A member of the Harimedia forum wrote, in August 2010:
"We cover our deep ignorance with words, but we are ashamed to wonder, we are afraid to whisper 'mystery'." (A. W. Tozer)
“Mysticism is not a religion.
If anything it is a philosophy, but more to the point, it is a process in which to understand the world we live in. A religion is an explanation of the world we live in, it is also an organized system of what one should believe and also what one should not believe. The basis of religion is a spiritual explanation for the world and consequently a set of guidelines that one must follow as a result of that spiritual explanation.
Now the line gets fuzzy, because there are religious components to mysticism. Mysticism can have spiritual explanations and can have guidelines to live by. However the important distinction as that mysticism is not subscribing to a set of beliefs, but rather exploring beliefs in order to find an answer. Religion is a passive approach to understanding wherein teachings or guidance advise a follower on what to do, whereas Mysticism is an active approach wherein one discovers what to do by finding knowledge. In plainer words, the religious worship, but the mystic learns. A ... will worship ..., but a Mystic will learn from .... The religious pray for results, but a mystic searches for results. The religious leave their fate to a higher power and the Mystic creates their own fate. The religious seek help from the divine and the Mystic seeks to reach the divine.
So what is Mysticism?
There can be complicated definitions on the true meaning of the word, but to wrap this discourse up, it is blanket term to describe various organizations who throughout history attempted to discover the true nature of the universe using all tools available to them including the five senses and more. Western Mysticism generally follows the external quest for knowledge through study, ritual and experimentation whereas Eastern Mysticism generally follows the internal quest for knowledge through meditation and reflection. Both work to obtain the truth of existence and express this intent in a variety of ways.” (from waythingsare.com)
Would you agree to this attempt at an explanation? To say it more clear I have no problems whatsoever with what you say and how you say it, my doubts concern more myself as the recipent of this information and spiritual or mystical realizations. One could say also I have my doubts if the conclusions and realizations I make or have are in line with the way the Supreme would see it. In other words exists there something like an "absolute" way of seeing and describing spiritual matters and realizations? Is there a need of or what is the need of supporting ones spiritual realizations, with quotes from scriptures or of other spiritual "authorities" like Sri Caitanya?
My reply
I like mystery because when we are in it we tend to look for answers. While looking we find all kinds of things, even things we did not think needed finding. Mystery brings discovery and discover brings growth.
Universally accepted definitions of mysticism are hard to come by. The person you quoted has a good one. My definition is rather simple. First, I think that mysticism and spiritual mysticism are synonymous. Whatever difference one might find between these two concepts seems to be more related to an incomplete knowledge of the art, prejudice, or a lack of awareness on the part of the definer. IMHO (or shall I more honestly say IMNSHO), those who are true mystics are aware that all mysticism is spiritual. Yet, we all know that there are mystics who use that power in what we consider to be a less than nice way. They know mystical arts (sometimes called black arts) and know it is based on something spiritual, but they choose to use that energy negatively. Even though we consider it negative, they consider it positive as they feel it is right that they do what they do even if it turns out to be negative for someone else. Is this not, by the way, somewhat similar to those angry brahmanas of the older times who cursed people when they thought they did not do the right thing? One becomes a judge and jury and punishes another for what one considers their wrongs. Interesting... Someone might object and say that those olden days brahmanas were qualified to do what they did and the present day doers of evil not qualified, but that is not necessarily so. I often found myself reading ancient literatures and thinking, "Now why did that brahmana have to do that? What is wrong with him?" But that is just me...
Anyway, I like mysticism, or at least I can more honestly say, I like my flavor of it because it is all about my experience. I seek out experiences in the energetic realms to heighten my awareness, increase my energy, make connections I wish to make, feel the divine in my presence to share my consciousness with them and with others. I like sharing this experience with others in a way that brings them into it from their own point of view. I like to assist people learn the art to feel what I feel within their own personal context and consciousness. This is why I supply tools. "Here is a tool, use it and experience. As you grow, I shall grow. Gain experience, get more tools, use them, get more experiences and so on." This is to me spiritual mysticism. It is interdependent, interactive, and a sharing that is based on love.
I would not personally bother to get involved with a comparison of this or that school of mysticism or try to analyze it in relation to religion. I feel that energy is common but differences in manifestation arise due to the transmitters and receivers of that energy. There are certain fundamental elements that every mystic shares such as the energy itself, the ether within which it flows, the frequencies and vibrations of it, and the shared experiences. How one perceives and understands this will always be unique to the individual even if one is within a group that purports to have a system for doing it. As we are all uniquely individual and our energies are a manifestation of what we are, we will transmit and receive uniquely. Any discipline that is accepted can only assist us to be more aware of what we are and amplify our capacity to utilize vibrational energy. Mysticism is what we are, how we express what we are, and how we receive what others are expressing. Sometimes this is directly in relation to the divine and sometimes related to other people, plants, devas and so on. At all times it is within the divine as all energy is divine in its various forms and flavors. Therefore, there is no need for me to speak about religion as I see religion as a structure, not an experience. Naturally, any structure structures experience, by definition, but I consider the mystical experience as what is important and not the container within which I find it.
