What is mysticism? Definition and examples

The word mysticism derives from the Greek word mystes, which refers to an initiate of a secret cult. It means the pursuit or achievement of personal communion with or uniting with God (or some other form of divine or ultimate truth). A person who successfully pursues and achieves such communion can be called a mystic.

While the mystics' experiences are certainly outside of everyday experience, they are generally not considered paranormal or magical. This can be confusing because the words "mystic" (as in the "mystical prowess of the Grande Houdini") and "mysterious" are so closely linked to the words "mystic" and "mysticism".

Key Takeaways: what is mysticism?
Mysticism is the personal experience of the absolute or divine.
In some cases, the mystics experience themselves as part of the divine; in other cases, they are aware of the divine as separate from themselves.
Mystics have existed throughout history, all over the world, and can come from any religious, ethnic or economic origin. Mysticism is still an important part of the religious experience today.
Some famous mystics have had a profound impact on philosophy, religion and politics.
Definition and overview of mysticism
The mystics are and continue to emerge from many different religious traditions including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, South Asian religions and animistic and totemistic religions around the world. Indeed, many traditions offer specific paths through which practitioners can become mystics. Some examples of mysticism in traditional religions include:

The phrase "Atman is Brahman" in Hinduism, which roughly translates as "the soul is one with God".
The Buddhist experiences of tathata, which can be described as "this reality" outside of everyday sense perception, or the experiences of Zen or Nirvana in Buddhism.
The Jewish kabbalistic experience of the sefirot, or aspects of God which, once understood, can provide extraordinary insights into the divine creation.
Shamanic experiences with spirits or connection with the divine in relation to healing, interpretation of dreams, etc.
Christian experiences of personal revelation from or communion with God.
Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam, through which practitioners struggle for communion with the divine through "little sleep, chatter, little food".

While all these examples can be described as forms of mysticism, they are not identical to each other. In Buddhism and some forms of Hinduism, for example, the mystic is actually united and part of the divine. In Christianity, Judaism and Islam, on the other hand, the mystics communicate and engage with the divine, but remain separate.

Similarly, there are those who believe that a "true" mystical experience cannot be described in words; an "ineffable" or indescribable mystical experience is often called apopathic. Alternatively, there are those who believe that mystical experiences can and should be described in words; kataphatic mystics make specific statements about the mystical experience.

How people become mystical
Mysticism is not reserved for religious or a particular group of people. Women are as likely as men (or perhaps more likely) to have mystical experiences. Revelations and other forms of mysticism are often experienced by the poor, the illiterate and the dark ones.

There are essentially two paths to becoming mystical. Many people struggle for communion with the divine through a range of activities that can include anything from meditation and singing to asceticism to drug-induced trance states. Others, in essence, have mysticism pushed upon them as a result of inexplicable experiences which may include visions, voices or other non-corporeal events.

One of the most famous mystics was Joan of Arc. Joan was a 13 year old girl with no formal education who claimed to have experienced visions and voices of angels who had guided her to lead France to victory over England during the Hundred Years War. In contrast, Thomas Merton is a highly educated and respected contemplative Trappist monk whose life has been dedicated to prayer and writing.

Mystics through history
Mysticism has been part of human experience in the world throughout recorded history. While mystics may belong to any class, genre or background, only a few relatives have had a significant impact on philosophical, political or religious events.

Ancient mystics
There were mystics famous all over the world even in ancient times. Many, of course, were obscure or known only in their local areas, but others have actually changed the course of history. Below is a short list of some of the most influential.

The great Greek mathematician Pythagoras was born in 570 BC and was well known for his revelations and teachings on the soul.
Born around 563 BC, Siddhārtha Gautama (the Buddha) is said to have achieved enlightenment when sitting under a bodhi tree. His teachings have had a profound impact on the world.
Confucius. Born around 551 BC, Confucius was a Chinese diplomat, philosopher and mystic. His teachings were significant in his day and have seen many rebirths in popularity over the years.
Medieval mystics
During the Middle Ages in Europe, there were many mystics who claimed to see or hear saints or experience forms of communion with the absolute. Some of the most famous included:

Meister Eckhart, Dominican theologian, writer and mystic, was born around 1260. Eckhart is still considered one of the greatest German mystics and his works are still influential.
Santa Teresa d'Avila, a Spanish nun, lived during the 1500s. She was one of the great mystics, writers and teachers of the Catholic Church.
Eleazar ben Judah, born in the late 1100s, was a Jewish mystic and scholar whose books are still read today.
Contemporary mystics
Mysticism continued to be a significant part of the religious experience from the Middle Ages to the present day. Some of the most significant events of the 1700s and beyond can be traced back to mystical experiences. Examples include:

Martin Luther, the founder of the Reformation, based much of his thinking on the works of Meister Eckhart and may have been a mystic himself.
Mother Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers, experienced visions and revelations that brought her to the United States.
Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism and The Latter-day Saint movement, embarked on his work after experiencing a series of visions.
Is mysticism real?
There is no way to absolutely prove the truth of the personal mystical experience. Indeed, many of the so-called mystical experiences can be the result of mental illness, epilepsy or drug-induced hallucinations. However, religious and psychological scholars and researchers tend to agree that the experiences of bona fide mystics are significant and important. Some of the topics that support this perspective include:

The universality of the mystical experience: it has been part of human experience throughout history, worldwide, regardless of factors related to age, gender, wealth, education or religion.
The Impact of Mystical Experience: Many mystical experiences have had profound and difficult to explain impacts on people around the world. The visions of Joan of Arc, for example, led to the French victory in the Hundred Years War.
The inability of neurologists and other contemporary scientists to explain at least some mystical experiences such as "everything in the head".
As the great psychologist and philosopher William James said in his book The varieties of religious experience: a study of human nature, “Although they are so similar to the states of feeling, the mystical states seem to those who experience them to have also been states of knowledge . ..) They are illuminations, revelations, full of meaning and importance, all inarticulate although they remain; and, as a rule, they bring with them a curious sense of authority for the post-time ".