Seven Steps of the Ladder of Spiritual Love

The Seven Steps of the Ladder of Spiritual Love is a spiritual guidebook written by Jan van Ruysbroeck. This book is a profound exploration of the path to divine love and union with God. The author presents a ladder of spiritual ascent, consisting of seven steps that lead the seeker towards a deeper understanding of God's love. The first step is the awakening of the soul, where the seeker becomes aware of their spiritual nature and the presence of God within them. The second step is the practice of self-denial, where the seeker learns to let go of their ego and desires, and surrender to God's will. The third step is the practice of meditation, where the seeker learns to focus their mind on God and develop a deeper connection with the divine. The fourth step is the practice of contemplation, where the seeker experiences a profound union with God and a deep understanding of divine mysteries. The fifth step is the practice of spiritual ecstasy, where the seeker experiences a transcendent state of consciousness and union with God. The sixth step is the practice of spiritual marriage, where the seeker experiences a complete union with God and becomes one with the divine. The seventh and final step is the practice of divine union, where the seeker experiences a complete merging with God and becomes a vessel of divine love in the world. Throughout the book, van Ruysbroeck offers practical advice and exercises to help the seeker progress along the ladder of spiritual love. He emphasizes the importance of humility, selflessness, and devotion in the spiritual path. This book is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and guide spiritual seekers towards a deeper understanding of God's love.Christian mysticism. Contents: The First Step: Conformity with God's Will; The Second Step: Voluntary Poverty; The Third Step: Purity of Soul and Body; The Fourth Step: Humility and Her Four Daughter-Virtues, As a Spring With Four Streams; The Fifth Step: The Highest of All the Virtues, The Striving After God's Honour in the Inner Life; The Sixth Step: The Contemplative Life in Its First Moment of Union With the Trinity; The Seventh Step: The Contemplative Life in Its Second Moment: The Annihilation in God's Essence.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.