Mystical People
[David B]
> Asked what role faith has in the MOQ. I don't like the word at all. .. Faith has no place in the MOQ.
[Dave T]
It not my favorite word either, but in your earlier post you said this about mysticism.
[David B]
> It really doesn't take a giant leap of FAITH to believe that there's something to the > reports.
[Dave T]
My little CD encyclopedia lists about 200 entries for "mysticism" and "mystic"
ranging from Saint Gregory to Jack Kerouac including this definition which I've
pared down to the essence:
"Mysticism in general refers to a direct and immediate experience of the
sacred, or the knowledge derived from such an experience... Mysticism is
usually accompanied by meditation, prayer, and ascetic discipline...
three attributes are found almost universally. First, the experience is
immediate and overwhelming, divorced from the common experience of reality.
Second, the experience or the knowledge imparted by it is felt to be
self authenticating, without need of further evidence or justification.
Finally, it is held to be ineffable, its essence incapable of being expressed
or understood outside the experience itself"
Then Stuan posted his description:
> 1) A belief in a world of reality different to that which manifests itself to the
> natural senses.
>
> 2) A belief in the unity of all things.
>
> 3) A denial of the reality of time.
>
> 4) A denial of the reality of evil
>
> 5) A belief in the value of intuition over reason.
> A mystic is one who subscribes to the above and a mystical practice is one which
> attempts to promote any of the above.
So based on the above I will re-ask my question(s) to both David and Struan.
If 1) "Mysticism in general refers to a direct and immediate experience. .its
essence incapable of being expressed or understood outside the experience itself"
2) In practice it has at least three areas of belief.
3) faith is defined as "unquestioning belief that does not require proof or
evidence" and one attribute of mysticism is "the experience or the knowledge
imparted by it is felt to be self authenticating, without need of further
evidence or justification"
Then
Does mysticism, a mystic, mystical tradition, or the practice of mysticism
require any "unquestioning belief" or faith?
Then assuming,as Pirsig claims, that mysticism is somehow a part of the MoQ:
What role does FAITH play in the MoQ?
Dave Thomas
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