One of the best books that I have ever read. I have read the ascent of mount carmel several times. I would have only needed to read it once if I found this book. It gives great insight in a simple way to st. johns teaching. I recommend it to any one who whants to improve on their spirtiual life.

Muto calls the lay person to a life of holiness. To be a witness for Christ one must integrate the basics of Christian spirituality to the routine of life. She says, "The call to holiness beckons us to return to the basics, that is, to those conditions for fostering single-hearted, awe-filled, grateful abandonment to God's will, revealed in the midst of our life in the everyday world." The aim of the Christian is to place into practice the foundations of spiritual formation through silence, listening to God's word, reflection, prayer, contemplation and service to God. The author examines Jesus' desert experience and relates that to the way of true discipleship. She speaks of the desert and discipleship by stating, "To follow Christ means that we must let go of excessive attachments to passing pleasures and possessions, to ploys of autonomous power, to tangible goods as if they were ultimate. Christ asks us to abandon our idols, whatever they may be, and to love him with our entire being." Basically, we are stripped of our ego, pride and attachments in the desert and freed to follow Christ. Muto suggests that the way to love Christ in discipleship be found in our spiritual formation. Once we have abandoned self, we are liberated to follow Christ through silence, being quiet in our noisy world; through formative reading, the art of listening to God's word; through meditation, chewing on God's word; and through contemplation, being in the total presence of the Transcendent. The fruits of these disciplines will find themselves in the awareness and service of God in occupation, family, neighborhood and daily routine. This is discipleship according to Muto, We want to help others see his face in every person, event, and thing. This is what it means as Christians to be missioned. Missionary duty is not limited to evangelizing work in foreign lands. It is what we are to do every day in our homes and professions. Whether we are involved in teaching, law, nursing, medicine, or social work, whatever our position or profession, we have to remain faithful disciples despite daily pressures. An excellent work on the spiritual disciplines.

I have found this book simple and enjoyable. To the lay person it is straightforward; however, it misses some elements John of the Cross would have included as essential to the passage of life or bridging the natural to the spiritual.Passages highlighted showed a keen interest in the topic, it would have been great if the author included real activities to modern day instances which may introduce the dark night.