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Modern Mystics Walk Among Us

BySarahMcLean

HalfofallAmericanssaytheyhadamomentaryawarenessofadeepconnectednesswiththe
Divine.Haveyouhadonetoo?Itmighthavebeenasyouwatchedasunset,gazedatanight
sky,feltthewarmsunonyourskinasyouwalkedalongtheseashore,orlistenedtothewater
asyousatbythecreekinacanyon.

Theseexperiencescancreateamysticalmomentinwhichyoufeelcarriedawayfromtheworld
anditstrappings,thoughyoufeeltrulypresentandclear.Yourheartexpandsandembraces
everythingwithoutquestion,andyouknowtheresmoretolifethanmeetstheeye.

TheMysticalExperience

Mysticalexperiencesdonthappenbecauseyoureespeciallyspiritualordeserving.Oryourein
therightplaceattherighttime.Instead,theycanhappentoanyone,anytime,tothereligious
andnonreligiousalike.Noarduoustraining,deepthinking,orwillpowerisrequired.Youcant
wishamysticalexperienceintooccurring,andreadingorhearingaboutoneisverydifferent
fromhavingone.

Amysticalexperiencedefiesexplanation,butherearesomecommonreportedfeatures:

Itsaspontaneousmomentofgrace.
Itsamomentwhenyourheartistouchedandopened.Theresdeep
contentmentandinnerpeace.
Itcanbeoverwhelming,elicitingtearsandlaughteratthesametime.
YoursenseofselfisovershadowedbytheexperienceoftheDivine;
Itcanincludeablissfulphysicalfeeling;aheavenlysound,melody,orGods
voice;abrightlightorexpandedvision;atasteofdivinenectar;orthearomaof
celestialperfumes.
Youloseyourawarenessofyourbody,theworld,andmaterialreality.
Youmergewiththeobjectsofyourperception.
Eventhoughyourproblemsandconcernsarestillpresentandyourquestions
remainunanswered,everythingsuddenlymakessense.
Theresarealizationoftheperfectionandintelligenceofcreation.
YoufeeladeepconnectionwiththewholeuniverseanditsCreator.

Anexperiencelikethiscanlastanywherefromafewsecondstoafewdays.Ifitpassesaftera
secondortwo,someofusdontgiveitmuchsignificance.Wesimplyenjoyitthendismissitas
anicefeeling,slippingbackintoourregularmodeofexistence.

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Butamystic,regardlessoftheirreligiousbackgroundorbeliefs,realizesthemoments
significance.

TeresaofAvilacalledtheseecstaticexperiencesshehadwhileprayingatransformative
union.Sheknewthemasspontaneousshecouldntmakethemhappen,ormakethemlast
longerthantheydo.Theytransformandawakenamysticsheart,creatingaprofound
touchstone.ThemysticembarksonapathasThomasAquinassaid,apursuitofthe
experientialknowledgeofGod.

Areyouamystic?Doyousomeonewhois?Youllrarelyfindamysticcallinghimselforherselfa
mystic,thoughanyonewhoseekstoexperiencetheDivine,whichmanycallGod,onapersonal
andintimatelevelcouldbeonthemysticspath.

Thepathofamysticisoneoftheheart.Itsaninnercallforthosewhohavefalleninlovewith
theCreatororcreationitself.

EmbarkingonTheMysticPath

ThomasAquinas,HildegardofBingen,JoanofArc,CatherineofSiena,SaintTeresa,SaintPaul
thesemysticsnamesarefamiliartous,andnotbecausetheysoughtoutfameorfortune.
Instead,itsbecauseafterthey'vehadthedirectexperienceofGod,theybecamemissionaries
tocelebratetheDivine.It'snottheotherwayaroundforamystic.

Amysticspathisfarfromformal.Itdoesntrequiregainingmoreknowledge,orthinkingyour
wayintoaDivineorecstaticstate,orfakingittillyoumakeit,ordoingendlessactsofcharity.It
doesntrequireyoutogetdeeplyinvolvedinyourreligiouspracticeseither.

Instead,embarkingonthemysticpathsimplyrequireswalkingwithaprayerinonesheart,a
prayertodeeplyknowtheDivine.

Themysticspathoftenincludessocialtranscendenceasthemysticdetachesfromthe
hypnosisofsocialnormsandcustoms,culturalconditioning,andworldlyinfluencesand
evaluateswhatmatterstothem,theirwayofbeingintheworld,andtheirrelationshipswith
others.Thismayincluderetreatingfromthelifeandrolestheyhavepreviouslybeenengaged
in.

Themysticspathalsoincludesselftranscendenceasthemysticislessengagedwithhisorher
individualityandhisorheregoidentification.ThomasMerton,the20
th
centuryTrappistmonk,
describedtheegoas"theoneinsuperableobstacletotheinfusedlightandactionoftheSpirit
ofGod."

