The Interior Castle - by Teresa Of Avila

About the Book

In the 16th century, St. Teresa of Avila used a castle with seven chambers as a metaphor for a person's spiritual development. Free of religious dogma, this modern translation by Mirabai Starr renders St. Teresa's work a beautiful and practical set of teachings for seekers of all faiths in need of spiritual guidance. It also places this classic in a contemporary context, reasserting its importance even after more than 400 years.Penguin Group

Book Synopsis

The acclaimed modern translation of St. Teresa of Avila's classic book on spiritual awareness and guidance

Celebrated for almost five centuries as a master of spiritual literature, 16th-century saint Teresa of Avila is one of the most beloved religious figures in history. Overcome one day by a mystical vision of a crystal castle with seven chambers, each representing a different stage in spiritual development, Teresa immediately wrote The Interior Castle. Probably her most important and widely studied work, it guides the spiritual seeker through each stage of development until the soul's final union with the divine. Free of religious dogma, this modern translation renders St. Teresa's work a beautiful and practical set of teachings for seekers of all faiths in need of spiritual guidance. It also places this classic book on spirituality --"a gem of mystical literature made accessible and relevant to the modern spiritual seeker" -Sharon Salzberg--in a contemporary context, reasserting its literary importance even after more than 400 years.

Review Quotes

"A gem of mystical literature made accessible and relevant to the modern spiritual seeker." -Sharon Salzberg, bestselling author of Faith

"Mirabai Starr is revolutionizing our relationship with the great mystics. Her gorgeous translation of The Interior Castle is an instant classic. Starr has the poet's ear and meditative depth to do perfect justice to Teresa's priceless guide." -Tim Farrington, author of The Monk Downstairs

About the Author

Mirabai Starr is a professor of philosophy, religious studies, and Spanish at the University of New Mexico who has studied a wide variety of religious traditions including Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Mirabai is an accomplished translator and fiction writer who brings the sensibilities of both seeker and scholar to her translations. Her most recent work is the translation of St. John of the Cross's mystical writings, Dark Night of the Soul.