1.1. Misconceptions About Mystical Experiences
When people first hear about mystical experiences, they often seem like something unreal - phenomena arising in a kind of trance state in which all sorts of things can be imagined or perceived.
In reality, however, mystical experiences are exactly the opposite:
They are an awakening to reality.
If we examine ordinary consciousness, we find that we are often in a trance-like state.
Most of the time, our awareness is caught up in an inner world of thoughts and images, and only partially connected to the direct perception of reality.
We may claim that our thoughts and ideas are based on reality, but ultimately they are mental constructs - thoughts and images that can be far removed from what is actually real.
A film about a river is not a river. It remains a film - something we can alter at will, without the river itself ever changing.
Mysticism, therefore, begins with stepping out of the world of thoughts and images and becoming consciously aware of physical reality.
From my perspective, any path that omits this step cannot truly be considered mysticism.
Such approaches might be called esoteric or trance-based methods, but not true mysticism.
What appears mysterious to those unfamiliar with mysticism is that, in its second step, mysticism opens to spiritual reality.
This realm remains hidden to ordinary people, which is why reports of mystical experiences often seem unreal to them.
The mystical path, however, leads to the experience of reality – both physical and spiritual.
Prayer and the World of Thought
Even the life of faith and the prayers of many religious people often take place predominantly in the world of thoughts and images.
In this inner space, religious ideas and emotions can be generated - but they do not necessarily have a connection to spiritual reality.
What is a Trance State?
A characteristic of a trance state is the focus on a particular element, while other aspects are faded out.
The crucial question in mysticism is whether consciousness is anchored in the inner world of thoughts and images or in perceptible reality.
An example: One might ask someone, "What color is your breath?" To answer this question, one would have to enter a trance state, because no one can perceive the color of their breath in reality. That is pure imagination.
This does not mean that trance states are bad.
They have their place and can be used very effectively, for example in psychotherapy. But they have nothing to do with true mystical practice. In reality, we can perceive the movement of the chest - but not see any color.
Being able to distinguish between the two is extremely important.
1.2. The Nature of Mystical Experiences
When we remain grounded in reality through consistent mystical practice, our consciousness opens up to spiritual perception.
It's not about seeing or hearing spirits, but about developing a natural spiritual sensitivity or sensibility – an additional ability of perception.
Even with your eyes closed, you will be able to sense who is passing by and whether they are good or bad people. You will become spiritually sensitive.
With this spiritual sensitivity, we begin to perceive new feelings and impressions.
We become aware of energies that were previously hidden from us - simply because we lacked the senses to perceive them.
On the mystical path, we always strive to remain grounded in physical reality.
It is not about imagining fantasies of God and love and artificially creating a feeling of love.
Such feelings can easily be evoked in the emotional mind, but that is not the goal of mysticism.
Mysticism seeks the reality of God - here and now, in this very moment, grounded in the physical body.
All great mystics - whether Buddhist or Christian, especially those in the Orthodox monasteries - anchored themselves in physical reality.
They too stepped out of the world of thoughts and fantasies produced by the mind.
From the perspective of the early Christian Fathers, the thoughts that arise during prayer are considered inspirations from the devil or demons - attempts to distract us from the path to God.
1.3. Awakening in the Reality of the Spirit
The mystical path leads us out of the half-sleep and trance-like state of everyday consciousness and allows us to awaken to both physical and spiritual reality.
In meditation, we come to recognize reality. Thoughts may arise, but we do not allow them to take over our awareness. We remain anchored in the perception of reality.
The Realm of Though
In Vipassana Buddhism (Insight Buddhism), the aspects of the mind are explored in meditation. For instance, the question ‘What is a thought?’ is contemplated.
In this way, we begin to recognize the true nature of thoughts.
Buddha teaches that thoughts are empty, without substance. If we do not engage in giving and taking with them, they disappear just as they came.
The Realm of Emotion
In meditation, we also come to see that recurring thoughts are often driven by underlying emotions.
