Mysticism East and West
By Rudolf Otto
Translated by Bertha L. Bracey
Translated by Richenda C. Payne
Macmillan, New York, 1932
First written 1926
About this text
Otto’s comparison of Meister Eckhart and Śaṅkara, showing a striking kinship in their mysticism of the one and arguing for deep differences of spirit, a pioneering and still debated work of comparative mysticism.
How to cite
Rudolf Otto. Mysticism East and West: A Comparative Analysis of the Nature of Mysticism. Translated by Bertha L. Bracey and Richenda C. Payne. Macmillan, New York, 1932.
Cite this entry
“Mysticism East and West.” Source. The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society. Last modified November 7, 2026. https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/library/sources/mysticism-east-and-west-otto.
“Mysticism East and West,” source, The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, last modified November 7, 2026, https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/library/sources/mysticism-east-and-west-otto.
“Mysticism East and West.” The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, 7 Nov. 2026, www.unitiveknowledge.org/library/sources/mysticism-east-and-west-otto.
@misc{sources-mysticism-east-and-west-otto, title = {{Mysticism East and West}}, howpublished = {The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society}, note = {Source. Last modified November 7, 2026}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/library/sources/mysticism-east-and-west-otto} }
Traditions
- Comparative mysticismThe modern study of mysticism across religions, from Max Müller and William James to the perennialists and their critics.
- Advaita VedāntaThe school of Vedānta that teaches the non-difference of the self and Brahman.
- Christian MysticismThe contemplative and mystical currents of Christianity, East and West, centred on union with God in love.