Modern Mystics

What exactly is mysticism? Mysticism is that form of religious practice centering on firsthand experience of the divine. Mystic practices belong to the core of all religions, particularly those who retain a vital belief in a transcendent reality and the aim to communicate with that reality by direct experience. Insofar as everyone is potentially spiritual, one could say that there is a mystic in all of us.

The practice of mysticism has two essential elements that correspond to two meanings, to "discipline one’s senses" and to "enter the mysteries."

The truth in all mysticism springs from the fact that these two meanings are related. To be more fully open to the mysteries requires the purification of the mind and the discipline of one’s senses as explained in yoga teachings on pratyahara. (Pratyahara is the withdrawal of the senses (indriyas) of cognition and action from both the external world and the images or impressions in the mind).  

Mysticism in Christian tradition with regard to creation should be directed toward the Cosmic Christ which connects one not only to the world in a new way, but also to the entire cosmos. Christ being the first born from the transcendent Father God, expressing as the creative intelligence and ruler in all of creation can be experienced by man as the intelligence of all expressions. This consciousness was present in Jesus the Christ.

Through embracing the cosmic Christ individuals of all races would experience a connection with everyone and everything in creation, including the earth. No one, nothing would be excluded.

This fully expresses the Christ, "the first-born of all creation”. In him were created all things in heaven and earth: everything visible and invisible . . . he holds all things in unity" (Col. 1:15-17) This Christ is "the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of God’s nature, sustaining the universe by God’s powerful command" (Heb. 1:3) This is the cosmic ruler to whom every should bow in heaven and earth and under the earth (Phil. 2:10)

Embracing the Cosmic Christ, would expand the scope of Christian teachings and lend a greater understanding of its current teachings.

This is not to say that the Enlightenment’s quest for the historical Jesus should be ignored, any adherence of the Cosmic Christ must be grounded in the historical Jesus, his life and his liberating deeds.

But the time is for an extended direction that builds on the old one, but goes in a different direction, the direction of a living cosmology for Christians in our time. Such a move would renew the art of expressing awe for creation as an expression of the living Christ.

The heart of the Cosmic Christ is the figure of Jesus as Wisdom and love.

Unfortunately present Christian teaching is out of touch with its own mystical heritage. It does not acknowledge its own mystical roots.

What is needed is a global religious awakening without control. Such a transformation must also embrace the earth itself, after all everything in heaven and on earth is created. If we fail, Mother Earth will be dying before our eyes.

From the Mediterranean to Alaska to the Soviet Union to the California coast, we encounter news of ecological disaster. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Topsoil is being destroyed around the world at an alarming rate. The world’s forests are disappearing. In these forests dwell incredibly diverse species of plants, animals and birds. As forests go, species go. We are currently in the midst of an "extinction spasm of immense proportions. Species are disappearing at an alarming rate.

In this global crisis, political programs and voluntary activity will not be enough. A spiritual response is also required.

The earth will continue to bestow its blessings of soil, forest and rain, but are we responding as we should, with gratitude, restraint, appropriate reverence?

Western churches need a cosmological sense. Priests and ministers are reading rich cosmic biblical texts, or traditional prayers and then completely ignoring the cosmological dimension in their exposition or commentary.

Mysticism in Christianity is well documented in such names as: St. Francis of Assisi, Hildegard of Bingen, Theresa Neumann, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart, Thomas Merton, Pierre Teilhard De Chardin and others. One could with conviction say, that authentic mysticism is what Jesus taught.

Christian mystics had little interest in Christian institutional practice.

Christians and non-Christians alike need to embrace the artistic, philosophical, social, political, economic, literary, scientific and spiritual life in order to enrich our culture.

Is the Second coming of Christ the Cosmic Christ who would usher in a new renaissance?