Joe and Salik, I'm sorry to have to disagree with you but 'mystical' does NOT mean "direct, unmitigated experience". It is in fact just the opposite of that. It is a mistaken belief that some illusory thoughts or feelings you've had were a real experience.
Here is the definition of 'mystical' from Merriam-Webster Online: a : having a spiritual meaning or reality that is neither apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence <the mystical food of the sacrament> b : involving or having the nature of an individual's direct subjective communion with God or ultimate reality <the mystical experience of the Inner Light> Neither 'spiritual' or 'mystical' have any place in zen practice, except as examples of illusions. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@...> wrote: > > Salik, > > Mystical just means by direct, unmitigated, experience. > > It is not faith (nor ratiocination, nor speculation, nor Metaphysics). > > I think the best modern literature about Mysticism was written 108 years ago, > the number of beads on a Buddhist mala. By Evelyn Underhill; William James; > and Richard Bucke. > > --Joe > > PS Kim's title is a brilliant one. > > > "salik888" <novelidea8@> wrote: > > > > Bill > > > > The "subject line" refers to the book > > > > Ehei Dogen, Mystical Realist, Hee-Jin Kim > > > > Nevertheless, I would agree with you though, so how about that one! . . . > > Mystical is a word in our time that denotes something special . . . usually > > it has something to do with "spiritual but not religious." Or apologetics > > for certain Religions. > > > > Like the word esoteric . . . > > > > Enlightenment . . . how about that booby trap word? > > > > I am more from the school of "get your ass over there and sit down . . ." > > Or -- "don't!" > > > > Samey Samey . . . > > > > Anyway, I am not big on the word myself . . . it has worn out its > > usefulness, if it had any to begin with. > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
