Whether based on the Buddhist vision of the Bodhisattva or the Christian concept of service, the mystic's journey is one taken on behalf of all humanity, and this is the message that Andrew Harvey - one of the nation's most celebrated authorities on mysticism - has succeeded in communicating in The Essential Mystics, a brilliant introduction to the essential texts and themes of the world's great mystic visionaries.Beautifully introduced with vital historical information, The Essential Mystics offers thematically grouped extracts from many traditions, including Buddhist, Taoist, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Hopi, and Aborigine. Paying special attention to the sacred feminine, these poignant selection illustrate the unique and inspiring personalities that embody the mystic experience. The result is not only a collection of carefully chosen and thoughtful texts, but also a practical handbook "for anyone who wants to serve as effectively as possible the new balanced humanity that is trying to be born." Read Less