Mystical Experience Maloney

7/30/2019 Mystical Experience Maloney

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M Y S T I C A L E X P E R I E N C EB y G E O R G E A . M A L O N E Y

MY STIC ISM is a p h e n o m e n o n t h a t i s r a p i d l y s w e e p i n g t h ew o r l d d u r i n g t h e s e c o n d h a l f o f th is t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y .I t t a k e s m a n y f o r m s w h i c h s h o u l d c o n v i n c e u s o f a b a s i ch u n g e r i n a l l m e n f or a n i n t i m a t e u n i o n w i t h t h e D i v in e .

I n a l l h u m a l i b e i n g s t h e r e e x is ts a p r o p e n s i t y t o w a r d s m y s t i c is m .M a n h a s w i t h i n h i m s e l f a n i n n e r d r iv e t o w a r d s u n i o n w i th t h eS u p r e m e R e a l i t y . I f w e c a ll th a t R e a l i t y G o d , w e a r e s a y i n g t h a ta l l o t h e r f in i te b e i n g s m u s t u l t i m a t e l y f a i l t o s a ti sf y m a n ' s t h i r s t fo rd e e p e r, m o r e i n t en s e i n t e r p e n e t r a t i o n w i t h G o d .

A l l o f u s h a v e e n j o y e d p e rh a p s m o m e n t s o f e c s t at ic h u m a n lo v e,a g a sp o f a w e a t s o m e b r e a t h t a k i n g n a t u r a l b e a u t y , a l i f t i n g o fo u rs e lv e s o u t o f o u r h a b i t u a l m o d e o f p e r c e i v i n g t h e r e a l w o r l da r o u n d u s a n d a n e n t e r i n g in t o a w o r l d o f s e e m i n g l y g r e a t e r s im -p l i f ic a t i o n w h i l e l i s te n i n g t o t r a n s c e n d e n t m u s i c . S ti ll , n o m a t t e rh o w c o m m o n t h e e x p e r ie n c e is a m o n g u s h u m a n s , m y s t i c i sm is o n eo f t h e m o s t m i s u n d e r s to o d w o r d s in o u r h u m a n v o c a b u l a r y .

A c o ll eg e s t u d e n t , f r e a k e d o u t b y d r o p p i n g ' a c id ' , t al k s a b o u t h is' m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e ' . T h e b u s in e s s m a n , w h o s its a s s i d u o u s l y e a c hm o r n i n g a n d e v e n i n g fo r f if te e n m i n u t e p e r i o ds o f t r a n s c e n d e n t a lm e d i t a t i o n , t a lk s t o h is f r ie n d s o f h i s m y s t i c a l u n i o n w i t h t h eu n k n o w n . S o m e p r o t e s ta n t f u n d a m e n t a l i s t s l in k m y s t i c i sm w i t ho c c u l t i s m a n d w i ll h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h i t. A c a t h o l ic n u n s i ts i nt h e l o tu s p o s it io n a n d g e ts o n h e r ' l e ve l ' t o m e e t h e r h e a l i n g S a v i o u r .H i p p i e s l iv e i n c o m m u n e s s c a t t e re d a ll o v e r t h e U n i t e d S t a te s o re v e n m i g r a t e t o I n d i a , t il e m o t h e r l a n d o f m y s t ic s , t o ' e x p e r i e n c et h e i n n e r w o r l d ' .

F o l l o w i n g W . T . S t a c e , M a r t i n M a r t y d e f in e s m y s t ic i s m as ' th ea p p r e h e n s i o n o f a n u l t i m a t e n o n - s e n s u o u s u n i t y i n a l l th i n g s, a o n e -n es s o r a O n e t o w h o m n e i t h e r t h e s e ns e n o r t h e r e a s o n c a n p e n e -t r a t e ' . 1 E v e l y n U n d e r h i l l g iv e s us a r a t h e r b r o a d , a l l - e m b r a c i n gd e f i n i t i o n :

1 M ar r y ,M . : 'Th e Persistence of the M ystical', in The Persistenceof Rdigion, vol I, no 9(New Yo rk, I974).


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M Y S T IC A L E X P E R I E N C E 2 57M ys t ic i s m is the exp r e ss ion o f t he i nna t e y ea r n i ng o f t he hu m an s p i ri tt o w a r d s t o t a l h a r m o n y w i t h t h e tr a n s c e n d e n t a l o r d e r , w h a t e v e r m a ybe t he t heo l og i ca l f o r mu l a i n w h i ch t h i s o r de r i s exp r e s s ed . T h i syea r n i ng w i t h t he g r ea t m ys ti c s g r ad ua l l y t akes pos session o f t he w ho l ef ie ld of consc iousness ; i t do m ina tes the i r wh ole l if e an d a t t a ins i t sc l im a x i n t h a t e x p e r i e n c e c a ll e d m y s ti c u n i o n , w h e t h e r i t b e w i t h t h eG o d o f C h r i st ia n i ty , t h e W o r l d S o u l o f p a n t h e i s m o r t h e A b s o l u t e o fph i l o s ophy . T h i s des ir e f o r un i on an d s t ra i n i ng t ow ar ds i t i n 'a s m uc has they a r e v i t a l and r ea l ( no t pu r e l y s pecu l a ti ve ) cons t i t u t e the r ea ls ub j ec t o f mys t i c is m. T h r o ug h t hi s, t he h um an consc iousness r eachesi ts f u r t he r and r i ches t deve l op m en t . 2

I n t r i n s i c t o a n a u t h e n t i c m y s t i c i sm is t h e a c c e n t o n t h e c o n s c i o u sa w a r e n e s s o f a s u b je c t b r o u g h t p r o g re s s iv e l y i n t o a m o r e i n t e n s ea s s i m i l a t i n g u n i o n w i t h G o d . I n a m y s t i c a l e - xp e ri en c e o n e m o v e sb e y o n d a n y c a r te s ia n d u a l i t y o f s u b je c t a n d o b j e c t i n o r d e r t o e x -p e r i e n c e G o d a s t h e v e r y i n n e r f o r c e w i t h i n u s a n d a ll a r o u n d u s ,s u p p o r t i n g a l l b e i n g i n h is m i g h t y , t r a n s c e n d e n t c r e a t iv i t y . T h eh i n d u m y s t ic m e e t s th e c h r i s t i a n m y s t i c w h e n b o t h m e e t G o d ' s a ll -p e r v a d i n g p r e s e n c e , e v e r p r e s e n t in it s u n c h a n g i n g u n i t y . F o r s u c ha m y s t i c e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e A b s o l u t e t h e r e c a n b e n o t i m e o r p l a c e inw h i c h G o d is n o t p r e s e n t . B e c a u s e o f G o d ' s f u ln e s s t h e I s h a U p a n i s h a ds in g s o f t h e A l l - i n - A l l t h a t is s o d e e p l y w i t h i n m a n , a n d s ti ll o u t s i d eo f m a n , t h a t n o w h e r e c a n m a n n o t d i s c o v e r G o d :

P l e n i t u d e e v e r y w h e r e , P le n i t u d e t h e r e , P l e n i t u d e h e r e .F r o m P l e n i t u d e c o m e s f o r t h P l e n i t u d e , a n d e v e r y w h e r e , o n e w i t hits elf , the re r em ains P len i tude . 8

N o h u m a n b e i n g c a n k n o w t h is a w e s o m e P l e n i t u d e o f B e i n gt h r o u g h t h e s h a d o w r e a li t i e s o f i n t e l l e c t u a l c o n c e p t s ; f o r t h e l iv i n gG o d c a n n o t b e f o r c e d i n t o s u c h o b j e c t iv e c a t eg o r ie s . I t is i n d y i n gt o h u m a n ' k n o w l e d g e a b o u t ' t h a t G o d b e g in s to b e e x p e r i e n c e dw i t h ' k n o w l e d g e o f ' . T h e I s h a a n d K e n a U p a n i s h a d s e x h o r t m a n t ot r a n s c e n d a ll o b j e c ti v e h u m a n k n o w l e d g e , a s w e l l a s s h e e r i g n o r a n c e ,i n o r d e r t r u ly to k n o w G o d :

H e i s n o t k n o w n b y h i m w h o k n o w s h i m ,N o t u n d e r s t o o d b y h i m w h o u n d e r st a n ds .H e a l o n e c o n te m p l a te s h i m w h o h a s c e a se d t o c o n t e m p l a t e h i m .

Un derhill, E. : The School o f Charity and the M ystery o f Sacrifice (New York, 1956), p 235-3 77ze sha Upan(shad, cited b y Swam i Abhlshlktananda, in Hindu-Christian Meeting P oint,W ithin the Cave o f the Heart (Bandra-B om bay, 1969) p 65.


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25 8 M Y S T I C A L E X P E R I E N C EI n a l l know l edge a s t hou gh b y i n t u i t i on the w is e ma n f inds h i m .I t i s i n h i m a l one, t he A t m an , t ha t each one i s s tr ong .I t i s i n know i ng h i m a l one t ha t one becomes i mm or t a l .A grea t loss i t i s, in t ru th , fo r h im wh o does no t a t t a in h im here be low.4

W e a r e a l l a c q u a i n t e d w i t h W i l l i a m J a m e s ' s f o u r c h a r a c te r is t i c so f t h e m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e : i ts i n e f f a b i l i t y ; i t s n o e t i c q u a l i t y , b r i n g i n gn e w i n s i g h t a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g i n a g l o b a l se ns e w i t h g r e a t c l a r i ty ;i t s t r a n s i e n c y w h i c h r e f u s e s t o b e c a p t u r e d i n a p e r m a n e n t s t a t e o fl e n g t h y e n d u r a n c e ; i ts p a s s i v i t y o r l e t t i n g g o a n d y i e l d i n g t o t h eS u p r e m e A b s o lu t e . 5 A n d r e w G r e e l e y h a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t m o s t h u -m a n b e i n g s h a v e h a d a t o n e t i m e o r o t h e r s o m e m y s t i c a l e x p e r -i e nc e . ~ M o s t o f o u r m y s t i c a l e x p e ri e nc e s w h e n w e r e fl e ct b a c k u p o nt h e m h a v e h a p p e n e d v e r y s im p l y a n d s u d d e n l y . B e c a us e t h r o u g he d u c a t i o n a n d o t h e r p r e - c o n d i t i o n i n g s , w e s et u p ' fi lt e r ' s y s te m s t oa l lo w u s t o c o n c e n t r a t e o n a g i v e n p r o b l e m , a n d t h u s t h e m o r eg l o b a l e x p e r i e n c e o f o n e n es s w i t h t h e c o s m o s a n d t h e i n n e r d y n a -m i s m o f t h e A b s o l u t e p e r m e a t i n g a l l th i n g s is c u t o u t f ro m o u rh a b i t u a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s .B u t a t t im e s o f g r e a t r e l a x a t i o n , w e c a n r e c a p t u r e t h e s e ns e o fa m a z e m e n t t o se e t h e in n e r b e a u t y a n d u n i t y in a g i v en , s i m p lep l a n t , a h u m a n f ac e , a p i ec e o f m u s ic . A t s u c h m o m e n t s w e b e c o m et ra n s f i x e d b e y o n d o u r h a b i t u a l k n o w l e d g e o f t h in g s to a c c e p t t h e ma s t h e y a r e . C a r y l l H o u s e l a n d e r w a s r a p t i n e c st a sy i n a s u b w a y i nL o n d o n , s e e i n g C h r i s t s u d d e n l y i n t h e f a ce s o f a l l t h e p a s s e n g e rs .T h e Z e n B u d d h i s t m o n k m i g h t f i n d i t i n a g r a i n o f r ic e . S u c h e x p e r -i e nc e s a d m i t o f g r e a t d e g re e s o f i n t e n s i t y a n d c a n a p p l y t o t h ea e s t h e t i c , m o r a l a n d r e li g io u s f ie ld s o f e x p e r i e n c e .

