What does it mean to say you're a mystic?

[Rick O'Shez]

A mystic is one who strives to know, experience, and see beneath the surface of of things: physically, textually, psychologically, and spiritually.

I like that description because it's very inclusive.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I don't think deity is a necessary component, or a necessary interpretation, of the experience of the One, or of the oneness of all things.

As a non-theist that's also my assumption. I sometimes practice with some Quaker friends, they do a form of silent meditation. What's interesting is that although we talk about our experiences in quite different ways, there is a sense of similarity.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

In a nutshell, it's a non-intellectual exploration of inner worlds, where intuition and insight play important roles.

Yes, non-intellectual is important quality of what we're discussing here. It's certainly an important feature of Buddhist meditation, quietening the mind, developing spaciousness.

 

[Sunstone]

Yes, non-intellectual is important quality of what we're discussing here.

Non-intellectual rather than anti-intellectual. In the context of mysticism, ideas are like maps, experience is like terrain. To say that a mystic is non-intellectual is to say that he or she prefers the experience of the terrain itself to mapping it (i.e. merely thinking about it)). Or so I believe.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

For me a mystic is someone who see the universe as being mysterious, he see's himself as being one with all there is, not just the mind body.

Interesting point. I sometimes think about it as a willingness to embrace the unknown.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

To say that a mystic is non-intellectual is to say that he or she prefers the experience of the terrain itself to mapping it (i.e. merely thinking about it)).

Yes, and also recognising the limitations of intellectual contemplation. I sometimes reflect that most of what I think is superfluous rubbish anyway.

 

[Sunstone]

Interesting point. I sometimes think about it as a willingness to embrace the unknown.

That's an interesting notion. I think it would be difficult to be a mystic and at the same time unwilling to embrace the unknown, and perhaps equally difficult to be unwilling to embrace uncertainty.

 

[Sunstone]

Yes, and also recognising the limitations of intellectual contemplation. I sometimes reflect that most of what I think is superfluous rubbish anyway.

I agree. Thoughts, beliefs, etc., tend to be overvalued -- in the West especially, I suspect. I do not mean that ideas are worthless, but rather that we so often don't seem to understand the best ways of dealing with them.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I think it would be difficult to be a mystic and at the same time unwilling to embrace the unknown, and perhaps equally difficult to be unwilling to embrace uncertainty.

Yes, on reflection I understated it, it's more like a desire or need to explore. I've always felt it as a great curiosity!

 

[Kirran]

I agree. Thoughts, beliefs, etc., tend to be overvalued -- in the West especially, I suspect. I do not mean that ideas are worthless, but rather that we so often don't seem to understand the best ways of dealing with them.

If they're overvalued, what's undervalued?

I agree with you on this one, I'd just like to see.

 

[Sunstone]

If they're overvalued, what's undervalued?

I agree with you on this one, I'd just like to see.

Experiencing.

 

[TomD]

An awareness of the Divine, or perhaps more accurately a consciousness of the Divine ... informed by the Christian mystical tradition.

 

[Desert Snake]

Non-intellectual rather than anti-intellectual. In the context of mysticism, ideas are like maps, experience is like terrain. To say that a mystic is non-intellectual is to say that he or she prefers the experience of the terrain itself to mapping it (i.e. merely thinking about it)). Or so I believe.

The map isn't the territory, but it helps to navigate and understand the territory.
Are the maps 'ideal'? No, of course not. For what they are, ie religious writings, they are quite ideal for someone who is already viewing them in the personal mystic sense. No problems if one understands this from the get go.

 

[Sunstone]

The map isn't the territory, but it helps to navigate and understand the territory.
Are the maps 'ideal'? No, of course not. For what they are, ie religious writings, they are quite ideal for someone who is already viewing them in the personal mystic sense. No problems if one understands this from the get go.

People cling to their maps. That's a form of attachment.

 

[Christ's Lamb]

What does it mean to say you're a mystic? Is your experience in relation to a monotheistic, polytheistic, or panentheistic conception of God? What is your spiritual practice? (So many questions, so little time)

I would consider myself a Roman Catholic mystic. I have had some dreams/visions but I would not consider myself a mystic because of them, but rather a mystic because I seek more of a mystical understanding of Christianity.

I ask questions and let Christ guide me to the answers. I find a bible passage and meditate on its meaning. I ask myself, what is the purpose of God becoming Man, etc. in that since, I am a mystic.

 

[George-ananda]

A mystic to me is someone who experiences what is behind the surface of our 'normal' reality.

 

[Vinayaka]

Upon further reflection ... it means absolutely nothing to SAY you're a mystic. Anybody can SAY anything they want to.
After all, I am the president of the United States.

Now ... what does it mean to BE a mystic? That's a different question.

 

[mystic64]

What does it mean to say you're a mystic? Is your experience in relation to a monotheistic, polytheistic, or panentheistic conception of God? What is your spiritual practice? (So many questions, so little time)

Humm? Well, I am a Christian yogi mystic . I have been a Christian mystic for sixty years now, since I was five years old, and a yogi mystic for a bit over forty years now with thousands of hour of meditation experience. And it is nice to meet all of you guys again in a Mystic DIR . Who knew? There is a place where there is only the "One God", there is a place where there are "many gods and goddesses" big and small, and there is a place where there is "only you" and you are God, a god/goddess, or not a god, however it is that you wish to be. And all places are real. You become a true mystic when the "unknown" steps out of the "unknown" and says, "hello ." to you personally. From there on you are hooked. I want more. Or, you are so dog gone terrified by the experience that you never want to experience that again. Ever ! It can go either way. "What is your spiritual practice?" "Hey, whatever it is that you are, talk to me!" "You are interesting!" "I am that I am," it says to you. "And what would you like to talk about?" "I want power, riches, and money," you say. "That would just harm you and others," it says. "So what else would you like to talk about?" From there you are only limited by your imagination and your ability to handle the truth about yourself. It is a wild ride guys. And for a while sanity takes a back seat, but eventualy sanity returns and everything falls into place. You are living in a reality that has been created by many many minds, both past and present. From there you either "go with the flow", which is highly recommended, or you explore the tampering with things .

"What does a mystic see when he/she looks at a tree?" He/she becomes the tree. "What does a mysic see when he/she looks at the "unknown"?" He/she becomes the "unknown". "What does a mystic see when he/she looks at self." He/she becomes the "self" of everything else. The good, the bad, and the ugly. It can be a heart renching experience, which is why "going with the flow" is highly recommended, because ultimately there is not much that you can do about it except feel compassion and do what you can to help those around you. Ultimately, exploring the mystic experience is not for the "weak kneed", which is why most folks would rather just go do something else. And they do. Which is ok !

 

[Rick O'Shez]

People cling to their maps. That's a form of attachment

Yes, very true. Or people get so involved with the map detail they forget where they're going!

 

[YmirGF]

Yes, very true. Or people get so involved with the map detail they forget where they're going!

What map?