Freeday 10 August 2001

Pic of the day: To some, the outdoors is a cathedral.

Mysticism

This week for the first time I saw a magazine called The Empty Vessel, supposedly a "journal of contemporary Taoism". This was the Spring 2001 issue, I suppose that's just because we're a bit off the Path here in Norway, not that the magazine is discontinued. Anyway I bought it, out of scientific curiosity.

Actually much of the magazine is devoted to QiGong, a far more recent spiritual movement (and lately more and more a political movement.) Still, there was a long article on Taoist mysticism. I found this particularly interesting because I know little about Taoism but I know mysticism from personal experience. This would test my theory that the mystical experience differs little among religions.

The author (Hua Ching Ni) showed a certain knowledge of western religions, albeit in the way of an outsider looking in. Much of the article was spent explaining a few Taoist symbols, this was welcome but not exciting. In all honesty, the author predicted that this part would not bring any emotions. The article grew more fascinating further toward the end, which is probably better than the opposite ...

***

The article promoted the view which I have occasionally expressed in my journal: That after years of expansion, we should use our later years to simplify and lay off. "If a person loves many things and many interests, the interests and possessions cause a splitting or scattering of personal energy. When a person is wise enough to simplify, unify and purify the multiple desires, he returns to the simple essence of the universe which is the subtle origin."

Let me admit that I have this exact same experience, but I seem unable to explain it without sounding like a manic-depressive. I don't mean that at 40, we should close the shop and lie down to wait for death. Rather, we gradually start to grow mature enough to decide which branches to prune from the tree of activities and possessions. Not to kill the tree, but to save it.

"The way to stay alive is to limit one's external interests and keep the energy within one's self." When we are young, we keep heaping onto our plate, because we think 'there will always be time'. But at some point we realize that our energy is not going to grow forever. We shall have to economize. The pruning starts. We may still grow, but not in all directions.

I guess some people are so far removed from mysticism that external interests is all there is for them. Inner self? What is that? If people can't see that you are something, then you are nothing. But to the full-fledged mystic, it is the other way around. Display is irrelevant. Essence is everything. Most of us, I guess, are somewhere inbetween.

***

There are some intriguing notes on religion. Taoism, as known by the author, is not a religion but a spiritual view or understanding. He sees the traditional religions as immature, sometimes beneficial but in some cases constructs to mislead innocent people. I can certainly see his point. Here's his thoughts about church, which I am sure applies equally to temples, synagogues and mosquees: "The formality of church confirms some people's spirituality. It is their habit, and it is not bad, but they could go higher. Because of the law of energy correspondence, people who have lost the simple essence[1] usually cannot even go into a church. Their vibration is too low and it maked them feel uncomfortable. However, highly spiritually developed individuals usually do not go to church, either. Their vibration is too high and it makes them feel uncomfortable. You can see that church is an intermediate step for many people on their path to spirituality. The simple essence of mind is higher than any external knowledge or belief."

[1]: The term "simple essence" seems to roughly equal "spirit" in my thinking.

(I hardly need to spell out that if the spiritual energy levels of a church are uncomfortably low for you, you're not likely to feel uplifted by movies, theatre plays, concerts ... not to mention pool halls and arcades. Unless you've been very unlucky in your choice of church!)

A Nordic preacher used to compare church-goers with toads: They came to church and were lifted up to the point where they thought they were birds and could fly. But as soon as they came out the church door, they flopped on the ground, as much a toad as before they went in. Certainly this can happen, but must it be so? I think not. I think people can soak up "energy" (to use the new age convention) or spirit and learn to familiarize themselves with higher energy levels. The challenge is to retain or regain these energy levels when you've left church. You cannot do that if it is purely emotional and dependent on decoration and music. This is a fatal mistake: To regard the decoration as the essence. Then you are doomed to splat on the church steps.

Rituals - in church or otherwise - can generate "mana", to use a RPG term. Magic / psychic energy. Chi, Ki, Prana or whatever name you choose. Acts of sacrifice can also generate such energy. Not just animal sacrifice, but fasting, celibacy, burning your platform shoes ... It is really not very different from magic, except it works - at least on a psychological level. The actual miracles you are free to doubt, of course. Just bear with me and follow the thought as seen through the eyes of the believer. As long as you "parasite" on rituals, you have only a momentary respite from your low energy levels. Whatever miracles don't happen at church (or temple etc) won't happen at all. But if you establish a connection to a universal energy source within, you can always draw more energy no matter where you are. This is mysticism.

But that's provided you have any interest in such things at all. If not, sorry for wasting your time. I hope you have better luck another time. Each day is a special day at Chaos Node!