A comparative Study of Literary representations of Spiritual and Intellectual Mysticisms
International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences January 1, 2026 Vikhyath S Shetty
Mystical experiences are often considered ineffable, yet mystics have persistently tried to articulate them. This paper compares two modes of articulation—spiritual and intellectual—through a literary analysis of Ramana Maharshi and Jiddu Krishnamurti. Ramana Maharshi’s writings display pedagogical assurance, grounded in the authority of realization and aimed at guiding seekers. Krishnamurti’s accounts reflect an ongoing, self-reflexive inquiry, where language serves to understand the experience for himself rather than to instruct. The juxtaposition reveals similarities beneath their distinct approaches, showing how each negotiates the tension between ineffability and expression.