Mystical Experiences

Mystical Experiences
The four main characteristics of a mystical experience include ineffability, transiency, passivity, and
being of a noetic quality. Regarding ineffability, a mystical experience is often described as "states
of feeling" and something "so new, unknown, and beyond comprehension that language cannot fully
explain it, and shouldn't." The experience is other worldly and outside of the realm of existence we
reside, therefore rendering its nature indescribable. It must be experienced not explained. Many
experiences are often in noetic quality where "states of knowledge" and "insight into depths of truth
unplumbed by the discursive intellect" are experienced. The inherent act of one realizing and
understanding new information, feelings, and truths is by definition intellectual and therefore
illustrates proof that conceptual reasoning was implemented. Mystical experiences are often
transient and last for a short period of time. It comes and goes like most good things. Mystical
experiences often come with a sense of passivity were the experiencer is overcome by "the Other,"
something significantly more powerful that can temporarily suspend their self–determination and
will. Maybe they need to be controlled in order to let go and fully experience mysticism. ... Show
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It is a rather uptight state of existence, hence the "no." Alcohol and other intoxicants are useful tools
to expand the mind and break down the rigid inhibitions and logic of everyday life. They act as
chemical inhibitors to slow down mankind's logical train of thought that would otherwise hinder a
mystical experience. Therefore, intoxicants allow for an easier path towards a mystical
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Research Paper On Diego Rivera
Diego Rivera The artist that i am going to write about is Diego Rivera. Rivera was born in
Guanajuato, Mexico on december 8, 1886. Diego had a twin brother named Carlos, who died two
years after they were born. Rivera was said to have converso ancestry (having ancestors who were
forced to convert from Judaism to catholicism. Rivera wrote in 1935: "My Jewishness is the
dominant element in my life." Rivera began drawing at the age of three, a year after his twin
brother's death. He had been caught drawing on the walls. His parents, rather than punishing him,
installed chalkboards and canvas on the walls. As an adult, he married Angelina Beloff in 1911, and
she gave birth to a son in 1916–1918. He married his second wife, Guadalupe Marin, in june 1922.
With whom he had two daughters– Ruth, and Guadalupe. He was still married when he met art
student Frida Kahlo. They married on August 21, 1929 when he was 42 and she was 22. Their
mutual infidelities and his violent temper led to divorce in 1939, but they remarried December 8,
1940 in San Francisco. Rivera later married Emma Hurtado, his agent since 1946, on July 29, 1955,
one year after Kahlo's death. Rivera was an atheist. His mural Dreams of a Sunday in the Alameda
depicted Ignacio Ramirez holding a sign which read, "God does not exist". This work caused a furor,
but Rivera refused to remove the inscription. The painting was not shown for nine years – until
Rivera agreed to remove the inscription. He stated: "To affirm

Mystical Fates: Music Analysis
As the music begins as the Mystical Fates begin to tell the story (solos, duets).
The water opens and reveals the Human Mother and Father carrying their baby. They are obviously
scared and nervous as they walk thought the jungle. They are covered up by the scarves as their
journey continues.
The water now reveals Kerchak and Kala with their newborn ape. Unlike the scared and nervous
human parents, they are full of great happiness and joy.
Both sets of parents are now seen caring for their newborns. The Human parents are lead towards
the mound by one or more of the Mystical Fates. The trunk is moved upstage and they pull out a few
items from the human world to find comfort to build a shelter
Dance by Fates and Tribe Members
The Fates reveal

The Religion Of Donald Trump
With 673 delegates as of March 18th 2016, Donald Trump stands as the only Republican
presidential candidate capable of amassing the 1,237 delegates necessary to secure the nomination at
the Republican convention in July. In short, the rise of Trump has sent the Republican establishment
into disorder and challenged traditional views in political science. Given his lack of experience and
slanderish rhetoric, how has Trump maintained the attention and vote of the Republican electorate?
To answer this question, I will not depend on concepts such as voter–turnout and demographic blocs
often used by political scientists. Instead, I will explore the religion of Donald Trump. For this
ambitious task, I will employ philosopher William James and his The Varieties of Religious
Experience to illuminate the personal side of religious politics, alongside with sociologist Emile
Durkheim and his The Elementary Forms of Religious Life to unpack the communal side. Given
that individual voters constitute the electorate in American politics, Donald Trump must derive
support from disposed and amenable persons. However, before exploring this idea, I must introduce
William James' conception of religion to find these disposed and amenable persons. In Varieties,
James defines religion as,"the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so
far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider divine" (James,
32). In other words, religion is

Sufism Is The Meaning Of Mysticism
INTRODUCTION TO SUFISM
The term Sufism is a very broad, paradoxical term because it has many connotations placing it
within the wider sphere of polemics is a somewhat difficult activity. From the view of Islamic
theologians, tradionalists and Non–Islamic scholars have much debated the areas of Islam, Sufism
and mysticism. In this essay, the meaning of Sufism and the meaning of Mysticism, and whether the
two complement each other or whether they are in fact, complete opposite. It will also be discussed
whether Sufism has a Mystical element if it fits into Islamic religion. An analysis of what Sufism
means to a Non Muslim reader will also be examined and how a Non Muslim reader views Sufism
in the modern world of today. So what is meant by the term mystical? The word itself is derived
from the Greek ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
A very lucid description would be something of a spiritual reality pr not of this world which could
be described as having some kind of communication with God or a divine being.
What is meant by Sufism? As mentioned in the introduction, Sufism is a difficult word to employ,
because first and foremost to understand whether it is a mystical reality or not, and secondly to
define what it is in its actual sense has yet to be given as a definitive answer. For different
individuals, Sufism means different things. For Alan Godlas, the author of 'Sufism has many paths'
has said that 'Sufism is defined by its adherents to be that inner mystical dimension is Islam.' For
others such as Anne Marie Schimmell as a Non Muslim academic and one who wrote extensively on
Islamic Mysticism, 'Such is the case with Sufism, the generally accepted name for Islamic
Mystiscm.' Yet for the sake of brevity, Sufism is viewed to be either the path that one walks on to be
free of all sins, or to gain a closer relationship with an ultimate reality, which is God. In its early
stages of development, Sufism referred to nothing but the internationalization of Islam. According to

The Mystical State Is Not Easily Achieved
In this dimension, the mystical state is not easily achieved. Furthermore, when it is achieved, it is
through ways which are used purposely, such as drugs. In the story "The Willows," however, the
mystical state is achieved without purpose and without a want. This story provides many moments
in which the characters experience the mystical state. In the story, "The Willows," the narrator
experiences a sighting of huge un–human figures which results in awe and worship from the
narrator. Also in the story, "The Willows," the narrator and his companion hear a gong like sound all
throughout the island which results in fear and knowledge. The story "The Willows," represents the
sublime through the flood and the willows which has caused this story to progress as the gothic
genre has progressed. In the story, "The Willows," the narrator experiences a sighting of huge un–
human figures which results in awe and worship from the narrator. In the very beginning of daylight
hours, the narrator wakes up feeling very troubled. Therefore, he looks outside of the tent. Then, he
notices monstrous figures among the willows. The narrator states, "They first became properly
visible, these huge figures, just within the tops of the bushes–immense, bronze–colored, moving,
and wholly independent of the swaying of the branches. I saw them plainly and noted, now I came
to examine them more calmly, that they were very much larger than human, and indeed that
something in their appearance proclaimed them

