Mysticism
Unfortunately, the word "mysticism" seems to have negative connotations to some who may view it as a mysterious form of taboo mainly because it cannot be perceived by the intellect and logic. Almost every religion, however, has a dimension of mysticism. In Christianity, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross and Meister Eckhart were prominent Christians who had such an experience. In Islam, Sufism is a branch dealing with mysticism. Rumi is a prominent Sufi and this is reflected in his poetry. In Judaism, the Kabala is a tradition of mysticism.Eastern religions, especially Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism deal with mysticism as a direct experience or intuition.
The mystical experience can also be obtained directly through a deep sense of unity and harmony and with Nature. Some western poets such as William Blake, William Woodsworth and Emily Dickinson reflect this in some of their poetry.
It is a direct experience as stated by John Blofeld:
The path that leads past heaven
and far beyond the highest god-realms
runs straight from the spot
where we happen to be standing
It is mysterious and invisible
to minds befogged by concepts
such as good and evil
light and dark
going and arriving
self and other
is and is not
To perceive it requires
the seeing beyond sight
the hearing beyond sound
The truth is grasped
when the mind in its stillness
reaches the no-place beyond thought
Knowledge is discarded
Wisdom remains
God and no-god are found to be identical
No mental concept is involved
only experience
-a unique perception
joy-bestowing
that leads to imperturbable tranquillity
to recognition of the beauty
inherent in every flower
in every grain of dust
cement or dung
and to unqualified liberation
from the human state
The experience is nameless
being luminously perceptible
but utterly beyond description
This is the way of mysticism
Unfortunately
everything pertaining to mysticism
lies beyond definition and description
Transcending logic
it deals with truth
that is attainable only
by direct intuition
The Taoist Lao-tzu says of it:
He who knows does not speak
He who speaks does not know
Comments (21)
“The more you see, the less you know - The more you learn, the less you know -The more you know, the less you know…”.. life at its best, I think!
I am curious. Have you ever tried astral projecting? If so or if not, what do you think about the potential it has to heightening the spirituality of a person?
I'm probably going to ruffle some feathers but to me religion is just another branch of mysticism.
Thanks for your profound comment.
The realm of mysticism lies outside the realm of ordinary perception and logic, as you have stated. It may be realized by meditation which gives a direct experience of the Divine.
Thanks for your comment.
I have not tried astral projecting.
The term "astral projection" or "astral travel" conveys the idea, to me, of literally travelling among the stars. I am unable to accept such an idea. Perhaps, if an astral traveller can journey to Mars, or some other planet, and bring back information about it, which is verified scientifically later, I may accept it as astral travel. However, I believe it may be a spiritual experience that involves another dimension which has its own frequency or vibration that is different from what we perceive as the day-to-day world of ordinary reality.
In answer to your question, I believe it can heighten the spirituality of a person.
Thanks for your comments.
Here is a definition of "mysticism" taken from the writings of the Christian mystic, St Theresa of Avila, whom I mentioned:
mysticism:
belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender.
This suggests that such an experience is inaccessible to the intellect and may be attained through contemplation, which I view as being similar to meditation, that is, a non-intellectual activity.
In contrast, to me, religion is based on reliance on a body of intellectual knowledge or dogma, and belief in the same.
In my view, there is a clear distinction between mysticism and religion, similar to the position stated by Bogart.
If you do not mind, please elaborate, for us, on your stated position that religion is a branch of mysticism.
Since I am not religious and I have never identified mysticism with religion but I do with nature...truly a great experience being out in nature...was on a 9 day hike out in the mountains...no building in sight nor noise pollution...no imprint of man...just the natural surroundings...a place where anyone can meditate or just be calm and without care...well that said I was worried about meeting up with a grizzly!!!...cheers!!
-- Denis Diderot, Pensées Philosophiques (1746), quoted from Jim Herrick, Against the Faith (1985), p. 73
Having a healthy imagination is not bad....
Many people have had to free themselves from the body to live on Earth.
It is mind over matter.
Thanks for your comment.
Your spending 9 days in the mountains in the natural surroundings without any imprint of man and experiencing a state of calmness and meditation is truly a very unique experience.
I agree with you that one can have a direct awareness of the mystical through being out in Nature for I experience the same.
