What Is A Mystic? It’s someone who seeks profound spiritual connection and understanding, and at WHAT.EDU.VN, we delve into this fascinating topic. Mystics explore the core of their being to integrate the truth that they are part of the Divine, seeking enlightenment and inner peace. Discover the essence of mysticism, its characteristics, and how to cultivate it in your life with our resources and guidance on spiritual exploration and self-discovery.
1. Understanding the Essence of a Mystic
A mystic is an individual driven by a deep yearning to experience and realize the inherent spiritual Oneness at the core of their existence. In simpler terms, a mystic is a spiritual seeker who dedicates their life to transcending the ego and embracing the fundamental truth that they are an integral part of the Divine. This quest often involves practices like meditation, contemplation, and selfless service.
The term ‘mysticism’ gained popularity in the 18th century, originating from the Greek word mustēs, which referred to someone initiated into sacred mysteries. However, the practice of mysticism itself dates back to the earliest days of human history. Throughout history, various individuals have embodied the mystical path, including Lao Tze, Gurdjieff, Pythagoras, Guatama Buddha, Julian of Norwich, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, St. Teresa of Avila, Ramana Maharshi, Dante, Saint John of the Cross, Anandamayi Ma, Jesus Christ, and Carl Jung, among numerous others.
While numerous definitions of mysticism exist, one that resonates deeply comes from Mirabai Starr, an author and translator of mystical texts:
The way of the mystic is the way of surrender, of dying to the false self to be reborn as the true Self, the God Self, the radiant, divine being we actually are. It’s not that the old self—the personality, the ego, the stories we tell about our lives—is bad or wrong. It’s that when we recognise the essential emptiness of our individual identity in light of the glorious gift of our interconnectedness with the One, independence becomes much less compelling.
2. Characteristics of Mystical Experiences
Most people experience mystical moments that offer vivid glimpses of Self-Realization. These experiences, akin to what Buddhists call satori, can profoundly transform lives. But how do you recognize a mystical experience?
W. T. Stace, a philosopher of religion, identified seven key characteristics of mystical experiences:
- Unitary consciousness: Experiencing a sense of Oneness, a feeling of interconnectedness with all things.
- Nonspatial, nontemporal awareness: Transcendence of time and space, experiencing a state of timelessness and spacelessness.
- Sense of reality and objectivity: The experience carries an undeniable sense of realness, distinct from mere hallucination.
- Blessedness and peace: A profound feeling of joy, tranquility, and contentment.
- Feelings of the holy, sacred, or divine: A sense of reverence and awe in the presence of something greater.
- Paradoxicality: Realizing the unity and interdependence of seemingly opposing forces, also known as non-dual awareness.
- Ineffability: The experience is beyond words, defying description due to its paradigm-shifting nature.
Physician and psychiatrist W. N. Pahnke added two more characteristics: (8) transiency (the mystical experience is often temporary) and (9) subsequent life improvement (the experience leads to positive and lasting changes in one’s life).
Exploring these characteristics can help you identify whether you’ve encountered a mystical experience.
3. Stages of the Mystical Journey
The mystical journey has been extensively explored throughout history. Evelyn Underhill, a theologian and author, condensed this wisdom into five stages in her 1911 book, “Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness.” Understanding these stages can provide valuable insights into the path of a mystic.
3.1. Awakening
Spiritual awakening marks the initial spark or realization that life has more to offer than what is immediately apparent. In this stage, individuals begin to question the meaning of life and seek deeper answers. This soul-searching often leads them to become independent thinkers, distancing themselves from conventional ways of being and forging a unique path.
3.2. Purgation
Purgation involves becoming aware of the shadows and inner blockages that obscure the Light of Consciousness. This stage can be challenging, as it requires acknowledging and confronting one’s limitations and imperfections. It’s akin to the realization that “after the ecstasy, the laundry” needs to be done, as Jack Kornfield aptly put it. Inner work is essential during this phase, with the goal of “purging” or dissolving anything that hinders mystical Unity and Oneness.
The Purgation process, though arduous, is necessary to uncover the ‘hidden Jewel’ within. Various mystics and sages emphasize the importance of Purgation, highlighting that:
- … he and He become one entity. (Abulafia, Judaism)
- The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. (Christianity)
- Look within, you are the Buddha. (Buddhism)
- Atman (individual consciousness) and Brahman (universal consciousness) are one. (Hinduism)
- By understanding the Self all this universe is known. (The Upanishads)
- He who knows himself knows his Lord. (Mohammed, Islam)
3.3. Illumination
After dedicated inner work during the Purgation stage, moments of Illumination begin to emerge. These moments can manifest as profound states of enlightened awareness during meditation, a sense of unity with nature, deep love for self and others, or spontaneous bliss. However, the Illumination stage is often fleeting and does not represent a permanent shift in consciousness. The intense high of Illumination, also known as experiencing ‘ego death,’ often gives way to the intense low of the subsequent stage.
3.4. Dark Night of the Soul
The Dark Night of the Soul is characterized by a sense of desolation, where everything feels lifeless, meaningless, and devoid of the Divine. Dante Alighieri, in his “Inferno: The Divine Comedy,” described this state as being lost in a dark forest, unable to find the straightforward path.
