Mysticism

Mysticism describes an interest in unusual experiences. Mysticism is often related to spirituality when unusual experiences are attributed to spirits, noumenal entities that are usually hidden but reveal themselves to special people in special circumstances. In a deeper sense, mysticism describes an interest in transcendent experiences that move an ordinary human toward an extraordinary understanding. There may be a deep conviction that there is a universal consciousness that is hidden from ordinary humans, but can be accessed by a few using extraordinary means.

The theme of liberation from ordinary human life appears in different forms at all times in all places when human groups form. Some transcendent experiences are contrived through dance, drumming, costumes, drama, yoga, meditation, ritual, and drugs. Some special experiences are spontaneous.

Salience refers to the feeling of importance given to events as they occur. Feelings of increased salience may elevate even ordinary experiences into the mystical realm.  If you were lucky enough to go on a happy LSD trip, then you will know about super-salience that turns the most ordinary objects into treasures that fascinate. Increased salience occurs when brain function changes spontaneously as in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Transcendence is marked by feelings of euphoria, peace and by the absence of disturbances. You could argue that an authentic mystic devotes his or her life to sustained transcendence through a disciplined lifestyle and specific practices. If you are a regular person, working hard to attain material goals and comforts, then you cannot be an authentic mystic.

Psychedelics

Chemicals that induced a state of euphoria or altered the contents of consciousness have always been highly prized.  Euphoria is described as a spiritual experience and is goal of religious rituals and practices. Plants, fungi and food fermentation have generously provided brain chemicals and a few are derived from animals such as bufotonin, extracted from toad skin. Only recently have humans manufactured mind-altering chemicals in factories in large quantities, distributed worldwide. Some of these factories are legal others are not. Many, if not all humans, alter their consciousness and behavior by consuming chemicals to alter they way their brain works. The brain, as the organ of mind, is the receiving set for the wisdom of the universe. If the receiver is out of tune, not working properly, the wisdom of the universe is either not received at all or the message is garbled.

Mind altering drugs that are used all over planet earth fall into three categories:

1.  Drugs that intoxicate and disconnect the user from his or her daily routines and normal dysphoria (alcohol, opium, heroin).

2.  Drugs that energize and excite participants to dance, sing, make love or war (caffeine, ephedra, cocaine, amphetamines).

3. Drugs that change the nature and operation of the mind and cause novel experiences, sometimes awakening spiritual interest and insights (peyote, magic mushrooms, LSD and other ergot alkaloids).

Drugs that produced unusual experiences have been called “psychedelics” or “hallucinogens”. A hallucination is an experience originated within the brain that is similar to or indistinguishable from an experience originating from outside the brain.

Deeply imbedded in the nature of consciousness is the ability of the brain to project and internal event into the world outside. Indeed, in the final analysis, all events internal and external are brain events. If a person takes a known psychedelic agent, LSD, he or she expects to have unusual experience and will report these experiences appropriately as, for example, an “acid trip.”  If a psychedelic chemical is produced in the brain or is present as an unknown entity in food or drinks, then the unusual experiences will be reported as real experiences, happening out there in the real world.

Religion for the 21st Century 2010 is available in print or download formats. The book is intended for a well-educated smart reader, who is interested in a world view of religious expressions past, present, and future. The main theme is that each religious group has its own  claims and stories and will tend to reject others. A reader committed to one point of view may not accept the egalitarian review presented here.

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The  Psychology & Philosophy series was developed by Persona Digital Books. All rights to reproduction by any means are reserved. We encourage readers to quote and paraphrase topics from Religion for the 21st Century, 2010 edition, published online and expect  citations to accompany all derivative writings. The author is Stephen Gislason. Located on the Sunshine Coast, Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada.