Practical Mysticism · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Practical Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill.
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Chapter 1
Dedication
A brief dedication of the work to the unseen future, acknowledging the unknown readers and the enduring relevance of the ideas presented.
Chapter 2
Epigraph
The epigraph presents William Blake's vision of perception cleansed to reveal the infinite, contrasting with man's self-imposed limitation of seeing through narrow chinks.
Chapter 3
Practical Mysticism
This chapter introduces practical mysticism as a path accessible to ordinary people, emphasizing the union with reality through contemplation and action.
Chapter 4
I: What Is Mysticism?
This chapter defines mysticism as the art of union with Reality, arguing that it is a natural human faculty accessible to all, not just saints or visionaries. It contrasts the 'practical man' who lives in a world of labels with the mystic who seeks direct, intuitive communion with deeper levels of existence. Through the parable of Eyes and No-Eyes, it illustrates how attention and desire determine one's perception of reality, and invites the reader to a practical mysticism that sharpens consciousness and emancipates from illusion.
Chapter 5
The World of Reality
This chapter challenges the practical man's assumption that the world of common sense is the only reality. It argues that human perception constructs a limited, conventional picture of reality, akin to a tapestry that omits much of the actual richness. By examining the subjective and fragmentary nature of this constructed world, the chapter introduces the possibility of other planes of reality and the need for a 'spring-cleaning of the soul' to achieve direct, unmediated contact with the Real. It presents the artist and poet as exemplars of a contemplative consciousness that can access a fuller, more vital world through 'absolute sensation' and a purified perception.
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