Considering this, there is no right or wrong as is commonly defined by human beings who are fixed within structures that claim exclusive right to what is truth and declare their definition to be directly descended from the absolute in one form or another. The idea that the divine insists that things be his or her way or the highway is not characteristic of a loving and kind omniscience. Naturally religions throughout time have boldly stated what the divine wants, what we should do and not do, and set the lines in cement as to what is acceptable and what is not. However, a cursory examination of the principles and formulas given in these religions will show that most of these directives coming from ancient times are obsolete, irrelevant, or not in tune with modern people. To adjust this, religions modify these troublesome things while claiming to keep the essence. This is fine, but why bother with the religion in the first place if what you are doing is keeping the essence? Spiritual mysticism in my book is the art of working with the essence without requiring a reference to religions, scriptures, demands, requirements, structure and so on. I do like to refer to traditions now and then as it is fun to do so, interesting, gives insight into why and how they did and do what they do, amongst other reasons, but I am writing in this manner to expand the points you brought up.
Yet, how shall those who are not yet capable enough to enter into mystical experiences move forward if they are not given assistance? For most, some sort of education, discipline and direction will help them to get to the point where they can stand on their own feet. I have been trying to establish this through what I say and write, but I am unsure of the result as I have not heard about someone growing rapidly due to what I do or say. I have people all the time write to me and thank me, but I do not know them well enough to know what they were before hearing me and how they have moved from that place to where they are feeling gratitude now.
The Divine, The Supreme, continually shares with us in multiple ways. There is never, at any moment, a separation between us and the divine. We simply choose to forget our connection when we want or when we are ridden with guilt, shame or self-condemnation. The divine wishes us to experience our essence. Attaining the capacity to do this at will and to the depth that reveals intense experiences requires that we stretch our muscles by exercise and discipline, act when the energy is there, learn from mistakes, experience those mistakes fully and embrace them, then later realize there are no mistakes and rejoice in the completeness of essence. When all is compact within an all perfect existence, how can there be anything other than experiences that deepen our awareness?
One might say that there are bad people doing bad things and that this somewhat negates what I just wrote. Although I am not promoting that anyone should do bad things, I think this idea of bad should be examined further. Even though someone may be acting against the best interests of themselves and others by harming others and creating win-lose or lose-lose situations, after some time, even if it takes lifetimes, that spirit will emerge from their personal darkness when they have gained enough experience of how these negative acts are not in their best self-interest. At one point they will say "This does not work! Enough!" They will then change and move towards a more beneficial way of acting. Considering this, and considering the divine's marvelous capacity to stand by the principle of free choice as the only viable method of evolution, we can see how everything, everywhere and at all times fits within the consciousness of the divine.
Yet, I would not wish to do something I have defined as wrong. I feel there are things I do that are wrong and things that are really right. Even if later on I see that the wrong things turned out to be good in some way, that does not deter me from challenging myself and demanding a higher standard of values. This demand and challenge keeps me going in a direction I like. One aspect of mysticism is that we take responsibility for our choices, our actions, our planning and arrangements, and our responses to events that impact us. A mystic continues to experience the moment as it is the only reality that exists. He or she will not stop experiencing because of what someone says is to be done and not done or their declaration of what is right and what is wrong. We shall listen, digest, and act according to our own conviction at all times, taking into consideration all information at our disposal. It is our life to live, not someone else's. And the purpose of life is to live. As we go through life we develop through experience our own understanding of what is right or wrong and this guides us in the choices we make. Regardless of what one might have been promised, no one else will take responsibility for the choices we make as the consequences of our acts are our own to experience. There is no easy way out of personal responsibility, no way to avoid the challenge of making the right choice at every moment. It is the discipline of life and the more we are aware of our spiritual consciousness, the more we are prepared to maximize every moment.
Can you imagine what it is like to have faith in the infallibility of someone else's words only to find out later on that you have to experience the consequences of following them regardless if they were right or wrong or if they really understood what they were doing? Faith is a dangerous thing. It cannot protect us in the face of direct experience. When our consciousness awareness is in tune with the energy of our lives, we are best prepared to deal with anything that comes before us.
Regardless of who we are or what we have learned or believe, we think what we think, say what we say and do what we do because we feel this is what is right. Everyone does what they think is right at every moment. When all is said and done, all that counts for us are the experiences we have in our lives, even if we are following exactly what we are supposed to. A life lived as another's life, complete with the other's earned values, ideals and goals, is vicarious. If our experiences are simply derivations of other's experiences, we are living vicariously. Direct experience is always superior and as far as I can see it is the "religion" of the future. It is also what Lord Caitanya gave to everyone he met and what he experienced himself in his latter years.
I do not like the word "absolute," and I wonder if even the people who use it know what it really means. Sure, I get that the usual definition is that truth to whom all relative truths are related, but what if the related truths are contributing to that absolute in as meaningful a way as the absolute contributes to them? This would remove the stigma of the entire burden of responsibility of all existence on the absolute and distribute it amongst all those who are related to it. Life becomes more of a interactive and flexible experience, based on spontaneity and desire, kind of like what it is supposed to be. But that is another discussion.
I do not think that we need to find approval of our realizations. We realize what we realize and we experience what we experience. Acceptance of this is one of the preliminary steps towards immersing oneself in spiritual mysticism. However, finding confirmation of the nature of our experiences is useful. This helps us discern which experiences are illusory in the sense they do not serve us and which are useful and can lead us to greater awareness. Both experiences have value, but the endeavor to find confirmation outside of ourselves and to see how our experience links to further experiences and connections is the discipline of the mystic. Forward movement is valued when it brings us to more interesting or relevant places. Once one is consciously aware of the value of this process, one sees the universe (the divine) directly reciprocating with our desires and endeavors. This attracts the synchronicity that characterizes the natural flow of living energy. This is vibrant mysticism.