Many mystical paths in the world's spiritual traditions claim to lead one to a conscious merging, union, and a direct identification with Deity, the Sacred, Reality, the Universe, the Transcendent, with a first-hand experience of being God.
Tag: mysticism
Are Mystics Atheists?
"Some types of mystical religion come close to atheism in their understanding of God as unimaginable."
The Book of Mormon as Literary Alchemy: Joseph’s Magnum Opus and the Philosopher’s Stone
Joseph Smith's activity in bringing forth the Book of Mormon can be viewed as a project of alchemy, which was influenced by his affiliation with treasure digging, the folk magic worldview, the Hermetic tradition,1 as well as his many mystical spiritual experiences. I suggest he initially sought to bring the “gold plates” of his visions into material reality, and in the process discovered the true “gold” was within himself, the elusive Philosopher’s Stone.
Excerpts from Symeon’s Discourse on the “Mystical Resurrection of Christ”
The following are excerpts from a discourse given by the Byzantine Christian monk and poet, Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022 AD), to the monks of the Monastery of St. Mamas.
Mystical Experience is Christianity’s Savior
Until we can get back to direct primary first-hand personal intimate contemplative mystical ecstatic experience of God in the lives of each and every human being, then God will increasingly become an abstract distant concept instead of a Living immanent reality.
“God Is the Very Self of Each of Us” by Rupert Spira
In the video below, non-dual spiritual teacher Rupert Spira beautifully discusses the journey from traditional exoteric outward-facing dualistic religion that worships and prays to an external God, and towards higher stages of a more integrated perceiving of non-dual at-one esoteric inward-facing union spirituality, where we realize that "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30).
“Science & Spirituality” a TEDx talk by Jeff Lieberman
This is one of the best TEDx talks I've encountered. In it Jeff Lieberman talks about science and spirituality the same as I have experienced them, including regarding the unitive mystical experience as perhaps the ultimate value in human life.
The Limits of Intellectual Thought & Knowledge
I recently read three different articles that all had a very similar message. It was essentially this: there is a limit to knowledge and intellectual thought, and some answers may not be found that way. I've written about this before, but there is always more to say. We'll see why, below.
The Mysticism of Joseph Smith
I see mysticism in Joseph Smith and his work at nearly every turn. Joseph united his mind and consciousness in God to such a great degree that he spoke with the voice of Christ. One only does that if one is genuinely in mystical union with God, or delusional, or a con man (a fake). I perceive Joseph was the first, and I'll share a few reasons why.
Our Minds Paint Our Pictures of God
"The [mystical] visions are not ends in themselves but means to an ineffable religious experience that exceeds normal concepts. They will be conditioned by the particular religious tradition of the mystic. A Jewish visionary will see visions of the seven heavens because his religious imagination is stocked with these particular symbols. Buddhists see various images of Buddhas and bodhisattvas; Christians visualize the Virgin Mary [or Jesus]. It is a mistake for the visionary to see these mental apparitions as objective or as anything more than a symbol of transcendence."