I n s u c h e x p e r i e n c e s o f a re l ig i o u s n a t u r e t h e r e i s u s u a l l y a m e d i u mt h a t l e a d s o n e i n t o a d e e p e r , m o r e u n i f i e d p e r c e p t i o n o f b e i n g o n ew i t h t h e A b s o l u t e B e i n g . T h e s e s i g n s c a n b e r e l i g i o u s a c t i o n s , c e r -t a i n t h o u g h t s , s p i r i t u a l a t t i t u d e s o r f e e l i n g s . B u t t h e d i s t i n g u i s h i n gf e a t u r e o f t h e m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e , w h i c h d i f f e rs f r o m t h e r e l i g io u se x p e r i e n c e , is t h e e l e m e n t o f a d i r e c t p e r c e p t i o n o f a p r e s e n t r e a l i t y ,t h e A b s o l u t e , w i t h o u t t h e m e a n s o f a s i g n o r m e d i u m . I t is a n i m m e -d i a c y o f u n i o n t h r o u g h n o w o r d s o r g e s tu r es o r h e lp s fo r c e n t r i n go n e ' s fo c u s o f a t t e n t i o n a w a y f r o m d i sp e r s i o n t o u n i t y . I n a m y s t i c a l

Ibid., p 56.5 James , William: The Varieties o f Religious Experience (New York, I958), pp 292-93 .Greeley Andrew: Ecstasy, a W ay o f Knowing (New Jersey, x974), pp I39-42.


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M Y S T I C A L E X P E R I E N C E 2 5 9

e x p e r i e n c e m a n h a s t h e s e n s e o f e n t e r i n g i n t o a d i r e c t , i m m e d i a t ee x p e r i e n c e o f G o d w i t h o u t e f fo r t, w i t h o u t d i s c o u rs e , i d e as , t h o u g h t so r a n y o t h e r a g e n t i n b e t w e e n .M a i n charac te r is ti c s o f t he m ys t i ca l e xper ience

C l a i r e M y e r s O w e n s l i st s s ix b a s ic c h a r a c t e r is t i c s o f t h e m y s t i c a le x p e r i e n c e 3 P e r h a p s b y li st in g t h es e w e c a n t i e u p w h a t i s c o m m o nt o a l l a u t h e n t i c m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e s a n d t h e n p r e s e n t t h e v i e w o fc h r i s t i a n m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e .

I . Impercept iv i t y . T h e a c c e n t is p l a c e d u p o n t h e w i t h d r a w a l d u r -i n g t h e m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e f r o m s e n s o r y s t im u l i . T h i s r e s u lt s f r o ma d e e p a b s t r a c t i o n o r c o n c e n t r a t i o n o n t h e t o t a l e x p e r i e n c e t h a ts w e e p s t h e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f t h e p e r s o n t o a n e w l e v el o f a w a r e n e s s .

2 . R e n u n c i a t i o n . E n t e r i n g i n to t h e t r a n s c e n d e n c e o f a h ig h e r w o r l do f i n n e r b e a u t y a n d h a r m o n y , t h e m y s t i c e x p e ri e n ce s a n e w r e v e r-e n c e f o r l i f e a n d i s r e a d y t o g i v e u p l e s s e r v a l u e s , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h el i n e o f s e lf is h n es s , to b e c o m e a s e r v a n t o f l if e i n o t h e r s . O n t h isp o i n t w e c a n d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n a t r u e m y s t i c i s m a n d a s t a t e o fh a b i t u a l s c h i z o p h re n i a . T h e s c h iz o id m a y w i t h d r a w a n d r e n o u n c em a n y t h i n g s, b u t t h e r e w i l l b e l a c k i n g t h e o p e n n e s s t o w a r d s o t h e r si n t r u e s e l f - s u r re n d e r i n g l o v e a n d s e rv i ce . T h e m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c eis a h i g h l y i n d i v i d u a l i z e d a n d d i s c i p l in e d s t a t e o f l if e a n d a t t i t u d e st h a t r e s u l t f r o m m y s t i c a l ex p e r ie n c e s . I t i n v o l v e s a n o r d e r l y j o u r n e yi n t o t h e d e p t h s o f t h e s e l f w i t h n o s h o r t c u t s in i ts a t t e m p t t o r e a c hg r e a t e r c o n s c io u s n e s s o f s e l f a n d i ts u l t i m a t e s o u r ce .

F o r t h is r e a s o n U n d e r h i l l s tr es se s t h a t i n t h e m y s t i c a l e x p e r ie n c e ,w h e n i t is a u t h e n t i c , t h e r e i s a m o t i o n b e t w e e n l e v e ls o f r e a l i t y t h a tr e s ul ts i n t h e p e r f e c t i n g o f a n e n t i r e n e w s e l f b y s u r r e n d e r i n g i t se l fa w a y f r o m a ll se lf is h c o n c e r n . T h i s i s e f f e c te d b y a n a w a k e n i n g o ft h e s e l f t o c o n s c io u s n e s s o f t h e D i v i n e R e a l i t y . T h e r e a l i z a t i o n o f t h es e l f a n d i ts se p a r a t e n e s s f r o m t h e A b s o l u t e h i g h l i g h ts t h e i m p e r f e c -t io n s o f t h e s e lf, a n d a p r o c e s s o f p u r g a t i o n is u n d e r g o n e . 8

3 . I ne f f ab i l i t y . H u r l e d b e y o n d t h e d is c u rs iv e i n t o a n e w r e a l m o fm e a n i n g a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t h e m y s t ic s t a n ds i n a s t at e o f a w e a n di m p o t e n c e b e f o r e s u c h a b l i n d i n g , i n e f fa b l e e x p e r ie n c e . J a c o bB o e h m e c a n o n l y s t a m m e r l ik e a c h i ld ; w h i l e S t J o h n o f t h e C ro ssc o u l d w r i t e :

v O w e n s , C l a i r e M y e r s : Awakening to the Good ( N e w Y o r k , I 9 7 I ) , p p 5 i f f.s L l n d e r h i l l , E . : Mysticism ( N e w Y o r k , I 9 5 7 ) , p p 1 7 6 - 2 6 5 .


