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The Spiritual Guide of Miguel Molinos

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A timeless classic. The Inquisition ordered this book to the Church's "Index Expurgatorius," and warned that anyone caught with this book would be excommunicated. Molinos was condemned to life imprisonment for writing about a personal relationship with God through intense devotion, internal reflection and meditation. After all, what would happen to the Church if the people didn't feel they needed it anymore?

A table of content was added in front of this edition rather than at the end like the original. Additionally chapters are displayed on top of each page to make the text easier to navigate. Whether your interest is in Scientific Illuminism, comparative religion, religious history or simple curiosity, this important work will make a lasting impression.

Molinos's Spiritual Guide may be the first Western discussion of the technique known in Hindu teachings as "Raja Yoga." For teaching that to know God, one must empty one's mind, quieting all other thoughts, and God will fill your mind and soul. This approached Gnosticism and thus caused Molinos to be branded a heretic.

This edition of Molinos is the first print edition to appear in years. It's a reprint of a 1688 translation of the original Italian; thus the language seems rather King James-like, although by no means inaccessible.

Gerald del Campo's introduction shows the high level of scholarship expected by this serious scholar of Scientific Illuminism. My only (slight) regret is that there is no modern translation of the work. Perhaps with the publication of this volume, other scholars will be inspired to do so.

This is an indispensible addition to the library of any student of mysticism, esoterics, or gnosticism.

I am unsure how this book could be taken as substance other than a deeper Christian walk with Jesus Messiah.

There is what's referred to as the beholding principle; meaning, you become what you behold. One can never, NEVER, improve oneself by looking inward. It is impossible. If you want to become more patient, you look at the One who is most patient. If you want to become more loving, you look upon the fountain of love Himself, Jesus.

As Molinos puts it, "One of the healthiest things you can do in order to learn to walk in the inward way (and to lose yourself) is to look up on reason and "sound logic" as something that is created. The most reasonable conduct you can perform is to discard a great deal of your reasoning. Believe God."

And, further, "You will know that you are far from perfection if you do not find everything in God. Know that pure, perfect love consists of these elements: the Cross and denial of yourself. These elements are totally voluntary...There is a great difference between doing and of suffering and dying. Doing is delightful. It belongs to beginners in Christ. Suffering belongs to those who are seeking. Dying - dying to the self - belongs to those who are being completed in Christ."

Oh, if only I had more room to quote from this man. Only with the correct paradigm of the God-man Jesus who is Bridegroom, King, and Judge will this book make sense. Is it Gospel? No, but Molinos received and lived revelation about Jesus that speaks volumes even today.

Without this worldview, you are left merely to look at oneself and that is a hapless place to be...

Lastly, after 'searching inside this book', there appear to be updated versions available. I currently own a version from the SeedSowers Christian Books Publishing House, Volume 5 of the Library of Spiritual Classics. I would recommend purchasing the book found here on amazon - it's been cleaned up a bit :-) The Spiritual Guide (Library of Spiritual Classics)

Cheers

If you are a follower of Christ seeking to buy this reprinted work of Micheal De Molinos book please do yourself a favor and get a book without an introduction written by Gerald del Campo. While the text of Molinos is absolutely priceless benificial tool for a much deeper walk with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in a real experiential way... the introduction compares and even recommends some of the works of Aliester Crowley who was an outright satanist dubbed "The Beast". How the writer of the intro could even put a satanist's work in comparison with Michael de Molinos is absolutely beyond me. If you are Christian seeking a mystical experience with the true living God, it is absolutely priceless, but get a different copy. I ripped the intro out.