Here is something I wrote about such an experience:
"Alone with nature, one can feel a strange unity with everything around; unity that is so strong and overpowering that one loses consciousness of one's individual self.
One's consciousness seems to merge with a deeper consciousness of the unity of all things in nature and the cosmos. One experiences an awareness of a deeper reality that is impossible to describe in words.
At such moments, one has no consciousness of time and space but only of that moment - the infinite eternal NOW. One makes contact with one's cosmic roots in a dimension where time and space are irrelevant.
It is the synchronisation of one's consciousness with the absolute and ultimate reality of the cosmos."
Thanks for your comment that mysticism is beyond description.
Thanks for your kind comments.yes, agree. i also prefer to believe that "I don't even know my name yet."... paraphrasing one of my favorite "human".
Thank you, it's been a privilege reading your blogs - modesty and intellect, very rare !!
But yes, it is misunderstood by some if not many because for one thing, it takes a special enlightenment to experience this. I most favor two favorite source of knowledge for me and that is William James as explained very deep and detailed in his Book: The Varieties of Religious experience. He said: is a distinctive experience wshich supplies knowledge of the transcendental. Personal religion is more fundamental than theology or ecclesiasticism. WE BOTH BECOME ONE WITH THE ABSOLUTE AND BECOME AWARE WITH OUR ONENESS AND IT IS NOT ALTERED BY ANY DIFFERENCES OF ANY CLIME OR CREED."
In other words, just like you said, regardless of any religious sect you belong, to, it will have the same note or impact on the level of experience and it is very personal as only you can attain that ultimate journey.
My other source of influence is from McClenon, where he mentioned that these experiences is also that of the connection to the cosmic reality than advocation of a particular religious theology.
While Blackmore and Jennet, defines the experience as a direct communication with God or the Absolute, of which I don't quite favor very much because of the fact that if it is a personal experience of such a journey where the use of the mind is not needed, then like Janes said: It doesn't limit to any particular ideology.
Personally, JB, and I have promised to share you my information as to the level of what I have experienced, it is very deep and very void at the same time. Void in the sense that the application of our physical body is separated from my spiritual entity. Reason why I believe in the idea of Supreme Being, because of the extent of that experience that I journeyed into.
When I was reading Lao Tzu, which was presented by you, yes, the humility it implies on not talking as oppose to the once who prefer silence. It supports, to me, the original idea by the Greeks as "IT IS CONCEAL OR HIDDEN" BECAUSE IT IS KEPT SECRET FOR THE PERSON EXPERIENCING IT, THE BURDEN OF EXPLANATION IS CLOUDED BY THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING BY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ENLIGHTENED. Osho, mentioned and also on the Spiritual Awakening, that enlightenment is not seeked, rather it finds you when you are ready. In my humble opinion..
Thanks, a very great blog, as always..
Another profound statement from you:
"I don't even know my name yet."...
It reminds me of a zen koan:
A Zen master asks, “Show me your Original Face, the face you had before your parents were born.”
The mystical experience lies beyond thought and intellectual activity. As Blofeld states:
"The truth is grasped when the mind in its stillness reaches the no-place beyond thought"
I am humbled by your comment. Thank you!
Yes, it was you who made the statement:
"The best knowledge of all is not to know anything,
Nothing is the epitome of knowing".
"The Varieties of Religious Experience" by William James was one of the assigned books in a "Psychology of Religion" course that I took at University of Manitoba, Canada.
With regards to the quote from Lao-tzu:
"He who knows does not speak
He who speaks does not know",
my take on it is that it does not refer to being humble, in the sense that one can speak but choses not to do so as a mark of humility, but simply that it cannot be spoken of because the experience lies beyond thought and language.
As Blofeld says:
The truth is grasped
when the mind in its stillness
reaches the no-place beyond thought.
No mental concept is involved
only experience.
The experience is nameless
being luminously perceptible
but utterly beyond description.
The experience cannot be realized through the intellect and logic. This is demonstrated in the Zen episode:
1. A Cup of Tea
Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912) received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.
Nan-in saved tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. 'It is overfull. No more will go in!'
‘Like this cup,' Nan-in said. ‘You are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup? '
I appreciate your sharing your experience. Thank you for doing so. It is beneficial to all.
Your reference to the Void reminds me of the Buddhist SUNYATA.
Thanks JB and my story is still being hunched.