| |
Mysticism
Mysticism is
a term that tends to be very loosely used; and so it will be as well to state at the
beginning what it is not. In ordinary speech it is often associated with the occult and
with paranormal phenomena such as thought-reading, telepathy
or levitation. It is true that many
authentic mystics have had such powers, but they are in no way essential to the mystical
experience itself and often merely prove an embarrassment.
Etymologically the word mysticism
derives from the Greek mueo, meaning to
'initiate' into a secret cult into a 'mystery'.
Among Christians, however, the word has come to mean a direct experience of God; and
since, in theory at least, Christianity
is the religion of' love, the 'mystical' experience is spoken of' as union with God or as
a 'spiritual marriage'.
During the Middle Ages and after,
'mystical theology' was recognized as a legitimate branch of' theology beside 'speculative
theology'. The difference between the two is clearly brought out by the 17th century
French saint, Francis of' Sales. What, he asks, do we talk about in prayer? What is our
topic of conversation? God: nothing else. After all what does a lover talk about but his
beloved? Prayer and mystical theology, therefore, are identical. Prayer is called
theology, because it deals with God as speculative theology does; only there are three
differences. First of all, speculative theology deals with God as the supreme Being
the divinity of supreme goodness; mystical theology deals with him as supremely lovable
the supreme goodness of the divinity. Secondly, speculative theology is concerned
with God and man, mystical theology with God alone. Thirdly, speculative theology leads to
knowledge of God turning its pupils into learned scholars and theologians; mystical
theology leads to love of God turning out intensely affectionate lovers. This is
the traditional Christian point of view: mystical experience is the immediate experience
of the love of God, and any experience in which neither God nor love were felt to be
present would scarcely be taken seriously as mystical. In the course of' the last century
or so, however, the word has taken on a wider meaning. There seem to be two reasons for
this: the rise of' the secular 'science' of psychology; and the dissemination of knowledge
of the religions of India and China, in both of which the mystical element is prominent.
And yet in neither Buddhism nor in Taoism does love, or indeed God, play a significant
part. In what sense, then, are they mystical? Let us turn to the Oxford Dictionary for
guidance. On 'mystic' it says: 'one who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to
obtain union with or absorption into the Deity, or who believes in tile spiritual
apprehension of truths inaccessible to the understanding.' And for mysticism' it
gives a similar entry: belief in the possibility of union with the divine nature by means
of ecstatic contemplation; reliance on spiritual intuition as the means of acquiring
knowledge of mysteries inaccessible to the understanding. In neither entry is there any
mention of love; and in both 'deity' has come to replace the more personal 'God'.
Related
software:
Magic: An
Insider's View - CD-ROM.
Mystic Discovery
Suite - CD-ROM.
Palmistry -
CD-ROM.
The Complete
Edgar Cayce Readings on Cd-Rom : DOS.
The Complete
Edgar Cayce Readings on CD-Rom : Macintosh.
The Complete
Edgar Cayce Readings on Cd-Rom : Windows.
The URANTIA Book
(CD-ROM).
Related
videos:
21st Century
Astrology.
Astrology &
Seance.
Astrology -
Celestial Prophecies.
Body Mind
Exercises.
Islamic
Mysticism: The Sufi Way.
Mysticism and the
Search for Religious Understanding.
Phenomena: The
World Of The Unexplained - Secret Powers of the Mind.
Questioning
Astrology.
Redemption and
Mysticism: A Religion That Demands and a Religion That Bestows.
Secrets of the
Unknown: Mystic Hitler.
Secrets of the
Unknown - Powers of the Mind.
Related
books:
Awakening
Mystical Consciousness.
Breakfast at the
Victory: The Mysticism of Ordinary Experience.
Cosmic
Consciousness.
Daily Readings
With a Modern Mystic: Selections from the Writings of Evelyn Underhill.
Fire in the Heart: Healers, Sages and Mystics.
Harper's
Encyclopedia of Mystical & Paranormal Experience.
In Search of the
Miraculous: Fragments of an Unknown Teaching.
Karma Cola:
Marketing the Mystic East.
Mandala:
Luminous Symbols for Healing.
Mysticism and the
New Physics.
Sexual Energy
Ecstasy: A Practical Guide to Lovemaking Secrets of the East and West.
Spiritual Madness: The Necessity of Meeting God in Darkness.