These emotions are the fire that fuels the thoughts beneath the surface. If we remain in the pure perception of sensations, the feelings also dissolve over time.
The Realm of Spirit
Buddha teaches that emotions - and even perceptions—are empty.
Once we are able to let go of emotions as well, we open ourselves to the third level: the realm of spirit.
In the emptiness of thoughts and emotions, we gradually begin to perceive the spiritual atmosphere.
This is not always pleasant. In prayer, we often have to move through a layer of uncomfortable sensations.
The Heavenly Realm
Only after we have patiently moved through this layer does a higher level begin to open to us.
Here we experience a bright, light, and loving atmosphere.
This could be described as the opening of the heavenly realm. Such an experience is always a gift of God's grace.
The Presence of God
On this foundation, consciousness can open to the presence of God.
In the emptiness and stillness, we become aware in an overwhelming experience that in the emptiness there is not “nothing,” but God!
The empty space around us, and at the same time the depths of our own heart, reveal to us the reality of God.
We feel filled with bliss and love.
I will return to this experience at the end of the description of the process.
The Necessity of Spiritual Sensitivity for the Experience of God
God is pure spirit. To experience him directly, we need spiritual sensitivity.
Only if we are receptive to the spirit can we consciously experience the presence of God.
Otherwise, it remains just mental knowledge: “I know that God is present now.” But mysticism seeks the direct encounter with the real, living God.
1.4. The Inner World of Thoughts and Images
When we consider the human being as a whole, we know that thoughts arise in the neocortex - a relatively small part of the body.
But when we look at our state of consciousness, the image on the right gives a more accurate picture:
The human being is surrounded by a bubble of thoughts and images.
Most of our consciousness is trapped in this bubble, while only a smaller part is directed toward the reality of our body.
Observe this in yourself:
What percentage of your awareness is, in this very moment, engaged in perceiving reality through your five senses - and how much is caught up in your inner world of thoughts and images?
Yet reality lies outside this bubble - and this applies not only to physical reality but also to spiritual reality.
Spiritual reality is not found within this bubble. We cannot encounter God in the world of thoughts and images.
God is in the reality outside the bubble.
For many religious people, this is not clear. Buddhists, on the other hand, have a deep understanding of it - just as the Christian Church Fathers do, especially those whose voices are found in the Philokalia.
They know that thoughts and the inner processes of the mind keep us from recognizing God and becoming aware of His presence.
Of course, the mind reflects spiritual movements. But if we want to meet God directly, we must direct our consciousness toward reality and free ourselves from the bubble of fantasy.
All thought enters the heart through a certain meaningful image. But it is only when the mind has withdrawn from all things and has become entirely free of imagery that the blessed light of the Divinity shines upon it.
The radiance of the divine light is revealed to the pure spirit through the absence of all thoughts...
Therefore, it is essential that the one who prays distance themselves from all thoughts that impress the mind through images. A mind that beholds the Spirit is formed and ordered differently than one that merely contemplates the word of the Spirit.
From this, we learn how spiritual insight separates the spirit from the thoughts that fill it with images. And when it no longer revolves around images, the spirit draws near to God....
...no imagination is of any use in approaching God.
Now that you know this, you must strive at all times to pray to God without sensory image, without form or figure - with a pure spirit and a cleansed soul, with all the fervor of your being.
1.5. Process of Consciousness Development
This is a model related to this topic:
- The large circle symbolizes the person or their mind.
- The heart at the center represents the spiritual self - this is where we find access to God.
- The squares stand for experiences stored in the subconscious.
- The dots with circles represent processes within the mind. These processes always involve emotions, thoughts, and inner images. These are the dynamics that psychology explores in detail.
- Outside the large circle is the perceivable reality. Our perceptions connect us with reality and anchor us in it.
When we meditate for a while, we begin to recognize the processes within the mind as thoughts and inner images.
These lie between our awareness and our heart. This phenomenon occurs not only during meditation but accompanies us at every moment of our lives.
