What does Mysticism mean to you?

Question

General question; just interested to see the opinion of R/S.

Answer 1

It sounds like a perfume name.

Answer 2

Mysticism [from the Greek μυστικός (mystikos) "an initiate"] is not mystery or religion, but, bypassing the senses and the intellect, revolves around the idea of union with ultimate Reality. It is a realization of a universal force or energy which could be called the Cosmic or God. Mystics believe that there is a deeper, more fundamental state of existence hidden beneath the appearances of day–to–day living and approach this communion with reality through prayer, meditation, contemplation etc. designed to transcend any constraint to a direct experience of the divine. In other words the direct experience of God is a kind of ‘knowing’, which goes beyond intellectual understanding.

Answer 3

I would say that mysticism is a religious process via which people seek to have spiritual experiences of a supernatural variety. Examples of such experiences would be seeing visions, hearing the "voice of God", or reaching a state of gnosis or samadhi.

In some faiths, phenomenon such as levitation, "speaking in tongues", channeling spirits, or become a temporary "host" for a divine spirit, may also be considered mystical experiences.

Some methods used in mysticism include meditation, chanting, praying, fasting, and even dancing - as in the case of the "whirling dervishes".

Some faiths use various mind-affecting substances as part of their mystical practices. One of the most well-known examples is peyote use in certain rituals practiced by some Native American groups. Another important example of such a substance would be the Vedic Hindu "soma", which apparently no longer exists.

The performance of "miracles" has also sometimes been called mysticism.

Answer 4

The term "mysticism" is often used to refer to beliefs which go beyond the purely exoteric practices of mainstream religions, while still being related to or based in a mainstream religious doctrine. For example, Kabbalah is a significant mystical movement within Judaism, and Sufism is a significant mystical movement within Islam. Gnosticism refers to various mystical sects which arose out of Christianity. Some have argued that Christianity itself was a mystical sect that arose out of Judaism. Non-traditional knowledge and ritual are considered as Esotericism, for example Buddhism's Vajrayana. Vedanta, the Naths (North India), the Natha (South India), Siddhar, Nagas are considered the several mystical branches of Hinduism. Hinduism being an ancient religion and a rather broad 'all-paths' embracing philosophy has many mystical branches.

Answer 5

Life is filled with mysteries and wonders. To me, a mystic has enough heart and sensitivity to appreciate the magic in life. Today, man is so busy being rational all he is left with is his reason. He has no joy or passion left for life or the creation. Man has lost the ability to be at one with the universe and find joy his existence.

Answer 6

For me, it's a very specific term in the context of Christianity. Christian mysticism is an integral part of the Christian life of prayer which, in turn, is the heart of the Christian life. St. John of the Cross has had a great impact on the modern history of Christian mysticism, and it is in the light of his teaching that we look at this history of Christian mysticism, contemporary attempts to renew the contemplative life, and the need to develop a theology of mysticism.

The writings of St. Juliana of Norwich, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese, the writer of the Cloud of Unknowing....are some of the greats in Christian mysticism.

Answer 7

I just offered the below reply to a question asking about "brainwashing" ... but it's actually better suited for your question:
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An anonymous Christian monk in the fourteenth century authored a series of book-length letters to a friend in which he made profound and straightforwardly empirical suggestions for how to become experientially closer to God ... through letting go of mental preoccupations and conceits. His figurative term for that process was "unknowing."

Rather than images, dogmas, or even emotions, he describes coming into a naked, blind feeling of being ... more simple and original than any thoughts or beliefs ... and having that meditative immediacy be the substance of our approach to the Truth.

In that naked awareness of being, "nothing defouled," as he puts it, by any thought or prejudice, he uncovered an experience of such sobriety and immediate worth that he knew it to be an experience of worship.

He says no words can do it justice -- it is quite literally an experience and realization before words -- but his poetic characterization of it was this:

He found it an experience of worshiping God with his being, and knowing in that practical realization that God was his being.

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So that's a classic illustration of mysticism ... "washing" our minds of our prejudices ... both for and against "God" ... in order to become intimately close to those unspeakably simple and profound realizations that have always been the empirically verifiable and utterly wonderful foundations of human religious expressions.

I've used a Christian example, but identical procedures are explored and practiced in non-theistic religious traditions as well (such as Vipassana and Zen Buddhist currents). Mysticism, in its classic understanding, is simply human spirituality that grounds itself in immediate experience.
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Answer 8

Mysticism is mystifying the simple and plain.

Answer 9

Difficult to define. Depends on whose using it. When I say it, it usually refers to the most incredible/beautiful aspects of the natural world.

Answer 10

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