Talking With
Nature: Sharing the Energies and Spirit of Trees, Plants, Birds, and Earth.
The Cloud of
Unknowing and the Book of Privy Counseling.
The Eagle and the
Rose.
The Edgar Cayce
Companion: A Comprehensive Treatise of the Edgar Cayce Readings.
The Essential
Mystics: Selections from the World's Great Wisdom Traditions.
The Flowering of
Mysticism: Men and Women in the New Mysticism.
The Mystics of
the Church.
The Mystic Way:
The Role of Mysticism in the Christian Life.
The Physics of
Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science and Spirit Meet.
The Shamans of
Prehistory: Trance and Magic in the Painted Caves.
The Singing Creek
Where the Willows Grow: The Mystical Nature Diary of Opal Whiteley.
The Tao of
Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels Between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism.
The Tantric
Mysticism of Tibet: A Practical Guide.
The Way of the
Mystic: Seven Paths to God
The Ways of the
Mystic: Seven Paths to God.
The World Is As
You Dream It: Shamanic Teachings from the Amazon and Andes.
Way of the
Peaceful Warrior.
Ways of the
Christian Mystics.
Wine of the
Mystic: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam - A Spiritual Interpretation.
Wisdom of the
Mystic Masters.
Click
here for more related
books.
Further
info:
Mysticism.
| |
|

|
|
|
|

| |
|
|
This website is best viewed with the latest
versions of
Microsoft
Internet Explorer,
Firefox or
Netscape.
Occultopedia
makes extensive use of
Flash and Scripting in its pages and interface. Make certain your browser
permissions are set
accordingly and that you have the latest
Flash plug-in for the full experience, proper look and accurate
layout.
If using
Microsoft
Internet Explorer 7, clicking (or pressing the SPACEBAR or ENTER) on the
Flash graphics is necessary to activate it. If using the latest versions
of
Firefox or
Netscape, adjusting the browser
trust permissions to "ENABLE MAXIMUM SITE FUNCTIONALITY" is required to fully
enjoy Occultopedia's features and
Flash graphics. You can do it with confidence. This site does not contain any viruses or any malicious software
or script.
|
|
As you may have noticed, Occultopedia is being updated.
Navigation areas are completed, but the word definition pages are not. The
layout in these pages might not look as good as they should. Updating them
may take a while, so please, be patient and understanding. I am only one
person working on this site in my spare time.
As soon as these updates are concluded I will begin setting up the
Forums, so we can all discuss the
occult, paranormal and extraordinary, and whatever else we please.
Registration will be required.
Occultopedia's images and art are also undergoing an adjustment to
Flash based graphics. This process may take some time as well, so again, be
patient and understanding.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Occultopedia is the genuine article, the
original and the best internet index of the extraordinary and uncanny,
shamelessly copied by many, but never equaled. Online since the
early 90s — at first in a free web space provider, and in 1997 finally
with its own domain name and hosting — Occultopedia still is the
principal online resource for those looking for the unexplained, the
curious and the unusual. |
|
Occultopedia respects your privacy. As
such, no cookies or any other tracking software will be installed as a
part of this website's original programming. I do not seek to obtain any personal information
beyond what is volunteered through electronic communications
(e.g. emails & forms).
|
|
Occultopedia may appear to be a for profit site, but my site is
not really a commercial one. All of the commercial links are from affiliate
programs, and the little revenue I get from these is to pay for hosting,
bandwidth — that can be quite costly if you have a lot of traffic, graphics and
pages — and any other expenses related to Occultopedia's upkeep and maintenance.
For more details, visit my
ordering
information page.
Occultopedia is a
FREE online
resource available to the whole world. Usage of my word definitions and articles
by educational institutions, teachers and students alike, is here by granted. For more information, please consult my
intellectual property rights, warranties and
disclaimers information page. Support Occultopedia and make it your
online shopping
destination. If you prefer, you can also make a donation.
|
|
HELP FOOT THE BILL: this website
is created and maintained by one guy, who also pays the hosting bill.
Please donate if you like and/or use Occultopedia.
|
|
Participate in Occultopedia and submit a word
definition or article for the occult encyclopedia at my
entry submission
page. If you would like to suggest a web site or page for
addition into Occultopedia's links database, please go to my
URL submission page.
|
|
|
|
|
Site
creation and design
by M. V. G.
|
Copyright
© Occultopedia™ . All rights reserved. |
| |