This is why Buddhists practice mindfulness throughout the entire day.
Christian mystics speak of watchfulness. Conceptually, Christian monastics place greater emphasis on recognizing and repelling emerging sin in the mind at an early stage.
In practice, however, watchfulness is not possible without moment-to-moment mindfulness. As a result, both approaches ultimately have the same effect.
1.6. Perfect Awareness in the Here and Now
The following diagram illustrates the state of perfect awareness in the here and now.
Emotions and thoughts in the mind have come to rest. Our awareness is fully anchored in the perceptions of the five senses.
An inner stillness has set in, and we have direct access to our spirit and our spiritual heart. In this state, we can have deep inner experiences.
1.7. Perfect Awareness and the Path of Mindfulness
In my youth, I had a profound experience.
At the age of 16, I read a book by P. D. Ouspensky about the teachings of Gurdjieff. It described the concept of self-remembering.
Inspired by this, I resolved to consciously stop thinking for a while and instead just perceive. My goal was to not think the entire day – a task that is indeed impossible, yet I pursued it with utmost determination.
I practiced this with great intensity and willpower. This approach is not necessarily recommended, but after about two weeks, I had my first mystical experience.
After jogging with a friend, we had breakfast together. I was holding a cup of coffee in my hand when an overwhelming feeling came over me:
I am here now!
I am alive!
The perception of the cup in my hand became so intense that tears of joy ran down my face. My heart was open and in direct contact with reality. Being fully in this moment is an immensely powerful and profound experience.
But such an experience cannot be brought about by willpower alone. It is always also a grace of God, a gift that is given to us.
In that moment, God revealed to me the power of mindfulness.
Mindfulness as a Path to the Innermost Essence
The following diagram suggests the transformation that occurs when consciousness remains rooted in the reality of the here and now.
Through mindfulness, the processes in the mind are calmed, and we come closer to our innermost essence – the heart.
The positive effect of mindfulness is well-researched scientifically.
It promotes mental health and ensures stability. One experiences fewer negative emotions and is significantly less frequently triggered by unpleasant life experiences.
1.8. The Power of the Present: Spirit and Body United in Love
On the path of contemplation, we move in this direction:
We seek to open our awareness - and with it, our heart - to reality.
To do so, the processes of the mind must first come to rest.
Essentially, it is about the awakening of the spirit’s awareness - or, as Sun Myung Moon puts it, the awakening of the spirit-mind.
The spirit-mind can then become the subject over our brain and the psychological processes of the mind.
In such a state, we gain access to a higher level of thought, which resides in the spirit-mind. Since the spirit-mind is inseparably connected with God, we receive access to God-guided intuition.
Everything we strive for as religious people - humility, gratitude, inner joy, and a heart full of true love - unfolds naturally in this state.
Spiritual reality only reveals itself when our awareness is anchored in the physical reality of the present moment.
It cannot be found through concepts or fantasies about spirit and God.
True Spiritual Growth Through Rootedness in Reality
Esoteric practices often attempt to reach higher states of consciousness through trance methods.
Such approaches can induce mystical experiences more quickly, but they are not always based on reality. Often, a lot of imagination plays a role.
I do not deny that spiritual phenomena can occur in such contexts, but there is a great danger of getting lost in a mystical fantasy world. One may accumulate experiences without truly growing in love and in the heart.
Many lose humility and develop pride in their experiences - poison to spiritual progress.
Buddha was well aware of this danger, as were Christian mystics who warned against it.
The difference on the path of mindfulness is that we remain grounded in reality. Even during simple physical tasks - such as cleaning the kitchen floor - we can draw closer to the experience of God’s presence.
Furthermore, the practice of mindfulness protects us from premature spiritual openness.
God’s love and presence enter into our body. The unity of spirit and body describes a state in which we have become one with spiritual reality through the body.
Only when our spirit has arrived in the body can we truly practice love for others.
This is what Jesus meant when he said we should become a temple of God.