Christian and Buddhist mysticism

CHRISTIAN AND BUDDHIST MYSTICISM

Cl. Mario D’Couto sdb

          Mysticism is in a way a universal phenomenon which is found in every religion and the understanding of it differs depending on which religion one is talking about. This obviously implies in other words that there is a lot that can be spoken or written about. Yet, I would like to restrict myself to Christian and Buddhist mysticism since this article is a personal reflection that I came up with after I read William Johnston’s book, “The Wounded Stag.”

            Mysticism is indeed a universal phenomenon because every religion is a unique pathway to the One who created everything. While in Buddhism, the focus is on self – knowledge where enlightment is achieved by self – effort, Christian mysticism is about God revealing Himself to us. It is for this reason that God’s revelation is considered as a grace and a gift.

            Another point about Buddhist and Christian mysticism is that while Buddhist mysticism is achieved through isolation, that is to say, keeping away one’s self from all disturbances, Christian mysticism can be done wherever one is. There are however, three pre – requisites that are required,

1) Listen to the Word! Read the scripture! Read them again and again with faith and love until the word comes to life within you, penetrating the deepest layers of your unconsciousness.

2) Celebrate the Eucharist! Break bread with the community! Be present to the mystery of faith and partake of the bread of life. This will lead you into that rich inner desert of silence and joy where your life lies hidden with Christ in God. This will lead you to say with Paul, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20)

3) Listen to the community! Be part of the community! Get guidance from some representative of the community, read the mystical literature the community has produced (if there is). Never get isolated!


            There is no doubt that there are enough and more instances to show that true and authentic mysticism is achieved in isolation as is in the case of the Desert Fathers. Even our Lord spent hours of silence in the night by Himself as is seen in the Gospels. Yet, being a mystic for the sake of being a mystic would not make sense at all. Mysticism should help us become more human and compassionate and that is precisely because the ultimate goal of mysticism is to lead one to the universal consciousness, that ultimately, God Almighty is present in everything and that in Him we live, move and have our being.      

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