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- Title: Mysticism: A Study in Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness
- Author: Evelyn Underhill
- Narrator: Joy Chan
- Length: 22:06:43
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2016
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity
- ISBN13: SABLIB9783314
As I pressed play on this LibriVox recording during my morning ritual of tea and contemplation, Evelyn Underhill’s seminal 1911 work unfolded through Joy Chan’s measured narration like a medieval psalter being carefully unrolled. The experience transported me back to my graduate school days at Harvard, where I first encountered Underhill’s work in a comparative religion seminar. We had been analyzing how different cultures articulate transcendent experiences, and Underhill’s systematic approach to Christian mysticism provided a crucial counterpoint to our discussions of Zen koans and Sufi poetry.
What fascinates me most about this audiobook is how Underhill’s academic rigor and Chan’s understated delivery create a perfect harmony – much like the balance between intellect and intuition that Underhill argues is essential for mystical development. The narrator’s crisp enunciation and deliberate pacing allow Underhill’s complex theological concepts to breathe, particularly in sections detailing the five stages of mystical development (Awakening, Purgation, Illumination, Dark Night, and Union). Chan’s voice becomes a gentle guide through these dense philosophical landscapes, much like the spiritual directors Underhill describes.
Through a cultural lens shaped by my research in cross-religious narratives, I’m particularly struck by how Underhill’s framework – while rooted in Christian tradition – resonates with mystical paths across traditions. This reminds me of when I taught a course on global spiritual autobiographies at Berkeley, where students immediately recognized parallels between Underhill’s ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ and the Buddhist concept of dukkha. The audiobook format enhances these cross-cultural connections, as the spoken word carries an immediacy that bridges historical and theological distances.
The production quality, while maintaining LibriVox’s characteristic minimalist approach, serves the material well. There’s a beautiful irony in experiencing this text about transcending materiality through a medium that itself transcends the printed page. Certain sections – particularly Underhill’s exquisite descriptions of Illumination – benefit enormously from oral delivery. Chan’s ability to modulate between Underhill’s scholarly analysis and her more poetic passages (like the gorgeous comparison of mystical consciousness to ‘a transparent globe of crystal’) demonstrates impressive vocal range.
However, listeners should be aware of two limitations: First, the absence of chapter markers makes navigating this dense work challenging. Second, while Chan’s pronunciation of theological terms is impeccable, her delivery of Latin phrases occasionally lacks the musicality a trained classicist might prefer. These are minor quibbles in what is otherwise an exceptional free audiobook.
Compared to other seminal works in the field – William James’ more empirical “Varieties of Religious Experience” or Walter Stace’s philosophical “Mysticism and Philosophy” – Underhill’s work stands out for its unique combination of scholarly precision and devotional warmth. This duality comes through beautifully in audio form, making complex concepts accessible without sacrificing depth.
For those embarking on this listening journey, I recommend pairing it with reflective pauses – perhaps after each major section. The text’s richness demands space for contemplation, much like the mystical practices it describes. Having listened both during my daily commute and in quiet evening sessions, I can attest that the latter approach yields far greater rewards.
In scholarly solidarity and shared wonder,
Prof. Emily Chen