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260 MYSTICAL EXPERIENCEThe brighter and purer is the supernatural and divine light, the moreit darkens the soul, and the less bright and pure is it, the less dark it isto the soul. Yet this may well be understood if we consider what hasbeen proved. ., namely, that the brighter and the more manifest inthemselves are supernatural things, the darker are they to our under-standing3

4" Noesis . We have already described the more global type ofknowledge that is apprehended beyond an y mediation of man'sdiscursive process. Such meta-rational knowledge is a gift given tothe mystic without involving his reasoning powers. J an Ruysbroeck,the flemish fou rteenth centu ry mystic, writes in his M i r r o r o f E t er n a lSa lva t ion: 'Above the reason in the depths of the intelligence, thesimple eye of the contemplative soul is always open. It contemplatesand gazes at the light, the Word with pure gaze, enlightened bythe Light itself, eye against eye, mirror against mirror, imageagainst image '. 1

5 . Ecstasy . The mea ning of this is a movemen t out o f one's hat~i-tual stasis or stance before oneself and the world around one. Thewalls of self-containment come crumbling down, and the mystic ischild-like in his open, joyful running towards life in all its mani-festations. There is an illumination of the self through det ach men tfrom the things of sense. Underhill describes this process as a purif i-cation of the spirit, which is effected by the killing of the hu ma ninstincts for personal happiness. Now the mystic desires nothing an dis totally removed from worldly needs. 1~

6 . Fusion . The advai ta experience of non-du ali ty is the basic ele-men t of the mystical experience which admits of great intensity.The subject loses awareness of his own separateness as well as theobjectivity of the Otherness o f the Absolute. The knower and thekno wn become as one as the mystic seems to merge with the 'other '.Such unit y brings with it deep serenity, order, beau ty and ha rmonythat remain with the mystic, supporting him at each moment evenamidst great trials.

St Symeon the New Theologian (lO22) describes this parad ox ofunion in terms of light and darkness:

0 St John of the Cross Dark N ight o f the Soul,II, VIII, I.10 Ruysbroeck, an.: Mirror o.l"EternalSalvation (London, I946), p 73.11 Underhill,E. : Mysticism,pp I98ff.


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M Y S T I C A L E X P E R I E N C E 2 6 II r e m a i n e d s e a t e d in t h e m i d d l e o f t h e d a r k n e s s ,b u t w h i le I w a s th e r e s u r r o u n d e d b y d a r k n es s,Y o u a p p e a r e d a s l ig h t, i l lu m i n a t i n g m e c o m p l e t e l y f r o m y o u r t o t a ll igh t .A n d I b e c a m e li g h t i n t h e n i g h t, I w h o w a s fo u n d i n t h e m i d s t o fda rknes s .N e i t h e r t h e d a r k n e s s e x t i n g u i s h e d y o u r l i g h t c o m p l e t e l y ,n o r d i d t h e l i g h t d i s si p a t e t h e v i s i b le d a rk n e s s ,b u t t h e y w e r e t o g e t h e r , y e t c o m p l e t e l y s e p a r a t e d ,w i t h o u t c o n f u s io n , f a r f r o m e a c h o t h e r , s u r e l y , " b u t n o t a t a l l m i x e d ,e x c e p t i n t h e s a m e s p o t w h e r e t h e y f i ll e d e v e r y t h i n g , s o i t se e m s t o m e .L i k e w i se I a m i n t h e l ig h t , y e t I a m f o u n d i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h edarknes s .S o I a m i n t h e d a r k n e s s, y e t s ti ll I a m i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e l i g ht .A n d I s a y , w h o w il l h e l p m e i n t h e m i d d l e o f m y d a r k n e s st o f i n d a l i g h t w h i c h t h e d a r k n e s s c a n n o t r e c e i v e ?F o r h o w c a n d a r k n e s s r e c e i v e w i t h i n i t s e lf a l i g h t ?A n d w i t h o u t b e i n g d i s s ip a t e d b y t h e l ig h t , i t s ti ll r e m a i n s i n t h em i d d le o f t h e l i g h t . . .B y t h e d i v i n e a d o p t i o n I s ee th a t I h a v e b e c o m e g o d . is

A c h r i s t ia n m y s t i c i s mI n a u t h e n t i c c h r i s t i a n m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c es t h e r e a r e t w o i m -

p o r t a n t c o n s t i t u t i v e e l e m e n t s . T h e f i rs t i s t h e t r a n s c e n d e n t , t o t a l l y' O t h e r ' t h a t w e c a ll G o d . O u r c h r i s t i a n f a i t h b r i n g s u s t o a k n o w -l e d g e g i v e n b y r e v e l a t i o n i n h o l y s c r i p tu r e a n d t h r o u g h c h r i s t i a nt r a d i t i o n , o f G o d a s t h e S o u r c e f r o m w h o m a l l o t h e r f o r m s o f e x is t-e n c e f l o w a n d t o w h o m a l l b e i n gs r e t u r n i n a h u n g e r a n d t h ir s tt o w a r d s g r e a t e r u n io n . G o d a s t r a n s c e n d e n t i s o t h e r t h a n w e a r e ,i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e , u n p o s se s s ab l e , u n c h a n g i n g , e t e r n a l i n h is p e r -f e c ti o ns , c o m p l e t e l y h01Y a n d i n d e p e n d e n t o f a l l o u t s i d e f o rc e s . H eis t h e f i re f r o m w h i c h a l l s p a r k s c o m e , a n a b y s s o f i n f i n i t y , s e p a r a t i n gh i m s e l f f r o m t h e c r e a t e d w o r l d .