St. John of the Cross, who coined the term ‘Dark Night of the Soul,’ explained that this stage occurs because individuals cannot purify themselves enough through their own efforts to be fully prepared for divine union. God must intervene and purge them in a fire that is dark for them.
Despite its painful nature, the Dark Night of the Soul is a temporary stage that leads to the final phase of the mystical journey.
3.5. Union
Following the death and rebirth experienced during the Dark Night of the Soul, the final stage of Union embodies the mystic’s ultimate aspiration: Divine Union. Union represents a shift in awareness, an expansion of consciousness, and the attainment of Nirvana, Enlightenment, Unity, Non-Dual awareness, and the “Kingdom of Heaven” frequently described in mystical literature.
In Union, the mystic is no longer constrained by the limitations of the ego-self but directly and permanently recognizes the “I Am” or the God Self that has always been present, though veiled. Unlike the Illumination stage, Union signifies a total transformation and liberation, not a mere glimpse of the Divine.
4. Identifying the Modern Mystic
While mystics have taken various forms throughout history, their essence remains constant. Here are twelve signs of the ‘modern mystic’:
- Difficulty fitting in or belonging, with a longing for a sense of “home.”
- Dissatisfaction with life, regardless of material success.
- Feeling aimless and lost, yet called to create meaningful change.
- Disillusionment with religious, self-help, and spiritual paths, finding them superficial.
- Intense craving for a God/Divine-filled life.
- Experience of Spiritual Awakening, Kundalini Awakening, and/or Dark Night of the Soul.
- Feeling everything intensely, often as a highly sensitive person and/or empath.
- Craving solitude and enjoying introspection.
- Experience of spiritual crises, such as a quarter-life crisis, existential crisis, or Dark Night of the Soul.
- Deep thinking and contemplation since childhood.
- Longing to unite with something Greater and sensing that the ego is an illusion.
- Transitory glimpses of Oneness, Illumination, or ‘Enlightenment.’
At the core of every mystic, modern or otherwise, lies a burning desire to reconnect with the Soul and unite with Spirit.
5. Mysticism and Mental Well-being
The psychotic drowns in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight.
– Joseph Campbell
This quote highlights the delicate balance between mysticism and mental well-being. Inner work, including cultivating self-love, mental harmony through meditation, and physical groundedness through practices like yoga, is essential. Without creating internal space, facing experiences too large for the ego to handle can lead to psychological distress.
For individuals prone to anxiety, depression, or other mental imbalances, the sudden experience of the vast primordial space of Oneness can be overwhelming, potentially leading to a shutdown of the psyche, disorganized thoughts and feelings, nihilistic existential crises, and other challenges.
The question of whether mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder are, in fact, spiritual illnesses is a complex debate. However, it’s clear that ‘spiritual emergencies’ can occur when someone who hasn’t undergone rigorous spiritual practice is thrust into the deep end too quickly. This can result in what mainstream society often dismisses as “mental illness.”
6. Cultivating Mysticism in Daily Life
Mysticism can be integrated into almost any religious or spiritual path. The key is to focus on rediscovering yourself as the Divine, rather than simply connecting with it.
It’s crucial to distinguish between seeing yourself as God and spiritual narcissism, which is an inflated ego that mistakes itself for being untouchable and unquestionably wise. Mystics commit to burning through the ego to liberate themselves from the illusion of the separate self and become One with their True Nature, which is Life itself.
Here are some practical ways to cultivate mysticism:
- Spend time in nature: Nature facilitates the rediscovery of our True Nature.
- Create space for solitude and silence: The noise of daily life can drown out the inner Voice. Commit to regular solitude and silence, even for just half an hour a day.
- Contemplate the words of mystics: The lives and experiences of mystics offer invaluable wisdom and truth that can spark profound revelations.
- Cultivate qualities of the heart: The heart is a direct gateway to the Soul and the mysteries of the Divine. Focus on generating compassion, joy, generosity, forgiveness, gratitude, and love.
- Embrace simplicity and letting go: Letting go and embracing simplicity helps you become a ‘clear vessel’ through which the Light of Consciousness can shine.
7. Rediscovering Oneness and Love
The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God’s eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, one love.
– Meister Eckhart
This quote perfectly encapsulates the essence of being a mystic: Oneness, profound knowing, and Love.
Mysticism, though often buried beneath rigid dogma, offers a sense of optimism, promise, and direction. By reconnecting with our thirst for mysticism, we can rediscover harmony, joy, and peace.
The reality is that the desire for mysticism is inherent to being human. Even in a secular world, we all have an inner impulse to connect with something Greater than ourselves, whether it’s outer space, a sports team, a nation, or the Divine/God.
The mystical path of spiritual awakening reveals that we are not separate, even when our minds and egos believe we are. Mystics ultimately realize that they are not just an island floating on the ocean of life, but Life itself.
I wish I could show you,
when you are lonely
or in darkness,
the astonishing Light
of your own Being!
– Hafez
What is your experience with mysticism? We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences with us.
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