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Mysticism
1
“Study
mysticism if you want to. It will give your heart joy, your
mind inspiration and your life a true, fulfilling and
soulful assurance. But do not try to define it. Do not try
to interpret it. If you try to define mysticism, you are
bound to fail. If you try to interpret mysticism, you will
most deplorably fail.
We get
experiences: from science, scientific discoveries; from
history, historical revelations; from philosophy,
philosophical data; from religion, religious doctrines. In
these experiences, we see the presence of subject and
object, essence and existence, vision and reality. But a
mystic experience, which is immediate oneness, transcends
all such distinctions. This experience is the constant
oneness with the Beyond, the ever transcending Beyond that
always remains ineffable. Mysticism, poor mysticism! When it
is oversimplified and underestimated, it comes down from its
original sphere and stands beside religion. But even here if
a person is sincere, he will realise that his highest
religious experience is nothing more than an uncertain,
obscure and faint perception of Truth; whereas, no matter
what kind of mystical experience he has, he will feel the
intensity, immensity and certainty of Truth.
We have
also to learn that religious ecstasy and mystical ecstasy do
not play the same role in our inner life. Religious ecstasy
deals mostly with the human in us. This ecstasy is confined
to the body consciousness, the disciplined or undisciplined
vital, the illumined or unillumined mind, the pure or impure
heart. But the mystical ecstasy transports us at once into
the Beyond, where we are embraced by the eternal Life, fed
by the all nourishing Light and blessed by the
transcendental Truth. Primitive religion offered ecstasy to
the vital in the physical mind and in the desiring heart.
Mysticism fully advanced is now offering its ecstasy in
infinite measure to the liberated souls and in abundant
measure to the souls who are on the verge of liberation.
Poor
Hinduism. Whenever and wherever mysticism is looked down
upon, Hinduism is considered the main culprit. There are
many sophisticated Westerners who not only fail to
understand the lofty Hindu mysticism, but badly
misunderstand it. To them I want to say that Hindu mysticism
is not, as they think, self hypnotism or self-deception, but
rather soulful oneness with Immortality's Life, Infinity's
Heart and Eternity's Breath. To know Hinduism well, one has
to practise Yoga, usually under the direct guidance of a
spiritual adept.
Mysticism
in Buddhism has been considerably inspired and influenced by
Hindu mysticism. Hence, far from being diametrically
opposed, the two traditions practically come to realise the
same Truth. Nirvana transcends pain and pleasure, birth and
death. The blessedness of Nirvana is the highest mystic
oneness with the Liberator. A Hindu mystic, on the strength
of his self realisation, also becomes one with the Absolute
and is freed forever from the snares of pleasure and pain,
birth and death.
The Sufi
mysticism of Islam expresses itself in the strongest
intoxication of the inner vital and in the truth-laden
symbolic love between bride and bridegroom. This kind of
mysticism perhaps brings one considerably closer to the
actual possibility of experiencing oneness with the One. Yet
it also wants to tell us that the Allah of the Koran demands
a strict self discipline and a self controlled life.
According to its adherents, this mysticism eventually leads
to free access to Him, which is a very rare achievement.
The
glowing mysticism of Judaism is the Kabbalah. This mystic
lore is founded on the occult interpretation of the Bible
and it has been successfully handed down as an esoteric
doctrine to the initiated.
Christianity owes its mystical urge not to Judaism, but to
the Greek world. Some scholars are of the opinion that the
New Testament is wanting in mystical experience. I find it
difficult to agree with them. I wish to say that the New
Testament is replete with mystical experiences. What they
are actually missing in the New Testament, because of their
inability to enter into the depth of its messages, is the
key that opens the mystical door that leads to union with
God.
In Spain,
Teresa of Avila offered to the world something profoundly
mystical. Her mystical experience is the most successful
culmination of the divine marriage between the aspiring soul
and the liberating Christ, and it is here that man's
helpless crying will and God's omnipotent all fulfilling
Will embrace each other.
Mysticism
is not the sole monopoly of Hinduism. Christianity and other
religions also discovered the Wealth of mysticism.”
Sir Chinmoy,
May
7th, 1969
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.
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