MysticismMysticism is meditation, prayer, or theology focused on the direct experience of union with divinity, God, or Ultimate Reality, or the belief that such experience is a genuine and important source of knowledge.
Mysticism and syncretism\nMystics of different traditions report similar experiences of a world usually outside conventional perception, although not all forms of mysticism abandon knowledge perceived through normal means. Based on extraordinary perception, mystics may believe that true unity of religion and philosophy can be found in mystical experience. Elements of mysticism are present in most religions and many philosophies. Some mystics perceive a common thread of influence in all mystic philosophies that they see as traceable back to a shared source. The Vedic tradition is inherently mystic; the Christian apocalyptic Book of Revelation is clearly mystical, as with Ezekiel's or Daniel's visions of Judaism, and the Koran is thought by Muslims to have been inspired by the angel Gabriel in a mystical manner. Indigenous cultures also have cryptic revelations pointing toward a universal flow of love or unity, usually following a vision quest or similar ritual. Mystical philosophies thus can exhibit a strong tendency towards syncretism. Some systems of mysticism are found within specific religious traditions and do not relinquish doctrinal principles as a part of mystical experience. For example, Christian mystics, through the centuries, have not decided that Jesus is not God after all: in other words, not all mysticism results in syncretism. In some definite cases, theology remains a distinct source of insight that guides and informs the mystical experience. For example, St Thomas Aquinas' mystical experiences all occurred squarely within the love of the Catholic Eucharist.On the difficulty of defining mysticismSeemingly open-ended statements are frequently encountered among studies of mysticism, throughout its history, for example in Taoist thought and in studies of Kabbalah. In his work, Kabbalah, Gershom Scholem, a prominent 20th century scholar of that field, stated: The Kabbalah is not a single system with basic principles which can be explained in a simple and straightforward fashion, but consists rather of a multiplicity of different approaches, widely separated from one another and sometimes completely contradictory. In Catholic traditions, mystical theology is informed by revelation, which averts an apparent tendency to become lost in formless thought. Christian mystics, too, are obligated to obey the forms of ascetical and moral theology, as following Christ is their primary objective, rather than seeking mystical experiences for their own sake. [1]Theosophy and "the occult"\nThe late 19th century saw an significant increase of interest in mysticism in the West that was combined with increased interest in Occultism and Eastern Philosophy. Theosophy was a major movement in the popularization of these interests. Madame Blavatsky and Gurdjieff were central figures of the theosophy movement. This trend was later to become absorbed in the rise of the New Age movement. At the end of the 20th Century books like Conversations With God (a series which describes the author's experience of direct communication with God) hit the bestseller lists, and films like The Matrix reached an audience not unfamiliar with its philosophical themes.Examples in major traditions\nExamples of major traditions and philosophies with strong elements of mysticism are:\n*Vedantic Hinduism\n*Tibetan and Zen Buddhism\n*Taoism\n*the Christian Gnostic sects\n*mystery religions and cults\n*the Eastern Orthodox hesychasm\n*the Sufi school of Islam\n*the Judaic Kabbalah\n*the New Age movement\n**Near Death Experiences\n*Quakerism has a strong mystical element to its theology\n*the Transcendentalist movement of Unitarianism in the USA\n*like Mohammed, the American prophet Joseph Smith, Jr began the Mormon religion on the strength of visions, revelations, and ordinations from angels\n*the Native American Ghost Dances of the late 19th Century were mystical in origin.Hindu mystics\nSome examples of Hindu mystics:
Christian mystics\nSome examples of Christian mystics:
Islamic mystics\nSome examples of Muslim mystics (also called sufi):
Jewish mystics\nSome examples of Jewish mystics:
Other mystics\nSome examples of other mystics:
See also\n*Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis\n*Apophatic theology\n*Esotericism\n*List of dignitaries of mystical organisations\n*List of spirituality-related topics\n*Meditation\n*Rosicrucianism\n*Sufism\n*Western mystery tradition\n*YogaExternal links\n* Power Fortunes\n* Power Yantras - The creation, workings and effects of Vedic talismans or 'Yantras'.\n* Mysticism in Catholic Encyclopedia\n* Cosmotheism Our destiny is Godhood\n* AMORC USA Rosicrucian Order\n* Who's Who in the History of Mysticism by Professor Bruce B. Janz\n* ChristianMystics.com includes many short essays covering various aspects of Christian mysticism\n* Alphabetical List of Mystics\n* Christian Mysticism\n* Evelyn Underhill's classic work A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness\n* Mysticism in World Religions \n\n\n\n\n Category:Mysticism\nCategory:New Age |
||
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) |
