteric aspects of religions are what separate them. He does not argue for the melding of religions, but he makes a compelling case for religions being, in a sense, diverse cultural responses to the same transcendental experience.

I very much appreciated the line he paraphrases from Karl Rahner, "Men and women of the future will be mystics, or they won't be at all." Jager says that our future as a species is inextricably bound up with how well we do, as a species, in waking up to our own true natures. As I look at the world around me, I can't agree more.

If anyone is looking for a good explanation of mysticism, they need go no further. This is simply a spectacular book.

This book has influenced me more than any other book I have read. I try to re-read it once a year because I learn something new every time I read it. I highly recommend it - but it is not an "easy read." The reader must read it slowly and ponder the information.