Mystics.

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

What is the Buddhist definition of a "mystic"?

In Catholicism, it means someone who has been given insight into the supernatural.

Dakini

Or, insight into the Divine, or into the true nature of reality, usually via contemplation (meditation), but sometimes through a sudden epiphany.

riverflow

I don't know if I'd put John of the Cross, Eckhart, Pseudo-Dionysius, the author of the Cloud of Unknowing and other mystics (at least of that caliber) in such a definition. The issue is more ontological rather than merely "supernatural." A lot of the influence of Christian mysticism comes from the neo-platonism of Plotinus (in fact, a lot of Pseudo-Dionysius' writings mirror the same Greek terms used in the exact same way).

In the Christian mystic tradition means almost exclusively Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy-- a protestant mystic seems almost oxymoronic LOL

Anyway, in the Christian mystic tradition, there is a kind of dialectical movement between cataphatic and apophatic ways of thinking. Cataphatic meaning we can talk about "God" (via positiva, positing the existence of God), apophatic meaning we cannot speak of God (via negativa, negating the existence of God).

The basic apophatic argument runs like this: "Existence" is the attribute of a being. Since God CREATED Being (and all beingS), then he PRECEDES being (this should be thought of ontologically, not merely chronologically). If God precedes Being, then the attribute of existence cannot be given to God. God is ontologially PRIOR to the attributes of existence AND non-existence and therefore transcends all conceptualisation about God. It is in THIS sense that God is said to NOT exist. And at the same time this is why he is referred to as the "Ground of Being." It is actually similar TO A DEGREE with Dao as spoken of in the Daodejing.

This is the sort of dialectical movement you'll find in Christian mysticism. In Mahayana Buddhism (particularly in Nagarjuna and the Prajnaparamita Sutras) the CONTENT is radically different, but the basic dialectical FORM bears many similarities (D.T. Suzuki has written a lot on this in comparing Zen with Meister Eckhart).

The point of such a dialectical movement is to SHOVE one OUT of conceptual thought and into life in a pure, non-dual state.

riverflow

Many years ago (1997 I think?) I went to a series of lectures held at a local synagogue (reform) to hear their Rabbi give a sort of Judaism 101 course (the Rabbi was very kind-- he later lent me out several books, some of them his own, including one from Abraham Joshua Heschel, and signed by him, that was given to him by his father-- I felt soooo nervous holding onto that book!).

Anyway, I had noticed these massive tiles up on one wall to the side of the main area of the synagogue, with a Hebrew letter on each one (think Wheel of Fortune, except in Hebrew LOL). After one of the lectures, I asked the Rabbi about it. He pointed out that it spelt out a phrase from one of the psalms (or it may have been the Shema, I can't recall now). But off to the side of that were five more tiles-- the first one was blank, followed by what I recognised as the Tetragrammaton (YHWH = Yahweh).

I told him I knew what that said, but what was with the blank tile? The Rabbi, in a thick Brooklyn accent shrugged his shoulders and said "Eh, mystics!" and walked off LOL

Dakini

I told him I knew what that said, but what was with the blank tile? The Rabbi, in a thick Brooklyn accent shrugged his shoulders and said "Eh, mystics!" and walked off LOL

Great story, river! The blank tile--the VOID! wow! o.0

Chiisai_Pholcidae68

I don't know if I'd put John of the Cross, Eckhart, Pseudo-Dionysius, the author of the Cloud of Unknowing and other mystics (at least of that caliber) in such a definition. The issue is more ontological rather than merely "supernatural." A lot of the influence of Christian mysticism comes from the neo-platonism of Plotinus (in fact, a lot of Pseudo-Dionysius' writings mirror the same Greek terms used in the exact same way).

Thank you for the clarification. I learned much from your comment.

riverflow

I'm glad it was helpful, Chiisai.

riverflow

I told him I knew what that said, but what was with the blank tile? The Rabbi, in a thick Brooklyn accent shrugged his shoulders and said "Eh, mystics!" and walked off LOL

Great story, river! The blank tile--the VOID! wow! o.0

It was the way he said it that was just so classic. I'll never forget that funny wee incident.

aura

Christian version: "Blessed be the pure of heart for they shall see God"
Buddhist version: The Heart Sutra