The Perennial Philosophy: An Interpretation of the Great Mystics, East and West

"The Perennial Philosophy," Aldous Huxley writes, "may be found among the traditional lore of peoples in every region of the world, and in its fully developed forms it has a place in every one of the higher religions."

With great wit and stunning intellect—drawing on a diverse array of faiths, including Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Christian mysticism, and Islam—Huxley’s essential work of comparative religion examines the spiritual beliefs and core tenets of mysticism from various traditions and explains how they are united by a common human yearning to experience the divine. The Perennial Philosophy includes selections from Meister Eckhart, Rumi, and Lao Tzu, as well as the Bhagavad Gita, Tibetan Book of the Dead, Diamond Sutra, and Upanishads, among many others.

This landmark work of spiritual philosophy explores the shared truths of our world’s religions, including:

• The Path to Unitive Knowledge: An examination of the “divine reality” that Huxley argues is the Highest Common Factor in all the world’s major faiths, placing man’s final end in the knowledge of the Ground of all being.
• A Synthesis of World Religions: Insights drawn from a vast array of traditions—from Zen Buddhism and Hinduism to Christian mysticism and Islam—revealing their common spiritual ground.
• Writings from Saints and Sages: A curated collection of profound mystical texts, featuring selections from historical figures like Meister Eckhart, Rumi, and Lao Tzu.
• Classic Eastern and Western Texts: Foundational works including the Bhagavad Gita, the Diamond Sutra, and the Upanishads, placed within a single, unifying context.