What's the difference between "a personal relationship with Jesus Christ" and mysticism in other religions?

Question

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(For example, Kabbalah, Sufism, Yoga, and Christian mystic cults.)

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Answer 1

Never seen a question so trivial and so provocative at the same time!

I'm not too sure Christian mystics would see Jesus as their "pal" the way that he's portrayed in the "personal relationship" model. The PR types like to invite Jesus along with them, going to the mall, the dragstrip, the reservoir, whatever. Mystics tend to tag along quietly behind, following wherever Jesus leads them. Somes it's something cool, sometimes it's weird, and sometimes Jesus disconnects his phone and disappears completely for months at a time. (They call that the "dark night of the soul".) The PRs think they know Jesus. The mystics are sure they don't, but keep trying, only passively.

Seriously, a mystic has a completely different approach to spirituality. A mystic does not enter the relationship expecting to analyze and understand, only to immerse in and experience whatever is. Institutionally, people distinguish between the mystical Eastern Orthodox style of religious observance and the more intellectual Western Christian approach. A little of both may not be a bad idea.

Answer 2

It makes a big difference if we think of God as a person or as a force. One way you get Christianity, the other you get Star Wars.
— Jayne Kulikauskas

I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.
— Frank Lloyd Wright (1869 - 1959)

Nature is the art of God
— Dante

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.
— Henry David Thoreau

The natural is so awesome that we need not go beyond it.
— Ruth Hurmence Green, (1915-1981)

Ask yourself whether the dream of heaven and greatness should be waiting for us in our graves -- or whether it should be ours here and now and on this earth.
— Ayn Rand, (1905-1982)

I feel no need for any other faith than my faith in human beings. Like Confucius of old, I am so absorbed in the wonder of earth and the life upon it that I cannot think of heaven and the angels.
— Pearl S. Buck

Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy.
— Carl Sagan

Life should be lived so vividly and so intensely that thoughts of another life, or of a longer life, are not necessary.
— Marjory Stoneham Douglas

From my rotting body,
flowers shall grow
and I am in them
and that is eternity.
— Edvard Munch (1863-1944)

Answer 3

In proper practice they should be the same. See below for a good summary explanation from Hindu sources (and, no, I am not a Hindu but I find it a good source for universal spiritual wisdom).

There are common themes for many of the schools within Hinduism that can be found in the Vedic scriptures, and such works as the Bhagavad Gita. Remember yoga originated out of Hinduism. Most people only know the physical forms of yoga, called hatha, but those techniques area actually preparatory techniques for the higher practices of the spiritual types of yoga such as jnana, karma, and bhakti. You can practice a form of hatha but it helps to be grounded and centered in some sense in the higher forms of yoga or all you are doing is stretching.

If you are interested in the yoga teachings of Lord Krishna, then one thing you may want to focus on to learn and practice in a more nonsectarian manner is the Uddhava Gita. The Uddhava Gita is a summation of the essence of the Bhagavad Gita (and the simplest and most direct practice of yoga), and so it is eminently suitable for nonsectarian, universal teaching which is the essence of Hinduism.

Here is a short summation of the Uddhava Gita which is found in the Srimad Bhagavatam (also known as Bhagavata Purana) 11.7:

EPILOGUE - LORD KRISHNA'S LAST SERMON

At the end of another long sermon comprising of more than one thousand verses, disciple Uddhava said: "O Lord Krishna, I think the pursuit of God as You narrated to Arjuna (in the Bhagavad Gita), and now to me, is very difficult indeed, for most people; because it entails control of unruly senses. Please tell me a short, simple, and easy way to God-realization." Lord Krishna upon Uddhava's request gave the essentials of Self-realization as follows:

· Do your duty, to the best of your ability, for Me without worrying about the outcome.

· Remember Me at all times. (Note that this is the point of chanting things like the mahamantra - Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Kare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare which is often chanted in kirtan or a variation of it. The whole point of kirtan and mantra is remembrance.)

· Perceive that God is within every living being. Mentally bow down to all beings and treat all beings equally.

· Perceive through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and emotions that the power of God is within you at all times, and is constantly doing all the work using you as a mere instrument and a trustee.

I recommend the International Gita Society as they are nonsectarian, offer affordable translations of the Bhagavad Gita with commentary, and can help teach you the basics without having to spend a lot of money or submit to some guru you know nothing about:

http://www.gita-society.com/

http://www.gitainternational.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Gita_Society

They also have an online Gita study and discussion forum:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gita-talk/

I hope these are helpful!

Answer 4

properly discounting the undeniable fact that "Christ" is a greek kind of the Hebrew Mashiach, Scripture does certainly call it a faith. This "that's a dating, no longer a faith" philosophy is a man made credo. even however a "dating" with the daddy is a factor of it. So what could that "faith" be? Judaism in its purest kind as taught via the rabbi Yeshua, Son of the residing God.

Answer 5

seems no one wants to touch this one ...
I was going to say no difference ....
but with other mystical religions , there is much emphasis on gaining spiritual wisdom from other sources including the self
with Christianity , the emphasis seems to be on the one source ... although I am unsure about Christian mystics , havent heard of this very much