From the celebrated scholar and lecturer Andrew Harvey, a fascinating and inspiring introduction to the essential texts and themes of the great mystics. Not merely a feast of the greatest and wisest mystical revelations, The Essential Mystics is a practical handbook for those who seek the vision of the sacred balance needed to unify the `eternal world of the soul.` Here are thematically grouped extracts from the major wisdom traditions, including the Way of Tao, the Way of Beauty (ancient Greece), the Way of Love in Action (Christianity), and from the writings of Kabir, Ramakrishna, Aurobindo, Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Rumi, Juliana of Norwich, John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart, and Teresa of Avila. Paying special attention to the sacred feminine, these poignant selections illustrate the unique and inspiring personalities that embody the mystic experience. Andrew Harvey breaks the mystic mold, and in doing so empowers the mystic in each of us. -- Inquiring Mind ANDREW HARVEY is the author of A Journey in Ladakh, Hidden Journey, and The Essential Gay Mystics.