Practical Mysticism: An Evolutionary Leap in Spiritual Practice
Introduction to Mysticism
Mysticism, in essence, is the pursuit of achieving communion with the Ultimate Reality or Divine through direct, personal experience. It’s a spiritual tradition found in all major religions, varying in practice and interpretation but unified by the goal of transcending the human condition to merge with the divine.
Mysticism has been an integral part of spirituality for millennia, providing pathways to profound experiences that often transcend ordinary human consciousness. It’s a journey inward, seeking to explore and understand the divine mystery that resides within us.
Practical Mysticism versus Traditional Mysticism
Traditional mysticism often involves ascetic practices, withdrawal from the world, rigorous meditation, and sometimes, esoteric rituals. It requires a significant level of commitment and discipline, usually under the guidance of a spiritual teacher. The mystical experience in this context is often described as otherworldly, transcendent, and ineffable.
Practical mysticism, on the other hand, is a more contemporary approach. It acknowledges the value of traditional mystical paths, but it emphasizes integrating spiritual experiences into our daily lives. The aim is not to escape the world but to see the divine in the mundane.
Unlike traditional mysticism, practical mysticism doesn’t necessitate renunciation or isolation. Instead, it encourages individuals to find the sacred in everyday tasks, relationships, and experiences. This approach is more accessible, flexible, and adaptable, making it applicable to the modern lifestyle.
The Approach and Benefits of Practical Mysticism
Practical Mysticism approaches spiritual experiences as intrinsic aspects of our daily existence. It suggests that divinity isn’t only found in temples or during deep meditation but in simple moments like appreciating nature, helping others, or even in mindful cooking.
Incorporating practical mysticism into one’s spiritual practice could mean different things for different people. For some, it might be expressing gratitude daily, practicing mindfulness, or finding joy in acts of kindness. For others, it might be seeking wisdom in ancient texts and applying them in contemporary contexts.
This approach offers numerous benefits. It can make spirituality more accessible and meaningful, foster a positive mindset, and promote overall well-being. By recognizing the divine in the everyday, we can cultivate a deeper sense of connection, compassion, and fulfillment.
Practical Mysticism and the Practice of the Presence: An Interwoven Spiritual Journey
Defining Practical Mysticism and the Practice of the Presence
Practical mysticism, as explored by renowned spiritual author Evelyn Underhill, is a form of spirituality that integrates the pursuit of divine connection into daily life. It’s about recognizing the sacred within the ordinary and viewing every moment as an opportunity for spiritual growth. In this sense, practical mysticism is deeply intertwined with the practice of the presence.
The practice of the presence, a term derived from the classic spiritual work “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence, refers to the ongoing, conscious attempt to remain aware of God’s presence in our lives. It’s about cultivating a continuous dialogue with the divine, even amidst mundane tasks and activities.
In practical mysticism, the practice of the presence becomes a central tenet. It encourages individuals to find the divine in everyday experiences, thus making the spiritual journey not an isolated pursuit but an integral part of our daily existence. This approach fosters a deeper sense of connection, fulfillment, and well-being as one navigates through life’s challenges and joys.
For instance, while cooking a meal or washing dishes, instead of seeing these tasks as tedious chores, a practical mystic might view them as opportunities to practice mindfulness, express gratitude, and connect with the divine. Similarly, in interactions with others, they might seek to recognize the divine presence within each person, fostering empathy, compassion, and deeper connection.
While both practices share a focus on integrating spirituality into daily life, they approach it from slightly different angles. Practical mysticism emphasizes finding the divine in all aspects of life, while the practice of the presence focuses more specifically on maintaining an ongoing awareness of God’s presence.
Complementing and Intertwining Practices
Despite their slight differences, practical mysticism and the practice of the presence beautifully complement and intertwine with each other. Both practices advocate for the recognition of the sacred in the mundane and encourage a conscious, ongoing connection with the divine.
For instance, a practical mystic might find divinity in the act of preparing a meal, viewing it as an expression of love and nurturing. This can be combined with the practice of the presence by maintaining a dialogue with the divine during the process, acknowledging its presence in this act of creation.
Similarly, while practicing mindfulness during a walk in nature (a form of practical mysticism), one can also engage in the practice of the presence by consciously feeling God’s presence in the beauty of the natural world.
Application and Importance
As a spiritual paradigm, practical mysticism is shaping the future of spiritual perspectives globally. It bridges the gap between the secular and the sacred, making spirituality more inclusive and relevant. As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, this approach provides a practical, flexible, and empowering path to spiritual growth.
