Love, Life and Death

Chapter 1

1. The term mysticism seems to defy definition. Very generally speaking, it is a doctrine that knowledge of ultimate reality or God, or whatever that may be, can be gained only by immediate intuition, particularly like the concentration of mind on, and absorption in, the divine essence, which provides a kind of ecstasy and gives a revealing vision of the supreme reality. Some thinkers like W. R. Inge have listed as many as 25 definitions of mysticism. The meaning of the term is highly culture-specific. In Hindu thought, it is believed to be indeterminate (nirvikalpa) or immediate. Another meaning of this word in the Hindu tradition is ‘deep significance’ (gudartha). In Greek mystery cults, it is known as muein (‘to remain silent’), ...