Book Announcement: The Spiritual Ascent A Compendium of the World’s Wisdom (Whitall N. Perry)

From the publisher:

Truly magisterial, this compendium of spiritual wisdom is organized according to the traditional religious concept of spiritual ascent—or, in Christian terms, the sequence of death, resurrection, and eternal life. Hundreds of selected passages represent many faiths and philosophical traditions, with insight from some of the world’s greatest minds, including Black Elk, Confucius, Eckart, Muhammad, Philo, Rumi, and Shakespeare. The material itself is divided into three sections that correspond to the ascent, with the opening quotations treating suffering, sin, and obedience before giving way to the middle section’s focus on mercy, love, and contemplation. Finally, the third set of quotations climbs aloft to investigate the subjects of truth, eternity, the shattering of forms, and the union with God.

Useful for: Interfaith, multicultural centers need to be offered this book, as well as priests and pastors in all faiths who could enhance their own sermons tremendously by these quotations in such a global age.

Reviews:
“Anyone who is interested, not just in reading maps, but in going somewhere with his or her life, will find this the most comprehensive guide that has ever been compiled. The Spiritual Ascent is foundational to the school of thought that affirms and explores the primordial tradition at the heart of all the great religions and philosophical traditions. Perry’s is the essential reference work, and it affords rich and vital reading.”
– HUSTON SMITH, author of The World’s Religions

Simply imagine that you are going through one of life’s many trials, such as the death of a loved one, or the loss of one’s own health or mobility. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have access to what the finest minds of the world’s great civilizations have had to say on that subject and the associated attitudes which could help ease or sustain one’s way? Imagine reading what has been concluded and believed about how suffering is to be transmuted into joy, how to resist judging others and instead love our neighbors. This astounding encyclopedia of humankind’s spiritual truth is organized according to the traditional process of Spiritual Ascent—often referred to as: Death-Resurrection-Eternal Life, or Emptying-Reforming-Union.

Each of these topics is clarified by the contributions of those we hold highest. More like a library than a single book, this volume takes readers on a journey from the creation of the cosmos to our final reabsorption back into the Divine Source, a journey defined by the traditional stages of the soul’s transformation. Guiding the way are such focused counsels as are found in Eckhart, Philo, Rumi, the Talmud, Shakespeare, Rama Krishna, Black Elk, the Psalms, the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad-Gita, Muhammad, Confucius, and countless others.

A truly majesterial compendium of spiritual doctrine . . . where one will encounter the heritage shared with all humanity in what is essentially timeless, enduring and pertinent to our final end.

“The Spiritual Ascent contains all I need to know about wisdom and spirituality. Every aspect of the soul’s work is described and it shows you that it is the same for all people at all times, that all traditions agree and have been saying the same thing. The book is a constant and reassuring companion to me, and reminds me that wisdom is One and is REALLY real.”
-Mary Minifie (Boston portrait artist and professor of painting)

“When I first picked this book up I was suspicious due to all the Eastern content with which I am not familiar with, but then I began to slowly realize and recognize names that I have long been familiar with and also know that nobody in their right mind knows of these minds let alone be able to put their thoughts down in some manner. Names such as Boehme,  Eckhart,  Cloud of Unknowing,  William Law,  Unseen Warfare, I could go on and on about the mind set of these great works as they have been my lifeblood for the last 8 years. My search is not from a cold eye but through a destitute heart, starving for truth. I had no Idea that the Eastern mind-set was this close to what I hold so dear. To say that the horizon of my mind has been expanded is a gross understatement. I cannot believe there is a mind on the earth today that could compile such an assortment of material into a book. Who is this Perry? Good gracious what a mind he has. He may be blind on this earth but he can see far into the next reality. I have long given up hope that there was anybody in the last 300 years that could see any truth.  This work has given me new hope that the Spirit of God can and does penetrate into every corner of the earth where the humble soul seeks Him. I am so encouraged I can hardly speak and consider this work my most prized possession. I found this book at the half-price book store, obviously discarded by someone as the seed thrown on rocky ground will not take root. God knows the searching heart and caused the non-seeker to cough it up that I might have and value as I do such a treasure. God bless you Perry, you have no Idea what you have done for me.”
- Leonard Bissett

This is a new edition of: “A Treasury of Traditional Wisdom - An Encyclopedia of Humankind’s Spiritual Truth”

CONTENTS of BOOK:

PREFACE
FORWARD
INTRODUCTION
PRELUDE:

CREATION

The Process of Manifestation
Inexhaustibility of the Creator
Simultaneity of the Divine Act
Creation as Play or Sport
Creation by Pairs
The World Begins in Perfection
Man’s Primordial Birthright
Spiritual Paternity
Self-Revelation

BOOK ONE: Justice-Fear-Action
PART I: SACRIFICE-DEATH

Separation-Sin
God Alone is Good
God’s Mercy
God’s Justice
The Extraction of Poison with Poison
The Mote in the Eye
Snares of the Soul
Anatomy of the Fallen State
Pride
Sin in Volition
Closing the Doors of the Senses
The Recognition of Sin
The Dispelling of Sin

ILLUSION
Maya and Magic
The Hold of Passion
The Cosmic Dream
The Phantom Flux of Life
The Snare of Woman
The Consummation of Desire

SACRIFICE AND SUFFERING
Suffering Inseparable from the Fallen State
The Divine Allopathy
The Alchemy of Suffering
No Soul Tasked Beyond Its Strength
Contemptus Mundi
Knowledge Through Chastisement
Suffering Transmuted Into Joy
Sacrifice
Austerity not to Be Sought

RENUNCIATION-DETACHMENT
Indifference to Pleasure and Pain
Detachment from Place and Conditions
Eluding the Ego
The Internal Effort Required
The Rupture With Habit
Interiorization and Transmutation of the Faculties
Spiritual Poverty
Nothing Real is Lost
Detachment and Serenity

VOLITION, OBEDIENCE, AND CONFORMITY
Volition
Intention
Obedience
Freedom and Necessity

HUMILITY
The Conquest of Pride
Contrition
Obscurity
The Junction of Extremes
Sincerity

DEATH
Die Before Ye Die
Only the Dead Know God
The Art of Dying
The Destruction of I- Consciousness
The Cycle of Births and Deaths
Reabsorption of the Faculties
The Happy Death
Death Kills Death

PART II: COMBAT-ACTION
JUDGMENT

The Fear of God
On Judging Others
No Helping Friend That Day
The Round of Existence
On hell and Damnation
The Fire of Heaven
Judgment Day

ORTHODOXY-RITUAL-METHOD
The Chain of Transmission
Initiation and Spiritual Filiation
Doctrine and Method
The Spiritual Master
The Just Proportioning of Ritual
The Necessity of Submission

SYMBOLISM
The Divine Imprint in Manifestation
The Manifold Content of Symbols
Solar Symbolism
The worship of Images
Ritual Symbols and Representatives of the Universe

WORK, ACTION AND SOCIETY
On Karma and Karma Yoga
Concerning Right Vocation or Dharma
Art and Skill in Work
God the Only Doer
Act and Essence
Non-Acting Action

PILGRIMAGE-DESCENT INTO HELL
Wayfaring
The Descent Into Hell
Return to the Womb of the Mother
Steadfastness
Crossing the Flood
The Inner Pilgrimage
HOLY WAR
Injunction to Holy War
Killing the Inward Dragon
The Race for Perfection
Endurance
Vigilance
The Weapon of Invocation

HETERODOXY AND DEVIATION
Error
Atheism
Deviation
And Ye Shall Be as Gods
The False Light

SUBVERSION- THE WRATHFUL SIDE
The Origins of Subversion
Abuse of Cosmological Sciences
Corruption
Malevolence
Sorcery
The Synagogue of Satan
The Powers of Darkness
The Last Times
Doctrinal Explanations of Evil

METANOIA
Duo Sunt in Homine
Repentance, Renewal, and Awakening
The Inversion of Values
A Mutual Turning
No Repentance in God

BOOK TWO: MERCY-LOVE-CONTEMPLATIONPART
III: LIFE-LOVE FAITH

Trust in God
Belief in the Unseen
Patience
Fidelity
Knowledge Through Faith
Salvation Through Faith

PRAYER-MEDITATION-CONTEMPLATION
Help Through Prayer
On Meditation and Contemplation
On Distraction

The Spiritual Ascent
A Compendium of
the World’s Wisdom

Presented by: Whitall N. Perry
Foreword by: Marco Pallis
Introduction by: Huston Smith
Pages: 1144, 7 x 9.5 / ISBN: 9781887752046
Price: $34.95 (CAN $38.95) Fons Vitae Books

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