Y e t , a s A . G a r d e i l in s is ts : ' T h e m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e is a n i m m e -d i a te a n d e x p e r i m e n t a l p e r c e p t i o n o f G o d s u b s t a n t i a l ly p r e s e n t int h e j u s t s o u l a s o b j e c t o f i ts k n o w l e d g e a n d l o v e ' . 1~ T h e t r a n s c e n d e n t

G o d is a ls o t h e i m m a n e n t G o d ' i n w h o m w e li v e a n d m o v e a n dh a v e o u r b e i n g ' ( A c ts 1 7 , 28 ) . H e is n o t a n o b j e c t o u t s id e u s .

12 St Sym eon the Ne w Theolog ian: Hym ns of D ivine Love, tr. G eorge A. M aloney (NewJersey, 1975) H ym n 25, pp I36-37-~3 G arde il, A m broise: La Structure de l'am e e t l'expdrienae my stique, as cited in Dictionnairede sp irituaIitd, 4 (Paris, i96i), col. 2009.


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262 M Y S T I C A L E X P E R I E N C E

H e is a n e n c o m p a s s i n g e n e r g y t h a t p e r m e a t e s e a c h c e ll o f o u r b e i n g .I n S t A u g u s t in e 's w o r d s , ' H e is m o r e i n t i m a t e t o m e t h a n I t o m y s e l f ' .

I t i s c h r i s t i a n m y s t i c i s m t h a t c o m b i n e s t h e n o n - d u a l i t y i m m a n -e n c e o f t h e f a r e a s t e rn r e li g io n s w i t h t h e t r a n s c e n d e n c e o f a G o da s b e i n g e x t e r n a l t o t h e s u b j e c t a n d r e v e a l i n g h i m s e l f t h r o u g h t h em e d i u m o f p r o p h e ts , a s f o u n d p r e d o m i n a n t l y i n s u c h p r o p h e t i c r el i-g io n s a s J u d a i s m a n d I s la m . S u c h n e w k n o w l e dg e a n d w i s d o m c o m et o t h e c h r i s t i a n m y s t i c a s a g i f t o f f a i th , h o p e a n d l o v e i n f u s e d i n t ot h e i n d i v i d u a l b y G o d ' s H o l y S p i ri t. T h e r e is n o o t h e r w a y o f t r u l yk n o w i n g G o d f o r t h e C h r i s ti a n , e x c e p t t h a t G o d t o u c h e s t h e i n d i v i-d u a l w i t h h i s li g ht , s o t h a t h e se es as d i d t h e p r o p h e t s o f o l d . W h e nG o d t o u c h e s m a n w i t h h i s l i g h t , h e t h e n k n o w s t h a t G o d k n o w sh i m . H e w h o s ee s G o d k n o w s th a t G o d s ee s h i m . A n d h e k n o w st h a t h e k n o w s G o d .

T h e i n d w e l l i n g p r e s e n c e o f t h e T r i n i t y a s l i g h t w i t h i n t h e C h r i -s t ia n p e r m e a t e s h i s w h o l e b e i n g a n d i n t e g r a t e s t h e b o d y , s o u l a n ds p i ri t l ev e ls i n t o a w h o l e h u m a n b e i n g , c o n s u m e d b y l o v e f o r G o d .O n e s e e s h i s l i g h t e v e r y w h e r e , a d o r e s h i m i n g r e a t h u m i l i t y , s u r -r e n d e r s o n e s e l f i n t o t a l s e r v ic e . H e is i n s t r u c t e d b y G o d i n t h et hi ng s o f G o d . A b o v e a ll , h e k n o w s a t e a c h m o m e n t w h a t is t h ew i l l o f G o d f o r h i m . C h r i s t i a n m y s t i c i s m re l a te s t h e i n d i v i d u a l t ot h e h i s t o r i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e a n d t h e w o r l d c o m m u n i t y i n t o w h i c h h eis i n s e r t e d i n t i m e a n d s p a c e . I n h i s i n c r e a s e d l o v e a n d h u m i l i t y h es tr iv e s f o r f i de l it y t o c o o p e r a t e e a c h m o m e n t w i t h t h e d i v i n e w i ll .' T h e n y o u w i ll b e a b le t o k n o w t h e w il l o f G o d - w h a t is g o o d a n di s p l e a s i n g t o h i m a n d is p e r f e c t ' ( R o m 1 2, 2 ) .

A s t h e m y s t i c is l e d p r o g r e s s i v e ly in t o t h e i n n e r m e a n i n g o f r e a l it y ,h e is n o t l e d a w a y f r o m t h e c r e a t e d w o r l d ; r a t h e r h e is l e d in t or e v e r e n c e a n d w o r s h i p o f G o d a s p r e s e n t e v e r y w h e r e w i t h i n t h ec r e a t e d w o r l d . T h e f l o w e r s , t h e t r e e s , b i r d s , a n i m a l s , t h e b e a u t i e s o fe a c h n e w s e a s o n , t h e s u n , m o o n , s t a r s , t h e m o u n t a i n s , l a k e s , o c e a n s ;t h e w h o l e w o r l d r e v e a l s t o t h e c h r i s t i a n m y s t i c t h e l o v i n g p r e s e n c eo f G o d , c o n c e r n e d t o g i v e h im s e l f , o f l o v e , i n h i s so m a n y g if ts .

