Over the last 5,000 years, inspired leaders and saints of all the great
spiritual traditions have produced a rich collection of writings
describing the transcendent states they have experienced. They have used
poetry, prose, and sacred art to illuminate their experiences.
This book draws on all the great traditions, from Taoism to
Christianity, from Sufism to Judaism, to describe the psychology of
humankind's deepest spiritual encounters. It identifies ten distinct
psychological states common to all religious experience.
A study of the specific characteristics of each state reveals that sages
from widely different theologies, times and cultures have experienced
God's love in remarkably similar ways. Their words show us what intimate
encounters with the Great Beloved feel like, and how we can cultivate
these mystical unions in our own lives. The compassionate wisdom in the
pages of this book are a moving testament to the majesty, variety, and
splendor of the direct experience of God's love.