"Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute..."
Refers to an encounter or perceived experience with a divine being, the universe or one's own inner self that is beyond the ordinary understanding of life.
Mystical experiences: The range of experiences that fall under the umbrella of mysticism; this includes visions, ecstasies, and contemplative states.
The history of mysticism: The development of mysticism as a historical phenomenon, including its relationship to various religious and philosophical traditions.
The psychology of mysticism: Theories and models of the psychological mechanisms that underpin mystical experiences.
The phenomenology of mystical experiences: The subjective experience of mystical states, including the content and variety of experiences, their temporal and spatial dimensions, and their relation to other states of consciousness.
Types of mysticism: The different forms of mysticism, such as theistic mysticism, nondual mysticism, and naturalistic mysticism.
Spiritual practices: The various practices that foster and cultivate mystical experiences, such as meditation, prayer, and contemplation.
Symbols and metaphors: The use of symbols and metaphors to describe and communicate mystical experiences.
Mystical literature: The study of mystical texts and how they shape our understanding of mystical experiences.
Ethics and mysticism: The relationship between mystical experience and ethical considerations, such as compassion and social justice.
Mysticism and modernity: The challenges and opportunities that arise when mysticism intersects with the modern world, including the impact of technology and globalization.
Anthropology of mysticism: The study of how mystical practices and experiences vary across cultures and societies.
The intersection of mysticism and science: The exploration of the scientific validity of mystical experiences and the possibility of integrating mysticism with scientific inquiry.
Mystical teachers and communities: An examination of the role of teachers and community in fostering mystical experiences and sustaining a spiritual practice.
Mystical traditions and practices: A survey of various mystical traditions and their particular practices and beliefs, from Sufism and Christian mysticism to Buddhism and Taoism.
Controversies and criticisms: The various criticisms and controversies surrounding mysticism, including claims of fraud and abuse, concerns about cult dynamics, and debates about the value of mystical experiences.
Transcendental Mysticism: Focuses on achieving a state where the mind transcends the physical world and merges with the divine or universal consciousness. These experiences are characterized by a sense of oneness and interconnectedness with everything.
Ecstatic Mysticism: Involves experiences of intense joy, ecstasy, and spiritual rapture. These experiences can be accompanied by physical manifestations, such as shaking or trembling.
Visionary Mysticism: Involves experiences of receiving visions, messages, or insights from higher beings or the divine. These experiences can sometimes be accompanied by voices, sounds, or intense visual imagery.
Nature Mysticism: Involves experiences of deep connection and communion with nature. These experiences can involve a sense of merging with the natural world or experiencing a greater understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things.
Intellectual Mysticism: Involves experiences of gaining new insights and knowledge about the nature of reality, the self, or the divine. These experiences can be accompanied by profound revelations or a deep understanding of abstract concepts.
Divine Union Mysticism: Focuses on achieving a state of divine union or communion with God or a higher power. These experiences are characterized by a sense of complete surrender to the divine will and an experience of divine love.
Altered States Mysticism: Involves experiences of altered states of consciousness, such as meditation, psychedelics, or sensory deprivation. These experiences can lead to profound mystical experiences or enhanced states of awareness.
Psychic Mysticism: Involves experiences of psychic phenomena, such as telepathy, precognition, or clairvoyance. These experiences can be interpreted as indications of a deeper connection to the divine or the universe.
Near-Death Mysticism: Involves experiences of people who have clinically died and then been revived. These experiences can be characterized by a sense of leaving the physical body, encountering a bright light or otherworldly beings, and gaining insights into the nature of reality.
"...may refer to any kind of ecstasy or altered state of consciousness which is given a religious or spiritual meaning. It may also refer to the attainment of insight in ultimate or hidden truths, and to human transformation supported by various practices and experiences."
"...mysticism referred to the biblical, liturgical, spiritual, and contemplative dimensions of early and medieval Christianity."
"...meaning 'to close' or 'to conceal.'"
"During the early modern period, the definition of mysticism grew to include a broad range of beliefs and ideologies related to 'extraordinary experiences and states of mind.'"
"In modern times, 'mysticism' has acquired a limited definition, with broad applications, as meaning the aim at the 'union with the Absolute, the Infinite, or God'."
"...valuing 'mystical experience' as a key element of mysticism."
"Since the 1960s scholars have debated the merits of perennial and constructionist approaches in the scientific research of 'mystical experiences'."
"The perennial position is now 'largely dismissed by scholars'..."
"...most scholars using a contextualist approach..."
"...which considers the cultural and historical context."
"The biblical, liturgical, spiritual, and contemplative dimensions of early and medieval Christianity."
"A broad range of beliefs and ideologies related to 'extraordinary experiences and states of mind.'"
"The attainment of insight in ultimate or hidden truths, and to human transformation supported by various practices and experiences."
"...meaning 'to close' or 'to conceal'," hinting at the hidden nature of mystical experiences.
"...various practices and experiences" support human transformation in mysticism.
"...meaning the aim at the 'union with the Absolute, the Infinite, or God'."
"...valuing 'mystical experience' as a key element of mysticism."
"The definition of mysticism grew to include a broad range of beliefs and ideologies related to 'extraordinary experiences and states of mind.'"
"...most scholars using a contextualist approach, which considers the cultural and historical context."