Mystical Bridge

What mystical traditions or mystics have most influenced you?

Do you believe that mysticism can be a bridge between religions?



Tags: achievement, greatest, interfaith, life, mystic, mystical, mysticism, traditions

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Permalink Reply by Maynard on March 6, 2010 at 10:28am
Not intending to be argumentative here, but for the purpose of discussion, Lance's observation that "if both parties have had such experiences" two parties can bridge a gap between them, is hardly unique to mysticism. Two avid sports fans of the same team regularly bridge their other differences.

Followers of two different religions who both experience the transcendent can also form a bridge. I offer that the shared experience in itself is not the direct cause however, but that the direct cause is the combination of two, or more, things. First, a weak bridge can be formed by removing focus on, or temporary denial of, their differences. Secondly, the bridge is strengthened by one or each party demonstrating their understanding of, and respect for, the other party.

My challenge to everybody, not just to mystics or shamans or monks, is to utilize that which we experience and understand, in the service of others, in their different faiths, by supporting, with humility, their lives, and not promoting our own in any way.

It may be that to share a common experience or understanding merely offers the opportunity, or the appearance, perhaps illusion, of forming a bridge. To unite in a common, shared service to others is to actually utilize that bridge; for without utilization the bridge can be said to not really exist.

In support of mysticism, and of (without exclusion) Ginny's recent contribution to this discussion, I offer that the transcendent exists within each human, and can be individually experienced by working together with anyone who is not aligned with our individual beliefs, faith, and notion.

in Peace,
--Maynard
Permalink Reply by Ron Krumpos on March 6, 2010 at 12:44pm
There is no right or wrong in this forum, even when we disagree. There are different approaches and understanding, which can be very personal as shown in earlier comments. Someone who has experienced universal oneness - by any term - can better communicate with others who have had similar experiences. Those experiences by themselves are not the greatest achievement in life. The latter comes when we integrate them into our daily lives so that our awareness transforms from personal to transpersonal. Selfconsciouness of I, me and my, which predominates in our society, is replaced by an outlook of we, us and our. We identify with all of life, not just the emotions, thoughts and senses of our individual, ego self. It is a permanent transformation for saints, frequent for true mystics and occasional for most others.
Permalink Reply by Lance Michael Foster on March 6, 2010 at 1:20pm
That has been my experience, Maynard. Of course your mileage may vary, as always.

Trying to talk mysticism with a fundamentalistic dogmatist used to get you burned at the stake. Later, it got you put into a mental facility.

I only replied to the question because Ron asked. I don't like to talk about such things in forums. Only occasionally face to face when the person and moment calls it forth. As St. Francis said, the best sermons are the ones without words.

It's been my experience that I don't like to talk about my mystic experiences because immediately many people want to argue about it (although they may not use the word argument-- thanks for being honest about that :-)
Permalink Reply by Ron Krumpos on March 6, 2010 at 8:19pm
A book titled The Receiving / Reclaiming Jewish Women's Wisdom, by Rabbi Tirazah Firestone lists six people who should by added to the previous lists of female mystics. Judaism: Beruriah, Dulcie of Worms, Asnat Barzani, Malkah of Belz, Hannah Rachel of Ludomir, and Leah Shar'abi. Each list was by date of birth, from ancient times to the 20th C.
Permalink Reply by Ginny Findlow on March 6, 2010 at 9:48pm
This is complicated stuff - gets into the conflict between 'justification by faith' and the 'James' epistle talk about the differencebetween what you SAY/what you actually dO. Psychology can disentangle it - we know that to love another person we first have to experience BEING loved by the important 'some-one' [usually our mother.] The difference that being "at -one with" God makes, is that once we 'know' we are loved by God, then our religious responsibility starts to be discharged OUT OF LOVE, rather than out of DUTY. We all start with the duty aspect, but as our faith becomes more firm [the 'good cycle' as opposed to a vicious cycle] and we experience more of God our giving eventually becomes spontaneous. But to seek such an experience for a bad reason, like getting out of duty, would be wrong/wouldnt work. It's a bit like happiness -it finds you That's how I understand it, anyway.
[There is also a different way to talk about it - as trust - when you give it out, it comes back to you, and the deepening of trust between the two individuals encourages further self-disclosure.]
Love and blessings to all!
Ginny

Lance Michael Foster said:
That has been my experience, Maynard. Of course your mileage may vary, as always.

Trying to talk mysticism with a fundamentalistic dogmatist used to get you burned at the stake. Later, it got you put into a mental facility.

I only replied to the question because Ron asked. I don't like to talk about such things in forums. Only occasionally face to face when the person and moment calls it forth. As St. Francis said, the best sermons are the ones without words.