F o r t h e c h r i st i an m y s t i c c r e a t i o n is a c o n t i n u i n g a c t iv i t y . W h a t -e v e r is , is a p o i n t o f m e e t i n g G o d t h e D o e r , t h e a l m i g h t y F o r c ee n e r g i z in g t h e u n i v e r s e . A b o v e a ll , m a n f in d s w i t h i n h i m s e l f a s p e-c i a l s h a r e i n th e d i v i n e e n er g ie s b e c a u s e o f h is p o w e r to k n o wG o d p e r s o n a l l y a n d t o l o v e a n d s u r r e n d e r h i m s e l f t o h i m . T h em y s t i c s u r r e n d e r s h i s en e r g ie s to t h o se o f G o d . A n e w c o m m u n i o no f l o v e is r e a c h e d a s m a n s ee ks t o ' d o ' w i t h G o d a c c o r d i n g t o G o d ' sp l a n . M a n ' s i m p u l s iv e n e s s n o w c h a n g e s t o u t t e r r e c e p t i v i t y i n hi s


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M Y S T I C A L E X P E R I E N C E 263desire to cooperate with the energies (graces) of God at work atevery moment in each event.All i s grace

The world therefore is constantly bathed i n the grace o f the divineenergies. All is gift. All is grace. God does not simply create in adeistic fashion and let the world develop 'na turall y' by itself. God isconti nuall y involved and calls out to meet man as his co-worker.

For the christ ian mystic, the profane exists only in the mind ofthose who fail to see the presence of the sacred in each atom,in each event of each moment. In such a mystical vision the biblicalaccents on the transcendent and the immane nt God are maint ainedin a workable antinomy. Throu gh the doctrine of the uncreatedenergies God is seen as intimately rela ted to his universe and still heis the God of christian faith, the Tr ini ty as perfect and completein itself.

For the Christian, in the words of Teilhard de Chardin, loveunites as it differentiates. In every mysticism the experience of theAbsolute becomes more unified, less diffused. The separation is ofthe false ego. The union takes place between the true 'I' and its beingin the Other who is ultimate and has no second. But the Spirit ofJesus makes it possible for the Christian to become aware of him-self, not as a subject adoring a divine object, but as the 'I', awareof itself as a child, a son of God, a divinized being parti cipa ting , asSt Peter says, in the divine Natu re (2 Pt i, 4), but notl osing its hu ma nnature, not bec omi ng God by its nature, but nonetheless trulydeified by God's loving presence within.

Th e christ ian mystics have been fond of describing this assimila-tion into God by the analogy of iron and fire and other such exam-ples wherein the two become one; yet in that very oneness theuniqueness of the one loved is obtained in a new identity. In thechristian vision it is God's love that highlights the individual andcalls him into newer relationships of love and therefore of heigh tened

ide nt it y as loved personally by God in Christ Jesus.The christian mystical experience is best symbolized in the Eucha-

rist, which allows the Christian to ente r into a oneness with theTrinity. The Logos incarnated points to the Father and he pointsfrom the Fathe r to us. 'I a m in the Fathe r and the Fathe r is in me'(Jn 14, IO). Where the Father and Son are, there also is the HolySpirit. The Son speaks to the Christian of the Father. The HolySpirit loves the Father and the Son within us and with us.


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264 M Y S T I C A L E X P E R I E N C EA s t h e c h r i s t i a n m y s t i c g o e s o u t t o l i v e t h is c o s m i c l i t u r g y , G o d ' s

L o g o s c o n t i n u e s t o s p e a k t o h i m o f t h e F a t h e r ' s g r e a t l o v e in e v e r ym a t e r i a l c r e a t u r e t h a t h e m e e t s. T h e s e n s e - w o r l d o f m a t t e r is n ol o n g e r a n o b s t a c l e f o r t h e c h r i s ti a n 's u n i o n w i t h G o d : i t b e c o m e sn o w t h e s a c r e d m e e t i n g p l a c e t h r o u g h m a n ' s c o o p e r a t i v e a c t i v i t yw i t h G o d t o g r o w in t o g r e a t er u n i o n w i t h t h e U l t i m a t e . F o r s u c hc h r i s t i a n m y s t ic s , t h e s i g n o f t r u e a u t h e n t i c i t y i n t h e i r m y s t i c a l e x -p e r i e n c e s is i n t h e i r a b i l i ty t o g o o u t a n d l o v e o th e r s a s G o d h a sl o v e d t h e m . T h e c h r i s ti a n c o n t e m p l a t i v e s ee s h i m s e l f a s a p e r s o nl o v e d b y G o d w h o l l y , a n d i n t h is g r a c e h e d i s c o v e rs h i m s e l f m o r ec e n t r e d u p o n G o d , m o r e o n e w i t h G o d , a n d y e t m o r e o n e w i t h a llo t h e r b e i n g s . S u c h a p e r s o n h a s b e e n f r e e d f r o m t h e l o n e l i n e s s o fs in a n d i n s e c u r i t y t o s t e p o u t i n t r u e c h r i s t i a n l o v e , t o l e t t h e t r in i -t a r i a n l o v e f lo w t h r o u g h h i m o u t w a r d l y t o e a c h p e r s o n h e m e e ts .T r u e m y s t i c a l e x p e r ie n c e is a c o n t i n u e d m o v e m e n t i n l o v e t o w a r d su n i o n t h a t c al ls t o a m o v e m e n t t o w a r d s e v e n g r e a t e r u n i o n .Som e dangers

T h e l a t e R o n a l d K n o x h a s w a r n e d a g ai ns t tw o d a n g er s w i t h i nc h r i s t i a n m y s t i c i s m . O n e h e c a l l s e v a n g e l i c a l e n t h u s i a s m w h i c hp l a c e s u n d u e a t t e n t i o n u p o n m a n ' s f a l l en s ta t e a n d s ee s t h a tJ e s u s C h r i s t h a s ' d o n e i t a l l ' . S u c h a t e n d e n c y n e g l e c t s a l l e l e 2m e n t s i n C h r i s t i a n i ty o f h i s t o ry a n d e c c le s ia l t r a d i ti o n , in c l u d i n g as a c r a m e n t a l e m p h a s is . T h e o t h e r is m y s t i c a l e n t h u s ia s m , w h i c ht e n d s t o w a r d s a q u i e t i s m t h a t i g n o r e s g r a c e a n d m a n ' s c o o p e r a t i o nt h r o u g h a s c e ti c is m b y c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n t h e G o d w i t h in . 1~

