Enlightenment, a Christian Perspective

Most people would readily identify the term with eastern religion, for Enlightenment is not a word in the Christian language, even though it ought to be. However, many people of all ages have been blessed with enlightenment experiences.

Let’s take a look at the definition of Mysticism.

Mysticism is the belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the Absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge is inaccessible to the intellect, but it may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender. In Christian terms, it would translate to be a living experientially based on Oneness or union with God.

What are mystical experiences?

Mystical experiences are states of knowledge, insight, awareness, revelation, and illumination beyond the grasp of the intellect. One experiences awareness of unity with the Absolute or God, of immortality of the soul and of great truths. Time and space are transcended.

Mystical experiences of Eastern adepts

Some Eastern adepts are able to sustain prolonged periods of samadhi (enlightenment), a mystical state of one-pointed concentration. Some reportedly are able to sustain the highest states of nirvana (satori in Zen) and even the rarely attained nirodha ("cessation" or "removal”.) in yoga.

Patanjali used this term in his legendary definition of yoga in the second sutra of the Yoga Sutras: “yoga-citta-vritti-nirodha,” which can be translated as “yoga is the removal of the fluctuations of the mind.”

Orthodox Mysticism:

The mystics of the Eastern Church included the Church Fathers, for in those days the theologians were among the most spiritual of Christians, and the phenomena of mysticism were evident in all levels of clergy, monks, and laity.

In the Eastern Church, contemplation consisted not merely in negation and renunciation, but in a union with God's Spirit, in an experience of spiritual illumination after all intellectual activity had ceased.

A word on prayer of the heart as a union with God

"Prayer of the Heart" must be understood as a prayer of the total person. In using the term "heart" in the Hebraic sense, the earliest Christian mystics meant that prayer was not merely a mental activity, nor merely a physical one, but rather it was a prayer on all levels of one’s being. It was the total response of man to God, and one did not pray merely with the intellect, or merely with the lips. Through discipline, prayer became a spontaneous offering of the whole being of man.

In current Western practice humanity is primarily locked into an intellectual and or emotional, dualistic mind set, which has also crept into the Christian thought. The issue with this is that one focuses on the differences, which often leads to non productive disagreements. To demonstrate this, the dualistic mind separates spirit from matter, man from God, people from one another and from all of creation.

Yet when realized, that matter is an outflow of the manifesting Spirit, one can see, that everything in creation proceeds from the one Spirit.

In our relationship with one another if we see ourselves as being connected by Spirit we are no longer separate, but in union with one another.  Then nondual or Spirit guided consciousness transports us into a state of holistic knowing, where mind, heart, soul, and senses are open and receptive and non judgmental to one another at every moment. Or to what is, and not to what should be which allows one to love things as an expression of Spirit.

Jesus always talked of mercy, not judging, forgiveness, and grace, because these are the things that, if experienced, break down the idea of separation or dualism.

The voice of the Spirit can best be understood as

a subtle inner intuitive voice. It is a felt sense to which, if people pay attention, will come into communion with the Spirit of God.

In the bible we read John 14:26 (KJV)

“26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your

remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Experiencing of the Holy Spirit is a feeling of inner peace and joy in all circumstances.

We need to listen to one’s inner voice, trust and act upon it. Luke 17:21 “The kingdom of God is within you”.

John 3:5-8

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

5 “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

The experience of the Holy Spirits in one’s life is the humming sound that one hears in the inner ear in deep meditation, the Om, Amen, Revelation 3:14 (KJV) “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.

Within this sound one is aware of the Christ intelligence present in all creation.

John 14:17-19 (KJV)

Jesus –“17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you”.

The Holy Spirit can be received only by those who have the spiritual discernment. The unbelieving world, caring only for things of the senses, has lost its spiritual perception. It has no eye to see and no heart to know spiritual things, for they are spiritually discerned.

The spirit of truth is experienced in the heart, one’s inner essence, which needs to be awakened.