The Spiritual Life [Paperback]

Evelyn Underhill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1997

An uplifting description of the pursuit of the spiritual life, written by one of the greatest mystics of the 20th century, who describes notr only the spiritual state of communing with God but also the state of cooperating with God!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Four radio talks as simple, powerful and helpful as Miss Underhill always it. Since most of her works are for the scholar and deeply spiritual, this book for the layman is news. In it she asks and adequately answers the questions, "What is the Spiritual Life, As Communion with God, As Co-operation with God, and What are its Questions and Difficulties!" It is interesting to see how completely one of the greatest mystics of our day understands and is in touch with the problems of the man-in-the-street. (Kirkus Reviews) --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Evelyn Underhill, an English poet and mystic, was the 20th century's most authoritative voice on mysticism. She defined clearly and succinctly the importance of mysticism as an underlying foundation of any religious or spiritual practice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Morehouse Publishing (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819213500
• ISBN-13: 978-0819213501
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,263,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reflections on the Spiritual Life., October 5, 2006

By 

New Age of Barbarism "zosimos" (EVROPA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spiritual Life (Paperback)

God is the only reality, and we are only real in so far as we are in His order, and He in us.
- Saint Augustine.

_The Spiritual Life_ first published in 1937 and republished by Morehouse Publishing in North America, by the mystical writer Evelyn Underhill consists of a pertinent discussion of spirituality which may be suitable for Lenten reading. Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941) was an Anglo-Catholic writer on mysticism who presented the writings and teachings of medieval Catholic mystics to a Protestant audience. Her writings are very beautiful and have much to say for the would-be adept who attempts to undertake the mystical life. This short book consists of a series of broadcast talks given by Underhill. These talks deal with practical advice for the undertaking of the spiritual life. Evelyn Underhill bases much of her discussion on the writings of the saints, in particular Saint Augustine, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint John of the Cross, Saint Catherine of Sienna, Saint Catherine of Genoa, and Saint Ignatius. She also mentions the mystical writings of Jacob Boehme, the writings of her mentor the Roman Catholic philosopher and mystic Baron von Hugel, and the writings of the theologian Karl Barth. Her discussion is meant largely for Christians who seek God (the Absolute Reality) in their lives. She notes how one must overcome struggles with anxiety to eventually find the spiritual life. She also notes how one must apply one's spiritual existence to daily living and even to politics so as to seek a proper spiritual understanding of things in concordance with the Will of God. The book consists of four talks: "What Is the Spiritual Life?", "The Spiritual Life as Communion with God", "The Spiritual Life as Co-operation with God", and "Some Questions and Difficulties". The book also ends with recommendations for reading for beginners in the spiritual life, noting the importance not only of Holy Scripture, but also other spiritual sources. In her section on questions and difficulties, she explains the nature of God, faces the problem of evil and what this says about the nature of man and God, and argues that one must seek God in daily life and routine (particularly those who may have little time to engage in spiritual reflection because of their other duties). This brief book offers much of sustenance to those who seek the spiritual life. It shows how one must overcome oneself and overcome one's anxieties in life to achieve communion with the Absolute. It will be sure to provide much spiritual nourishment for those brave seekers who attempt to live their life in God.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underhill: the Anglican Mystic, November 3, 2006

By 

Rev. Dr. Daniel McGrath (Woodinville, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spiritual Life (Paperback)

Evelyn Underhill was one of the great Anglican thinkers of the first half of the 20th century, a group that includes Dorothy Sayers, C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton (before his conversion to Rome). Her book "The Spiritual Life" was originally part of a series of broadcasts made prior to World War II. She published them in book form, in order to "present some of the great truths concerning man's spiritual life in simple language." She thoroughly and eloquently achieves her goal.

The present edition is an attractive reprint by Morehouse Publishing, and is part of its "Continuum Imprint" series, a series of reprints of great Anglican classics.

I used Underhill's "The Spiritual Life" as the text of our 2006 Parish Retreat, and although it was a challenging read (definitely 'steak' as opposed to 'hot dogs'), it was very well recieved.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is as follows: "We mostly spend our lives conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have, and to Do. Craving, clutching, and fussing, on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual--even on the religious--plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest: forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in, the fundamental verb, to Be: and that Being, not wanting, having and doing, is the essence of a spiritual life."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underhill's gentle genius, January 9, 2007

By 

Mary Bellis Waller (Milwaukee) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Spiritual Life (Paperback)

This classic by one of the 20th century's great spiritual directors is a good beginning in understanding her life and evolution. It's also a spiritual guide for us all.