Hindu Mysticism

Hindu Mysticism is a book by S. N. Dasgupta, first published in 1927. This concise work offers a general outline of several major forms of mysticism, together with a systematic introduction to Hindu mysticism as it developed in India over many centuries.

Dasgupta understands mysticism as a direct spiritual apprehension of the aims and problems of life, grasped in a more immediate and profound manner than through abstract reasoning alone. From this standpoint, he traces the evolution of mystical thought and practice within the Hindu tradition.

The book consists of a preface and six lectures: Sacrificial Mysticism; the Mysticism of the Upanishads; Yoga Mysticism; Buddhistic Mysticism; Classical Forms of Devotional Mysticism; and Popular Devotional Mysticism. Together, they provide a clear and accessible survey of the principal mystical currents that have shaped Indian religious life.