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Hello, My name is Shawn, and I am a fairly new Shaolin Cosmos practitioner. I have been a Christian Mystic for over 8 years, and there was some interest on the forum about it, so I’ve prepared this brief article.
Introduction
Mysticism, just by its name, implies a relation to mystery. Mysticism is either a religious tendency and desire of the human soul towards an intimate union with Divinity (God), or a system grown out of such a desire. In Christian Mysticism this union is invited in by practices centering around the themes of contemplation and love (even so we do not believe that an act of human will can cause divine union. It is always a gift from God that cannot be earned). Contemplation is a word one has to be very careful with – it has a much different meaning now than it did before the 16th century. I am a practitioner of the archaic use of the word. This contemplation is not based on intellectual knowledge of God, but as a direct and unfolding intuition of God -- a heart to heart transmission if you would. I am a Christian mystic, so of course I follow some basic tenets of Christianity, although most Christians in my part of the world would mark me as a madman or a heretic. I am very leery about using the term Christian, especially with its historically negative connotations, although I am a Christ follower and have sacrificed many things to follow Him.
History
The first recognized Christian mystics (outside of some of the Apostles) appeared as early as Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 AD) and Saint Polycarp (69-155 AD). I won’t bore you with dates and things, but Christian Mysticism has an unbroken line from those early days and the Fathers in the Desert of Egypt during the Roman Empire though the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the present. If you would like more information on notable mystic writers you can get on Wikipedia and search for, “Christian Mystics,” and that would be a fairly easy, albeit incomplete list to start with.
Differences from Regular Christianity
Mysticism is different from most religious Christianity in that direct experience is the means by which we get to “know” God. The bible and it’s precepts we hold dearly, but if it does not lead to direct personal and communal experience on a more than an intellectual level, you have lost the essence of the relationship. We believe that the scriptures we have are there to lead us into God. We believe that the scriptures can be the doorway leading in. I can attest personally that there is an unspeakable well of ‘Cosmic Knowledge’ far outside of what the Bible covers in print. The funny thing is most such knowledge seems like foolishness to most people. Only when it has been experienced heart to heart (spirit to spirit) does it take on its full transformative meaning. One has to be quite careful when reading other peoples accounts or experiences (ALL Christian Mystic writers!) Experiences are unique to individuals and periods of time, and reading a Mystic’s guide like a How To Guide can lead to disastrous consequences. I have learned this from experience. It is important in Mysticism not attach to the teachings or the experiences themselves, otherwise you have “forgotten your first love.” They are the means and not the substance.
My Own Practice
There are many different sects of Christian Mystics, although they are not well known. I am not affiliated with any of them. One thing I practice is called Lectio Divina –literally divine reading. It is an ancient practice of praying the scriptures. But much like the Five Animal Frolics qigong, what is taught today is the formalized system that was codified from the original free-flowing spiritual experience. I do not practice the formalized system, but the archaic discipline. I also have a practice of seeking. It is quite an intense, organic discipline (I do not practice the ancient ‘arts’ because there is something intrinsically special about their age. Through trial and error I have found the older ways to be more beneficial for reaching my goals). I have been blessed to see and experience things most people would simply not believe. People have asked me about some of these experiences and how I can know what I’ve experienced is real? It is a question generally difficult to answer (the Mystics of history had the same problem), because many times it is asked by those looking in from the outside, and at times there are not common words for such uncommon experiences. This short poem I wrote is the best way I have found to answer it. (In the presence of God) emotions are cracked cheap gilding the mind is empty and the will is not worth mentioning. I’ve tried to paint with broad strokes with this introductory article. I would be happy to clarify or provide more information if anyone has any questions or would like to know more. I can also recommend reading for the some of the more interesting mystics (Madame Jeanne Guyon, Brother Lawrence, St. John of the Cross, etc.). Let me mention in closing I am absolutely thrilled to be part of the Shaolin Wahnam family! Qigong is having such a positive, transforming effect on my life. I never thought it would be this good!
Best, Shawn
Note --- I will do my best to answer any questions, but I can only speak about things I have direct, personal experience of.
p.s.
