Should Mystics Ever Go Beyond Observation?

[Sunstone]

Most mystics make the claim that they are reporting observable experiences. But should mystics ever go beyond observation? Or, should they strictly adhere to what they have observed in reporting their experiences? Is specualation permitted the mystic?

 

[Halcyon]

Most mystics make the claim that they are reporting observable experiences. But should mystics ever go beyond observation? Or, should they strictly adhere to what they have observed in reporting their experiences? Is specualation permitted the mystic?

Mystics always speculate, they have an experience that they interpret, probably differently to anyone else who had the same experience, and then also speculate around those interpretations.

I've never read anything written about or by a mystic that isn't in some way based on interpretation and speculation.

 

[michel]

Most mystics make the claim that they are reporting observable experiences. But should mystics ever go beyond observation? Or, should they strictly adhere to what they have observed in reporting their experiences? Is specualation permitted the mystic?

It depends on the experience; speaking for myself, experiences often are eye-openers - something I had not understood suddenly makes sense.

In that case, yes, I would use the experience to "progress".

 

[soma]

I feel Christian Mystics need to report their observations and not be afraid of the conservative faction that will put them down.The degree of our conscious awareness of Christ is not measured with the time we put into reading the bible or going to church, but the degree of our awareness of God’s omnipresence. If God is everywhere then we have no place to flee because we are constantly in His presence and receiving His grace. If we are not aware of God’s presence then all the spiritual knowledge we accumulated will be of no benefit. We can have a million dollars, but we will not benefit unless we are aware of it. The mere statements that God is everywhere, that God is one have no value, if we are not spiritually aware of the fact. We have missed the mark, if we hold the Bible up to protect us and do not dwell in the consciousness of God knowing that our Lord is the living Power otherwise God’s Presence can’t protect us. God will protect us, if we allow Him to enter our lives through our consciousness because God is all there is. We just need humility and a willingness to let our minds play freely so knowledge can speak to our human condition and challenge us to move beyond it. Our knowledge and understanding of the unity of all things replaces our fear, promising healthier emotional development because fear is a negative feeling of separateness, a false isolation that exists only in the mind. When we become interested in knowing our way, our soul lets us know that there is no universal way to perfection, but that each person must find his own path to open his consciousness to truth and find his or her own unique connection to God. It comes when one is silent and not voicing truth at all, but listening to the small voice within the infinity of our own being, which is pure consciousness. We just need to lift ourselves to a state of consciousness where we can be receptive to spiritual truth.

Christian Spirituality

 

[love]

Your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.

 

[lilithu]

Mystics always speculate, they have an experience that they interpret, probably differently to anyone else who had the same experience, and then also speculate around those interpretations.

I've never read anything written about or by a mystic that isn't in some way based on interpretation and speculation.

It would be impossible to be otherwise, no? Perhaps on some level one can experience without interpretation (gnosis). But it seems to me impossible to relate that experience to anyone else without interpretation (and thus speculation).