Mystical Consciousness: A Modest Proposal

Mystical consciousness, rather than isolated mystical experiences, offers a more complete framework for understanding claims of direct divine presence. Drawing on Bernard Lonergan's transcendental method, the essay analyzes the writings of Meister Eckhart, Nicholas of Cusa, and John of the Cross to argue that mystical consciousness is the meta-conscious co-presence of God throughout the entire process of experiencing, understanding, affirming, loving, and deciding. This approach addresses theoretical and historical complexities surrounding the modern term 'mystical experience' and provides a deeper account of how mystics describe attaining God's presence.

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Abstract

Much of the recent literature on mysticism has taken mystical experience as a central theme. The term itself is not only recent, but also involves complexities both of a theoretical and historical character. The proposal advanced here is that mystical consciousness, understood as the meta-conscious co-presence of God in the entire process of experiencing, understanding, affirming, loving, and deciding, may provide a more adequate way to deepen our understanding of claims to have attained the direct presence of God. Calling upon resources from the transcendental method of Bernard Lonergan, the essay applies an approach based on consciousness analysis to the writings of three classic mystics: Meister Eckhart, Nicholas of Cusa, and John of the Cross.