Ruysbroeck and the Mystics: with selections from Ruysbroeck

This volume brings together the pivotal mystic writings of Jan van Ruysbroeck, a 14th‑century Flemish mystic, alongside carefully chosen excerpts from his own prose. Rendered into English by a skilled translator, the text is introduced by Maurice Maeterlinck, whose essay frames Ruysbroeck’s ideas about the “spiritual marriage” and the soul’s journey toward the divine. Listeners will encounter vivid metaphors—Christ as the sun of the soul, the bee’s lesson, and the garden of inner prayer—that illustrate the contemplative path he proposes.

Maeterlinck’s introduction does not shy away from the work’s difficulty; he warns that the prose can feel like wandering through a dark, unstructured garden, demanding patience and a familiarity with Neoplatonic thought. Yet for those willing to engage, the translation opens a portal to a deeply personal spirituality that transcends ordinary theological discourse. The audio experience invites listeners to pause with each poetic image, allowing the subtle rhythms of Ruysbroeck’s prayerful insight to settle in the mind.