It's been my experience that I don't like to talk about my mystic experiences because immediately many people want to argue about it (although they may not use the word argument-- thanks for being honest about that :-)
Permalink Reply by Soma on March 7, 2010 at 6:55pm
I find myself sitting on a beach watching the sun set. I see a path of light reflecting off the water leading me to the sun. The person next to me sees a different path across the water, but it leads to the same sun. Many people from different faiths have made me a better Christian so in return when I am with a Muslim, a Jew or another believer of a different faith, I try to make them a better Muslim or person. There is only one God and we all serve Him/Her.
Permalink Reply by Inderias Dominic Bhatti on March 7, 2010 at 7:37pm
Our interfaith dialogue is of the opinion to share our words – to be listened and understood – to respect the others perspective (differences) – move forward the dimensions of togetherness and collaborations on the issues about “LIFE and/or GOD”

And this way we move forward from smile - greetings - friendship - passion and relations

Inderias,
Lahore, PAKISTAN

Soma said:
I find myself sitting on a beach watching the sun set. I see a path of light reflecting off the water leading me to the sun. The person next to me sees a different path across the water, but it leads to the same sun. Many people from different faiths have made me a better Christian so in return when I am with a Muslim, a Jew or another believer of a different faith, I try to make them a better Muslim or person. There is only one God and we all serve Him/Her.
Permalink Reply by Ginny Findlow on March 7, 2010 at 9:22pm
Hello again,
This is where I am up to: [ginny]. I thought Inderias' contribution was very good, showing the points where mysticism worked as a bridge [in the middle of a big chaotic community.]

I tried [for Lance, via psychology] to connect the 'being' inner aspect [mysticism] with the outer 'doing' aspect which involves community, but Ron didnt understand what I was doing, and thought I was trying to be mischievous [I think its called being a 'troll'] Nothing could be further from the truth - I am a peace-maker, professionally and personally. However - I must confess that I find conversations that say 'I love you' [at a great distance in 50,000 different ways, but never go any farther than that] are somewhat boring, likewise the reading list which is a tad obsessional in content for my liking.

I'm not terribly sure that Mysticism [without community] IS really a bridge builder - its like a landscape dotted with 5-mile-high obelisks. All the people are in the peaks of the spires, with nothing but chasms in between. What they need to do is fasten washing lines between the spires - criss-crossing the empty space. You could say that what we have in common, as human beings is our dirty washing. [At least, when we look inside ourselves all the time, we get used to our own and it doesnt seem so bad. That's the POINTof community - the chance to see ourselves as others see us, and hopefully to grow.]

Perhaps Lance and I spoil the tidiness of this well-mannered politically correct corner - we should move on. Thanks for your fellowship, you guys!
G

Inderias Dominic Bhatti said:
Our interfaith dialogue is of the opinion to share our words – to be listened and understood – to respect the others perspective (differences) – move forward the dimensions of togetherness and collaborations on the issues about “LIFE and/or GOD”

And this way we move forward from smile - greetings - friendship - passion and relations

Inderias,
Lahore, PAKISTAN

Soma said:
I find myself sitting on a beach watching the sun set. I see a path of light reflecting off the water leading me to the sun. The person next to me sees a different path across the water, but it leads to the same sun. Many people from different faiths have made me a better Christian so in return when I am with a Muslim, a Jew or another believer of a different faith, I try to make them a better Muslim or person. There is only one God and we all serve Him/Her.
Permalink Reply by Ron Krumpos on March 31, 2010 at 7:12pm
A concise, albeit complex, description of comparative mysticism is on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysticism

For an easier, although longer, explanation download my e-book at http://www.suprarational.org
Permalink Reply by Peter Raymond Calvert on April 1, 2010 at 4:19am
Yes I believe it has that potential.
Permalink Reply by Vijay Kumar on May 4, 2010 at 1:54am
The teachings of mystics Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana... both of whom realized God in their lifetime always guided me on the right path! What actually is mysticism? What do we mean when we talk of mysticism?

A mystic is one who travels the path of unknown... the path of spirituality... the path of jnana yoga (absolute wisdom) that leads one directly to God! The path of mysticism is not for religious followers... those indulging in rituals! If we desire reaching God in our lifetime... we have to become a mystic... a seeker of unknown!

Bridging gap between different religions was never necessitated still, thousands world over if not millions continue striving to bridge gap between different religions of world! Religion is primarily following teachings of an enlightened one! Following religion one can never reach God! We have to travel path of spirituality... no matter what!

All different religions are like different branches of same tree... never coming together in their lifetime! The root of all... the cause of all is same... traveling spiritual path to reach end of cosmic life... the 8.4 millionth manifestation... when human beings gained enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally salvation (moksha)!
Permalink Reply by Soma on May 18, 2010 at 4:45pm
Yes, I think mysticism is the bridge between religions because it is the bridge that we jump off of to enter the mystical experience of unity. One may call the bridge what ever discipline one wishes because the goal is the experience not the tool to get there.

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