MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES

Question 1

What is the general definition of a mystical experience?

Answer 1

• Experiences where the recipient feels a sense of “union with the divine.
• Mysticism often involves the spiritual recognition of truths beyond normal understanding.

Question 2

What do Teasdale, James and Beaurschmidt define mystical experience as.

Answer 2

James: The ability to see truth in a special way.
Teasdale: Direct and intimate experience if God/ultimate reality- Christian= union with God, Buddhism= enlightenment.
Baeurschmidt: Alternative state of mind = new awareness of ultimate reality.

Question 3

What two types of mysticism does Happold distinguish between?

Answer 3

1. Love and Union= longing to exam from loneliness and feeling of being separated. Claims that there are 2 urges which govern us 1) Being an individual and 2) Being accepted by God } this creates a conflict, as we are always trying to get back to God despite our need to be individuals - we have the desire to be a part of something bigger.
2. Knowledge and understanding= “urge” to find out the “secret of the universe” and the only way to find the answer is through experiencing God.

Question 4

What are the 3 aspects Happold outlines in mysticism?

Answer 4

1. Soul mysticism: The idea of finding the soul and completing self fulfilment.
2. Nature mysticism: God is immanent and therefore we can be united with him in many aspects pf mature.
3. God mysticism: Idea that humans want to return to God - human soul must become God-like.

Question 5

What are the processes involved in becoming a Christian mystic?

Answer 5

1. Prayer of Purgation- the person chooses to pursue the path of a Christian mystic, and feel as though they have a calling. Before embark upon this path they must purge their body of sin- cleanse and this is the preliminary stage to the mystical path.
2. Prayer of Contemplation- God is the “senior partner in the relationship” and decides when this stage begins. Words, feelings and images are unnecessary. Ultimately this stage entails “spending time with God”. St John of Cross “I look at him and he looks at me, occasionally we say a word to each other”.
3. Prayer of Union- Most advanced stage of Ecstasy, Ineffable, Identification with God- absorbed by God. Very brief.

Question 6

What were Happold’s main characteristics and give examples.

Answer 6

1. Consciousness of the oneness of everything- Day of Pentecost “They were all one”.
2. Sense of timelessness- “Profound sense of reality”- Psychedelic mystical review.
3. Understanding the ego is not the real I- Teresa pf Avila felt “absorbed by God”.

Question 7

What were Pahnke’s main characteristics and give examples.

Answer 7

1. Deeply felt positive mood- e.g. in prayer of union.
2. Sense of sacredness- “Deep sense of awe” - PMR
3. Paradoxicality- “Paradoxically was the music itself” - PMR.
4. Alleged ineffability - St John of Cross used poetry to describe his “dark night of the soul” and Julian of Norwich used the metaphor of a “hazelnut like thing” to explain aspects of her experience.
5. Persisting positive changes.

Question 8

What were William James’ 4 main characteristics of Mystical experience? And give examples.

Answer 8

1. Ineffability- “I could have never understood this experience.”- PMR
2. Noetic Quality- “It is all that is made”- Julian of Norwich.
3. Transient- “Which must have lasted at least an hour”. -PMR
4. Passive - “Filled with the holy ghost”.- Day of Pentecost.