Ways in Mystery presents a rare occurrence in the field of religious publishing. In this boisterous field, few original voices are heard in our time. Luther Askeland’s first book is a signal event for, in these essays, we hear the voice of a modern prophet and the “way of unknowing” — a path to wisdom that is not easy to initiate, difficult to pursue, and returns, time and again, to the place of beginnings. Askeland receives the wisdom of the past for his profound meditations on the possibilities and pitfalls of a mystical life in the midst of our contemporary world. Drawing from the teachings of Indian saints such as Shankara, of Christian mystics such as Meister Eckhart and St. John of the Cross, and from Buddhist sages such as Zen Masters Dogen and Tanzen. A thoughtful, wise, and illuminating guide, Askeland carefully and systematically describing the inherent limitations of linguistic mapping within our ordinary experience, revealing the higher mystical states of awareness, to take us beyond words and philosophical concepts.
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206 pages
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In clear, direct language, Askeland explores the most profound questions of the mystical life. Mysticism is not, he points out, a kind of philosophy. It is directly lived experience, and experience that, by its very nature, eludes expression. For some, this difficulty in expression creates a challenge; they will make incursions into the mystical realm and then grapple mightily to find appropriate expression. For others, expression is needless, and the experience itself is to be sought and prolonged. Such distinctions as this are among the joys of Askeland's writing as he reasons carefully about what is, essentially, an unreasonable part of human experience. Patricia Monaghan
Product details
Publisher : White Cloud Press; 1st edition, (January 1, 1998)
Language : English
Paperback : 206 pages
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Brian Hines
5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing honesty, inspiring visionReviewed in the United States on March 29, 2002
I've read a great many spiritual-metaphysical-philosophical-mystical books in my life. Few have moved me as much as "Ways in Mystery." One of Luther's essays, "God in the Moment," is an absolute classic, a piece that stays in your mind and soul long after you put down his book. (Hope I have that title right; a friend borrowed this book and hasn't given it back, a non-verbal positive review). It's refreshing to have an author speak so honestly about what he doesn't know about the Mystery that surrounds us, and indeed is us, as contrasted to the usual sort of "I know the truth! Here it is!" style of writing. I felt a close communion with Luther, because I also don't know, yet I want to. In the movie about C.S. Lewis, "Shadowlands," there is a great line: "We read to know that we are not alone." An honest spiritual seeker, who knows what he or she does not know, will find a friend in the voice that speaks in this book--the voice of one who stands in awe of Mystery, bowing humbly before it, rather than rashly claiming to explain Mystery away through what might be called "premature explanation." This book is worth a dozen trashy New Age titles. It doesn't offer answers so much as it poses the right questions in the right spirit of inquiry, a valuable contribution indeed.
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C. Cottrel
5.0 out of 5 stars An original light on a well-worn pathReviewed in the United States on September 1, 1999
This book is a beautifully written and original contibution to the theme of the mystical life. By nature the topic is nebulous and lends itself to alot of sloppy and forlorn prose. Mr. Askeland's book is a happy exception. This book should become well-known by those who care about such things, but probably will not, presumably because its author in not a regular denizen of the Berkeley-Boulder spiritual chicken circuit scene. Luther is clearly his own man here. It is the tone of voice that convinces. This writer has lived with and struggled with his theme. He is an acutal voyager upon the mystery so described. I trust this voice. He also has quite original things to say about the "folkloric' nature of the zen literature. Hurray! Please read this book if you are at all deeply moved by its theme. Thanks be, Luther!
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