Applying these practices in your spiritual journey can profoundly enhance your sense of connection to the divine, bringing a greater sense of purpose, joy, and fulfillment into your life. By seeing the divine in the everyday, you cultivate a deeper appreciation for life’s simple moments and foster a more compassionate outlook towards yourself and others.
In conclusion, practical mysticism and the practice of the presence are closely related concepts. Both advocate for the integration of spirituality into daily life and encourage the recognition of the divine within the mundane. By adopting these practices, individuals can cultivate a holistic, accessible, and enriching spiritual practice that enhances their overall well-being.
The Technique of the Presence or Agni Yoga
(adapted from AAB-DK’s Technique of the Presence
VBA’s Agni Yoga and AAB-DK’s Rules on White Magic/Telepathy)
Three preliminary steps[for which the practice of alignment should have prepared the student of the higher mysteries. These steps must precede all effort to develop the intuition, and this may take several months (or even years) of careful preparation. Fire is the symbol of the mind and these are the first three stages of the Agni Yoga discipline or of the yoga of fire for which Raja Yoga has prepared the student].
Rule One
A Treatise on White Magic
“The Solar Angel collects himself, scatters not his force but, in meditation deep, communicates with his reflection.”
The Three Pillars of Agni Yoga by Vicente Beltrán-Anglada
- PROFOUND ATTENTIVENESS, the evocation of the stage of spiritual “tension.” It is brought about by complete control of the personal self so that it is “fitted for contact with the real,” like the tension of a taut string attuned to a musical note ready to resonate at a certain frequency.
- ADAPTABILITY of the Soul-infused Personality. The Personality becomes pliably receptive to the life of the Soul, achieving a state of fusion with the Soul or Angel, as it eliminates the “points of frictions.”
- SERENE EXPECTANCY. The holding of the mind steady in the light of the soul, which remains the attitude of the lower self for the entire remaining period of work, held at the point of tension by the soul and not by an effort of the personality. The soul undertakes this holding when the personal self has done its utmost to achieve the desired tension.
4. The (Monadic) Presence. Definite and sustained effort to sense the (Monadic) Presence throughout the Universe in all forms and in all presentations of truth. This could be expressed in the words: “the effort to isolate the germ or seed of divinity which has brought all forms into being”… the effort primarily to see in the light which the Angel radiates the point of light behind all phenomenal appearances.
5. Intuiting the Purpose. Having sensed the (Monadic) Presence – not theoretically but in vibrating response to its Existence – next comes the stage of the ascertaining of the Purpose, the effort to achieve an understanding of that which through the medium of form is seeking to embody the high purpose at any particular point in the evolutionary cycle.
6. The triple light of the intuition. To carry some world problem, some design which has evolved in the mind or the heart of the disciple for the helping of humanity, into what is esoterically called “the triple light of the intuition.” This light is formed by the blending of the light of the personal self, focused in the mind, the light of the soul, focused in the Angel, and the universal light which the Presence emits.
7. The interludes. After relinquishing of the Higher (Monadic) Way and returning to the Angel (refocusing in the soul),
i. A pause or interlude for constructive thinking, under the influence of the Angel.
ii. The turning of the mind to the formulation of those forms of thought which must embody the revelation.
iii. Then again a pause which is called “the pause preceding presentation.”
8. Fiery ordeal. The presentation of the revelation of the imparted truth and its precipitation as a formulation of the lower concrete mind… It is a GROUP revelation. The group is needed to protect the individuals from “some of the fire within that which is revealed” as it “wings its way back to the source from whence it came; some of it serves to destroy the revealer, and some to burn those who recognize the revelation.” This phase of Agni Yoga may only be INDIVIDUALLY practiced by those group-conscious Initiates who can penetrate beyond the Angel into the place “where fire dwelleth,” and where God, the Presence, functions as a consuming fire and waits for the hour of total revelation.
https://www.ngsm.org/agni-yoga/IHF-TP.htm
The Mantra of FIRE
I seek the way, I yearn to know.
Visions I see and fleeting deep impressions.
Behind the portal, on the other side,
lies that which I call home.
For the circle has been well nigh trod and the end approaches the beginning.
I seek the way, all ways my feet have trod.
The way of fire calls me with fierce appeal.
Naught in me seeks the way of peace.
Naught in me yearns for earth.
Let the fire rage, the flames devour.
Let all the dross be burnt.
And let me enter through that gate and tread the way of fire.
Discover more from Agni Yoga
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.