Introvertive Mysticism Katz
The debate in the academic study of mysticism between Steven Katz and Robert Forman consists of
Katz's argument that, "There are NO pure (i.e. unmediated) mystical experiences" (Katz, 26).
Further, Katz affirms that mystical experiences are difficult to interpret and are impossible to verify.
Comparatively, Robert Forman argues for the existence of what he refers to as Pure Consciousness
Events (PCEs) whereby mystical experiences extend beyond language and culture. Katz contends
that the major problem of the study of mysticism is the problem of whether or not mystical
experiences can be verified when experienced by a person. In like manner, Katz states that accounts
of mystical experiences are unreliable because they commonly relate to the ... Show more content on
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Forman defines Pure Consciousness Events as "wakeful though contentless (nonintentional)
consciousness" (Forman, 8). He expands by stating, "This is a form of what W.T Stace called
"introvertive mysticism," which he distinguished from "extrovertive mysticism. In extrovertive
mysticism one perceives a new relationship– one of unity, blessedness, reality, or what have you
between the external world and the self. In introvertive mysticism there is no awareness of the
external world per se; the experience is of the self itself" (Forman, 8). Moreover, Forman explains,
"Introvertive mysticism denotes a transient state; (after all, no one who eats and sleeps can remain
entranced forever), whereas extrovertive mysticism denotes a more permanent state, one that lasts
even while one is engaged in activity" (Forman, 8). If Forman is right and Pure Consciousness
Events are real, then that assumes that anyone can achieve a mystical experience without having a
religious or spiritual affiliation. Katz affirms that one must have a spiritual or religious connection
or affiliation in order to have a mystical experience and they will only have an experience that
results from the persons mental perceptions about the world around them. Forman responds to this
by stating, "Katz does not specific just which concepts enter into just which

Analysis Of The Novel ' Franny And Zooey ' By J.d. Salinger
Human life is a blend of myriad of emotions. Our emotions add facets to our humanity – they give
us dimensions and make us the social, emotional and intellectual beings we are. People go through
both good and rough times. While some persevere through these times, some crack and acquire
fissures. In the novella "Franny and Zooey" by J.D. Salinger, Franny Glass is undergoing a similar
identity and existential crisis which severely derails her life. Disenchanted by the superficiality of
the world surrounding her, Franny embarks on a process of purgation, distancing herself from the
world along the way. Franny's folly in assuming that the change she is looking for can only be
achieved by detaching herself from her life, the things that matter the most to her, starting anew,
shows her dogmatic approach to self–purification. In seeking "union with reality" which is what the
mystical experience is, she leaves the reality of her life behind herself, resulting in her ending up
stranded in a perilous path of self–questioning. Franny Glass is on a journey of self–discovery.
Driven by the notion that everything and everyone she knows is selfish and phony, Franny tries to
imitate a life of seclusion and monastic living. She is influenced by her brother Seymour's way of
life, his philosophies and the book The Way of A Pilgrim she finds on his desk. The book recounts
the story of a Russian monk who goes around ceaselessly saying the name of God in hopes of
connecting more closely with

Early Kabbaah Research Paper
The Jewish mystical speculation during the first hundred years of the movement was known by the
Hebrew term Kabbalah, which means, something handed down by tradition. The beginnings of this
movement are usually set in the last decade or two of the twelfth century C.E., and this period of
Kabbalistic incubation is generally thought to end with the composition of the masterful Sef ha–
Zohar (The Book of Splendor). Thus, "early Kabbalah" is the period of Jewish mystical creativity in
Kabbalistic form bracketed by two literary creations of mystical theosophy: the Sef ha–Bahir (The
Book of Brilliance) marks the beginning of this stage and the Zohar, written by the Spaniard
Kabbalist Moses de Leon (c. 1240–1305), marks the end.
Kabbalah is a unique ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Only later, and as a result of the contact with medieval Jewish philosophy, the Kabbalah became a
Jewish "mystical theology," more or less systematically elaborated. This process brought about a
separation of the mystical, speculative elements from the occult and especially the magical
elements, a divergence that at times was quite distinct but was never total. It is expressed in the
separate usage of the terms Kabbalah iyyunit (speculative Kabbalah) and Kabbalah ma'asit (practical
Kabbalah), evident from the beginning of the fourteenth century, which was simply an imitation of
Maimonides' division of philosophy into "speculative" and "practical" in chapter fourteen of his
Millot ha–Higgayon. There is no doubt that some Kabbalistic circles (including those in Jerusalem
up to modern times) preserved both elements in their secret doctrine, which could be acquired by
means of revelation of by way of initiation rites. Once rabbinic Judaism had crystallized in the
halakhah, the majority of the creative forces aroused by new religious stimuli, which neither tended
nor had the power to change the outward form of a firmly established halakhic Judaism, the power
to change the outward form of a firmly established halakhic Judaism, found

Galatians 2 : 19-20 In The Teaching Of Pope Pius XII
Galatians 2:19–20 in the Teaching of Pope Pius XII
The message of St. Paul in Galatians 2: 19–20 has been considered as the essence of the Christian
spirituality. Particularly, the sentence "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me", the
Verse 19, suggests Christian life as an intimate union with Christ. In relation to this verse, Pope Pius
II, in his Encyclical Mystici corporis Christi, develops the doctrine of the union of all Christians
with Christ as the fruit of the union of Christ with His Mystical Body.
Pius XII considers this personal experience of St. Paul, his life in union with Christ, as being
applicable to the life of all believers, that is, to the whole "Mystical Body", the Church, having
Christ as her Head and the Holy Spirit as her Soul. For it is by her Founder, the Head, through the
Holy Spirit, that the Church is living. Then, it is by virtue of the habitation of the Holy Spirit in
Christian souls that the intimate union with Christ is made possible in a supernatural and mysterious
way. Therefore, "the Church, then, no less than each of her holy members can make this great saying
of the Apostle her own: And I live, now not I; but Christ lives in me." Pius XII considers this
intimate union with Christ, however, as a priceless privilege of which Christians are granted. The
union with Christ is such vital and concrete that is can biblically "compared to the chaste union of
man and wife," said the Pope, and "to the vital union of branch

