Reading list

The Perennial Philosophy

The claim of a common core of mystical teaching, and its critics.

Intermediate. 6 steps

Stage I: The thesis

Concept
The perennial philosophy
What the perennial philosophy claims, and where the idea comes from.
Text
The Perennial Philosophy
Aldous Huxley, 1945
Huxley’s anthology states the perennialist case; begin with “That Art Thou”.
Text
Mysticism
Evelyn Underhill, 1911
An earlier study that traces a common pattern in the mystic way.

Text
Mysticism and Philosophy
W. T. Stace, 1960
Stace’s careful case for a common core, separating experience from interpretation.
Text
Mysticism East and West
Rudolf Otto, tr. Bertha L. Bracey, Richenda C. Payne, 1932
Otto finds kinship between Eckhart and Śaṅkara, and insists on their differences.

Cite this entry

Chicago (bibliography): “The Perennial Philosophy.” Reading list. The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society. Last modified November 7, 2026. https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/the-perennial-philosophy.
Chicago (note): “The Perennial Philosophy,” reading list, The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, last modified November 7, 2026, https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/the-perennial-philosophy.
MLA: “The Perennial Philosophy.” The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, 7 Nov. 2026, www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/the-perennial-philosophy.
BibTeX: @misc{reading-lists-the-perennial-philosophy, title = {{The Perennial Philosophy}}, howpublished = {The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society}, note = {Reading list. Last modified November 7, 2026}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/the-perennial-philosophy} }