A Treasury of traditional wisdom [Paperback]

Whitall N. Perry (Editor), Huston Smith (Preface), Marco Pallis (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1986

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1144 pages
• Publisher: Harper & Row (1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062506714
• ISBN-13: 978-0062506719
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,361,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spiritual and Metaphysical Insight - in themes and texts, October 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Treasury of Traditional Wisdom (Paperback)

This book might well have been be re-named 'An Anthology of the Spiritual Life.'

In brilliantly classified excerpts, chosen out of the immense total of man's spiritual heritage, skillfully arranged so as to throw into relief each other's truth -- and their common truth -- as an evocation from their very contrast, the book is creating a synthesis of mutual corroboration.

In the sequence of a spiritual quest, the extensive quotes from the many Christian mystics, from an Islamic genius to a Hebraic comment, from sayings by Tibetan sages to a Taoist message, and by the 'naturist' vision of the Red Indian Master are all presented, all interlocked in a method of cross-references in which an over-all sense of unity is maintained. With its extraordinary index of sources, the book is the nearest thing to a whole religious library compressed between the covers of a single book. Nothing appears to have been left out or be missing.

Awareness is documented throughout all the pages of this book, as keys used at different stages of the Way to unlock the gate of Unitive truth, transcending distinctions of religious form. Its author can bear witness to an ultimate truth: that by living his own form faithfully and intensely a man will live all 'other' forms by implication.

This book gives testimony by those who had opened the 'heart's eye' throughout the spiritual history of mankind. In it, one finds a fertile source of reference and inspiration.

Although the author primarily had in mind the man or woman of serious spiritual intent, it may be of service to historically or academically minded students just as it may come as a manual, handy to equip oneself for meeting with others who are like-minded from all parts of the world, to all advocates of religious understanding at an oecumenical level.

In Switzerland in 1973, shortly after its first publication, I had the opportunity to find and read through this book. My own copy has remained a personal treasure.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spiritual and Metaphysical Insight - in themes and texts, February 19, 2009

By 

go global 'Jane' (California, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Treasury of Traditional Wisdom (Hardcover)

This book might well have been be re-named 'An Anthology of the Spiritual Life.'

In brilliantly classified excerpts, chosen out of the immense total of man's spiritual heritage, skillfully arranged so as to throw into relief each other's truth -- and their common truth -- as an evocation from their very contrast, the book is creating a synthesis of mutual corroboration.

In the sequence of a spiritual quest, the extensive quotes from the many Christian mystics, from an Islamic genius to a Hebraic comment, from sayings by Tibetan sages to a Taoist message, and by the 'naturist' vision of the Red Indian Master are all presented, all interlocked in a method of cross-references in which an over-all sense of unity is maintained. With its extraordinary index of sources, the book is the nearest thing to a whole religious library compressed between the covers of a single book. Nothing appears to have been left out or be missing.

Awareness is documented throughout all the pages of this book, as keys used at different stages of the Way to unlock the gate of Unitive truth, transcending distinctions of religious form. Its author can bear witness to an ultimate truth: that by living his own form faithfully and intensely a man will live all 'other' forms by implication.

This book gives testimony by those who had opened the 'heart's eye' throughout the spiritual history of mankind. In it, one finds a fertile source of reference and inspiration.

Although the author primarily had in mind the man or woman of serious spiritual intent, it may be of service to historically or academically minded students just as it may come as a manual, handy to equip oneself for meeting with others who are like-minded from all parts of the world, to all advocates of religious understanding at an oecumenical level.

In Switzerland in 1973, shortly after its first publication, I had the opportunity to find and read through this book. My own copy has remained a personal treasure.