T h e r e a r e o t h e r d a n g e r s t h a t a ri se w h e n C h r i s ti a n s e n t e r i n t o ad e e p e r i n t e r i o r i t y w i t h t h e i n d w e l l i n g G o d . A s t h e c o n t e m p l a t i v es i le n c e s h is o w n a c t i v it i e s i n p r a y e r a n d t u r n s o f f h is d i s c u r s i v ea c t i v it y , h e b e g in s a j o u r n e y i n w a r d l y t h r o u g h l a y e rs o f p s y c h i ce x p e ri en c e s. R e p r e s s e d m a t e r i a l t h a t h a s b e e n d r o w n e d f o r y e a r s i nt h e u n c o n s c i o u s c a n r i s e t h r e a t e n i n g l y t o d i s t u r b t h e c o n t e m p l a t i v e .F l a s h e s a n d l ig h ts , p s y c h i c p o w e r s o f t e l e p a t h y , c o m m u n i n g w i t ht h e d e a d c a n c o m e f o r t h . S t r o n g s e x u a l f a n t a s i e s a n d p h y s i c a l f e e l -i n gs c a n a r is e, t e m p t i n g t h e p e r s o n i n p r a y e r t o m o v e o v e r t o se et h e s t r a n g e f a ce s o f t h e d e m o n i c t h a t f l as h o n a n d o f f, n o w l ig h t, n o wd a r k n e ss . W h a t i s r e a l it y , w h a t is h a l l u c i n a t i o n b e f o r e t h e b e c k o n i n gv i si o ns o f e n ti c i n g fo r m s t h a t w h i r l o v e r t h e s c r e e n o f o u r c o n s ci o u s-

14 K n o x , R o n a l d : Enthusiasm ( L o n d o n , N e w Y o r k , i 9 6 i ) , p 5 8 I .


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M Y S T I C A L E X P E R I E N C E 2 6 5n e ss ? S t r a n g e a n d f a m i l i a r v o ic e s g i v e t h e i r m e s s a g e s w i t h i m p e l l i n gr e a l is m . A g a i n , w h a t is r e a l , w h a t is f a ls e ? S c y l l a a n d C h a r y b d i sc o m e c lo se a n d o n e c o u l d c a p s i ze . D o e s o n e w i t h d r a w o r p u s h d e e p e r ?

H e r e is w h e r e t h e C h u r c h h a s s t re s s e d t h e g r e a t h e l p o f h a v i n g as p i r i tu a l d i r e c t o r w h o , v e r s e d in t h e t r a d i t i o n a l t e a c h i n g s o f t h eC h u r c h i n r e g a r d t o m y s t i c a l e x p e r ie n c e s a n d t h e m o d e r n t e a c h i n g so f p s y c h o l o g y , c a n e n c o u r a g e t h o se t h e y d i r e c t i n a s t ro n g f a i thv i s io n t o a v o i d a n y f a ls e s u b j e c t i v i s m . S t J o h n o f t h e C r o s s g i v e s u sv e r y s o u n d a d v i c e i n t h is m a t t e r :

A n d i t m u s t b e k n o w n t h a t a l t h o u g h a l l t he se th in g s m a y h a p p e n t ot h e b o d i l y se nse s in t h e w a y o f G o d , w e m u s t n e v e r r e l y u p o n t h e mo r a c c e p t t h e m , b u t m u s t fl y f r o m t h e m , w i t h o u t t r y i n g t o a s c e r ta i nw h e t h e r t h e y b e g o o d o r e v i l~ f o r th e m o r e c o m p l e t e l y e x t e r i o r a n dc o r p o r e a l th e y a r e , t h e le ss c e r t a i n l y t h e y a r e o f G o d . . . S o h e t h a te s t e e m s s u c h t h i n g s e r r s g r e a t l y a n d e x p o s e s h i m s e l f t o g r e a t p e r i l o fb e i n g d e c e i v e d ; i n a n y c a se h e w i l l h a v e w i t h in h i m s e l f a c o m p l e t ei m p e d i m e n t t o t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f s p ir i tu a l it y . 15

K n o w i n g t h a t s u c h m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e s c a n a r i se f r o m t h e d i r e c ti n t e r v e n t i o n f r o m G o d , b u t c a n a ls o c o m e f r o m o u r o w n i n n e r ,u n c o n s c i o u s p r o j e c t i o n s a s w e l l as f r o m t h e d e m o n i c s p i r i t u a l w o r l d ,a g o o d s p i r i t u a l g u i d e w i ll d i r e c t s u c h a p e r s o n o f d e e p p r a y e r a w a yf r o m a n y i n o r d i n a t e d e s ir e t o ' p o ss e ss ' o r c o l le c t m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e sa s s uc h . S u c h a n a t t a c h m e n t t o th e p sy c h i c p h e n o m e n a t h a t a c c o m -p a n y d e e p e r p r a y e r c a n s pe l l t h e ru i n o f a b u d d i n g m y s t i c a n d t r u em e m b e r o f t h e C h u r c h . S u c h s p i r i t u a l s e n s u a l i t y c a n o n l y l e a d t o as ic k s e l f - c e n t r i n g t h a t d e h u m a n i z e s a n d p r e v e n t s t h e f lo w o f G o d ' sl o v e t o w a r d s o t h e r s .