St. Ignatius Of Loyola And The Spiritual Exercises
When we think about the most known spiritualities within the Christian tradition, it is common to
hear the Company of Jesus, or Jesuits, as one of relevance, and which a lot people are acquainted
with. People would even easily recognize St. Ignatius of Loyola, its founder, and his most important
work, the Spiritual Exercises. However, when we are asked to mention Christianity's most notable
mystics, names like St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross or St. Gertrude the Great come to light,
but St. Ignatius is seldom considered. In fact, it just takes a simple internet search to notice that his
name does not make it in many lists of church mystics.
This work proposes to present St Ignatius of Loyola's mystical nature, and how his mysticism was
the foundation of Ignatian Spirituality and its importance for The Spiritual Exercises.
The term mysticism is a term that has had different connotations throughout history. According to
the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the term Mysticism comes from the Greek word that
means "to conceal", therefore in early Christianity it was used to refer to "hidden" allegorical
interpretations of Scripture, for example to refer to the mystery of Jesus in the Eucharist. Later, the
term began to denote, mystical theology, including direct experiences of the divine. This led
philosophers to focus then, on the aspect of "mystical experiences".
But what is a mystical experience? Once again, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, defines
"mystical experience" as: "A (purportedly) super sense–perceptual or sub sense–perceptual
experience granting acquaintance of realities or states of affairs that are of a kind not accessible by
way of sense perception, somatosensory modalities, or standard introspection." Others define it
simply as an experience of the divine. On the other hand, St. John of the Cross describes the
mystical experience, when the soul is brought into a mystical state. He says, ". . . when once the soul
is brought into this other state, it acts not at all with its faculties, . . . Then God communicates
Himself to it passively, even as to one who has his eyes open, so that light is communicated to him
passively, without his doing more than keep them open. And this

Philosophy Of Religion : The Existence Of The Almighty...
There is an ordinary drive to be curious and skeptical about almost everything. The very dubious
minds will always find themselves asking why. One of the greatest unknown wonders reputes the
existence of the almighty being, God. There have been millions of reports by people claiming they
have had religious experiences with God. The question is whether this reckons as sufficient evidence
to interactions with God, and whether it should be justifiably accepted as knowledge. Philosopher,
William P. Alston, recorded his findings and beliefs regarding this matter in his publication,
Perceiving God, in 1991. Conversely, philosopher, William L. Rowe, refuted Alston's findings in his
book, Philosophy of Religion: An Introduction, in 2007. Rowe ... Show more content on
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It is bigoted to assume that all experiences must be perceived through the obvious senses.
Accordingly, God is a spiritual being and therefore must be explored through a spiritual light. A
mystical experience is form of perception. This raises the question of what example perception is.
Alston elucidates that perception is termed by presentation, appearance and givenness. However,
perception is all–together "independent of conceptualization, belief, or judgment" (Alston, 1991, p.
187). When perceiving, one can either see or think. Through the action of seeing one is strictly
perceiving, however when thinking, one is applying concepts, beliefs or judgments to sway the end
perception. A perception must be a constant, it must appear one way. With such beliefs, a skeptical
thinker will argue that one's conceptualization, belief or judgment will still sway how something is
perceived. Alston rebuts by illuminating the point that although humans have their own conceptual
beliefs and judgments altering how something is understood, it does not interfere with the
perception of what is. In order to form a perception of, for example X, there are conditions
necessary for it's appearance. X must exist, X must have a significant casual contribution to a
current experience, and the perception of X results in beliefs about X (Alston, 1991, p. 188).
Alston moves on to state that he will argue that mystical experiences are right

The Mystical Weapon Of A Hero
When it comes to the archetypal hero's journey, one might see the mystical weapon as merely a box
that needs to be checked off, but the mystical weapon of a hero is much more important than that. It
serves to continue the plot of the story by jumpstarting many parts along the hero's journey, many
times it is the cause of the hero's unusual birth. The mystical weapon is what enables a hero to
overcome the insurmountable odds and accomplish their trials. A mystical weapon, is not just a tool
that the hero harnesses, but their very identity. The mystical weapon is the very thing that makes the
hero a hero. The mystical weapon is an extension of the Hero's self. It is their defining characteristic
and the shining beacon that shows to their world exactly why they are special. A hero without their
weapon is powerless, and becomes nothing more than a common man. The mystical weapon has a
great effect on the hero's story, one of the places where this impact can be seen most easily is with
the unusual birth of the hero. A hero is always someone who was born differently than most,
whether it is being born into royalty or severe poverty. Many times their unusual circumstances are a
direct effect of their abilities or other times it serves to cement their power and resolve as a hero. A
great example of this relationship is within the story of Harry Potter. Harry starts out as a normal kid
within his world of magic and mystery, but the normal path that he was traveling was quickly

How Sufism Is A Type Of Mystical Islamic Philosophy
Tracing back to the original prophet, Sufism is a type of mystical Islamic philosophy where
Muslims attempt to take a more direct route to finding God and his divineness. Consisting of
different practices and paths that are meant to trace their teachings from the prophet Muhammad
himself, and therefore they see themselves as being practitioners of a perfected type of worship, or
"ihsan". While often grouped together as one entity, Sufi orders (called "tariqas") are found in a
wide variety of different Islamic groups and regions, all varying slightly in how they perceive their
version of Islamic mysticism. While they are relatively small in quantity compared to Muslims as a
whole, they have greatly contributed to the shaping of Islamic philosophy and tradition. In this
paper, I will be exploring the Sufi movements in Iran, Turkey, and Senegal and how they have
affected the political systems of their respective countries, while also highlighting key differences
and similarities between them. I have chosen these three countries due to the stark contrasts in how
Sufism is received in them. For example, while Iranian clerics have taken a strict hardline stance
against Sufism that involves prosecution, arrests and even demolition of their places of worship,
Senegal's Sufi leaders influence their government and vice versa. Turkey is in many ways a middle
ground; while first persecuted and forced to go into hiding, today the dominant Sufi movement, the
Naqshbandiyya, works hand in

Short Story : The Mystical Moon Of Manchester
The Mystical Moon of Manchester "Wake up Jackson, my little werewolf," said Barbara languidly.
"But Mum, it is only 7 a.m. on a Saturday," complained Jackson. "Also why do you have to use
nicknames like that, I'm not going to any exciting trick or treating today anyway."
"Oh honey I am sorry but you know that I have an interview with Mr.Charles today to work a really
rewarding office. You know that if I get this job then life will not be as stressful as it is now, and is
just one missed Halloween such a bad trade?"
"No," Jack mumbled irritably.
"Now, rise Jackson, your sister, Audrey is already awake!" Barbara said audaciously with a start.
Jack did his daily routine, take a shower, brush his teeth, and comb his hair in front of his mirror. In
the mirror stood a slim young man barely 14 with short hair and dark stormy, gray eyes. A look of
disgust on his face with lines of anger across his forehead, Jack was a very ill–tempered boy. But
Audrey, she was a year younger than him who was cunning and humorous, a smile was always
present on her face and she was full of determination. Jackson and Audrey got dressed to go their
uncle, Sir William Everett's, castle in Manchester for the day. It was a gloomy day in England on
October 31st, 1910, it always was in Jack's perspective. He was after all living in the time of the
Great War, everything to him was dark and somber. As they boarded their carriage to go from
Liverpool to Manchester, Jack saw the entire town full of costumes,