Whatbecomesmostimportanttothemysticistheirexpandedconsciousness,andtheirunion
withcreationandCreator,astheymergewiththeCreatorthroughprayer,practices,andeven
throughtheirwork.TrueSelfknowledgeandDivinecommunionaretheultimategoal.
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NecessitiesontheMysticPath

Themysticpathrequiresfaithasthemysticmustsurrenderwithoutaplanforwherethepath
mightlead.ItrequiresthefaithtofollowyourinnerGPS,heedyourinnerknowing,andknow
thattheDivineiswithinreach.Italsorequirespatiencebecausethepathisnotlinearandthere
isnoknowingthetimingofthefruitsofthemysticpath.

Alsoessentialonthemysticspatharesilence,aninwardfocus,presentmomentawareness,
andarefinednervoussystem.

Thesilencerequiredisntanexternalhushinthephysicalrealm.Itsaninnersilence,adeep
stillnessoftheheartandofthemind.Thisinnersilencebecomesestablishedandcanevenbe
maintainedinthemidstofphysicalnoiseifnecessary.Thoughtheecstasyofthemysticalunion
canbeexpressedthroughdanceandmusicasisfoundonthe13
th
centurySufipoetRumis
path,RumitellsusthewaytheDivinespoketohim:

Secretlywespoke,thatwiseoneandme.
Isaid,Tellmethesecretsoftheworld.
Hesaid,Shhh...Letsilencetellyouthesecretsoftheworld.

RobertAdams,thelateAmericanmystic,whooncelivedinSedona,said: "Truesilencereallymeans
goingdeepwithinyourselftothatplacewherenothingishappening,whereyoutranscendtime
andspace.Yougointoabrandnewdimensionofnothingness.That'swhereallthepoweris.
That'syourrealhome.That'swhereyoureallybelong,indeepsilencewherethereisnogood
orbad,noonetryingtoachieveanything.Justbeing,purebeing....Silenceistheultimate
reality."

SaidRalphWaldoEmerson,Letusbesilent,thatwemayhearthewhispersofthegods."

Alongwithcultivatingsilence,itsalsoessentialtoturnyourattentioninwardanddetachfrom
theconstantactivityandsensoryinputoftheworld.JohnoftheCross,theSpanishCarmelite
priestofthe16
th
century,remindsusofthisinhiswriting:

Creationforgotten,
Creatoronlyknown,
Attentionturnedinward,
InlovewiththeBelovedalone.

AndTeresaofAvilagavethisadvicetoherSisters:Somebooksonprayertelluswhereone
mustseekGod.Withinoneself,veryclearly,isthebestplacetolook.

AmysticalsoknowsthatthecommunionwiththeDivinecanonlyoccurwhentheirattentionis
anchoredinthepresentmoment,asthemomentofcommunionisthepresentmoment.
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Meditation

Moreoftenthannot,meditationandprayerareamysticspracticesofchoiceforestablishing
theinnerfocus,presentmomentawareness,andarefinementofthenervoussystem.
Meditationtakespracticeandpatience,becausemanyofusareuncomfortablewithsilence.
Wearentconditionedtohaveaninnerfocus,andarentusedtoattendingtowhatisgoingon
inthepresentmoment.

