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| Reference: ''Who's Who in the History of Mysticism'' by Professor Bruce B. Janz | Reference: ''Who's Who in the History of Mysticism'' by Professor Bruce B. Janz | ||
| http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/mys/whoswho.htm | http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/mys/whoswho.htm | ||
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| '''Mysticism''' may be defines as a process whereby the mystic plumbs the depths of the self and reality in a radical process of meditative self-discovery to discover the true nature of reality experientially. And the sayings of mystics of all kinds of different traditions show that they have known very similar experiences. Therefore, the true unity of religion can be found in mystical experience. In mysticism, we can find the "perennial philosophy", the common ground of all religious experience. | |||
| There is a lot of evidence to support this train of thought. But mysticism, at least in the narrow definition of the term used here, is, was and probably always will be a minority interest among religious people. Where does this leave the rest of us? Moreover, the mysticism approach has another shortcoming: there is no way that they can be proven to a disinterested outsider. Instead, they require a leap of faith or a mystical experience that is itself religious. Thus, basing a definition of religion on them leads to arguing in circles. | |||
Revision as of 00:21, 13 March 2003
Mysticism is the supposed experience or exploration of a transcendental realm beyond our Universe. In theistic, pantheistic, and panentheistic metaphysical systems this is understood as direct relation with God.
Elements of mysticism are present in many religions and philosophies. Some mystics claim that there is a common thread of influence in all mystic philosophies that is traceable back to a shared source. Many mystical philiosophies thus exhibit a strong tendency towards Syncretism.
Examples of major traditions and philosophies with strong elements of mysticism are Vedantic Hinduism, Tibetan and Zen Buddhism, the Christian Gnostic sect(s), the Eastern Orthodox hesychasm, the Sufi school of Islam, the Judaic Kabbalah and many aspects of the New Age movement. Quakerism also has a strong mystical element to its theology.
The 19th Century saw an increase of interest in Mysticism linked to an interest in Occultism and Eastern Thought. Major figures in this movement were Madame Blavatsky and Gurdjieff. See Theosophy for more information on this movement which had a later influence on the New Age.
Some examples of Christian mystics are:
- Clement of Alexandria,
- St. Augustine of Hippo
- St. Gregory I
- St. Anselm
- St. Hildegard of Bingen
- Hugh of Saint Victor
- St. John of the Cross
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- St. Bridget of Sweden
- St. Joan of Arc
- St. Gregory Palamas
Examples of Muslim mystics (also called sufi) are
- al-Ghazali, (d. 1111)
- al Hallaj (d. 922)
- Jalal ad-Din Rumi,
- Hafiz,
- Sadi
- Yunus Emre
Examples of Jewish mystics
- Shimon bar Yochai (c.200 AD )
- Abraham ben Samuel Abulafia (1240-1291)
- Moses ben Shem Tob de Leon (1250-1305)
- Isaac Luria (1534-1572)
- Moses Chaim Luzzato (1707-1746)
- Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810)
- Abraham Isaac Kook (1864-1935)
- Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994)
Other mystics:
- Rufus Jones (Quakerism)
Reference: Who's Who in the History of Mysticism by Professor Bruce B. Janz http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/mys/whoswho.htm
following content moved from definition of religion
Mysticism may be defines as a process whereby the mystic plumbs the depths of the self and reality in a radical process of meditative self-discovery to discover the true nature of reality experientially. And the sayings of mystics of all kinds of different traditions show that they have known very similar experiences. Therefore, the true unity of religion can be found in mystical experience. In mysticism, we can find the "perennial philosophy", the common ground of all religious experience.
There is a lot of evidence to support this train of thought. But mysticism, at least in the narrow definition of the term used here, is, was and probably always will be a minority interest among religious people. Where does this leave the rest of us? Moreover, the mysticism approach has another shortcoming: there is no way that they can be proven to a disinterested outsider. Instead, they require a leap of faith or a mystical experience that is itself religious. Thus, basing a definition of religion on them leads to arguing in circles.