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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Mysticism in all its forms
#5920703 - 08/01/06 12:53 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Just about every major religion has had some mystical group within it. There's Gnosticism for Christianity, Kabbalah for Judaism, Sufism for Islam, Vajrayana for Buddhism, and so on. What we find is that they all teach essentially the same cosmology, the same ethics, and the same understanding. They are all about find the light from within. A mystic from one tradition will be able to see the truth in another mystical tradition. So I guess my question is this: If they all teach the same truth, is there a reason to choose one path or another? I consider myself a Christian mystic, but I recognize the truth that is taught in all the other mystical traditions. So if that's the case, why follow a specific path? I've been trying to answer that for myself, and I guess my answer is that it a focus for one's spiritual energy, but I'm curious as to what other mystics have to say on the matter.
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RRRR
Rapture Ready


Registered: 07/26/06
Posts: 170
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Silversoul]
#5920734 - 08/01/06 01:10 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Simply stated, I think it comes down to convenience. This is why I choose the path I did. It's about choosing the tradition that best fits your Weltanschauung, or world view.
A world view is a comprehensive set of opinions about the world. Your world view is responsible for generating various perceptions and experiences of life.
It's more suited to be a Muslim in Iraq, Jew in Israel, Hindu in India, etc. This is so because of the ease at which the religion is assimilated into the culture.
Like I said, it's about convenience.
I'd love to carry on, but my melatonin is starting to take hold. Good night
-------------------- Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21 (New King James Version)
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MOTH
Wild Woman


Registered: 06/06/03
Posts: 23,431
Loc: In the jungle
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Silversoul]
#5920978 - 08/01/06 03:54 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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I enjoy just following my OWN path. I recieve inspiration from the various teachings I encounter, but really, it's all about me.
I like to "discover" my own mystical truth. No need for any path but the one I'm walking.
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RRRR
Rapture Ready


Registered: 07/26/06
Posts: 170
Last seen: 16 years, 9 months
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: MOTH]
#5921342 - 08/01/06 09:47 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
EllemyshShade said: I enjoy just following my OWN path. I recieve inspiration from the various teachings I encounter, but really, it's all about me.
I like to "discover" my own mystical truth. No need for any path but the one I'm walking.
I was on that path until I encountered Jesus along the way
-------------------- Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21 (New King James Version)
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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: RRRR]
#5921460 - 08/01/06 10:53 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
RRRR said:
Quote:
EllemyshShade said: I enjoy just following my OWN path. I recieve inspiration from the various teachings I encounter, but really, it's all about me.
I like to "discover" my own mystical truth. No need for any path but the one I'm walking.
I was on that path until I encountered Jesus along the way
Same
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Diploid
Cuban


Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Silversoul]
#5921771 - 08/01/06 12:37 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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What we find is that they all teach essentially the same cosmology, the same ethics, and the same understanding.
New Testament: Turn the other cheek.
Koran: An eye for an eye.
Yep...
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Diploid]
#5921782 - 08/01/06 12:41 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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I'm speaking specifically of mystical traditions, something which you have time and again demonstrated that you are absolutely incapable of understanding.
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Diploid
Cuban


Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Silversoul]
#5921865 - 08/01/06 01:06 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Ah yes... when the True Believer's words are exposed as nonsense, they obfuscate, backpedal, and jump directly to the ad hominem.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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leery11
I Tell You What!

Registered: 06/24/05
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Silversoul]
#5921867 - 08/01/06 01:07 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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good question.
The why depends on what absolute truth is. For instance, to the Buddhists, it doesn't matter so much what path you follow. They are all ecompassing, they would say that Buddhism is the way, but they would also recognize "Buddhism" as a very open ended thing, and see that if someone is an adherent to Christianity and through Christianity follows a spiritual life, they would fare similar to a Buddhist who lead the same kind of life.
For the Christians, heavy emphasis is placed upon a deity, and this would be fine except that they insist that this deity is the only way to unity, and that any other path will only lead to non-unity.
I am not sure about Islam, I know they recognize more prophets, including Jesus.
Mystic Christianity goes against the exclusivity as far as I know, but then orthodox Christianity considers Gnosticism heresy and asserts very clearly that there is a simple, proufoundly easy way to salvation, and you don't have to earn it... you just have to have faith in it.
Unfortunately Christianity (and perhaps Islam too) seem to be major obstacles in the unification and pluralism of all religions. While a large portion of religions today place emphasis on their correctness, I see Christianity in particular (becuase of living in America) as being different, in that not only does it claim it is right, but that it, to a "T" is the ONLY right that all other "rights" are wrong.
Now this either means that Christianity is the most absurd, silly, pointless faith that mankind is currently bearing witness to, or.... they are onto something.
Or, that the gnostics were onto something, that the real meaning of Jesus is obscured by the deity/idol worshipping taking place in his name.
There are sooooo many ways to paint it, that one, even interested in mysticism, may feel compelled to just go ahead and "accept" Jesus for sake of simplicity and peace of mind.
That one would be. But the caveat is, what can you do for me Jesus? I keep waiting. Only while on drugs did I feel you through connection to a deep permeating love. What are you doing for all these nuts that love to worship a book? Are you healing them, not me? Are they reaching gnosis and Christ-consciousness, or are they deluded?
ah it's so confounded.
I do not want it to be a war between rational mind and dogma, because rational mind is what I am, and it is heavily against main-stream Christianity... and yet if I sat down and read the Bible I could probably conclude how in fact God is a universal force, present for all peoples.... as the Bible is simply one cultures approach to understanding such a force.
or as Markos put it..... Jesus said I AM the way.... because I AM is the way, and Jesus reached it..... I sort of reached it once while falling asleep myself.
-------------------- I am the MacDaddy of Heimlich County, I play it Straight Up Yo! ....I embrace my desire to feel the rhythm, to feel connected enough to step aside and weep like a widow, to feel inspired, to fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity and still be a human...... Om Namah Shivaya, I tell you What!
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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Diploid]
#5921882 - 08/01/06 01:11 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Diploid said: Ah yes... when the True Believer's words are exposed as nonsense, they obfuscate, backpedal, and jump directly to the ad hominem.
Please! I'm simply sick and tired of trying to explain a relatively simple concept to you, when all you do is ignore it and continue spewing such ignorance.
PS: I think you're lost. Do you realize what forum this is. I specifically posted in this forum so I wouldn't have to deal with this bullshit. I wasn't addressing the likes of you.
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Diploid
Cuban


Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Silversoul]
#5921913 - 08/01/06 01:24 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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I think you're lost. Do you realize what forum this is.
Oops, sorry. I get carried away sometimes where truth is concerned.
I'm out...
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Diploid]
#5921926 - 08/01/06 01:29 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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You mean where your ego's concerned?
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MAIA
World-BridgerKartikeya (DftS)


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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Diploid]
#5921935 - 08/01/06 01:32 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Diploid said: I think you're lost. Do you realize what forum this is.
Oops, sorry. I get carried away sometimes where truth is concerned.
I'm out...
Watch it ...
MAIA
-------------------- Spiritual being, living a human experience ... The Shroomery Mandala
 Use, do not abuse; neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy. Voltaire
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MOTH
Wild Woman


Registered: 06/06/03
Posts: 23,431
Loc: In the jungle
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: RRRR]
#5921968 - 08/01/06 01:49 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
RRRR said:
Quote:
EllemyshShade said: I enjoy just following my OWN path. I recieve inspiration from the various teachings I encounter, but really, it's all about me.
I like to "discover" my own mystical truth. No need for any path but the one I'm walking.
I was on that path until I encountered Jesus along the way
Jesus walks with me...or should I say...Jesus and all the other great teachers are teaching me how to walk.
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redtailedhawk
Explorer of the Mystery


Registered: 11/24/04
Posts: 559
Loc: The Old Continent
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Silversoul]
#5922156 - 08/01/06 03:11 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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I agree that it's not that important which mystical path is chosen as long as one follows it to the end. Which path is chosen has probably a lot to do with a natural predisposition of the individual, his cultural background as well as the intention of the Spirit.
But I find it is important to choose A path instead of taking something from one path, something from another, unless one is extremely talented and has thorough cross-cultural knowledge. In other case one only gets confused and lost all too easily and never moves anywhere.
But in the end it becomes obvious that a path is just a path and not what we were looking for. Just a map that took us there.
Quote:
Silversoul said: Just about every major religion has had some mystical group within it. There's Gnosticism for Christianity, Kabbalah for Judaism, Sufism for Islam, Vajrayana for Buddhism, and so on. What we find is that they all teach essentially the same cosmology, the same ethics, and the same understanding. They are all about find the light from within. A mystic from one tradition will be able to see the truth in another mystical tradition. So I guess my question is this: If they all teach the same truth, is there a reason to choose one path or another? I consider myself a Christian mystic, but I recognize the truth that is taught in all the other mystical traditions. So if that's the case, why follow a specific path? I've been trying to answer that for myself, and I guess my answer is that it a focus for one's spiritual energy, but I'm curious as to what other mystics have to say on the matter.
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"Who are you who live in all these many forms? You're death that captures all. You too are the source of all that's gonna be born. You're glory, mercy, peace, truth. You give calm a spirit, understanding, courage, the contented heart."
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder


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Loc: South Florida
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Silversoul]
#5927331 - 08/02/06 11:13 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Aldous Huxley wrote the book The Perennial Philosophy which was a mytical collage of sorts. I really do not believe in picking and choosing. What I've come to see is that each individual's [mystic's] life demonstrates the threads that have woven the tapestry of that life. These threads are elements that for one reason or another have powerfully impressed us and have (even against our will) been incorporated.
John Wesley, founder of Methodism was impressed by Orthodox Patristic theology for example. St. Augustine was a Neoplatonist and for almost a decade a Manichean initiate. Pseudo-Dionysus was a Christian Neoplatonist. Siddhartha Gautama of the Sakya clan was a Brahman caste Hindu who practiced Ashtanga (Eight-Limbed) Yoga.
As for myself (a faint star against the aforementioned luminaries) I began as a scientific materialist, started my quest with a crude understanding of 'magick,' which developed sophistication until the magickal protective circles and words started to be recognized as religious symbols. These in turn were illuminated by Psychedelic Experiences and explained by Jungian psychology and became further elaborated (and internalized!) as the mandalas of India and Tibet. This West to East transition opened up Yoga for me (Hindu and Buddhist primarily, with a taste of Chinese Yoga and alchemy). Yoga in turn led to its Western correlate in Orthodox Christian Hesychasm (Prayer of the Heart), returning me to the West, Christian mysticism in general, Gnosticism and Jewish Kabbalism (encountered originally in magickal studies).
I started out a secular Jewish scientific materialist, followed the convoluted path described, left hard science in academia to pursue degrees in philosophy, theology and psychology, and arrived at this moment with all of these things as part of my personal development. So, what am I? Once upon a time I looked in the psychological mirror and said "Look, you're a Jewish guy with a hunger for spirituality. The obvious is also the most forbidden. Look into Jesus." Despite permanent alienation from my secular Jewish family, the quest for Truth prevailed. I had to KNOW the Truth. Today I identify with my (originally unconscious) Jewish soul. I identify centrally with a Christian Spirit, and I manifest my Jewish Christianity BEST through abstract principles of Kabbalistic and Gnostic spirituality, with a large portion of Hindu and Buddhist Yoga. I am NOT attempting to be complex and I endeavor to simplify all of these constructs to the best of my ability. Things are more difficult for 20th-21st century mystics than for 13th century mystics. Their bouts with psychedelics, unfortunately, were mostly unwanted, unexpected and like any surprise trip, accounted as a bummer (demons and all). We are still maligned, but nevertheless very, very fortunate indeed.
-------------------- γνῶθι σαὐτόν - Gnothi Seauton - Know Thyself
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redtailedhawk
Explorer of the Mystery


Registered: 11/24/04
Posts: 559
Loc: The Old Continent
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Quote:
MarkostheGnostic said: What I've come to see is that each individual's [mystic's] life demonstrates the threads that have woven the tapestry of that life. These threads are elements that for one reason or another have powerfully impressed us and have (even against our will) been incorporated.
Yes, it certainly does seem that the path chooses the mystic and not the other way around. Just like a shaman is chosen by the spirits. Both mentioned ultimately have very little saying of their own in it.
Quote:
Things are more difficult for 20th-21st century mystics than for 13th century mystics. Their bouts with psychedelics, unfortunately, were mostly unwanted, unexpected and like any surprise trip, accounted as a bummer (demons and all). We are still maligned, but nevertheless very, very fortunate indeed.
I agree it's much more complicated than it used to be. A 13th century mystic had a path and his God. Today we have numerous paths to choose from, numerous types of psychedelics, constant stream of empty entertainment, porn and violent news feeding our everyday consciousness, the memory of Hiroshima ad holocaust in the collective unconsciousness, an awareness of global environmental destruction, etc. etc. To carry an open heart in the midst of this is an extreme challenge.
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"Who are you who live in all these many forms? You're death that captures all. You too are the source of all that's gonna be born. You're glory, mercy, peace, truth. You give calm a spirit, understanding, courage, the contented heart."
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger


Registered: 03/12/02
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Silversoul]
#5929626 - 08/03/06 08:00 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Silversoul said: So if that's the case, why follow a specific path?
Because the path is the avenue through which the mystical experience is accessed? Either that, or one simply needs to maintain an identity, for whatever reason. If it is all the same, then why is the distinction being made?
By the way, the personal attacks in this thread are astounding, I wonder if it was only one individual who forgot what forum they were in. 
 Peace.
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If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Quote:
fireworks_god said: By the way, the personal attacks in this thread are astounding, I wonder if it was only one individual who forgot what forum they were in. 
Okay, f_g. You win. You've exposed me as a hypocrite. My concern in the first place was not personal attacks, but rather the derailment of my thread.
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ngnyus
the madherbalist



Registered: 03/27/06
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Re: Mysticism in all its forms [Re: Silversoul]
#5954455 - 08/11/06 04:57 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Silversoul, I also fell your struggle, before I found Jesus I studied witchcraft, taoism, buddhism, etc., and now I still have the knowledge I've learned but it seems that for each person and personality there is a path which seems more pure, and unless you solely seek power that is what is important. As most followers of the christ know beelzebub is the god of this earth, and thus we gain the most earthly power through his choice of path for us, but if we follow that path which seems to show us spiritual purity we are on the right one, and as short as this life is we really don't have time to go searching down all the side path's that may come along, IMOP
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 You reap what you sow
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