Modernmeditationpractices,suchasamantrameditation,naturallycreatesilenceinthemind,
anopenheart,expandedawareness,andatranscendenceofselfimage.Ivebeenteachingand
practicingmeditationfor20years.Mydailymeditationpracticebeganasawaytorelievethe
buildupofstressinmymindandbody.Ididittofeelgood.Ihadadifficultchildhoodfilled
withemotionalturmoil,workedabusyschedule,wasconcernedaboutimpuritiesinthe
environment,andwasinconflictwiththevaluesoftheWesternworld.Thebuildupofstress
mademereactivetomyenvironmentandkeptmefromhavingharmoniousrelationshipswith
myselfandthosearoundme.
Stresscanbefoundeverywhere.Sometimesstressiscausedbyincompletelydigestingones
food,notgettingagoodnightssleep,ignoringthewisdomofyourbody,ornotfeeling
emotionswhentheycomeup.Sometimesitscausedbynotsayingwhatyoumeanandfeel
bynotlivinginyourintegrity.Stresscreatesphysicalimpactsthatweveallheardabout,butit
canalsotriggeremotionalormentalreactivityasitdidinme.Reactivitycanlimityour
awarenessofthepossibilitiesineachmoment.
AsIcontinuedmymeditationpractice,thestresswaslessened,andIfoundthatmeditation
tookmeonajourneytowardamorebeautifullife.IaminaweofthisworldasIrealizedeeply
theinterweavingoflifeandnatureandtheelements.Ifollowmyintuitionandfeelsupported
bynatureandtheDivineFemininewithinme.Ifeelcleareraboutmypurposeandmore
confidentandpeacefulinmybeing.MyhearthasopenedandIfeeltrulyconnectedtothe
DivineFeminine,whichcausesmetofeelmorecompassiontowardmyselfandalllivingbeings.
Stresscangetinthewayofyourrealizationofthisinnerpeaceandspaciousness,anditcandim
yourexperienceofthesweetnessoflife.Thestress,asIseeit,veilsandobscuresthebeautyof
theheart,theradianceofthesoul,therealityoflife,andtheawarenessoftheDivine.With
stress,onecanmisinterpretwhatisspirituallypresent.
ThepoetWilliamBlakewrote,"Ifthedoorsofperceptionwerecleansedeverythingwould
appeartomanasitis,infinite.Formanhasclosedhimselfupandseesallthingsthrough
narrowchinksofhiscavern."Thechinksofthecavernhewasreferringtoarethe
misperceptionsthatstresscreates.
Weveallheardmeditationreleasesstress.Butyoucanthinkofitanotherway.Meditation
cleansesthedoorsofyourperceptionbydissolvingthestresslayerthatcanbuildupifnotdealt
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with,sothemindandbodycanbeinbalance.Meditationisalsoapracticetodirectly
experiencetheDivine,butitsidealtohaveabalancednervoussystemtodoso.
Inmeditationyougentlyattendtoyourbreath,oramantra,orsomeotherfocus,andthis
practicedisengagesyourattentionfromthehabitsoftheegomind.Thishappensbecauseyour
nervoussystemsettlesdown,andyouexperiencesubtlerandsubtlerlevelsofthoughtuntil
yourawarenesstranscendsthought,yourbody,yourbreath,andanythinglimitedbyspaceand
time.Youreleasestressandsettledownsomemore.
Youthendirectlyexperiencethesourceofthoughttherealyou,whichsomecallyoursoul.
Becausethesoulhasnodimension,youwontexperienceitasyounormallywould:youdont
feel,see,taste,touch,orsmellitasyouwouldobjectsofyourperception.Instead,youllbe
communingwithit,immersedinitanditssource:theDivine.
Likeamysticalexperience,youcanttrytomaketranscendencehappen.Itsanaturalresultof
theeffortlessmeditationprocess.Anditcanbehappeningevenifyoudontthinkitis.

Inmeditation,asyougoinandoutofthetranscendentexperience,yournervoussystem
becomesmoresubtleandrefined.Youcultivateaninternalstillnessandpresentmoment
awareness.Aswithamysticalexperience,youbecomemoreenlightenedtoaworldbeyond
yoursenses,awarethatallisone.Yourealizealliswell.Theresadeepinnerpeace,coupled
withafeelingofinclusivityandreverence.

Thistranscendenceexperienceinmeditationistheeverydayrealityofthemystics.Andwith
faith,patience,andgrace,itwilleventuallybecomeapartofyoureverydayexperience.You
knowtheresaDivineplanforyourlifeandthatyouareontherighttrack.Wheneachofus
walksinthisway,wewalkthemysticspath.

Amoderndaymystic,Ammachi,thehuggingsaint,describesthetranscendentunionwiththe
Divineinthisway:

Everythingseemspermeatedwithdivinity.Everybladeofgrassandeverysandparticle
arefilledwithDivineenergy.Theawakenedonehastheattitudeofdeepreverenceand
humilitytowardsallofcreation,becauseonceyougobeyondtheego,youare
nothingyouareinfinitenothingnessfilledwithDivineconsciousness.Whenyouhave
theattitudeofconstantlybowingdownwithafeelingofhumilitytowardsallof
existence,thatexistenceflowsintoyou.Youexperiencethateverythingispartofyou,
nothingisseparate.

WalkingintheWorld

Amysticseesthingsclearlyfromanewperspective.Often,oncetheyveawakenedtothe
Divine,theyengageintheeverydayworldtoimpartthiswisdomintheirownuniquefashionto
thecultureoftheirtime.Mysticsarepeacemakers,pioneers,scientists,discoverers,religiousor
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socialreformers,artists,poets,ornationalheroesorheroineswholivebetweentwoworlds:
turninginwardindeepsilencebornoutofpracticeandlovingadorationofGod,andexpressing
theirrealityintheworld.

WhetherthroughtheirlovepoemsandsongsasHafiz,Mirabai,Rumi,andHildegardof
Binghamdid,orthroughcompassionateactionasMaryMagdalene,FrancisofAssisi,Joanof
Arc,HelenKeller,MotherTeresa,Ammachi,andThichNhatHanhdid,theyseeGodineveryone
andeverything.AsKhalilGibran,LebanesepoetandauthorofTheProphet,wrote,their"work
islovemadevisible."

Mysticsarecreative,fearless,powerful,intuitive,andclearlyseetherealitiesoftheculturethat
surroundsthem.Theyhaveboundlessenergytoserveasamediatorbetweenhumanityand
Divinity.Theywalkinthisworldwithagreatsenseofreverence,wonder,delight,humility,
inclusiveness,andcompassionateactionastheyteach,share,andbearwitnesstolifeandthe
Divineinitsentirety.TheyrevealandawakentherealityofourownrelationshiptotheDivine.

Themystics...theywalkamongus.