The Cloud of Unknowing: With the Book of Privy Counsel cover art

The Cloud of Unknowing: With the Book of Privy Counsel

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The Cloud of Unknowing: With the Book of Privy Counsel

By: Carmen Acevedo Butcher - translator
Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
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About this listen

This anonymous fourteenth-century text is the glory of English mysticism, and one of the most practical and useful guides to finding union with God ever written. Carmen Acevedo Butcher’s new translation is the first to bring the text into a modern English idiom - while remaining strictly faithful to the meaning of the original Middle English. The Cloud of Unknowing consists of a series of letters written by a monk to his student or disciple, instructing him (or her) in the way of Divine union. Its theology is presented in a way that is remarkably easy to understand, as well as practical, providing advice on prayer and contemplation that anyone can use. Previous translations of the Cloud have tended to veil its intimate, even friendly tone under medieval-sounding language. Carmen Butcher has boldly brought the text into language as appealing to modern ears as it was to its original readers more than five hundred years ago.Also included in the volume is the companion work attributed to the same anonymous author, The Book of Privy Counsel, which contains further advice for approaching God in a way that emphasizes real experience rather than human knowledge.

©2009 Carmen Acevedo Butcher (P)2014 Audible Inc. Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature Buddhism Christianity Collections Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts Feel Better Meditation

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A simple, sensitive translation that conveys what the unknown author intended for his audience.

If you want inspiring, practical guidance and advice you can use every day for the rest of your life, get this book. You won’t regret it.

The Cloud of Unknowing

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There is a great deal in this text on which to reflect. The reader is excellent but the speed at which the material is covered demands that one pause and consider deeply what one has heard, and that one return to it again and again.

Worth returning to again and again

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Having read many "spiritual books", this book I can defintiely say is the best book I have ever read that is a practical approach to that place within us all that can not be described through words. I have found most books contain methods focused on some form of practise that humbly said for me, falls under the bracket of "concentration". So still using the mind as such. Having tried many different forms of meditation in which all served there purpose at that specific moment in time, I have to say that my journey through grace in a spiritual sense has been more about a process of elimination and less about learning something. The less we know the better. What a wonderful book filled with not intellect but truth. It's hard to speak of what this book offers and where it points to as its quite simply indescribable. But as the author puts it so beutifully, "it's ironic that the topic I most want to discuss mostly leaves me speechless".

A beutiful book, and defintiely suggested for anyone who is willing to surrender there will through God's grace.

Just beutiful 🙏

Absolutely minblowing (literally)

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What a gem! Generally I prefer listening to audiobooks that are being read by the author. However for this particular audiobook IMHO it sounds like the narrator is the actual author (who is 'unknown') that seems to be whispering the text by candlelight in medieval times! The content and translation resonates with me too which is great! Excellent, Thanks !

Ps. Also thank you Amazon for including this in the Audible subscription! Very pleased, Thanks

Awesome! IMHO Best non-author narration - bar none

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Wait for this to be recomended rather than listen to know the message. This can not be hoarded intellectually no more than gold is used as a paperweight. You can not know or understand it nor follow it as a procedure. It will already be in place, as your path moves beneath your feet. Top marks! Thankyou so much.

Feels as it sounds.

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