An Adventure On The Mystical Island Of Great Barrier
The Modern Experience held at Great Barrier ........
Dear reader, have you ever considered an adventure on the mystical island of Great Barrier? Would
you ever want to challenge yourself in many ways than one? Could you ever see yourself jumping
from rock faces into big pools of water?
Well, OPC Great Barrier is one camp that is a once and a life time opportunity, that opens your eyes
up to the activities that are had at our finger tips. The experience held at OPC on Great Barrier is
next to none, and the pristine waters of the Hauraki Gulf make it the perfect breeding ground for
students to endure and venture out on it, to experience the dynamics of valuable life skills. This
island has been providing HPC students with an adventure of a life time for a number of years.
Since the year of 2006 Hauraki Plains College has been attending the wonderful facilities held at
Great Barrier Island. Ashlee a student who attended OPC Great Barrier this year stated that: "I was
nervous, and wasn't too sure of what to expect of the camp."Kaija another student who enjoyed their
time at OPC said that: "I couldn't get much sleep as there was loud snoring roommate."
Richard who was one of a few boys who attended OPC made the comment that: "After the first day,
I was exhausted and missing home a bit. I just wanted food and to go to bed but we had a final night
activity that was also so draining".
Joel another boy who went on OPC told other students that: "the activities made me push my

Sufism: Its Mystical Contribution to an Understanding of...
2.3 A God to be Remembered: The Sufi Practice of Dhikr
In an interview on the Sufi concept of God's oneness conducted in 2011, contemporary mystic
Llewellyn Vaughan–Lee emphasised the 'forgetfulness' of today's society. In the context of Sufism,
this 'forgetfulness does not refer to mere absent–mindedness but a kind of perpetual and periodic
obliviousness to the centrality of God and the divine spark within. The goal of the Sufi then, is to
maintain a constant state of remembrance of God through the recitation of His ninety–nine names –
a practice known as dhikr. Although often occurring in the form of silent and prolonged meditation
on God, the most popularized form of dhikr amongst the majority of Sufi sects includes a group of
Sufis ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Similar states of ecstasy are reached in the same way in Pentecostal or charismatic branches of
Christianity where believers, filled with the Holy Spirit become enraptured and as if drunk, begin to
speak strange utterances known as the divine language of tongues (referred to as shathiyyat in
Arabic (Ernst 1997: 117)). These practices shed light on the nature of the divine from the
perspective of the mystic. It is as if God consciousness and a divine connection can be reached by
touching the inner workings of the spirit, by grasping at the core of one's emotions, mental
capabilities and spirituality in order to access what is already there – the divine spark that unifies
God with mankind. The God of the Sufis exists beyond human egotism, beyond any normal state of
consciousness – beyond the conventional. These trance–like experiences may occasionally be
granted to a Muslim by spontaneous "divine grace" (Ernst 1997: 116) as in the case of the famous
Luri tribesman who, when having encountered a sudden spiritual state where divine unity became
apparent to him, became drunk and as incomprehensible as a madman. However, the majority of
Sufis commit to a spiritual quest that is characterised by specific stages or spiritual stations,' which
illustrate a conscious progression towards the ultimate goal – reaching al–Haqiqah (commonly
known as fana)

Good Online Guitar Lessons For My Nephew
It was few months ago that I was searching for some good online guitar lessons for my nephew. I
think I must have scanned all possible avenues on the internet for that. If some had good textual
content, they didn 't have video and audio, and if they had good video the tutor wouldn 't be good
and so on. I thought that since internet is such a massive resource, I would definitely find some good
online guitar lessons 'for free ' for him. But to my disappointment I didn 't find what I was looking
for. Each one had one or the other draw back. When you are looking forward to learning any thing,
the most important aspect that you should look for is a good instructor or an authentic guidance and
the next thing that you should consider is how well the course is structured or arranged, this is also
very important. So, unless the arrangement of the course is logical and in the right order, you will
end up learning it half baked or incomplete. Since my nephew was on a tight budget, he was looking
for something that was free, but I discovered it the hard way that nothing in this world is free and if
at all someone is offering anything for free, you have to compromise on the quality. So I decided to
check out the paid guitar lessons one by one. Since almost all of the courses offered free lessons for
sampling it was easy for me to choose the best amongst them. But the problem with most of the
courses was, they would only send each lesson one by one each day for us to check out, which

Mysticism As Core Religion Essay
Alexandra Madar
July 29, 2015
REL 3027
Final Essay Prompt – Question 3 Mysticism As Core Religion
Throughout the world today, Mysticism plays a vital role in any and all religions as it yields a
connection to a higher power through the use of prayer and/or meditation. Though the exact
definition of Mysticism is unclear and no amount of words could sufficiently describe all
experiences one has made through this act, it can only be fully described as mystical. Throughout
the teachings held within this course, the conclusion has been made that Mysticism is essentially the
core of all religious practices. Amidst the use of personal experience, religious traditions, and
settings – the occurrence of a mystical event is present in all religious activities and is the heart of
all things holy. Personal experiences within the mystical realms of religions tend to set a confirmed
believing in whichever religion one is practicing. For example, if one were established as being
Christian, their mysticism of personal experience would relate to feeling God in their heart –
experiencing Him and living ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Typically, yoga can be utilized as a preparation for the mind, body, and spirit to allow mystical
experiences to enter said realms. Obtaining the tradition of using yoga as a technique to attain
mystical insight, Buddhists will accomplish certain breathing exercises, diets, postures, and
intellectual concentration. In Zen Buddhism, this term is known as Satori that is described as an
instant gain of new perspective on life. When one reaches this state, all thoughts, ideas, and
perceptions are defined as final. Tradition throughout Buddhist mysticism is simple and rapid, yet
allows one to seek a life filled with enlightenment. Social and religious settings allow one to seek
mysticism in order to reach the higher power

Joan Of Arc Religion
When Joan of Arc was born around 1412, fifteenth century France was in chaos. The country was
embroiled in bloody Hundred Year's War, and the English had forcibly installed their allies, the
Burgundians, onto the French throne. At age 13, Joan began to hear divine voices, telling her she
was France's savior, and for the time being to "be good [or pious], to go to church regularly"
(citation). Her most famous mystical experience occurred in her father's garden three years later,
where Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret appeared to her and told her that God
needed her to expel the English and install Charles of Ponthieu on the throne, as France's rightful
king. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to get an exact account of ... Show more content on
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James touches on this idea that organized structures, with the reason and rationality they impose,
detract from mystical encounters with a higher power. James writes, "The supernaturalism and
optimism to which they (mystical states) would persuade us may, interpreted in one way or another,
be after all the truest of insights into the meaning of life" (327). What is experienced in mystical
states is the purest form of truth and can unlock the meaning of life, but institutions can stifle and
corrupt these experiences. He writes that, "the immediate personal experience will amply fill our
time, and we shall hardly consider theology or ecclesiasticism at all" (32). James's definitions of
religious mystical experience exist completely outside of any standardized order. With organized
religious institutions, singular mystical experiences can be warped into something less absolute and
truthful. Much of Joan's identity was warped to suit certain purposes. King Charles and his followers
used the "Maid of Orleans" as a rallying point when morale was low, and discarded her the second
she was captured, allowing the enemy to burn her at the stake. Polish artist Jan Matejko's also used
Joan's experiences for his gain. His 1838 painting from

