Why Mysticism?

Mike Grosso has suggested we choose "What is Mysticism?" as the topic of our next Thinking Out Loud dialogue scheduled for Oct 3. Here is Mike's plea:

The Case for a Dialogue on Mysticism - Michael Grosso

I would like us to discuss the topic "What is mysticism?". Here is why. The words mystic, mystical, and mysticism have popular, literary, and technical senses. In popular or journalistic talk the mystical is the mysterious, the vaguely poetical, indeed, the misty. I hope we can come to a clearer understanding of what reality lies behind these words.

In particular, I would like to explore the meaning of mysticism as it relates to certain uniquely extraordinary human experiences, experiences marked by what W. Stace called an overwhelming sense of “undifferentiated unity.”

Why is this important? Several reasons come to mind that we might discuss. The first is religious. All the great religions exhibit some form of mysticism, each via its peculiar cultural and historical perspective. Buddhism and Samkya Yoga are atheistic; the Abrahamic religions are theistic. There are also non-religious forms of nature mysticism, in which the experience is one of union with nature. There are intellectual forms of mysticism and devotional forms that deploy feelings of love and adoration. And there are artists and poets clearly with strong mystical bents like William Blake and Walt Whitman.

By concentrating on the common core of mystical experience, some people see in mysticism a potentially unifying force, a way of tying together all the great religions, and touching our common humanity.

The second point of importance is scientific. The mystical experience is a challenge to modern science. How does it fit into the prevailing cosmology? Has neuroscience anything to say about mysticism? Is there a connection between mysticism and incidences of supernormal phenomena?

Certain drugs (so-called “entheogens”) are said to produce mystical experiences. Does this tell us anything about the mind-body problem?

Mystical experiences are often reported as occurring during near-death experiences. Do these experiences perhaps hold an answer to the riddle of death? Why should people physiologically on the verge of death have such extraordinary experiences?

Finally, perhaps the most important question, from a purely the practical perspective, does mysticism tell us anything about how to live?

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Thanks, Mike, for your persuasive proposal. As usual, the final decision will be up to the participants who show up for the dialogue.

Anyone who wishes to participate long distance in our live dialogue on Oct 3 please contact me for arrangements (blogmaster+AT+growingagain.com). You will need to have Skype, voice over Internet, software installed. I can help you get Skype set up, if you don't already have it. It's free.

Enjoy.