S ti ll , s u c h i n e f f a b l e e x p e r i e n c e s c a n h a p p e n a s g if ts f r o m G o d .A g a i n , S t J o h n o f t h e C r o ss g iv e s u s so li d a d v i c e a s h o w t o h a n d l es u c h p h e n o m e n a :

I f s u c h e x p e r i e n c e b e o f G o d , i t p r o d u c e s i t s ef fe c t u p o n t h e s p ir i t a tt h e v e r y m o m e n t w h e n i t a p p e a r s o r is f el t, w i t h o u t g i v in g t h e s o u lt i m e o r o p p o r t u n i t y t o d e l i b e r a t e w h e t h e r i t w i l l a c c e p t o r r e j e c t i t .F o r , e v e n a s G o d g i v e s t h e s e t h i n g s s u p e r n a t u r a l l y , w i t h o u t e f f o r t o nt h e p a r t o f t h e s ou l, a n d i n d e p e n d e n t o f i ts c a p a c i t y , G o d p r o d u c e si n i t t h e e f f e c t t h a t h e d e s ir e s b y m e a n s o f s u c h t h i n g s ; . . . i t i s a s i ff ir e w e r e a p p l i e d t o a p e r s o n ' s n a k e d b o d y ; i t w o u l d m a t t e r l i tt lew h e t h e r o r n o t h e w i s h e d t o b e b u r n e d ; t h e f i re w o u l d o f n e c e ss it yacc om pl i sh i ts wo rk . 16

15 St Jo hn of the Cross: Ascent o f M oun t Carmel, II , X I, 2. 18 Ib id .


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2 6 6 M Y S T I C A L E X P E R I E N C E

W a l t e r H i l t o n , t h e g r e a t f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y e n g l is h m y s t i c , g iv e sa s i m i la r m a n n e r o f d i s c e r n in g w h e t h e r m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e s a r ef r o m G o d . H e w r i te s :

. . . B u t i f i t s o b e t h a t m a n n e r o f f e el in g m a k e s y o u m o r e d e v o u t ,m o r e f e r v e n t i n p r a y e r a n d t h o u g h i t b e so th a t i t as to n is h y o u i n t h eb e g i n n i n g , y e t a f t e r w a r d s i t t u r n s a n d q u i c k e n s y o u r h e a r t t o m o r ed e s i re o f v i r tu e s , in c r e a s es y o u r l o v e t o G o d a n d n e i g h b o u r , m a k e sy o u m o r e h u m b l e i n y o u r o w n e ye s, b y t h es e to k e ns y o u m a y k n o wi f i t is o f G o d , w r o u g h t b y t h e p r e s e n c e a n d w o r k i n g o f a g o o d a n g e l . 17

M y s t i c a l e x pe rie n ce s l e a d tO a l o v in g c o m m u n i t yK a r l R a h n e r , h a s i n s i s t ed t h a t o n l y t h o se w h o e x p e r i e n c e G o d

w i ll c o n t i n u e t o g r o w a s h u m a n a n d h e n c e t r u l y re l ig i o us p e o p l e .' T h e d e v o u t c h r i s t i a n o f th e f u t u r e w il l e i t h e r b e a " m y s t i c " , o n e w h oh a s " e x p e r i e n c e d " s o m e t h i n g o r h e w i l l c ea s e t o b e a n y t h i n g a t a l l '. i s

T h e t r u e t e s t o f a u t h e n t i c p r a y e r a n d h e n c e o f t r u e m y s t i c i s m c a nn e v e r b e m e a s u r e d b y p s y c h i c p h e n o m e n a , b u t r a t h e r i n o u r su r -r e n d e r i n g l o v e a n d s u b m i s s i o n t o G o d ' s w i ll . I f w e a r e t o u c h i n gG o d a n d h e is c o m m u n i c a t i n g h i m s e l f t o u s , w i t h o r w i t h o u t a n yp s y c h i c p h e n o m e n a a c c o m p a n y i n g o u r p r a y e r , t h i s w il l b e m e a s u r e db y t h e t r u e t h e r m o m e t e r o f i n c re a s in g l o v e o f G o d : A r e w e d a i l yg r o w i n g i n g r e a t e r l o v e fo r a n d h u m i l i t y t o w a r d s o u r n e i g h b o u r s ?W i t h o u t w o r d s o r i m a g e s o r i d ea s o r s e n t im e n t s t o m e a s u r e o u rp r a y e r - p r o g r e s s , w e c a n r e l y o n l y o n o u r l i fe - re l a t io n s h ip s . T h e c o m -m u n i t y i n w h i c h w e l i v e a n d w h i c h w e s e rv e m u s t b e t h e p l a c e f o rd i s c e r n in g o u r g r o w t h i n p r a y e r .

B e l o v e d , l e t u s l o v e o n e a n o t h e r b e c a u s e l o v e is o f G o d ; e v e r y o n e w h ol ov e s is b e g o t t e n o f G o d a n d h a s k n o w l e d g e o f G o d , f o r G o d is l o v e( I Jn 4 , 7 ) -

A l l a u t h e n t i c m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e s m u s t b e m e a s u r e d , n o t b yp s y c h o lo g i c a l p h e n o m e n a , b u t u l t im a t e l y b y t h e l o v e a n d s e r v in gh u m i l i t y t h a t w e s h o w t o w a r d s t h os e a r o u n d u s. I f t h is is t h e t r u ei n d e x o f c h r i s t i a n m y s t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e , w e c a n s e e t h a t a l l C h r i s t i a n sa n d a l l m e n a r e c a l l e d b y G o d t o s u c h e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t l e a d u s t og r e a t e r l o v e a n d h u m i l i t y . F o r o f s u c h a r e th e K i n g d o m o f H e a v e n .

iv Hilton, W aiter: Scale o f P erfection, cited by B. W illiamson: Supernatural M ysticism (S tLouis, i92i), p i46.18 R ahner, K arl : Theo logical nvestigations, V II (New York, i97~), p 15.

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