Russian Orthodox Christianity : A Unique And Distinct...
Russian Orthodox Christianity as we know it today has a unique and distinct identity from other
Orthodox Christian Churches around the world, specifically when it comes to asceticism,
monasticism and the understanding of Hesychasm. The devotion that people have towards their
faith, along with the majesty of the services with thousands flocking to the cathedrals and
monasteries to venerate relics and miraculous icons is rarely seen elsewhere. Russian Orthodoxy has
come to where it stands today because of the efforts of many saints and blessed men and women.
They fought and persevered through many temptations and difficulties in order to maintain and
preserve the faith of the Fathers. This journey, which was filled with glories and persecutions, began
with the baptism of Russia in 988, under the rule of Prince Vladimir. It continued through laying the
foundation of monasticism in the early eleventh century by St. Theodosius, and later on with the
introduction of Hesychasm and mysticism through St. Sergius of Radonezh. Nevertheless, at a
certain period in history, roughly around the early fourteenth century, monasticism had reached a
stagnant point. The Tartar invasion of 1237, that lasted for about three years affected most of the old
communities and produced great disorders in both the religious and moral life of the Russians.
Society had not recovered from the aftermath of the invasion until the fourteenth century, when St.
Sergius played a great role. Through the efforts

Mystical Experiences By Walter T. Stace Analysis
2. Mystical Experiences by Walter T. Stace In English literature, after William James and Evelyn
Underhill, Walter Terence Stace is the most popular philosopher to be referred for mysticism. His
most renowned works in the field of mysticism are 'Mysticism and Philosophy (1960)'. In this work
of mysticism Stace discusses his thoughts about mystical experiences with illustrations from world
literature. It is considered to be the masterpiece by W. T. Stace. Stace considers visions, voices,
insights, and powerful dreams to be non mystical as he says nonsensuous and nonintellectual union
only can help one attain mysticism. In his book, Stace prefers sacred texts from several
philosophical schools to describe mysticism and further classifies them ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
It is not the phenomenal ego but the "True or Greater Self" that experiences unity with the Absolute,
or in other words becomes/is the Absolute. For Happold the mystical consciousness is: "Particular
form of consciousness, out of which arise types of experience, akin to, but not to be confused or
equated with, those labeled 'religious', and which results in a special sort of spirituality, giving that
word a wide connotation, and predisposition to interrogate and interpret the universe in particular
way. Further, I have regarded it as a tenable hypothesis that this 'mystical consciousness' is, of its
nature, in some way a development and extension of rational consciousness, resulting in an
enlargement and refining of perception, and consequently having a noetic quality, so that through it
knowledge of the 'real' is gained which could not be gained through rational

When Mystical Creatures Attack By Kathleen Founds
Religious Elements
In the book When Mystical Creatures Attack by Kathleen Founds, many elements and ideas are used
to combine multiple stories together. One of the most important elements used throughout the book
was the use of religion. The book mentions God, the Devil, the Bible and many other aspects and
symbols that are components of religious faith. With the use of those religious elements we get an
understanding where two of the main characters, Laura Freedman and Janice Gibbs, stand on their
beliefs and how their beliefs influences their life. In addition, it also helps reveal the underlying
message of the book.
Laura Freedman can be described as a believer and follower of God whom resides to religion when
trying to find the holy meaning of life. One way this can be concluded is based on her use of a
religious symbol, the phoenix bird. According to an article at Catholic–Saints website, the phoenix
is a bird that burns itself and later rises again, and will never die "because it did not eat the forbidden
fruit". It is a Christian symbol that represents resurrection (Phoenix Christian Symbol 1). The
phoenix bird is initially mentioned by Ms. Freedman in the first story called "When Mystical
Creatures Attack!". When given a prompt that read "what is your favorite mystical creature?" and
"what is the greatest sociopolitical problem of our time?" to her class, Ms. Freedman answered her
own question with a story titled "How the Phoenix Got Ms. Freedman out of Texas". In

Comparing Pisan's Mystical Experience As A Feminist Weapon
Likewise, Crane remarks that many of Joan's supporters felt uncomfortable with her preference to
assume a masculine identity (75). This can be seen in Christine de Pisan's depiction of Joan since
she does not formally address her clothing, de Pisan writes, "A little girl of sixteen (isn't this
something quite super natural?)" (XXXV). Instead of acknowledging Joan's choice to dress like a
male, Christine prefers to use a mystical approach, one that can accurately describe the warrior.
Likewise, when Joan is described, writers accept the armor she wears but choose not to elaborate
any further (75). Consequently, the only image of Joan from the middle ages averts placing her in
masculine clothing even though she is recognized for her cross–dressing (Crane 76). In both cases,
Joan of Arc's choice to renounce her gender identity as a female places uncertainty in the minds of
her advocates and disgust in the perception of the clergy. Throughout her poem, Christine uses
adjectives to describe Joan of Arc that reaffirm the warriors image of a masculine gender identity.
Joan's ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
She describes the warrior, "As a strong, indeed charismatic woman who succeeded in the male
world, Joan alternately awed, frightened, and enraged those who had to deal with her" (31). This
intense description of a sixteen–year old maiden is very intimidating; however, Joan has presented
herself in a way that allows her to be placed in a masculine role. Barstow describes how Joan's,
"...visions led her into the central places of masculine power...serving as both catalyst and instigator
in the political life of her era" ("Joan of Arc" 29). This is fitting when considering how Joan's gender
role reversal impacts not only the France and England, but also her

The Mystical School Of Islam
ABSTRACT
The word Sufi is from the Arabic word 'soof ' which means wool. These Sufis have a habit of
wearing thick, coarse wool. They think by wearing harsh clothing, it is piety. From Sufi, you get
tassawwuf; this word is a bid 'ah, as it is neither in Quran or Sunnah. The words Sufi and tassawwuf
are not in the Quran or the Sunnah. Allah (SWT) used tazkia (purification).
There are disagreements regarding the origin of this belief among scholars. Some say that Sufism is
the mystical school of Islam and had its beginnings in the first centuries following the life of the
Prophet Mohammad and others say that they are traced back to the pre–Islamic roots of Sufism
through the early Christian mystics of Syria and Egypt, to the Essenes, the ancient Pythagorean
orders, and the mystery schools of the Egyptians and Zoroastrians, among others. [2]
Keywords; Sufism, Tawassuf, Tazkia, Dhikir, Wahdat al Wajood, Tariqa
INTRODUCTION
What is Sufism?
Sufism is a Muslim movement who seek to discover divine truth and love through encounters with
God directly [3]. The rejection of worldly matters such as celibacy and poverty is a major trait of the
Sufism. It developed religious practices aiming at strict self–control that enable psychological and
mystical insights as well as a loss of self, with the ultimate purpose of mystical union with God. The
Sufi movement has various forms of orders. Leaders of these orders train and assist disciples in the
mastery of Sufism 's

