Rog - nice summing up of mysticism (from this mystics point of view).
And not that far off from the dictionary definition that definition
Jonathan posted:
"My dictionary defines mysticism thus: "1a. A spiritual discipline
aiming at union with the divine through deep meditation or trancelike
contemplation ..."
[Not a useful definition unless we can agree what the divine is]
b. The experience of such communion, as described by mystics.
[Now I see - for a definition of mysticism, just ask a mystic!]"
- IF (and I repeat IF) you take the definition of divine (#3 in my
dictionary) as "supremely great, good" and you see both as
experiencing Quality - pure Quality.
That's my take on it at least - experiencing the divine (Quality -
the oneness of the universe).
Shalom
David Lind
Trickster@postmark.net
RISKYBIZ9@aol.com wrote:
> Jonathan and David B.,
>
> It would be beneficial to the discussion if you would each define your
> meaning of mysticism.
>
> When I use the term, to quote K. Wilber, I am refering to the state of
> consciousness where "one's sense of identity explodes into everything that
is
> experienced -- but then there is no separate experiencer nor separate
objects
> experienced, but just one encompassing and nondual experiencing."
>
> To paraphrase James, it is the state of realizing that the page seen and
the
> seer of the page are just two aspects of the same experience.
>
> It is the state where the boundaries of subject and object, and past and
> future collapse into the present of pure experience.
>
> Mysticism is a widespread well accepted state of consciousness that is
known
> to exist in virtually every recorded society. It is also borderline
> 'objective' in that there is a path to achieve it that can be followed by
> anyone.
>
> What is each of your definitions? ( I remember David posted a dictionary
> version a few years ago -- is this still the one you would use D?)
>
> Rog
>
> PS -- There is one key similarity between alcohol and mystic awareness. If
> mysticism is viewed as seeing that boundaries are the illusion of maya,
then
> mysticism can be viewed as a "No Boundary" condition.( Wilber uses this as
a
> name for one of his major works.) Alcohol also removes a boundary, namely
> the boundary of a person''s social self from biological self. However, it
> does it in a destructive rather than a constructive way. Alcohol represses
> one half of the boundary, where as mysticism merges the halves and erases
the
> boundary of this and other dualities. (better yet, it reveals that the
> boundary is illusory)
>
> PPS -- The ultimate theme of Lila is to embrace mystic awareness, a term
> which P. calls DQ or direct experience. He probably says this a dozen times
> in the book. At least in my copy.......
>
>
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