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1/10~
Thinking about not thinking so much:
The word "mysticism" is fairly recent (18th c.). It often receives unhelpful associations, as in the presumption by some poorly informed folks it has to do with potentially delusional "belief" or a "confusion of thought."
Etymonline:
Thinking about not thinking so much:
The word "mysticism" is fairly recent (18th c.). It often receives unhelpful associations, as in the presumption by some poorly informed folks it has to do with potentially delusional "belief" or a "confusion of thought."
Etymonline:
2~
I personally prefer "contemplative traditions" and, even better, "contemplative practices" – where the focus is on the practical processes and the actual experiences that are involved.
I personally prefer "contemplative traditions" and, even better, "contemplative practices" – where the focus is on the practical processes and the actual experiences that are involved.
3~
While the word "mysticism" is newish, "mystic" has ancient ties with words associated with the Greek "mysteries" – which were events that were *hidden* and *not to be spoken of*
(hence, etymological ties, too, between "mystic" and the word "mute").
While the word "mysticism" is newish, "mystic" has ancient ties with words associated with the Greek "mysteries" – which were events that were *hidden* and *not to be spoken of*
(hence, etymological ties, too, between "mystic" and the word "mute").
4~
Over time, "mystic" came to be associated with experiences of the sort that essentially *can't* be spoken of, because they're matter-of-factly too simple for words. Such experiencing is in the end more immediate and more basic than thoughts and concepts...
Over time, "mystic" came to be associated with experiences of the sort that essentially *can't* be spoken of, because they're matter-of-factly too simple for words. Such experiencing is in the end more immediate and more basic than thoughts and concepts...
5~
and so we get poetic references to practices of "unseeing" and "unknowing" – as figurative gestures towards very basic modes of sober experience that is more fundamental than our more "intoxicating" ordinary involvement with words and concepts.
and so we get poetic references to practices of "unseeing" and "unknowing" – as figurative gestures towards very basic modes of sober experience that is more fundamental than our more "intoxicating" ordinary involvement with words and concepts.
6~
So it can be frustrating to read accounts of contemplative traditions which filled with language referring to "thoughts" and "concepts" and "claims." (I'll leave off the author's name here; he otherwise does a service in publishing so much about these materials.)
So it can be frustrating to read accounts of contemplative traditions which filled with language referring to "thoughts" and "concepts" and "claims." (I'll leave off the author's name here; he otherwise does a service in publishing so much about these materials.)
7~
Here, by contrast, is a little collection of quotations from the preeminent Neoplatonist, Plotinus:
(Loeb Classical Library)
Here, by contrast, is a little collection of quotations from the preeminent Neoplatonist, Plotinus:
(Loeb Classical Library)
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