Christian Mysticism Essay
Mysticism is a word we find in many books that relate to religious experiences. Mysticism is
interpreted as searching for spiritual truth and wisdom through the unification with the Divine.
Many Christians today believe that the words associated with mysticism like meditation and mystic
are not coherently related with Christianity, but more with many Eastern religions. Eastern religions
are definitely known for their mysticism, but it is believed to not be a part of Christianity. Mysticism
is actually a vital part of Christianity in ways that are more spiritual rather than only being engaged
with Christian rituals. Mysticism is the faith that spiritual reality is believed to be from human
knowledge and their senses. It searches for truth ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Some believe there are two ways of interpreting the religious proposition of mysticism. One is the
indirect experience of God. It takes the form of reported mystical experiences, which are believed to
be the experiences of the foundations for what a mystical experience is all about. The other is the
intellectual aspect. Individuals believe that as a result of the mystical experience, a better knowing
and revelations are attained from the mystical experience. Jesus Christ is believed to be the son the
God and is believed to have said that to be close to God one must look into his or her inner self, not
in how much time you devote to God, or the places you praise him in. The Christian concept of the
mystical union can be defined as the search for and experience of an intimacy with God through
Jesus Christ. The experience of the mystical union represents the total absorption of the humankind
to the point, that it loses itself in the communion with God. Another characteristic of the Christian
mystical union is the concept of a spiritual or heavenly marriage. The use of the image of sacred and
spiritual marriage between God and one's soul is a symbolization of the mystical union. The idea of
a wedding is the biblical metaphor of the Jewish covenant between Israel and God. The ultimate
goal of the mystical experience is the union between oneself and the divine presence and of the
contemplative way. The mystical union is arrived at in stages of

Church as Institution and Church as Mystical Communion
Church as Institution and Church as Mystical Communion
In 1974 Dulles published Models of the Church to address questions concerning ecclesiology–the
study of the church. Many people believe that they know the meaning of the church, which is a
place to become closer to God. However, there is more than what meets the eye when it comes to
the Church, since it is a very complex organization. Dulles' book identifies and describes the
different functions the Church possesses which Jesus Christ founded and continues to oversee today.
He categorizes the models into five aspects: Church as institution, Church as mystical communion,
Church as sacrament, Church as herald, Church as servant, and lastly his new model Church as
community. In this ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Dulles states, "It picks up the biblical theme that God has fashioned for himself a people feely
communicating his spirit and his gifts" (50). The Body of Christ as stated in Dulles is, "the main
point of mutual union, concern and dependence of the members of the local community upon one
another," (43). The body of Christ will only function is the whole community is willing to work
together to reach a personal growth in their relationship with God. Now that we have an idea of
what Church as mystical communion consists of I will discuss the strengths and weakness of this
model. The strength of this model is that emphasizes a shared life with the community instead of
shutting them off. This is a strength because when people come together as a whole everything holds
so much more meaning and people can form a stronger bond with God, now that it is much more
personal and voluntary. Another strength is that this model improves people spirituality and prayer
life now that they feel that personal connection that they formed. A weakness of this model is that it
creates unsure relationship between the visible and invisible, since Grace allows people to get closer
to God through the invisible such as communion while the visible structure like institutionalism tries
to emphasize their power over the whole people. I have discussed what the models mean, their
strength and weakness of each so now I will note the difference and

Examine the Main Characteristics of Conversion and...
A conversion is a religious experience that changes a persons beliefs from one religion to another,
there are three types of conversion with characteristics varying among them. Mystical experience
however is a more extreme form of experience, which is not just seeing hearing or feeling someone
but a deeper union with god.
Non–volitional is a non voluntary conversion which is forced on someone. This usually means that
the person is hostile to the belief they later come to hold, as it is forced it is not sought after either.
God is usually involved by a direct action such as a voice or lights, which results in the conversion
being sudden. The scale of these conversions are massive as they are dramatic and spectacular due
to the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This searching was carried out by Tolstoy himself without any intervening act by God, and was a
gradual process which took many weeks. As Tolstoy searched within himself for the answer,it was a
lesser change and happened on a low key scale including thoughts rather than sudden and dramatic
lights and voices.
The last type of conversion is self surrender and every conversion has an element of self surrender
as in every conversion there has to be a tipping point where the person gives in to the belief they
will become to believe otherwise it would not be a conversion.
C.S.Lewis' conversion centered massively around self surrender, as for months and months he
rejected God who cam to him many nights with his beliefs. Over and over he rejected them beliefs
until one night C.S.Lewis reached his tipping point and accepted God coming to him. He got to his
knees and began to pray, he had finally accepted God's beliefs and teachings, which resulted in his
conversion.
Mystical experience is on a deeper meaning then just feeling, seeing or hearing God. Mystical
experience involves a union with God, in which you become one with Him. In the Upanishads this
union with God is described as "rivers flow to their rest in the ocean and there leave behind them
name and form, so the knower liberated from name and form, reaches the divine Person beyond the
beyond."

Religious Experience
The study of religious and spiritual experiences can be complicated because so much time an effort
can be waste by trying to find a meaning to what experience is. Gadmmer states that the concept of
experience is one of the most obscure it exits. People are aware that experience is something more
than ere actions or behavior. Experience refers to a total way of acting or being and cannot be
reduced to its parts, even if those parts can be identified. Religion provides meaning and closure for
many. Therefore, specifically religious experiences constitute a more restricted range than the
diversity that characterizes spiritual experiences. This parallels the distinction between religious
conversion and spiritual transformation, and anticipates ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There are many people who think that mystical experience cannot support a belief that one has
united with God or experienced ultimate reality. However for other people, mysticism is an
experience that provides reason to belief in God or ultimate reality. Thorner explains that mystics
claim that the perceptual referent in religions experiences is a unity within the world. On the other
hand, mystical experience is only one form of mysticism. Williams James presented the paradoxical
position of the emerging science of psychology. James did not make use of religious concepts such
as the soul in developing psychology as a natural science. In The Principles of Psychology, James
understood that there were no need for the concept of a soul or any transcendent dimension to
human consciousness. In The Varieties of Religious Experience he noted that the facts of mystical
experience required a wider dimension of human consciousness. Evolutionary theory has been a
continuous influence on psychology since the beginning. Many had proposed mysticism as a form
of consciousness that is evolving. Consciousness has evolved from the non–reflective consciousness
that characterizes animals to the reflective consciousness that characterizes humans. Bucke is
indentified with the theory that states

