Publisher's Synopsis
The Doctrine of the Subtle Body in Western Tradition, written by G.R.S. Mead, is a comprehensive study of the concept of the subtle body in Western philosophy, religion, and esotericism. The book explores the history and evolution of the subtle body from its origins in ancient Greek philosophy to its development in Christian mysticism, Hermeticism, and Rosicrucianism. Mead examines the subtle body's role in various spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer, and astral projection, and discusses its relationship to other concepts such as the soul, the spirit, and the aura. The book also includes a detailed analysis of the subtle body's symbolism and iconography in art and literature. Overall, The Doctrine of the Subtle Body in Western Tradition provides a fascinating exploration of a complex and intriguing aspect of Western spirituality.The notion that the physical body of man is as it were the exteriorization of an invisible subtle embodiment of the life of the mind is a very ancient belief. It is however, the prevailing habit of skeptical rationalism of the present day to dismiss summarily all such beliefs of antiquity as the baseless dreams of a prescientific age, and to dump them all indiscriminately into the midden of exploded superstitions. Not only do the acute intellects who upheld it in the past, dispose one to a favorable consideration of their plea; but I am persuaded that, the more deeply modern research penetrates into the more recondite regions of biology, psycho-physiology and psychology, the more readily will reason be inclined to welcome the notion as a fertile working hypothesis to co-ordinate a considerable number of the mental, vital and physical phenomena of human personality which otherwise remain on our hands as a confused and inexplicable conglomerate."" Contents: The Spirit-Body; The Radiant Body; The Resurrection-Body; Epilogue.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
