The Tribune
Published on: Sunday, April 11, 2004
Roopinder Singh

Food for the Soul: A beautifully produced set on mysticism and spirituality, this is a significant work. More than 40 scholars have worked on it, gleaning over 5,000 nuggets from religious texts from around the globe. The first volume starts with an overview of the universe of spirituality, which helps to put the early spiritual traditions in perspective. …you come across some interesting bits of information, like the relationship between Jewish mystics and the Sufis, and the existence of Jewish Sufi manuscripts, which were discovered in Cairo in the late 19th century. Christianity is explained at length, and another interesting section is on Greek mystics and philosophers.

... The very strength of these volumes lies in the fact that they bring out the essential similarities in the way man envisions mystical experiences. Once you get over cultural and linguistic differences, the essence is so similar. But then, why should it not be?

... One can just not read this set of six volumes, or for that matter any book in it from cover to cover. In fact, it has been designed for the reader who, like this reviewer, would come back for more and more. As one sees the various terms explained in fairly lucid and simple language, one recognizes the work that must have gone behind it to `dejargonise' one of the more esoteric subjects. Of course, there can and will be differences of opinion and hair-splitting, but that is only to be expected and would probably be welcomed by the editors.

Brought out by a team of volunteers, the volumes are produced at par with international standards, and priced low even by Indian norms. There is no doubt that this is a labour of love, which is obviously continuing, since Part II of the treasure is still to come. It will be eagerly awaited by many.

Published on: March 3rd 2004
Thierry Meynard SJ

The Principles of Mysticism constitutes Part I of A TREASURY OF MYSTIC TERMS, and deals mostly with the theoretical aspects. It will be followed by Part II, The Practice of Mysticism, in the near future. As the title indicates, it is not a dictionary or an encyclopedia, but a treasury of the essential terms and concepts used by different spiritual traditions. The Treasury deals with mysticism, as a transcendental experience in the sphere of consciousness. It is not intended to be exclusively an academic reference book, but it is further intended to provide for the cultivated reader a presentation in ordinary words of fundamental mystic concepts. All the entries of the Treasury have been written with great care, drawing from the best English translations available.

… With the Treasury, Davidson has found an excellent opportunity to illustrate that gnosticism is not circumscribed to Early Christianity, neither to any specific place or time, but has developed in all the major spiritual traditions of the world, up to now.

… Instead of adopting a continuous alphabetical sequence, the editor has intelligently adopted a presentation in six subject areas, each presented in one volume. …Volume 1 also contains a very handy glossary of the main texts and authors of those traditions, with cross references.

… While dealing with this book, the reader should be aware of its backdrop. Its structure corresponds to the creed of gnosticism: existence of God and immortality of soul separated from the Divine, soul prisoner in the corporeal body, quest for a relation with the Divine through fusion.

… All the entries concerning the different spiritual traditions are treated from the specific angle of mystic gnosticism. If the reader accepts this prerequisite, even though he may not adhere completely to gnosticism, he can still make a very fruitful reading. For the Christian, he may discover new aspects of the Christian faith which have remained in the shadows of history and, through this contact, the Christian faith may be challenged to open itself new horizons.

Sunday Times of India
Published on: February 8, 2004
Vithal Nadkarni

… Although the scholars have found inspiration in the teachings of mystics of Beas in India, they present a variety of illuminating views, all of which serve to make this miscellany a ‘treasury’ worth cherishing.

The reader will thus find a rich cornucopia among the pages that have something for everyone … Moreover, despite its thematic coherence, the book also seems ideal for dipping and browsing.…

Like ‘mysticism’ and ‘myth', the word ‘mystery’ comes from the Greek verb ‘musteion’, which means to close the mouth and the eyes. In everyday life, this denotes an experience of obscurity, darkness and silence. In the spiritual world, however, such a closure offers a key to enlightenment.

In esoteric techniques such as Shambhavi mudra of Hatha Yoga, for instance, the closing of the gates of the body is supposed to lead the seeker from darkness to light. Knowing the various shades of meanings in different traditions can … lead to a stimulating ‘Aha’ reaction or inspiration of its own. This is indeed what makes A Treasury of Mystic Terms invaluable for those interested in inquiring into their own spiritual backgrounds, and those of other cultures.

Jerusalem LTD
Eli Kahn, Koren Publishers

... A Treasury of Mystic Terms ... is really a most remarkable work and the highest compliments are due to all those who participated in it.