Interior Castle (Dover Thrift Editions: Religion)

Although a timeless treasure, this is not always a book that all people can just pick up and read without an introduction. The reason for this is that Saint Teresa is describing her own spiritual and mystical experiences. In a sense, Saint Teresa is laying out the steps, or the course of action, that a person must take to discover all that God has planned for it in the Spiritual Life, right up to Divine union. Likewise, she says, "my intention is only to explain in turn the different experiences which occur on this road." However, throughout the book, she admits there can be gaps of understanding as to what we are reading. She tells us things like, "to explain to you what I should like is very difficult unless you have had personal experience..." or "When this experience comes to you, remember that it belongs to this innermost mansion..." and "Anyone who has experience of this, and possesses more ability than I, will perhaps know how to express it." She also cautions the reader, again from her own experience and what she has known from others, "You will think this absurd, but it is what actually happens..." and also about being prepared, "You will laugh at my saying this and call it ridiculous, for you will all think courage is quite unnecessary...." Many aspects of introduction and commentaries can be found through the Institute of Carmelite Studies, in Washington, DC and on their website, for instance: Carmelite Spirituality in the Teresian Tradition . There are also books like Dr. Susan Muto's Where Lovers Meet: Inside the Interior Castle . This just might be a perfect companion or introduction to Saint Teresa's classic work. Dr. Muto states in the Preface, "There are few spiritual classics as essential to understanding the life of prayer as The Interior Castle. Its clarity, order, and beauty are undeniable, yet many readers have asked me to write a "translation" of the translation! I ask them to read this companion text side by side with the Castle itself. It is the masterpiece of a mystic whom I consider a personal mentor, of a saint and Doctor of the Church, who has taught as if she were still here." Having long been known for her numerous writings on the Spiritual Life and its formation, Dr. Muto is worth reading along with the Castle itself, letting an expert be a guide. On Amazon, you can take a look at the Chapter Headings of her book and get a look at the lay of the land. Saint Teresa's work, highly regarded by the experts, is a book of richness from which we can benefit greatly. With the above caveat, and on the feast of Saint Teresa of Avila, I highly recommend this great work. May it awaken in all of us the desire to ask the King for the courage to embark or persevere on this journey. Muto describes this as the courage to "open the door and penetrate the depths of this divine dwelling," and the "inner strength and the courage we need to continue our journey despite the obstacles strewn on our path;" because, in the Interior Castle, Muto she says Saint Teresa "teaches us the essential lessons we need to learn if we hope to enter heaven." Not bad for starters and the more advanced! I have read it book form previously. Several years ago, I listened to it in Mp3 format. It was produced by christianaudio and read by Susan Denaker. I encountered a whole new experience listening to it as an audiobook. I can still hear parts of it. I want to read it again that way. I later bought it in Audible format. Luckily, they had the same version, read by Susan Denaker. As you can see, it's downloaded on my phone, ready to go as soon as I finish reading my current book. You can see it had a different album cover from the website, but it's the same edition.

This book I cannot get enough of! I own the Kindle version, paperback and also the APP in the audio form (from the Google Playstore). In addition, iTunes has the complete audio book FREE of the Interior Castle available in MP3 format--this ifree to the public with no restrictions (which I also downloaded to my SD card). If you are into mystics and special spiritual saints, this book is what I totally recommend! It gives you an explanation of what the SOUL is all about in the form of a crystal/diamond castle with GOD living in the center. St Teresa of Avila gives in a sense, a roadmap on how to start in the first mansion and travel to the seventh one, which is where one will find GOD and answers to prayers and many of the soul's life questions. This book has inspired me to pray more, meditate more and go into my own SOUL/PRAYER ROOM each day to search for answers etc. One more thing I will add is that before I discovered this book, I first read a book on paperback and audio CD by Carol Myss called Entering the Castle. She based her teachings on this book which St Teresa of Avila wrote to her nuns. For me, after the Holy Bible, this is the book (on Kindle and Audio App), is one that inspires me. Also, I do like Carol Myss Entering The Castle, but some of Ms. Myess teachings are her own twist on St Teresa's. Highly recommend this book to all!

I started out reading the version written and interpreted by Mirabai Starr (an unfortunate waste of money). It is important that we benefit from reading a book as close to the author’s words as possible. This one is golden. Please avoid the other one. It takes too much out of context so as to be palatable for any religion or nonreligious people. I don’t believe a Catholic nun would have been happy with that artistic license.

None of the questions - describe the plot etc apply to this type of book - it is NOT a novel! So disregard all of that. St Thesea is an authoirty on spirrituality and even tho this is addressed to Carmelite nuns it has insights that many will find helpful. If you are serious about deepening your spirituality, this is a good book to have in your library. I would recommend that it only to mature (older/senior) people to read. You really need to have several years of living put in to really understand and not misinterpret what she is saying. I read this first when I was in my 20's and I am now in my late 60's. What a difference time makes.

Frankly, I can't understand a word of it, but who am I to argue with the centuries?

This book is to be savored, and it quickly improved my prayer life. I loved it so much that I asked St Teresa of Ávila to be my patrón Saint, along with St. Josemarie.

Teresa of Avila is one of the best!

I loved this book. It stayed in my head as i did yoga and made me feel very close to God and enlightnement. St teresa of avila had to disguise her genius in this text by making less of herself and her gender so she wouldn't be killed during the spanish inquisition. Don't be fooled or dismayed by her self insulting suggestions. She knows her own majesty. The times she lived in were oppressive and dangerous. Reading is far prefered to the audio version of this book because the voice of the narrator is sickly pretentious and imposssible to listen to. Shame on her. Pray to St Teresa of Avila. It will change your life and bring tears of gratitude.