MYSTICISM AND SPIRITUALITY – SPIRITUALITY, THE WAY OF LIFE

While the first part of Mysticism and Spirituality was dedicated to mysticism as the supreme experience of reality, this second part deals with spirituality understood more as a path for reaching this experience.
The author, despite being well aware of the difficulty of defining modern-day spirituality with its many diverse paths relating not only to traditions and worship but also to the various sensitivities of individuals and to the historical period, nevertheless manages to outline this spirituality in a way that fully expresses its ability to involve Man in his complete reality, as is summed up in the four Greek words soma – psichê – polis – kosmos (body, soul, society and cosmos). Man also discovers, however, a divine element that is both immanent and transcendent. And it is precisely this mysterious element, this breath, this transcendent and immanent presence which gives things, as well as Man himself, their identity.
Spirituality is like a “navigation chart” for the sea of Man’s life: the sum total of the principles directing his dynamism towards “God”, as some say, or towards a just society or overcoming suffering, as others say. We can, therefore, talk about buddhist spirituality, even though Buddhists do not talk about God; or of marxist spirituality, although Marxists are allergic to religious language. Such a broad concept of spirituality expresses rather a quality of life, of action, of thought, etc., that is not bound to any particular doctrine, confession or religion, no matter how well recognised its foundations may be.

INDEX OF ORIGINAL TEXTS IN VOLUME I, PART 2

(Books in bold and italic)

Icons of Mystery: The Experience of God. Icons of the Mystery, Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2006, original text Les icons del misteri: la experiència de Deu, Ed. 62, Barcelona 1998. [pp. ]

The Christian Spiritual Journey: includes three short texts, Paschal Joy, The Presence of God and Mary, first published separately La gioia pasquale, La Locusta, Vicenza 1968; La presenza di Dio, La Locusta, Vicenza 1970; La Virgen Maria, Preface to J. Guitton, La Virgin Maria, Rialp, Madrid 1952 then in one volume by Jaca Book , Milano 2007. Translated from Italian into English by Daniella Engel

Blessed Simplicity. The Challenge of Being a Monk: Blessed Simplicity. The Monk as universal archetype, Seaubery, New York 1982.

Letter to a Young Monk: in Living Prayer, Barre, XIX,4 pp. 11-14
The Monk According to Hindū Scriptures: Le moine selon les écritures saintes de l’hindouisme, in

Les Moines chrétiens face aux religions d’Asie, AMC, Bangalore 1973, pp. 80-91.

Parivåjaka: The Tradition of the Monk in India: Parivrajåka: la tradition du moine aux Indes published in Alle sorgenti del Gange. Pellegrinaggio spirituale, CENS, Milano 1994, pp. 155-167 Translation from French by Milena Carrara Pavan

Letter to Abhishiktånanda on Eastern and Western Monasticism: in «Studies in Formative Spirituality», Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, vol. III, n. 3 (Nov. 1982).

The Dwelling Place of Wisdom: Der Weisheit eine Wohnung bereiten, Kösel, München 1991; A Dwelling Place for Wisdom, Westminster/John Knox, Louisville 1993, reprint Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi 1995. from a conference delivered in the church of St Ursula, Munich, 14 March 1990) and Quaternitas perfecta (a series of conferences during a spiritual retreat in the Domicilium House, in Weyarn, Upper Bavaria, 16-18 March 1990).