I used to be very much engaged with Kabbalah, until I got turned off by the bizarre antics of it's practitioners. I imagine I'll return to it after I learn a little more.

In the Abrahamic religions, you are estranged from God. In Buddhism and some interpretations of Hinduism, you are estranged from a universal cosmic mind (and so actually isn't that different from the Abrahamic religions). In Shinto, which is really a term-of-art for the indigenous practices cultivated by the Japanese, you are estranged from a very conformist society. Seriously. If you understand the degree of paranoia fitting in plays in Japanese society, then it becomes very understandable how metaphysical salvation might be tied up with your role in society.

This is the most charitable interpretation I can give, unfortunately, without lying.

Last edited by Tomislav Ostojich (5/12/2016 4:41 am)

I would have to say that if one is looking for the most typical Christian mystics, then the Heychasts are the place to start. Only in the Heychasts, after all, do you have a proper means of mystical transmission, initiation, and instruction; something resembling the Sufis and mystics of the East. Except for ephemeral brotherhoods, like the Rhineland mystics or the Rosicrucions, you do not get this amongst Christian mystics. And even these brotherhoods tend not to have developed the same sought of clear spiritual methodology you find in the Jesus Prayer. You can still go to Mount Athos, say, as you could a Sufi Tariqa, and be initiated into a living  Christian mystical order.

Well yeah, it is not about the mystical experiences per se, but rather spiritual growth, maturity and enlightenment. For the Christian mystics their end is God. Anyways, any other mystical works that are recommendable?