2 relevant Mystic scriptures, if you are interested:
John 4:23-24 (New American Standard Bible)
23"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
24"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
2 Peter 1:3-4 (New American Standard Bible) 3seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Introduction
Mysticism, just by its name, implies a relation to mystery. Mysticism is either a religious tendency and desire of the human soul towards an intimate union with Divinity (God), or a system grown out of such a desire. In Christian Mysticism this union is invited in by practices centering around the themes of contemplation and love (even so we do not believe that an act of human will can cause divine union. It is always a gift from God that cannot be earned). Contemplation is a word one has to be very careful with – it has a much different meaning now than it did before the 16th century. I am a practitioner of the archaic use of the word. This contemplation is not based on intellectual knowledge of God, but as a direct and unfolding intuition of God -- a heart to heart transmission if you would. I am a Christian mystic, so of course I follow some basic tenets of Christianity, although most Christians in my part of the world would mark me as a madman or a heretic. I am very leery about using the term Christian, especially with its historically negative connotations, although I am a Christ follower and have sacrificed many things to follow Him.
History
The first recognized Christian mystics (outside of some of the Apostles) appeared as early as Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 AD) and Saint Polycarp (69-155 AD). I won’t bore you with dates and things, but Christian Mysticism has an unbroken line from those early days and the Fathers in the Desert of Egypt during the Roman Empire though the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the present. If you would like more information on notable mystic writers you can get on Wikipedia and search for, “Christian Mystics,” and that would be a fairly easy, albeit incomplete list to start with.
Differences from Regular Christianity
Mysticism is different from most religious Christianity in that direct experience is the means by which we get to “know” God. The bible and it’s precepts we hold dearly, but if it does not lead to direct personal and communal experience on a more than an intellectual level, you have lost the essence of the relationship. We believe that the scriptures we have are there to lead us into God. We believe that the scriptures can be the doorway leading in. I can attest personally that there is an unspeakable well of ‘Cosmic Knowledge’ far outside of what the Bible covers in print. The funny thing is most such knowledge seems like foolishness to most people. Only when it has been experienced heart to heart (spirit to spirit) does it take on its full transformative meaning. One has to be quite careful when reading other peoples accounts or experiences (ALL Christian Mystic writers!) Experiences are unique to individuals and periods of time, and reading a Mystic’s guide like a How To Guide can lead to disastrous consequences. I have learned this from experience. It is important in Mysticism not attach to the teachings or the experiences themselves, otherwise you have “forgotten your first love.” They are the means and not the substance.
My Own Practice
There are many different sects of Christian Mystics, although they are not well known. I am not affiliated with any of them. One thing I practice is called Lectio Divina –literally divine reading. It is an ancient practice of praying the scriptures. But much like the Five Animal Frolics qigong, what is taught today is the formalized system that was codified from the original free-flowing spiritual experience. I do not practice the formalized system, but the archaic discipline. I also have a practice of seeking. It is quite an intense, organic discipline (I do not practice the ancient ‘arts’ because there is something intrinsically special about their age. Through trial and error I have found the older ways to be more beneficial for reaching my goals). I have been blessed to see and experience things most people would simply not believe. People have asked me about some of these experiences and how I can know what I’ve experienced is real? It is a question generally difficult to answer (the Mystics of history had the same problem), because many times it is asked by those looking in from the outside, and at times there are not common words for such uncommon experiences. This short poem I wrote is the best way I have found to answer it. (In the presence of God) emotions are cracked cheap gilding the mind is empty and the will is not worth mentioning. I’ve tried to paint with broad strokes with this introductory article. I would be happy to clarify or provide more information if anyone has any questions or would like to know more. I can also recommend reading for the some of the more interesting mystics (Madame Jeanne Guyon, Brother Lawrence, St. John of the Cross, etc.). Let me mention in closing I am absolutely thrilled to be part of the Shaolin Wahnam family! Qigong is having such a positive, transforming effect on my life. I never thought it would be this good!
Best, Shawn
Note --- I will do my best to answer any questions, but I can only speak about things I have direct, personal experience of.
p.s.
2 relevant Mystic scriptures, if you are interested:
John 4:23-24 (New American Standard Bible)
23"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
24"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
2 Peter 1:3-4 (New American Standard Bible) 3seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
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