Thomas Aquinas Mystical Argument From Harsheral Experience
I believe that the argument from mystical experience is very convincing. As already noted in
Aquinas' mystical experience, it became evident to him that God is far more than one can imagine.
To examines his experience further, his decision to stop the project and being silenced instead with
respect to God as a supreme being is a testimony that God is beyond what anyone can put into
words. Another observation is that he felts that it was very important as he knows the truth is his
heart after having such a glorious experience. Besides, one argument by some Christian is that one
cannot imagine God simply because he is unimaginable and that our human mind doesn't have the
ability to comprehend him. If that is the case, it explains why Aquinas

For Mystical Creatures And Humans, There Are A Variety
For mystical creatures and humans, there are a variety of differences that each other needs to know.
For both the development of their relationship in a TV show or film would be demonstrated as the
human getting to know how their loved one survives and how they would not get killed by them;
they would also demonstrate the idea of how the vampire is so deeply in love that he would never
hurt the human. As an example: Elena learns about vampires from the Salvatore brothers, Stefan and
Damon, when they both fall in love with her. At first they try to hide it but later it becomes too
obvious to keep away from Elena since supernatural powers came up (super speed, compelling). As
in for Twilight, the same happened to Bella. Edward chased her ... Show more content on
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Modern day vampire's capabilities of giving and receiving love give the insight that they are much
more human than what they were perceived in previous novels. Earlier stories like Dracula and The
Vampyre demonstrated lust over love because the main idea was to seduce humans to fall for them
then kill them which was how it made them look like monsters; with TVD and Twilight, self–control
plays a major role when vampires are around those they love, they learn to control the urges of
biting them and use an alternative option like drinking animal blood instead of human blood. They
care more about the safety and feelings of the human rather than their own selfish desire for human
blood; therefore they create a more sentimental idea and demonstrate a form of love by doing this.
The human also shows their love by learning how to accustom their new life with their vampire
lover. The mortal has to cooperate with what the vampire does to stay alive like still eat animals for
the need of blood. They too have their fair amount of work and need to follow rules in order to stay
in this dangerous relationship because loving the supernatural does not come easy. Elena in TVD
used a necklace with vervain (harmful plant for vampires) to keep herself safe from any compelling
or bites from any vampire including her boyfriend. In Twilight, Bella did not use anything but
Edward would protect her from other vampires wanting her blood. But

Archetypes In Beowulf
Importance of the Mystical Weapon When it comes to the archetypical hero's journey, one might see
the mystical weapon as merely a box that needs to be checked off, but the mystical weapon of a hero
is much more important than that. It serves to continue the plot of the story by jumpstarting many
parts along the hero's journey, many times it is the cause of the hero's unusual birth. The mystical
weapon is what enables a hero to overcome the insurmountable odds and accomplish their trials. A
mystical weapon, is not just a tool that the hero harnesses, but their very identity. The mystical
weapon is the very thing that makes the hero a hero. The mystical weapon is an extension of the
Hero's self. It is their defining characteristic and the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The mystical weapon is part of the hero's very identity. Without their weapon a hero does not have
path to go on. They become lost and leave their path. Many time they end up embracing the
darkness and become the villain. A great example of what happens when a hero loses his weapon is
in the story Othello. In the story, Othello starts out on top. He is a general in the venetian military
and a hero to the people. He is in love with the woman of his dreams and has the ear of the Duke.
Othello has already faced the trials and his ability to stay calm in all situations has allowed him to
overcome them. Othello has everything a hero strives for, until he loses his power. When he loses
his calm, Iago became able to influence him and lead him off the path. He lost his position, lost his
reputation, and lost his love. Othello's world crumbled because of his loss of his weapon. In the end
of the book, after Iago's plot was revealed, he regains his power, for a short while, and redeems
himself by killing the villain, himself. Othello lost his weapon and because of it he lost his identity.
Without his weapon he became the villain instead of the

Mystical Madonna in the Pinks: A Raphael in Doubt Essay
Madonna in the Pinks, whose existence cannot be substantiated before 1833 , was not identified as
an autograph painting of Raphael until 1991, after an acquisition made by the National Gallery in
London by using public funds. However, the authenticity of the rediscovered painting attributed to
Raphael remains under some dispute. Apart from the incomplete provenance, it demonstrated visual
inconsistency in style and quality with other proved works of Raphael, supplemented with the
incomprehensive scientific re–verification that the current attribution of the masterpiece–to–be
perhaps still needs to be viewed with skepticism.
By comparison to the identified paintings of Raphael, discrepancies can be spotted from both
clothing of Virgin Mary ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It seems that the crowded picture is atypical for Raphael even of paintings in similar indoor setting
such as the Bridgewater Madonna (fig. 4) and Madonna de Orleans (fig. 5)
Stylistic concern is not the only argument that objects the painting's attribution to Raphael, but also
the inferior quality in the rendition of Mary and Christ. Observations of Beck suggest that Mary's
hair looks confusing and unsolved , while the underdrawing revealed by IR investigation shows a
clearer representation of the braids that possibly the painter–in–question became more "exclusive on
this own during the painting stage that he dropped the refinement of her hair" stemming from
mimicking Raphael's painting when drafting. Furthermore, the current depiction conveys a sense of
obfuscation in posing of Mary's right thigh compared to Small Cowper Madonna (fig. 2) or the
Bridgewater Madonna (fig.4), with statically drawn Infant balancing difficultly on the invisible leg
of Mary . It is inexplicable that the engravings (fig. 6 and 7) after the painting look more convincing
that they have complemented the unnaturalness of the original.
It is claimed by the National Gallery that the use of pigments in Madonna in the Pinks coincides
Raphael's common choice of pigment in other paintings and they also postulated the painting to be a
study of Leonardo's Benois Madonna (fig. 8) However, the identification of

Colossian's 'Divine/Mystical Realm'
In reflecting in the Divine/Mystical Realm, the book of Colossians comes to mind when Paul was
speaking to the church of Laodicea. He wanted them to be encouraging to one another showing love
and unity within the congregation. Paul spoke very warmly about his belief in Christ. He was a close
friend of Our Savior. He understood that his existence was to learn the will of God and become one
with HIM. Paul encouraged the church to get to know God and gain a closer relationship with
Christ.
He spoke to them in a very pleasant tone stating, "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart
and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that
they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom

Mystical Landscapes: Claude Monet, Van Gogh
Claude Monet, the forefather of French Impressionist painting, dedicated the majority of his life
illuminating the canvas with his series of water lilies during the 20th century. His style of work is
recognized worldwide for its variation in color and peaceful undertone. Although Monet was
baptized Catholic and was later classified as an atheist by art historians, Katharine Lochnan, a
curator at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) regards Monet as Zen Buddhist due to his uniquely
spiritual presence on the canvas. Monet spent hours in his Japanese water garden, observing the pink
hues of his hybridized water lilies while in a hypnotic state. Lochnan curated a new exhibition titled,
"Mystical Landscapes: Masterpieces from Monet, Van Gogh, and ... Show more content on
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Monet exhibits, perhaps unintentionally, samsāra or the Buddhist ideal of the endless cycle of birth
and suffering and death and rebirth throughout his series of paintings on one subject. In the water
lily series, Monet attempted to record the birth, life, and death of his beloved water lily–a symbol of
clarity and peace. Just as the flower blossoms from the roots soaked in mud, peace follows the
expiration of human suffering. A theory held close to the hearts of many during the time of World
War I where Monet awaited the return of his son from the front lines. It is likely that Monet turned
to his paintbrush for solitude in a world of endless human suffering. Through meditation, he
contemplated the passing of sensations that engulfed his lilies and turned to the canvas to record his
discoveries. The culture and lifestyle of his closest friends influenced his work to show traces of
Japanese symbolism within the context of European Impressionist

The Allegory Of The Cave
In his allegory of the cave, Plato describes a scenario in which chained–up prisoners in a cave
understand the reality of their world by observing the shadows on a cave wall. Unable to turn
around, what seems to be reality are but cast shadows of puppets meant to deceive the prisoners. In
the allegory, a prisoner is released from his chains and allowed to leave the cave. On his way out, he
sees the fire, he sees the puppets, and then he sees the sun. Blinded by the sunlight, he could only
stare down to view the shadows cast onto the floor. He gradually looks up to see the reflections of
objects and people in the water and then the objects and people themselves. Angered and aware of
reality, the freed prisoner begins to understand illusion ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Since then conservative ideology and federal laws have prevented research or studies into
entheogens and the human mind. To understand whether or not entheogens can produce religious
experiences it important to understand the parameters and definitions that make up the typology of
religious experiences, the effects of entheogens like lysergic acid diethylamide on the human mind,
and previous case studies that tried to understand the relationship between entheogens and religious
experience.
Prior to understanding and describing religious experiences, it's important to define the terms and
typology of religious experiences. A point of contention for theologians is whether or not mystical or
out–of–body experiences are religious in nature. To understand what the role religion plays in these
experiences, for this context, you must define and understand what religion is and the major
components that make it up. James states that religion "cannot stand for any single principle or
essence, but is rather a collective name" (35). If you were to ask someone about the essence of an
object or a concept, different people would provide various components or parts of it. You would
end up of with a list ranging from objective and subjective responses, but it would provide a better
understanding of it because, like religion, no one thing or person can be summed up in a sentence or
a word.

Who Is William James Tomorrow Never Knows?
Where words fail, music can explain. This is especially true when trying to express feelings and
experiences, such as William James collected in his Varieties of Religious Experience. The narrators
in his book often struggle to put the core of their mystical encounters into words. This is where
music can surpass the written accounts. Tomorrow Never Knows is an effort by the rock band The
Beatles to adequately recreate what a mystical experience feels like. In light of the heavy drug usage
during the late 60's, many people argue that instead of a mystical experience the song Tomorrow
Never Knows is simply about a LSD trip. However, as James states stimulants and mystical
experiences are not mutually exclusive: "the drunken consciousness is ... Show more content on
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Although the lyrics are not very specific, they are nevertheless about a sense of connection and
overcoming barriers: "Love is all and love is everyone". This again mirrors what James describes:
"In mystic states (....) we become aware of our oneness"(320). While the song does not explicitly
refer to a deity, it is about a larger, all–encompassing being or an absolute. Moreover, the phrases
that particularly stand out are "it is knowing" and "it is believing". This would accord to the belief of
the sincerity of the experience that the many people have. They believe in the revelations despite
what reason might dictate. The song concludes with a peculiar phrase for life, namely "the game
'Existence'". This underlines how the experience has transformed the listener's world view and view
of reality and corresponds to the Noetic quality of mystical experiences. Arguably even more
important to the song as the lyrics, is the music of a variety of instrumental techniques. In an almost
trancelike way, the distortion, rolling drone, loops, backwards guitar and merging sounds all create
the feeling of having lost touch with the worldly surroundings and entering a new reality. Even the
singer's voice sounds from far away off. Along with the lyrics, the music tries to counter the
ineffability of the experience, by recreating a sense of the wonders as well as the confusion of what
such an experience

Steven Katz Essay
The debate in the academic study of mysticism between Steven Katz and Robert Forman primarily
refers to the origins and essence of mystical experiences. Katz's argues that, "There are NO pure (i.e.
unmediated) mystical experiences" (Katz, 26). Additionally, Katz articulates the problem of
interpreting and verifying mystical experiences, thus alluding to the issue of whether or not mystical
experiences can be classified. Comparatively, Robert Forman argues for the existence of what he
refers to as Pure Consciousness Events (PCEs), whereby mystical experiences extend beyond
language and culture. Each argument has its merits, however, I contend that Forman's argument is
the most articulate and accurate. Katz asserts that the major problem of ... Show more content on
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Although Katz does not deny the existence of mystical experiences, he suggests that there is no
scientific evidence upon which to classify and categorize experiences. Katz uses constructivism to
argue his analyses. The concept of constructivism maintains, "people construct their own
understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those
experiences" (Educational Broadcasting Corporation). Moreover, Katz suggests, "all experience is
processed through, organized by and makes itself available to us in extremely complex
epistemological ways" (Katz, 26). Essentially, Katz insists that people do not have mystical
experiences that differ from their spiritual or religious beliefs and practices. Katz states, "...in order
to understand mysticism it is not just a question of studying the reports of the mystics after the
experimental event but of acknowledging that the experience itself as well as the form in which it is
reported is shaped by the concepts which the mystic brings to, and which shape his experience"
(Katz, 26). For Katz, this argument denies claims of mystical experiences any reliability. Therefore,
one may question how

Mystical Experience, By Chris Frith
The human brain is the common thread which ties these selections of literature together. Our mind
controls our every action, thought, and dream, but do we shape our mind or does our mind shape us?
We are one and the same, our mind and ourselves, but who has more control our conscious mind or
our subconscious mind and how do we know what we know? in the required texts, "Mystical
Experience," "Numinous," and Making Up the Mind we discover unique perspectives on
understanding the unknown parts of the complex human psyche with the information they provide.
I found the PDF "Mystical Experience" very interesting, especially the statement "mystics
unconsciously merely attribute a doctrinal content to ordinary experiences." At first, I didn't
understand the meaning of this statement but then after I let this idea sink in I realized how powerful
this was to me. Every aspect of our lives can be analyzed as reactions or messages from a higher
being, one could argue that my dance team practice tonight from nine to midnight was cancelled ...
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And this made me question if I really have ever had any meaningful connection with God in my
youth or if it was just my brain responding to my desire to have a meaningful connection with God.
And if it this the case that my brain has just provided me with the right levels of endorphins to
quench my subconscious desires then what has been real emotion and what hasn't been. but you
could counter this by argentine that everything we feel is based off the brain releasing endorphins,
therefore, is it even a possibility to feel a meaningful connection to a higher power if we already
have complete control over everything we do and do not

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