The Mystical Experience, or the Way to Transformative Union

Mysticism is a way of knowing based solely on direct experience, described as knowledge through love. Despite visible differences among religions, mysticism is essentially one path. The yogi, Kabbalah worshiper, Sufi, hesychast, and Western mystic all follow the same route, behavior, and purpose. Unlike other ways of knowing, the mystical way transforms the subject rather than focusing on the object, proceeding inward through asceticism, unceasing prayer, and progressive enlightenment to reach ecstasy, revelation, and unitive purpose (Unio Mystica). Though often secret and initiation-based, mysticism has sometimes attracted masses and had strong social impact. In 20th-century Romania, Eastern mysticism, particularly hesychastic teaching, sparked two phenomena: the "Army of God" revival movement within the Romanian Orthodox Church and the intellectual movement of the "Burning Bush" group.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mysticism is a way of knowing, but one based solely on experience. It is basically knowledge through love. Although religions have visible differences, mysticism is only one. The yogi and the Kabbalah worshiper, the Sufi, the hesychast and the Western mystical, all go through the same route, have the same behaviour and follow the same purpose. In contrast to other ways of knowing, the mystical way is one of direct experience. Knowledge is not achieved through a focus on the object, but by transforming the subject itself. Not by a protrusion, but by deepening itself. The mysterious path leads inexorably inwards. It is an ascending road passing through asceticism, unceasing prayer (the prayer of the heart) and progressing enlightening, to reach eventually, through ecstasy and revelation, the uniting purpose (Unio Mystica). Although secret and based on initiation, sometimes mysticism attracted massive groups of people, having a strong impact on the social level. Thus, in the last century Romania, there occurred two phenomena mainly due to the Eastern mysticism, respectively to hesychastic teaching and experience. These were the revival movement of religious life within the Romanian Orthodox Church, called the “Army of God”, and the movement initiated by intellectuals from the group “Burning Bush”.